Sponsoring Kiddush
All members are expected to sponsor or co-sponsor a Kiddush once per calendar year. Arrangements for co-sponsoring, as needed for physical or financial mutual assistance, are made by the sponsoring members. Please contact the Kiddush Coordinator, Gale Lev (Gale.Lev@gmail.com), for scheduling.
Kashrut Guidelines
Food must be dairy or parve (should not have meat or meat products in contents). Kiddush hosts should be careful to check that all labels of prepared food include a hekhsher. For special simchas, like a bar/bat mitzvah or wedding, you must use an approved caterer or vendor. For further details, please review Chevrei Tzedek’s Kashrut Policy, as approved by the Ritual Committee, or consult Rabbi Katz.
Kiddush Sponsor Procedures
Unless you are hosting for a special simcha and have invited guests, plan for a standard Shabbat Kiddush for approximately 40 to 50 people. Three round tables are generally used with drinks and sweets placed on the table nearest the door to the foyer. Place identical offerings of non-dessert foods on the other two tables.
The standard fare is hummus and other dips with pita bread or crackers, chips and sweets (cookies, cake). Sponsors should also provide grape juice and drinks, and/or water in pitchers from the cabinet.
Paper goods, serving bowls, platters and utensils are provided by Chevrei Tzedek.
See below for amounts and more suggestions. (Sponsors provide at least 1 bottle of apple juice and 2 boxes of hekhshered cookies, crackers, pretzels or other snack item and/or fruit for the kids' room.)
Bread for HaMotzi is not required. If bread is part of Kiddush, Birkat HaMazon is required. A hand washing station is available.
Suggestions On What & How Much To Bring
Drop Off & Set Up
It's best to drop off your kiddush supplies at the Myerberg Center by 4 p.m. on Friday. Please let the Chair know in advance if this is what you'll be doing, as the Myerberg closes at NOON on Friday afternoons and you will need to coordinate with someone who can let you in.
Clean Up
Sponsors must stay until the end of Kiddush to clean up!
Food must be dairy or parve (should not have meat or meat products in contents). Kiddush hosts should be careful to check that all labels of prepared food include a hekhsher. For special simchas, like a bar/bat mitzvah or wedding, you must use an approved caterer or vendor. For further details, please review Chevrei Tzedek’s Kashrut Policy, as approved by the Ritual Committee, or consult Rabbi Katz.
Kiddush Sponsor Procedures
Unless you are hosting for a special simcha and have invited guests, plan for a standard Shabbat Kiddush for approximately 40 to 50 people. Three round tables are generally used with drinks and sweets placed on the table nearest the door to the foyer. Place identical offerings of non-dessert foods on the other two tables.
The standard fare is hummus and other dips with pita bread or crackers, chips and sweets (cookies, cake). Sponsors should also provide grape juice and drinks, and/or water in pitchers from the cabinet.
Paper goods, serving bowls, platters and utensils are provided by Chevrei Tzedek.
See below for amounts and more suggestions. (Sponsors provide at least 1 bottle of apple juice and 2 boxes of hekhshered cookies, crackers, pretzels or other snack item and/or fruit for the kids' room.)
Bread for HaMotzi is not required. If bread is part of Kiddush, Birkat HaMazon is required. A hand washing station is available.
Suggestions On What & How Much To Bring
- 1 bottle of kosher grape juice (Please check the refrigerator the week before your kiddush, as we often have plenty of grape juice)
- 2 platters cut up vegetables with dip. Cut-up or small vegetables suggestions: baby carrots, celery sticks, bell pepper sticks, cherry tomatoes, and cucumber sticks.
- 2 bowls of dip. Suggestions: salsa, hummus, and baba ganoush.
- 2 platters/bowls chips or pretzels .
- 2 platters crackers/pita/lavash with assorted hard cheeses and/or spreads (hummus, babaganoush, vegetarian chopped liver, tahini or flavored cream cheeses).
- 2 platters fruit (melon balls or slices, orange, clementine or tangerine wedges, cherries, strawberries, berries, grapes, etc.).
- 2 bowls fish (herring, gefilte).
- 1 bowl or platter of pickled/salty items (nuts, olives, pickles, pickled eggplant, etc.).
- 2 platters sliced cake and/or cookies or brownies. We recommend slicing cake at services, rather than in advance.
Drop Off & Set Up
It's best to drop off your kiddush supplies at the Myerberg Center by 4 p.m. on Friday. Please let the Chair know in advance if this is what you'll be doing, as the Myerberg closes at NOON on Friday afternoons and you will need to coordinate with someone who can let you in.
- Park your car by the kitchen door alcove and unload it directly into the kitchen. You'll need to come through the sanctuary to open the back door. Please don't carry supplies through the sanctuary when services are in progress.
- The contents of the cabinets immediately to the left in the small room belong to us. You'll find paper goods, utensils, etc. Serving bowls and platters will be out on the counter for you. If they are not, please ask someone to help you. Serving carts are available.
- Please keep your voices low. Noise from the kitchen is louder than you think, and will disturb services.
- Set up includes pouring grape juice cups for Kiddush.
- Bring the serving carts out while announcements are being made at the end of the service.
Clean Up
Sponsors must stay until the end of Kiddush to clean up!
- Put away all paper goods in appropriate locations.
- Do not leave open packages of food. All must be removed, with the exception of refrigerated grape juice.
- Bowls, platters, food preparation tools must be washed and returned to the indicated places in the back closet.
- Carts must be wiped down.
Many members are HAPPY to help you with kiddush setup, especially if it is your first time. Please do not hesitate to ask! This is one way we get to know one another.
Modified Kiddush - NOT currently in effect
Modified Kiddush is less expensive and easier to prepare, and we have used it during pandemic times. What's different?
Guess what is NOT different! We have lots of congregants who are happy to help "show you the ropes." But please be generous with your time and ensure that you are there to finish cleanup. If you wish to drop off food/drink items at Chevrei Tzedek before Shabbat, please be in touch with Gale.
Contact Gale Lev with any questions! If you are bothered by the packaging, note that we are not using styrofoam plates or other disposable utensils. And like everything else, our kiddush policy may be revised as conditions change.
- Bring individually packed salt snacks (for example, chips or pretzels) and sweets (for example, cookies or candy), roughly 50 packets total (must be certified kosher: dairy or parve);
- For drinks, please prepare water pitchers from our closet, and you may also bring two-liter bottles of juice and/or soda;
- Bring kosher grape juice (there may be some in our refrigerator, but please check before assuming);
- If possible, bring a paper bag to line the recycling can;
- Pour grape juice into the mini-cups and set them on trays;
- Set out napkins and plastic cups;
- Fill the silver kiddush goblet with grape juice also;
- Bring out the BLUE recycling can, which you can line with the paper bag;
- Bring out the regular trash can;
- After kiddush, ensure all trash is in trash cans, and wash & dry any communal items that were used;
- Bring home recycling, or send it home with someone who will recycle it;
- Please ask for help if you need assistance finding, preparing, or carrying anything.
Guess what is NOT different! We have lots of congregants who are happy to help "show you the ropes." But please be generous with your time and ensure that you are there to finish cleanup. If you wish to drop off food/drink items at Chevrei Tzedek before Shabbat, please be in touch with Gale.
Contact Gale Lev with any questions! If you are bothered by the packaging, note that we are not using styrofoam plates or other disposable utensils. And like everything else, our kiddush policy may be revised as conditions change.
