Congregation B’nai Israel


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Kashrut policies @ CBI

The Why before the What of Kashrut

At CBI we believe that our connections with each other and with God are deepened by the way of mitzvot. We are commanded to be a holy people. “You shall be holy for I the Lord your God am holy.” “You shall be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.” Israel is commanded to be holy; and again and again commanded to be holy. But how do we become holy? We become holy by bringing holiness to that which is not yet holy, the profane, the everyday. And it is through observing mitzvot that we are able to make holy and to become holy. Kashrut, the Jewish spiritual discipline around eating, when practiced with intention, can set us on this course every day, a few times a day. “You are what you eat.” That is, what you choose to eat and how you choose to eat it says a lot about who you are and what kind of a life you are striving to achieve. As a communal and personal discipline, kashrut is an opportunity to invest the daily activity of eating with a dimension of holiness – an awareness of the power of life, both given and taken.

The WHATs of CBI’s Kashrut policy

Our kitchen is kosher dairy most of the year. That means that unless the kitchen has been “turned over” no meat or meat products are allowed.

On Shabbat no cooking or heating of water is permitted. All food that needs to be cooked needs to be prepared in advance. It is permissible to cut, slice or peel vegetables. Grinding is not permitted. Electrical appliances do not work on Shabbat at CBI.

 

We accept the following WITHOUT a kosher symbol, or hechsher:

All dried fruit with the exception of dried banana

All fresh kosher fish (species with fins and scales, such as salmon, whitefish, sardines, snapper and tilapia; when in doubt consult the rabbi. Swordfish, catfish, eels, grayfish, shark, snake mackerels, puffer fish, sturgeon are NOT kosher)

All fresh vegetables and fruit, care must be taken to clean insects from some varieties such as asparagus and artichokes.

All frozen fruit

Baking Powder

Baking Soda

Cane Juice

Cleaning products, paper products, aluminum products, rubber gloves

Cocoa

Coconut Flakes – Without glycerin

Corn Grits

Corn Meal

Corn Starch

Corn Syrup

Dried Herbs – Leaves, seeds and spices, without added ingredients

Eggs

Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Flour – Without enzymes

Garlic – fresh, powder (without additives), crushed or juice

Mustard – seeds or ground. Prepared mustard requires certification

Onion – fresh, powder (without additives), crushed or juice

Pasta without eggs or oil

Pure spices, such as cumin or allspice

Salt

Semolina

Sugar, whether powdered, brown or white

Tapioca – Pre-cooked or raw

Unflavored applesauce

Unflavored coffee

Unflavored milk

Unflavored seltzer

Unflavored tea

 

These products DO NEED a kosher certification/kosher symbol:

All canned beans

All canned vegetables

All cheeses

All creamers

All decorating products: food coloring, icing, sprinkles

All extracts

All flavored coffee

All flavored seltzer

All flavored sugar

All flavored tea

All freeze-dried vegetables

All juices

All margarines

All Mixes – bread, cakes, soup, pancakes etc.

All processed fish: canned, gefilte, ground, smoked, lox

All processed food

All salad dressings

All sauces

All sodas

All sugar substitutes

All types of dough

All vinegars

Anything with food coloring

Chocolate Chips – Many kosher dairy brands are available. Lieber’s and Paskesz are parve certified.

Cooking Sprays

Herb and seasoning blends

Mixed vegetable oil, including canola oil

Pasta with eggs or oil

Pie Crusts

Pie Fillings

Puddings

Shortening

Tofu, any variety

Whipped Topping

Yeast

 

We accept most kosher symbols. However, a simple K is not acceptable. Ask the rabbi if you have any questions.

FAQ

  • Is the bakery at Stop and Shop kosher? Yes, but make sure that whatever you buy has a symbol.
  • Where can I find good kosher bagels nearby? Our rabbi supervises the factory that provides bagels for Bagelman in Brookfield (Candlewood Lake Plaza) and Bagelman in Danbury (40 1/2 Padanaram Road). ONLY BAGELS are kosher at those locations, and ONLY on those two locations. You can order them pre sliced. They are parve.
  • My home is kosher/strictly vegetarian. Can I bring my coffee pot to make coffee for a board meeting? – Talk to the rabbi for permission.
  • My home is kosher/strictly vegetarian. Can I bring X to serve at a Kiddush? – Talk to the rabbi for permission.
  • What happens on Passover? Only food with a Kosher for Passover symbol is allowed in the building. Our kitchen is locked, that part of the building is sold, and only paper plates and cups are used. An item marked with a kashrut symbol followed by a P (KP) means that the item is Kosher for Passover. It does not mean Kosher Pareve. Any item that has a kashrut emblem without a D (for Dairy) or M (for Meat) is always pareve. Kosher for Passover (KP) items follow these same guidelines concerning their status and will be designated as meat, dairy, or pareve.
  • When are the meat days? We turn over the kitchen for Shabbat Across America and the Jewish Summerfest

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Upcoming

March 26-Deadline for Chamaytz Sale 11:50am (remember it is Pesachdic foods for Shabbat this year)
March 27 Zoom Shabbat Services 9:30am
                First Seder at night
March 28-Zoom Passover Services 9:30am
                Second Seder at night
March 29-Zoom Passover Services 9:30am
April 3 Passover/Shabbat services 9:30a Zoom
April 4 Passover services-Yizkor about 11a Zoom
April 6  Board Mtg 7:30p Zoom
April 8 Yom HaShoah program sponsored by Federation 5-5:45p on YouTube. Details to follow.
April 11 Ritual mtg 7pm Zoom
April 15 Yom Ha’atsma’ut Dinner with the Rabbi 6p Zoom
Adult Ed Mondays 10:30a; 6:30p Zoom

RSS Shabbat Times

  • Parashat Achrei Mot-Kedoshim
    Saturday, April 24, 2021
  • Havdalah (50 min): 8:34pm
    Saturday, April 24, 2021
  • Candle lighting: 7:25pm
    Friday, April 23, 2021

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Congregation B’nai Israel
193 Clapboard Ridge Road
Danbury, CT 06811
(203) 792-6161
cbi193clap@gmail.com
Proud member of the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism

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