Shabbat Kiddushes

CNT Kashrut Policy 
(As of February 2025)
*These guidelines apply year round excluding during Passover preparations and Passover Holiday week*

After a whole year of reviewing different practices CNT has been following for different years and different rabbis’ guidelines that were not always the same, a committee of members, staff, and the rabbi came along with the following guidelines. 

We already got feedback from members on some of these points and made some adjustments, so we encourage anyone who has any other comments or suggestions to contact either the Rabbi, Ami, or Josie as soon as possible so we can consider them. This is a work in progress. 

The Guidelines

We have 2 kitchens, the community kitchen and the catering kitchen (sometimes referred to as the BIG kitchen).

Both kitchens are kosher kitchens. The catering kitchen is both meat and dairy (only one at a time). The community kitchen is DAIRY ONLY. Each kitchen has their own serving ware and platters. And these items should not travel between the two kitchens with the exception of glass bowls for transfer and ritual items.

Rules for the Catering Kitchen

• All food prepared in the catering kitchen must be prepared under supervision of the Rabbi of CNT or someone he appoints or approves to supervise. 
• All food needs to be prepared only in the catering kitchen UNLESS brought in by a kosher caterer OR specific kitchens of congregants approved by the Rabbi. 
• If someone plans on using the Catering kitchen outside the parameters stated above there must be Rabbinic supervision (Rabbi or someone the Rabbi appoints to be mashgiach - supervisor of kosher preparation).
• All Kosher caterers must be approved by the Rabbi of CNT.
• All prepackaged food must have a recognized kosher symbol (including wine) or be pre-approved by the Rabbi. See list of some of the common symbols: https://consumer.crckosher.org/acceptable-kashrus-agencies/ 
• All ingredients and foods used in the catering kitchen or in the approved homes of congregants or in the approved kosher caterers kitchens, must have a recognized kosher symbol. No other foods or ingredients may be used in the kitchen or even enter the kitchen. 
• The catering kitchen can either be used for preparing a dairy meal or a meat meal, and while a dairy meal is prepared no meat utensils, pots and pans or products may be out, and vice versa when a meat meal is prepared. 

Rules for the Community Kitchen
Including preparing for Kiddush Luncheon 

• ALL PACKAGED ITEMS MUST A HAVE KOSHER DAIRY OR KOSHER PARVE SYMBOL ON THE PACKAGE. 
• BRING ITEMS IN THE ORIGINAL UNOPENED PACKAGE. 
• NO PREVIOUSLY SERVED FOOD.
• All WINE MUST BE KOSHER and have a Kosher Symbol.
• All cheese and dairy products must have a Kosher symbol or say they are vegetarian or vegan on the package.
• Any outside catered food must be from a Kosher Restaurant.
• Preparing items at home:
• Food prepared in your home must be dairy/parve.
• Food prepared at home, must be brought in new single use disposable or glass containers. Glass containers are the responsibility of the owner.
• On a small card please list your name, ingredients and note possible allergens (gluten, soy, eggs, nuts, dairy, etc.). This card must be displayed with your food.
• Food prepared following these guidelines may be placed in the community kitchen. Include instructions on how it should be stored. (Refrigerated or left on counter).
• All food prepared at home or in the community kitchen must stay in the community kitchen and cannot be moved into the catering kitchen. However catering kitchen dairy/parve food from a dairy/parve meal can be moved from the catering kitchen to the community kitchen, but cannot go back to the catering kitchen.
• Examples of Potluck Items to purchase or make: Vegetable/Fruit, Salads, Fish, Kugel, Lasagna, Couscous, Quinoa, Prepackaged desserts, Chips/Dips/Nuts, Cheese /Yogurt, Gluten-free items, Crackers/Bread, Salad Dressings, Casserole, Hard boiled Eggs, Whitefish salad 

Additional General Kiddush Luncheon Committee Guidelines

• Plan on serving at least 12- 15 people
• If item needs to be warmed – contact Molly Grayver by Thursday at 7:00pm at mollygrayver18@gmail.com or 310.497.2109
• Sponsoring an item (see list of examples above) is always welcomed.  Contact Josie Sterling at josiesterling928@aol.com or 310-561-6108 by Sunday for the following Shabbat.
• The Community kitchen is available (upon request) to prepare luncheon food.
• Help us plan lunch, let us know what you are bringing
• Let Josie or Molly know what you plan to bring and share by Thursday 7pm before the coming Shabbat. You may also call Tama in the CNT office.

Rules for the Admin / School building
All Kashrut policies apply in Admin / School building.
As a rule all items brought to this building can only be dairy or parve.
Any exceptions to that rule need to be discussed and approved by the Rabbi of CNT. 

• All meat must be kosher and prepared in a strictly kosher kitchen. 
• All dairy or parve items follow the rules of Community kitchen. 
• If you wish to have food from approved venues brought into the Levine center it must be approved by the rabbi in advance.
• Any prepackaged food coming into the Levine Center must follow the Kosher guidelines even if it never makes it into the kitchen.
• If you want to bring food from a different non approved venue to either building, you must have it approved by the rabbi in advance. 

Rules for bringing food into the Levine Center, Sanctuary, Foyer
All Kashrut policies apply in the Levine Center, Sanctuary, Foyer.
There are some events that food can be brought into these areas from outside venues, according to the following guidelines, as long as they do not enter the community or catering kitchens.
Any exceptions to that rule need to be discussed and approved by the Rabbi of CNT. 

• No meat can be brought from outside venues unless approved by the CNT rabbi in advance. 
• All dairy or parve items follow the rules of the Community kitchen. 
• Any prepackaged food coming into the Levine Center must follow the Kosher guidelines even if it never makes it into the kitchen.
• If you want to bring food from a different non approved venue to either building, you must have it approved by the rabbi in advance. 

Rules for Preschool
See parent handbook