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Kashrut Guidelines
The following policy and guidelines were established to provide a standard of Synagogue practices consistent with the Conservative Movement.
To best meet the needs of our diverse congregation, we have established two sets of kashrut guidelines, one for each side of our building.
School Building
(including all classrooms, offices, the Temin Canteen Room and the Maslow Auditorium)
- Dairy or pareve foods prepared at home may be served
- Members are expected to observe the rules of kashrut in preparing foods to be brought into the building
- If you choose to purchase food rather than prepare it, it is recommended that products have a kosher symbol or be purchased from a kosher establishment. Lists of kosher symbols and kosher establishments are available in the Synagogue office
- No products containing animal shortening may be brought into the Centre
- No meat (even if it is kosher) foods may be brought into these areas of the synagogue
- No seafood or shellfish may be brought here
- Gelatin products and all cheeses are acceptable
Sanctuary Building
(including the Marcus Auditorium, the Silver Kiddush Lounge and the Lobby)
- No prepared food or ingredients may be brought in from any homes for preparing or serving in the above spaces
- Food may be brought in from facilities that have a hashgacha (kosher certification) or in unopened packages that have Rabbinic certification and must be examined by a supervisor
- Only the three catering options listed below are available for use in the Marcus, Silver Kiddush Lounge, or Sanctuary Lobby
Catering Options
In an attempt to meet the tastes and budgets of a diverse synagogue community, a wide variety of catering options are available to families:
Off-premises caterers
Any supervised kosher caterer is welcome to cater events in the building as long as they meet a few standard requirements. The Managing Director has the most current list of caterers approved for use in the building. Sample menus and PR materials from approved caterers are available for viewing in the GJC office. The Managing Director must be informed of your choice of caterer at least two months prior to the event.
On-premises caterer
Centre Catering, 215-844-1507 ext. 25, is an independently owned and operated business. Food is prepared on site in the Marcus Kitchen. All food needs and staffing can be provided through Centre Catering. Sample menus are available for viewing in the Synagogue office.
Self-catering
Families have the option of preparing their own food in the Marcus kitchen. Please see the complete set of guidelines for self-caterers. The document aims to answer typical questions families have about the process. It also includes an equipment list, kosher symbols, nonkosher fish (i.e., those you many not use), kosher establishments (bakeries, food stores, etc.), number of tables and chairs available, etc.
The cost of using the Marcus kitchen for food preparation is $150 per 4-hour block with additional time at $38 per hour. This fee includes the cost of having a kitchen supervisor on site for overseeing kitchen use. There would be an additional cost of $15 per hour for use of the kitchen after Synagogue operating hours.
Catering Committee members are available to consult with any families interested in self-catering. Contact the office for information. |
