Kosher Rules

What is Kosher?

San Antonio Express News- Kosher Meat Preparation by Chuck Blount, December 12, 2017

Kashrut (Keeping Kosher) is the body of Jewish law dealing with what foods can and cannot be eaten and how those foods must be prepared.  The word “Kashrut” comes from the Hebrew meaning fit, proper or correct.  Kosher is not a style of cooking and therefore there is no such thing as “kosher-style” food.  The most important aspects of keeping kosher for the BBQ is that there is no mixing of milk and meat and that all meat and certainly not pork and cooking products must have a heksher (kosher symbol).  All meat and products will be distributed at the BBQ and overseen by our Rabbi Jeffrey Abraham. So don’t bring a cheese pizza or other food prepared outside of the synagogue to the event.

Kosher Utensils

All utensils must be made kosher on site. Even if you cook with kosher ingredients, if you used your favorite skewer, or fork from home, your meat would not be kosher unless your utensils are kashered under supervision on site. This applies even if your home is kosher. Please refer to kashering information under Contest Kosher Rules.

Grill Lighting Procedures

In order for most foods to be kosher, they need to be partially cooked by someone Jewish. If your team has no one on the team who is Jewish, we request that you ask the Rabbi, Randy Pulman (BBQ Team Chair) or other KBBQ committee member. A non-Jewish friend can light the fire at anytime. You cannot start cooking until after Havdalah.

Supervised Kosher

Rabbi Hodson & Rabbi Arad will be coming around to your BBQ pits to check food over the weekend. Your food may be prepared with kosher ingredients and utensils and be cooked by someone Jewish or non-Jewish, but if it is not done under the occasional glance of the Rabbi, it is not completely kosher. Rabbi Hodson & Rabbi Arad have made a solemn promise not to reveal any of your highly guarded techniques and secrets to your competitors. So, please do not be shocked if the Rabbi seems overly interested in your brisket. He just may be hungry or he may just be snooping for the sake of snooping, but rest assured that you will have followed the guidelines listed. For all the things the Rabbi might do, he will not bless your food. Kosher does not mean blessed by the Rabbi. The only blessing the Rabbi will make will be over his lunch.

Kosher Guidelines for Snacks

All snacks brought to the synagogue building and parking lot must be approved by Rabbi Hodson & Rabbi Arad. All food items must be in their original package, unopened, with the seal intact. The Rabbi will be available to check food items on Sunday morning. Please be sure to see him with your snacks before going to your booth that morning. Bringing unapproved food onsite could lead to disqualification.

While on the synagogue grounds (inside and outside), please do not bring any food prepared outside of the congregation. You may bring the following drinks: Pepsi, Sprite, 7 Up, Mountain Dew, Seagram’s Ginger Ale, 100% Apple Juice, Orange Juice, Domestic Beers, Liquor, or Power Aide. Please no Gatorade.

No Fruit Punch drinks allowed (many are not approved kosher).

You may bring closed packaged snacks such as potato chips and pretzels only if they have one of the following symbols:

 

If there is a “D” on it, it means it is a dairy product and should not be used at the BBQ.