Kashrut Practices at The Jewish Center
Throughout our history, we Jews have taken one of the most basic things we do as human beings – eating – and raised it to a level of sanctity. Just as we begin and end our meals with blessings to remind us that eating is a religious act, so too we have certain standards of what foods are and are not acceptable.
An equally important standard is that we want everyone to feel comfortable in our community, especially when it comes to eating in our synagogue. Therefore, the Religious Affairs Committee, in consultation with Rabbi Feldmanz”l, established these regulations for kashrut at The Jewish Center. These standards are a way to help people understand the importance we give to kashrut and to feel comfortable with our standards. We also see this as an opportunity to educate members of our community about the laws of kashrut and the meanings of the laws.
Only meat products purchased from and delivered by one of our acceptable kosher caterers may be brought into the building. We ask that no one bring meat products cooked in their own kitchens into any part of The Jewish Center. This includes individual lunches for our students.
- All products brought into The Jewish Center must carry a symbol of kashrut supervision such as U or K. This applies to all dairy products, cake mixes, etc. Major supermarkets in our area have extensive kosher sections including the Kosher Experience at Shop Rite stores on Rt. 1 in Lawrenceville or on Rt. 130 in Hightstown. For more information about where such products can be bought, please contact TJC’s main office.
- All fresh fruits and fresh uncooked vegetables are acceptable.
- Only kosher fish may be brought into the building. These include tuna, salmon, flounder, lox and sole.
- When a meal is being prepared in one of our two kitchens, please do not use the other kitchen. It is much safer to do all work for a particular meal in the appropriate kitchen.
- If you would like to bring purchased baked goods into the building we require that the baked items carry one of the symbols of kashrut supervision or are purchased at an approved bakery.
- If you are preparing baked goods or any other foods in your home for consumption at The Jewish Center, please follow these procedures:
- All ingredients must be pareve or dairy, and must carry one of the symbols of kashrut supervision. If you are bringing in something that will accompany a catered meat meal, all ingredients must be pareve.
- All utensils, pots, etc. you use must be kashered, which can be done very simply by either submerging them entirely in boiling water (metal utensils) or by boiling water in them (metal pots and pans).
- Please bring anything that is coming into TJC in new disposable containers. If you have new disposable serving utensils to bring, please do so – otherwise, please use the disposable serving utensils we provide.
- These standards apply to the school building and all parts of the main building including the kitchens, the social hall, the lobby, the libraries, the youth lounge, offices and all classrooms.
- Any foods or other items that will be used on Shabbat or holidays must be brought into TJC no later than 3:00 p.m. on the afternoon before Shabbat or the holiday begins. If you are bringing in an item for a Friday night “pot luck” dinner, we understand it may be inconvenient to make one trip to TJC before 3:00 p.m. to drop off your food item and then return for the Kabbalat Shabbat service, followed by the dinner. We strongly urge than whenever possible, you do bring in your food item before 3:00 p.m. If it needs to be refrigerated, please make sure it is wrapped completely and securely (so nothing will leak from or come out of the package), marked with your name, and placed in the dairy kitchen refrigerator.