First Narayever Congregation Kiddush Guidelines

All members and friends of the Narayever are encouraged to sponsor, co-sponsor or assist with a kiddush once a year. The members of the Kiddush Committee are prepared to help you find co-sponsors, walk you through the process if you wish and provide any other assistance you may require.

It is also expected that celebrants of simchot such as baby-namings and aufrufs will either sponsor or contribute towards a kiddush. If not fully sponsoring due to another event such as a Bar/Bat Mitsva, donations should be $15 for the first 10 guests and $10 for each additional guest. If there is a Bar/Bat it is possible that the second simcha may contribute directly to the Bar/Bat family.

To reserve a date or discuss the different ways in which you can participate in sponsoring a kiddush, please call the shul office (416-927-0546) or email kiddush@narayever.ca. Once you have booked a date, we will give you a contact to answer all your questions along the way.

The contents of the guidelines are:

1. Sponsor's Responsibilities
2. Cost of Sponsoring a Kiddush
3. Kashrut
4. Halachic (Jewish Law) Considerations
5. What should be Served
6. Environmental Considerations
7. Social Awareness
8. Procedure for Kiddush
9. Tips for Buying Kosher Food
10. Tax Receipts

Please keep these guidelines on hand for future reference. They apply to all kiddushim on Shabbat as well as on Yom Tov.

Using a caterer is not mandatory, but if your kiddush is being catered, please make sure that your caterer has a copy of these guidelines. For tips on making arrangements with your caterer, call the Kiddush coordinator. On behalf of the entire congregation, thank you for your participation in sponsoring a kiddush.

1. Sponsor's Responsibility

Sponsors are responsible for the following requirements:

• Providing all the food and drinks, including milk, wine and/or liquor (except tea and coffee).
• Setting up before the kiddush begins.
• Ensuring that everything gets cleaned up and removed afterwards.
• Observing kashrut, the halachic and environmental requirements outlined in these guidelines.
• Complying with our allergy policy. In particular, to provide the office with the caterer's contact name and number two weeks prior to the event

2. Cost of Sponsoring a Kiddush

On a regular Shabbat, attendance will be about 100 people, depending on the season. You should consider your guests in addition.

Food: The cost of food at a simple kiddush for 100 people is in the range of $250. (See Appendix A for an estimated shopping list for a self-shopped kiddush.)

Set up and clean up: The cost of help to set up and clean up, if you choose to arrange for it, is additional. If you use services of the regular kitchen helpers, the cost will generally range from $100 to $200. (To contact them, please look under Section 8.)

Donation: Sponsors are requested to make a donation of at least 3% of the cost of the kiddush to Mazon, a Jewish organization that feeds the hungry. This fulfills the mitzvah to include the needy in any celebration. Phone: (416) 783-7554, Website www.mazoncanada.ca.

3. Kashrut

It is the sponsor's responsibility to ensure that everything at the kiddush is strictly kosher so that everyone can feel comfortable eating at the shul. The kitchen is under the supervision of Rabbi Elkin. The Rabbi checks the kitchen before Shabbat to ensure that everything is kosher and that it can therefore be served. Important note. It is your responsibility to contact the rabbi (rabbi@narayever.com) by the Thursday before your kiddush informing him of the time the food will be brought into the Shul, whether you are buying the food yourself or hiring a caterer and, if so, the name of the caterer.

The following is basic information regarding kashrut requirements:

1. Dairy/Vegetarian: The Shul is dairy/vegetarian only. This means that no meat products may be served, but fish is permitted. Also, any catered food must be from a kosher dairy facility.
2. Rabbinical Supervision: Any packaged food must carry a recognized hekhsher, i.e., a stamp certifying that the given product is kosher and/or parve or dairy. The following are the most common kosher symbols, which the shul recognizes:

   COR	The kosher symbol of the Toronto Rabbinical Vaad Hakashruth.
   MK	Jewish Community Council of Montreal, Quebec.
   U	Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America U.S.A.
   K inside circle	The Chief Rabbinate of Israel.
   	The London Beth Din Tzedec Court of the Chief Rabbi
   	The Agudas Harabanim of the U.S. & Canada

   The shul also recognizes all Israeli hekhshers. For a more complete listing of kosher symbols, see the Kashruth Council of Canada website.

