Kiddush Policy – Aish Kodesh

Mazel Tov, Mazel Tov!!

Whether you are going to set up your own Kiddush or hire someone to do it for you – we are happy to present the following Kiddush Policy/Guidelines to the Kehillah.

Confirm the Date:

It is preferable that you e-mail Rebbetzin Shapira to confirm if the shul is available for the date that you would like. dobashapira@012.net.il Alternatively, you can call her at home at 999-4397.

Inside or Outside:

The location of the Kiddush is determined by the weather and your own preference. Generally the women’s Kiddush is held in the Ezras Nashim. The men’s Kiddush is generally set up outside in the front parking lot, weather permitting. If you have a particular preference or special needs please discuss it with the Rebbe.

Amounts:

Please plan on enough food/drink/supplies for 120 men and 40 ladies. Please take into consideration the number of guests you will be having from outside the shul and add accordingly.

Paper goods:

Please ensure that there are small plates, serving plates, cups, l’chaim cups, napkins (specifically for the ladies’ side), plastic ware and disposable serving ware, or anything else that will be necessary depending on your menu selection. Remember that if you are serving cholent, you will need to provide large serving bowls, if you are serving kugel you need serving platters, etc.

Drinks:

A good rule of thumb is one bottle of drink for every 4 to 5 people. If it is a warmer day, then probably 4 people per bottle. A mixture of sodas, juice drinks and water is suggested. Please bring 2 bottles of grape juice for Kiddush.

Food:

The menu choices are at your discretion. Most simchos consist of drinks, herring, and assortments of crackers, cake and kugels. Don’t forget to bring toothpicks for the herring. Please be sure NOT to serve ANY PRODUCTS WHICH CONTAIN PEANUTS OR NUT PRODUCTS as there are shul members who are severely allergic to these items. For example, do not serve Bamba or other peanut snacks.

Hashgachos:

The Rebbe requests that all food and drink brought for the Kiddush are under Mehadrin Hashgachos.

Set Up:

Everything must be brought to the shul by Friday afternoon. Make arrangements in advance with the Rebbe or Rebbetzin regarding hot food.

Ezras Nashim – Please set up all paper goods, tablecloths, etc. before Shabbos. Usually there is at least one table in the Ezras Nashim. If not, please speak with the Rebbe. Alternatively, the space can be set up Friday night. If you need this arrangement, please speak with the Rebbe to ensure that the lights are left on late enough.

All non-perishable items should be prepared and ready to be served. For example, crackers can be placed in bowls and left covered downstairs on the table. All soda and drinks should be placed in one corner of the room downstairs and opened before Shabbos. Shabbos morning put bottles in the refrigerator for cooling.

All refrigerated food, such as herring, should be cut up and prepared with toothpicks on Friday afternoon, covered and placed in the refrigerator.

Everything except for the hot food should be prepared erev shabbos to be served and be ready to go shabbos morning. While we have a number of energetic mispallelim who consistently help to serve, we kindly ask that the Ba’alei Simcha be responsible for setting up and serving. This means that the Ba’alei Simcha should know who is setting up on Friday, who is serving the food on Shabbos, who is cutting the kugel, who is scooping out the cholent, etc. It could be volunteers from the family, from the shul, or hired help from outside.

Clean Up:

Here especially, the Ba’alei Simcha need to be responsible for clean up and setting the Beis Medrash back up. There are brooms and dustpans in the large upstairs bathroom. Trash bags are in the drawers near the sink in the Beis Medrash. Trash bins are located right outside the shul.

Please note - if the Kiddush will be outside – it is imperative that the parking lot area be left just as clean as before the Kiddush, especially out of respect for our neighbors.

Thank you and if there are any additional questions please call either the Rebbe or R’ Moshe Braun. Remember that these guidelines are only temporary, until we are davening in our own building with a proper kitchen and hall for Kiddushim, BE”H!