Congregation Netivot Shalom

OLD NOT IN USE

Before purchasing or arranging anything, please read through all of the preparation guidelines and the kashrut policy so that the Kiddush preparation will proceed smoothly, avoiding all pitfalls. If you are using a caterer, it is important to go over these arrangements with your caterer.  If you have any questions after you have read everything, please consult the Kiddush Coordinator or the office staff at 510-549-9447.

For scheduling, send email to kiddush@netivotshalom.org.

• Overview
• Supplies
• Numbers
• Set Up
• Clean Up
• Netilat Yadaim

Overview

The primary aspects of the kashrut policy to keep in mind while planning are the following:

1. Everything to be served or used on Shabbat must be delivered to the shul building and stored in our section of the kitchen by 4:30 p.m. on Friday afternoon. This is so nothing is delivered on Shabbat, and so it can be stored before the building locks up. There are no exceptions to this.
2. Everything to be served at the Kiddush will have been cooked before Shabbat. The only food preparation permitted on Shabbat involves cutting, slicing, dressing, and placement of food on platters.
3. We serve only vegetarian food, which includes dairy, at our congregation. The specifics of what this means is spelled out in our Kashrut Policy.
4. Challah and bread are not served unless the Kiddush is a meal, rather than a light snack. Eating bread requires recitation of the hamotzi (blessing before meals) and birkat hamazon (grace after meals).

Supplies

The kitchen is stocked with the following: wine and grape juice with a kosher hekhsher, trays, paper plates, napkins, doilies, plastic cutlery, tiny plastic cups for wine and grape juice, and larger disposable cups for cold drinks. We also supply tablecloths sufficient to cover food tables on an average Shabbat. Our cost for the above is about $35.00. Although we are happy to provide these basics, we would also be happy to accept a donation to cover the costs. Of course, if you wish to choose more festive paper goods rather than sticking with our basic whites, feel free to do so.

Additional tablecloths can be ordered at a cost of $2.00 each for paper tablecloths. These should be ordered by the Monday prior to the Kiddush by calling the synagogue office.

Numbers

For a regular Shabbat, plan on serving food for about 125-150 people. If this is a special event such as a bar or bat mitzvah, add the number of guests who are not regular attendees to this basic number. Add more for holidays, but note that on the second day of holidays, the attendance is smaller.

Set Up

If you are setting up the Kiddush yourself without outside help it is a good idea to allow two hours, and to bring along a team of friends to assist. The Kiddush is set up in the social hall. However, if challah is served, then bread and netilat yadaim (ritual hand washing) can be set up outside, as can additional tables.

You are responsible for setting up tables for kiddush.

Tablecloths and paper goods can be set out starting at 9:45 a.m. If you are setting up for netilat yadaim, that can be set up at the same time. (See netilat yadaim.)

Baked goods, fresh and dried fruit, nuts and candy can be set up on platters and wine poured in the kitchen before or during services on Shabbat. Set the small Kiddush cups on trays and pour each 2/3 full. Also fill the large silver Kiddush cup. Be sure to pour some cups of grape juice for the children. Everything can be brought out to the social hall or courtyard during musaf, (additional and final service) between the drash (torah talk), and the last part of the service.

Clearly a more elaborate Kiddush will require more help and more time to set up. If you are using a caterer, the caterer should be aware of the additional time that may be needed.

Clean Up

Whether or not you have hired people to do this, you are responsible for cleaning up following your Kiddush.

Return all food to the kitchen. Throw out everything not worth saving. Storage is limited. Leftovers can be temporarily stored in the refrigerator. Return on Sunday to pick up anything you wish to keep.

Empty bottles and cans can be placed in the recycling bins.

Netilat Yadaim

If you serve any form of bread, it will be necessary to set up a table for netilat yadaim (ritual hand washing) and motzi.

On the table, please set up four hand washing stations, one urn containing extra water, four pitchers for pouring, four bowls to pour in to, and paper towels for drying. On the table, set the silver Kiddush cup, the challah, a challah cover, and a salt shaker.  Make sure a garbage can for the used napkins is next to the table.

For such meals, please alert the ritual committee chair, that you are serving bread so that the Birhonim (booklets with birkat hamazon) will be brought out and someone will be ready to lead Birkat Hamazon at the end of the meal.

Thank you for sharing your simcha with us.