   Warning: A plain "K" (without a circle around it) or a manufacturer's statement such as "this is a kosher product" are not acceptable hekhshers.

3. Non-packaged and catered goods: Must be from a Shomer Shabbat kosher establishment (i.e. it is closed on Saturdays and Jewish Holidays).
4. Beverages: 100% apple and orange juice do not require a hekhsher. Grape juice and any mixed juices do. Wine and all fruit-based alcoholic drinks (brandy, liqueurs) must have a hekhsher (all Israeli products do). Grain alcohols such as gin, rye, rum, scotch, and vodka do not require a hekhsher
5. Fresh fruit and vegetables: All are acceptable.
6. Food Preparation: All preparation of food must take place at the shul. The shul kitchen is well equipped for preparing food; please feel free to use it. Do not prepare any food (cook, bake, cut vegetables, make salads or dressings, etc.) outside of the shul, even if you have a kosher kitchen at home. This will ensure that everyone knows that the kashrut standards are followed. Also, do not bring in packaged food that has been opened outside the shul.
7. Dishes and Utensils: The shul has everything necessary by way of dishes or utensils and you should not bring in any of your own. If you do want to donate new kitchenware, please speak to your contact on the kiddush Committee well in advance so that arrangements can be made to immerse the new dishes and utensils in a mikve. In most cases this will be necessary before the dishes and utensils can be used.
8. For more information: We follow the guidelines of the Canadian Jewish Congress Kashrut Council. For further information, please ask your contact on the shul's kiddush Committee or call Rabbi Elkin.

4. Halachic (Jewish Law) Considerations

Please Note:

• Foods are not to be cooked at all on Shabbat.
• Foods are not to be warmed in the oven unless it is turned on before candle-lighting on Friday evening.
• Ensure that the oven is not turned off until after Shabbat ends.
• Our caretaker will ensure that the hot water is plugged in.

1. Before Shabbat: All food must be brought into the shul prior to the commencement of Shabbat. (To avoid any errors, food must be delivered before 3:00 p.m. on Friday.) Under no circumstances are products to be delivered to the shul on Shabbat. Such items will not be served at the kiddush.
2. During Shabbat: Nothing should be removed from the shul during Shabbat. Leftover food, flowers, etc. may be taken after Shabbat has ended.
3. Bread: If bread is served (hallah, bagels, pita, matzah), it is our tradition to engage in ritual hand washing. Our custom is to recite Birkat Hamazon after every kiddush, no matter what is served. Benchers (booklets for Birkat Hamazon) are available.
4. Rolls/crackers: It is possible to order small rolls which, because of their exact recipes, are considered pastry (mezonot). These do not require hand washing. Alternatively, you might choose to serve a variety of crackers. These also do not require hand washing.
5. Payment for Help: If you have arranged for paid help, please make sure that you leave payment before Shabbat or that you arrange to make payment after Shabbat is over. On Shabbat, members should not handle money in the shul.

5. What Should be Served

Hot drinks:

Tea, coffee and sugar are provided by the shul and kept in the kitchen. It is up to the sponsor to serve them. A large coffee urn filled with water is plugged in prior to Shabbat and is left on over the entire Shabbat.

Please do not unplug or refill the urn on Shabbat.

Cold drinks:

Milk for coffee and juice and/or soda pop (and wine and/or grape juice if desired) should be supplied by the sponsors. The volume of cold drinks is approximately :

• Regular kiddush: at least 5 bottles of juice/soda pop and 2 bottles of kosher grape juice. If you wish to serve wine, you should supply 3 bottles.
• Special Simcha: 8 bottles of juice/soda pop, and 2 bottles of grape juice and, if wine is desired, 6 bottles.

Sample Menus:

While some sample menus are set out below to provide you with ideas, you need not feel restricted by them. Please feel free to serve what suits you and to be creative!

• Traditional: Herring, crackers, fruit and/or sweets
• Israeli: Humus, eggplant salad, tahini, avocado, tomatoes, vegetables, crackers, oranges, cake
• North American: Egg/tuna/salmon salads, cream cheese, pastries
• Any combination of the above

Quantities:

We can help advise how much you need. Just let us know if you need help.

