Kashrut Guidelines

Background:

Kol Ami brings together a variety of Jewish experiences and traditions. Some of us have a familiarity with kashrut, while many have had no experience with Jewish dietary laws. As a Reform community, we do not regulate Jewish ritual observance in your homes. Nevertheless, we feel that establishing kosher guidelines for the synagogue will be another way of informing our Jewish values and will help us all to make better choices each day.

Jewish family life and ritual is rooted in food – each holiday has its special dish, and nearly all our celebrations take place gathered around a dining table. The customs of kashrut have been a crucial part of Jewish practice for millennia. For some communities, the importance of kashrut is that it is commanded by God. For others, it is a way to create a cohesive community. Our food teaches us about our history and the moral choices we make every day. The blessings we recite remind us that food is a gift that we should never take for granted. In the Torah we are taught that the dietary laws create a food discipline that makes us K’doshim – holy. 

At Kol Ami, we wish to honor the traditions passed down to us. We want to ensure that everyone can participate comfortably in our events on the synagogue property, both by contributing to a meal and enjoying the food. Our policy will respect various dietary customs and food restrictions.

Among the reasons to consider creating a holy dietary discipline are:

1. Raising seemingly mundane activities, like eating, to sacredness. 

2. Identification and solidarity with the worldwide Jewish community;

3. Ethical discipline of avoiding certain foods or limiting one’s appetite because of the growing scarcity of food or water in parts of the world;

4. Avoidance of certain foods which Jews have traditionally avoided, i.e. pork and shellfish (lobster, crab, oysters, clams, mussels, scallops, etc.), and therefore a reminder of the struggle of past generations to remain Jews;

5. Focusing on compassion through the separation of milk and meat (Do not boil and kid in its mother’s milk);

6. Adopting some form of vegetarianism so as to avoid the necessity of taking a life. (This is in consonance with the principle of tza-ar ba-alei chayim – prevention of pain or cruelty to animals.) This also raises our awareness to become better stewards of our environment and the world.

7. This Section was approved November 2021 by SLC, clergy, administration, religious school, and ECE.

Food brought into a Kol Ami property to be consumed by individuals:

1. Peanuts or peanut products are not allowed at any time.

2. Certain foods which Jews have traditionally avoided--pork and shellfish (lobster, crab, oysters, clams, mussels, scallops, etc.) --may not be brought on our property; however, we do not require a kosher hechsher on food products consumed on our property.

3. Persons may consume meals consisting of meat or poultry with dairy. In addition to the obvious placement of dairy on a meat or poultry dish, this allows an individual to consume yogurt or cottage cheese along with their meat or poultry dish. Fish is considered pareve (non-meat). 

4. Persons may consume their meals or snacks in any public area of the building.

Food being consumed (but not provided or catered by a business entity or other person/s) at a formal meeting (committee, programs, event):

1. Peanuts or peanut products are not allowed at any time.

2. Certain foods which Jews have traditionally avoided--pork and shellfish (lobster, crab, oysters, clams, mussels, scallops, etc.) --may not be brought on our property; however, we do not require a kosher hechsher on food products consumed on our property.

3. Dairy may be consumed prior to one’s meat or poultry meal, but not at the same time.

For food being prepared or provided for consumption at the synagogue for a program, event or meeting. This includes a potluck:

2. Peanuts or peanut products are not allowed at any time.

3. Certain foods which Jews have traditionally avoided--pork and shellfish (lobster, crab, oysters, clams, mussels, scallops, etc.) --may not be served on our property; however, we do not require a kosher hechsher on food products served on our property.

4. Meals should be either meat or dairy. 

5. At a potluck, we would appreciate a written list of ingredients for the dish to be on display in front of the dish.

6. We will always serve or have available a hearty vegetarian or vegan option.

7. For those requesting a kosher option, we will make every attempt to provide one.

8. During Passover, no bread or other leaven is to be eaten on campus. 

9. When preparing food at home for synagogue use, we do not require that a member’s kitchen be kosher, nor do we require that the food brought to the synagogue be on a kosher dish. We also do not require that any food served on our campus – including meat – be certified kosher in any way. Be sure that a list of ingredients is included for all prepared dishes.

In keeping with the principles of tikun olam (repairing the world) and g’milut chasadim (acts of loving kindness), and being shomrei adamah  (guardians of the earth), it is our preference therefore that the food presented on our campus be prepared hygienically, and be ethically raised, and be from a sustainable source as possible.

If we do have a program away from our property where a catered meal is offered, we propose adhering to the above policy to the best of our ability. 

If we are sharing a meal at a local restaurant where individuals may order from a menu, none of the above restrictions apply.

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