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Kol Ami, The Northern Virginia Reconstructionist Community

Kashrut Policy

Guidelines for Food Brought to Kol Ami: NVRC Events

Almost all Kol Ami: NVRC events include food, and participants are asked to bring a dish or a dessert. This policy for foods brought to Kol Ami events was approved by our Ritual Committee and is based on input from RRC rabbinical student Lisa Kapin. It reflects our effort to be as inclusive as possible. We would like all of our participants to feel comfortable sharing food at our events. Please keep in mind that the food we serve is offered with love and should be accepted with love.

General Guidelines

Food brought to an NVRC event should be vegetarian/dairy or pareve. Any foods that may be an issue with vegetarians (i.e. fish) should be clearly marked so people can make informed choices. We assume that kashrut is determined by ingredients and that a heksher by a rabbinic authority is not necessary.  In addition, we assume that food offerings are not required to be prepared in dishes considered ritually fit (i.e. one set for meat, one set for dairy/pareve [includes foods which are not considered milk or meat e.g. vegetables, fruits, eggs, etc.]). Folks in our community who are concerned about these issues should determine which food dishes were prepared by those of similar kashrut observance level and then restrict themselves to those food dishes. Please keep in mind that the food we serve is offered with love and should be accepted with love.

Passover Guidelines

Products marked Kosher for Passover are safe and easy.

Preparing a dish at home: Avoid using ingredients that include chametz (i.e. bread or products made with leavened wheat, spelt, rye, barley, or oats). Watch out for bread, breadcrumbs, cereals, cakes, biscuits, crackers, cookies, coffees containing cereal derivatives or flavors made from grain alcohol. In general, when using any processed food, read the ingredients list carefully to screen for these items.

Keep it vegetarian/dairy with fish as an option.

Wine should be marked kosher for Passover.

Clearly label dishes with rice, legumes and corn/corn syrup (Sephardic Jews do not follow the Ashkenazic custom of omitting these foods), so participants can make an informed choice.

Ask if you have questions. E-mail kashrut

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