6. Environmental Considerations

• The shul has enough plates, cutlery, glasses, etc. to accommodate most simchas, so normally, disposable dishes or utensils are not used in the shul.
• The shul's plastic drinking and wine glasses are not disposable; they are to be washed and reused like everything else
• Plastic grocery bags can also be re-used.

• After the kiddush, the sponsor must make sure that everything recyclable--all empty cans and glass and plastic bottles, as well as any newspapers, go in the blue box.

7. Social Awareness

You are responsible for removing all leftovers from the shul after Shabbat as there is no one else at the shul assigned to do so. You may find it useful to bring disposable food containers. If you would like, you may leave part of the leftovers for our Sunday morning daveners.

Please consider distributing the leftovers to any of the following organizations who will be happy to receive any food. Call ahead of time to make arrangements

• Scott Mission (phone: 923-8872). Food can be dropped off at the mission on Spadina north of College.
• Second Harvest (phone: 408-2594). Second Harvest's volunteers will meet you at the shul and pick up the leftovers.
• The Good Shepherd Refuge (phone number 869-3619). Food can be dropped off at 412 Queen Street East, 2 blocks east of Parliament.

8. Procedure for Kiddush

Preparations before Shabbat (i.e., prior to 3:00 p.m. on Friday):

• The hours when the shul is opened can be found in the Narayever Newsletter. If none of those times is convenient for you, please ensure that you have the access code to open the shul. Also find out how to lock the shul door and ensure that the person who will be the last to leave the building knows how to lock it.
• Bring the food to the shul and complete any preparations needed.
• Ensure the oven has been turned on before Shabbat if you need to warm food on Shabbat.
• All cooking must be completed before Shabbat. For example, if you are preparing eggs for egg salad, they must be boiled in the shul kitchen, prior to the commencement of Shabbat.
• To defray the costs, you may decide to arrange for some friends to help you with preparation of the food, setting up the tables on Shabbat morning, and washing up afterwards.
• You may want to arrange for paid help. We have worked with two particular women, both with their own networks of staff, who are fast, efficient and comfortable with our rules. They will be able to advise you about how many helpers you will require, depending on the size of the kiddush. Setting up the tables, preparing the food and putting it out, washing dishes and cleaning up afterwards takes time. Please call two or three weeks in advance. Their names are:

  Barbara Mieszczanski	(416) 292-4941
  Espie Vargas	(416) 834-8940

Reminder: If Shabat occurs after or during a Yom Tov, everything must be brought in before the Yom Tov starts.

Shabbat Morning:

• Come downstairs in sufficient time to set up and lay out all the food.
• Dishes, cutlery and napkins can be found in the kitchen.
• Tablecloths are available to you only if you are making the kiddush yourself. If you are hiring a caterer, you are expected to arrange for them to provide the tablecloths for you.
• Tables: Space in the basement is very tight and traffic control becomes a problem, especially during a simcha. We have experimented with a number of table layouts. The only one that allows speedy access to food, keeps people moving, and also allows room for socializing is diagrammed in Appendix B. (Please note that the tables cannot be joined in any way.) If you are using a caterer, please ensure that this arrangement design is used.
• Children's services commence at 11:00. Please note that Table #3 cannot be put into place until the children's service is over.
• If you wish to lead Ha Motzi (the blessing over the bread), please go downstairs immediately, so people can begin to eat.

After the Kiddush:

• Wash and dry all dishes and utensils, and put everything back where it belongs. The kitchen is clearly labeled and well organized in order to provide a convenient workspace and we would appreciate your help keeping it that way.
• Leave tablecloths in the labeled cupboard by the kitchen door. Lay out towels to dry on the kitchen counters.
• Clean/sweep up and leave the kitchen tidy.
• Place the garbage bags in the bins outside and secure the lids.
• As mentioned earlier, please take any leftovers or arrange to have them picked up only after Shabbat is over.
• Please be sure that you leave the kitchen as clean and neat as you found it.

