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Kashrut

The Kashrut Policy of Temple Emanuel

The responsibility for setting the kashrut[1] policy for Temple Emanuel rests with our rabbi as the mara d'atra[2]. The kashrut policy for Temple Emanuel has five facets, as follows.

A. Catered Affairs at the Synagogue

Only kosher caterers subject to the kashrut license of the Kashruth Commission of the Synagogue Council of Massachusetts and to all rules and regulations pertaining to the same, or kosher caterers subject to such other kashrut license and rules and regulations as the rabbi of Temple Emanuel shall deem acceptable, shall be permitted in Temple Emanuel. (Kashruth Commission regulations provide protection to the individual with regard to caterers.)

B. Synagogue Groups Bringing Food to the Synagogue

With respect to groups who eat in the synagogue, only kosher, supervised foods are allowed. Only kosher food may be stored or eaten in the synagogue kitchens and dining areas. More specifically, the synagogue policy in this area is summarized as follows.

We allow only the following foods:

  1. prepared or packaged food from a kosher commercial establishment under recognized supervision
  2. any food with a hechsher[3]
  3. cheese, wine, and gelatin only with a hechsher
  4. food for which a hechsher is not customarily required (e.g., whole fresh fruit, whole fresh vegetables, sugar, regular tea, and unflavored coffee)
  5. cut cold, uncooked fruit or vegetables from any source (on new, disposable dishes)

C. Meals and Snacks for Individual Consumption Inside the Synagogue

Food (lunches, snacks, and the like) brought by individuals (including staff, nursery school students, and Religious School students) to the synagogue for their personal consumption that meets standards 1 through 5 above is allowed. In addition, dairy or pareve non-hechshered food may be brought into the synagogue, but no non-kosher fish is permitted. Food brought in by individuals may not be stored or eaten in the kitchens or dining areas of the synagogue.

D. Passover

For Passover, only food that is kosher for Passover may be brought into the synagogue. No unsupervised or chametz food is allowed anywhere in the synagogue during this period.

E. Official Off-Site Synagogue Functions

Establishments with kashrut supervision are preferred for official off-site synagogue functions. Synagogue groups will not purchase food for official events which is prepared or served by restaurants or other establishments that serve non-kosher food.

Footnotes

  1. Kashrut refers to the application of the Jewish dietary laws.
  2. Mara d'atra is an Aramaic phrase referring to the halachic authority of the synagogue.
  3. A hechsher symbol printed on food packaging indicates that a supervising individual or group certifies the product as kosher. A hechsher is acceptable if it is permitted by our rabbi. Food that ordinarily requires a hechsher but bears only the letter "K" is not allowed unless the specific source of the hechsher is known and approved by our rabbi. (The plain letter K is not generally acceptable as a hechsher.)