Kashrut

Adopted 1/9/17
Temple Beth El Of South Orange County Food Policy

Temple Beth El of South Orange County Events (on or off site, catered or potluck, or bring your own food) are either “Kosher Style” or “Shomer Kashrut” as described below. Events will be advertised using this terminology and with a reference to this document.
The downstairs/dairy kitchen will only be used with Shomer Kashrut rules followed, and is dairy/vegetarian only.

KOSHER STYLE

1. Any product with meat as an ingredient (e.g. beef, lamb, chicken, turkey….) will not be served at the same meal as any product with dairy as an ingredient (e.g. milk, butter, cheese, ice cream…). However, while additives like casein, sodium caseinate, whey, lecithin, and lactose are dairy derivatives, they are not considered “dairy” for the “Kosher Style” guidelines. ADDED 9/16/2019). Oneg and dinner are two separate meals.
2. No shellfish (e.g. shrimp, crab, lobster, mussels, clams…) or any sea animals that do not have scales and fins (e.g. catfish, shark…) will be prepared or served
3. No pork, ham or products made with lard will be prepared or served.
4. Potluck events where food is shared (either appetizers, main course, sides, and/or dessert) will be restricted to dairy or vegetarian foods.
5. All foods being served (including meat) may or may not have a hekhsher (kosher certification)
6. Any meal where meat is served will have a vegetarian alternative that includes an alternative entrée containing a vegetarian protein or fish entrée.

Certified Kosher

1. It is prepared or cooked in the Kosher dairy kitchen at Temple Beth El or prepared by a Kosher caterer.
2. No shellfish (e.g. shrimp, crab, lobster, mussels, clams…) or any sea animals that do not have scales and fins (e.g. catfish, shark…) will be prepared or served.
3. No pork, ham or products made with lard will be prepared or served.
4. Any product where meat is an ingredient (e.g. beef, lamb, chicken, turkey….) will not be served at the same event with product where dairy is an ingredient (e.g. milk, butter, cheese, ice cream…). When meat is served, certain desserts/baked goods will not be made with dairy products.
5. Fish are kosher if it has fins and scales and may be served with dairy or meat. Swordfish are kosher. Shellfish, Shark, Catfish are not kosher and may not be served. Canned tuna requires a kosher symbol.
6. All processed foods (crackers, cookies, spreads, etc…) or meat products must have a hekhsher (kosher symbol) on it. If not, then they may not be used for cooking or serving.
7. All fruits, vegetables, cheeses, and eggs (if they donʼt have blood spots when you crack them open) are permitted.
8. Fresh baked breads, cakes, or cookies from a listed bakery (available on the temple website or in the Temple office) are permitted. Packaged breads, cakes, or cookies need to have a hekhsher.
9. While all wines are kosher, they need to have a hekhsher to be used for Kiddush.

If you have questions or for more information, please contact Rabbi K’vod at kvod@tbesoc.org.

PRIVATE EVENT RENTALS

Temple Beth El of South Orange County rents space privately to members and non-members. For rentals, the following applies:

Jewish events: Only #2 and #3 under Kosher Style apply (r.e., no shellfish or pork). No other food policy items must be adhered to.

Non-Jewish events: No food policy adherence is required throughout the building, EXCEPT the kitchen. Upstairs kitchen rentals must follow the entire Kosher Style food policy, except #1 (r.e., mixing milk and meat)