9. Tips for Buying Kosher Food

• Fruits and vegetables: These may be purchased anywhere.
• Wine: Most LCBO outlets (e.g. Dupont east of Spadina) carry some kosher wine. The outlets at Wilmington and Overbrook, and on Wilson just west of Bathurst have the best selections.
• Shopping Downtown: Honest Ed's grocery and Loblaws on Dupont and Christie, have large selections of kosher foods, including cookies and cheese. Many brands of cream cheese and cottage cheese (including Astro, Blue Bell and Philadelphia Brand cream cheese) are certified Kosher.
• Shopping Uptown: Stores on Bathurst such as Kosher City, Daiters, and the supermarkets at Bathurst and Lawrence, Bathurst and Wilson and Bathurst and Finch all carry a wide selection of kosher dairy or pareve products. Remember that any prepared foods from these venues must carry an acceptable hekhsher.
• Most supermarkets have a large variety of certified Kosher products
• Kosher bakeries under COR supervision include:

  Anita Bengio Patisserie Inc
  870 Steeprock Dr Toronto M3J2X2
  416-638-3051

  Grodzinski Bakery
  3456 Bathurst St Toronto M6A2C4
  416-789-0785

  Hermes Bakery Ltd
  2885 Bathurst St Toronto M6B3A4
  416-787-1234

  Isaac's Bakery & Cafe
  3390 Bathurst St Toronto M6A2B9
  416-789-7587

  Kosher Bake Shop Inc
  3023 Bathurst St Toronto M6B3B5
  416-782-9280

  Price Chopper Cedarcroft
  5990 Bathurst St Toronto M2R1Z1
  416-667-1301

  Richman's Bakery
  4119 Bathurst St Toronto M3H3P4
  416-636-9710

  Sweet York Desserts
  1700 Bathurst St Toronto M5P3K3
  416-782-1798

• Kosher dairy or pareve caterers under COR supervision include:

  Caterers York Ltd
  1700 Bathurst St Toronto M5P3K3
  416-783-4293

  GMB Culinary Productions Inc
  801 Eglinton Ave W Ste 300 Toronto M5N1E3
  416- 789-7811

  It's An Occasion! Ltd
  596 Marlee Ave Toronto M6B3J5
  416-785-0996

  Levy's Catering
  47 Glenbrook Ave Toronto M6B2L7
  416-256-7886

  Menchens Catering
  117 Barse St Toronto M5M4L3
  416-638-8381

  Miriam's Table Inc
  55 Yeomans Rd Toronto M3H3J7
  416-633-6554

  Rose Lazar Catering Services
  40 Bryant St Toronto M3H5A1
  416-633-0344

  Taam Tov Fine Foods
  788 Marlee Ave Toronto M6B3K1
  416-785-7079

  Umami Sushi and Catering
  3459 Bathurst St Toronto M6A 2C5
  416-782-3375

  Zuchter Berk Creative Caterers
  1895 Leslie St Toronto M3B2M3
  905-386-1086

For more information and choices, please refer to the website www.cor.ca

We encourage the "Do It Yourself" kiddush, but it doesn't hurt to have some help with set-up and clean-up. For help call:

In addition, Rabbi Elkin has approved two other caterers, who works out of Narayever's kitchen:

• Vlad Litinsky. Cell: 416-303-3050, Email: koshertable@yahoo.ca
• Enjorno Catering, Rachel Zilberg. Phone 416-551-9370, email: rachel_vellano@yahoo.ca

10. Tax Receipt

1. Send receipts indicating what you have spent to the shul office.
2. Attach a cheque for a donation in the same amount (to a maximum of $750) to the shul office.
3. We will issue you a charitable donation receipt for the amount of your donation.
4. Our administrator will write you a cheque for the total amount shown on the receipts, to a maximum of $750.

First Narayever Congregation
187 Brunswick Avenue
Toronto, Ontario
M5S 2M4
Phone number:(416) 927-0546

APPENDIX A: Self-Shopped Kiddush Shopping List

APPENDIX B: Table Set-up for Kiddush

Regrettably, at this time I can't get the picture of the table layout into the online web document.

Revised 17 Aug 2004 to add a web link to Mazon, and to delete references to Yom Tov as per Rabbi Elkin.

Revised March 2006.

Updated 25 April, 2006 to correct phone number of Vlad Litinsky

Updated 30 Oct, 2006 to update phone of Espie Vargas; add Aarons Cousins Consulting caterers.

Updated 11 Dec, 2006. Barbara Schacter is new Kiddush Coordinator

Updated 24 Sept 2007. Change phone for Vlad Litinsky, remove Aarons caterer.

Updated 30 Oct 2007. Removed Litwack catering; added Rachel Zilberg.