Feed the Rabbi

FEED A RABBI (or anyone else who keeps Kosher)
From David Booth, Senior Rabbi at Congregation Kol Emeth:

Carol and I have felt so welcomed and accepted by this community. A few times we have been invited to someone’s home who does not keep Kosher. Usually the person starts out feeling a little uncomfortable. We are delighted to accept hospitality from anyone who offers. We are not picky, either. I enjoy the company and the opportunity to get to know someone far more than even the most elegant of meals.

Having said that, I do keep strictly kosher wherever I am. What you may not realize is that accommodating a guest who keeps kosher is surprisingly easy. Don’t let your concerns about kashrut keep you from reaching out to someone who keeps Kosher.

First, if you keep Kosher, I am delighted to eat whatever you put in front of me. I am not the Kosher police. I have a lot of faith in what you do. I will eat off of your dishes and enjoy whatever you prepare.

Second, if you don't keep a kosher home, it is still very easy to serve Kosher food. There are a number of options. The two easiest are:

1. Serve cold food. Kashrut issues come up around heat. As long as you don’t warm anything there are no issues. Therefore, you can buy and serve fresh produce without a second thought. Anything cooked that you bring into your house (like bagels, bakery items and so forth) must have a kosher mark on them because they were cooked elsewhere. I very much enjoy eating bagels, maybe some lox, and fruit salad. It’s simple and creates almost no kosher issues. If you warm something up, please do use paper plates.
2. Get take out from somewhere Kosher or strictly vegetarian, like Garden Fresh in Mountain View, or anything from Izzy’s in Palo Alto.
3. If you choose to serve hot food, it becomes slightly more complicated. This step is entirely unnecessary from my perspective and I mention it only because occasionally people have asked about this. It requires the following:
   1. First, the oven must be koshered. To do this, it must be thoroughly cleaned and then run at the highest setting for 30 minutes.
   2. Second, any utensils used in the preparation of food must be new / never used.
   3. Third, anything other than fresh produce must have a kosher mark on it.
   4. Stove tops can be used provided that the pots and pans are new / never used.

I hope this letter makes it clear how easy it is to host someone who keeps Kosher, myself included. I would never want someone to reach out and feel overwhelmed by the details. My family is delighted by the warmth we have found at Kol Emeth. We all look forward to continuing friendships and establishing new friendships.