Event Planning

Thank you for considering having your event at the Temple of Aaron. This page will give you some information on dietary regulations and planning.

Do you want an elegant, unforgettable location for your wedding reception or social event? The Temple of Aaron has all the ingredients for making magnificent memories. The Stein Hall at the Temple of Aaron offers a large space for up to 400 guests for dining and 500 for a reception.

Kashrut: Dietary Regulations of Temple of Aaron

In order to strengthen the observance of these laws and to guide those who prepare foods in the kitchen of our congregation, we have provided the following regulations to assure that only kosher foods are introduced into Temple of Aaron.

It is the responsibility of congregants planning an event at Temple of Aaron to inform bakers and authorized caterers of these rules and regulations.

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Baked Goods & Candies Prepared in Homes:

We are happy that family and friends of those celebrants of a simcha wish to help by baking goods in the homes. The Temple of Aaron kitchen is kosher, and all congregants presume that any food served in the congregation is kosher. We prefer that food brought into the synagogue be prepared under kashrut supervision or be baked or prepared in our own kitchen.

Please share this information with everyone baking for your simcha.

Food baked in your home may be brought into the congregation according to the policy of the Ritual Committee of the congregation, under the following circumstances:

• It can only be for a parve or milchig event.
• You must be very careful to check ingredients to make sure that no animal shortening or fat is used. Only 100% pure vegetable shortening is permitted. You must be very careful to check ingredients on all items that you use. If you're going to use a commercially prepared cake mix, it must have a kosher label or kosher ingredients.
  
• Gelatin products, including marshmallows, are permitted by the Rabbinical Assembly Committee on Jewish Law and Standards.
  
• Cooking utensils. If you have cooked non-kosher food in your oven, the oven must be thoroughly cleaned and then turn on the broiler for half an hour before beginning to bake. In addition, if you have cooked non-kosher food in your baking pans, you must either kasher the pans or purchase new ones. (Throwaways are acceptable.)
  
• Baking pans cannot be kashered.  Please, use new or disposable pans when baking for use at our Temple .

You may want to share this letter and prayer with your friends who are baking for your simcha.

Dear Friends:

We look forward to sharing our Bar/Bat Mitzvah simcha with you. Thank you very much for agreeing to bake for us. We want to share this prayer which was adapted for 1994. We hope it will help spiritualize your hard work baking for our simcha.

This is a prayer one says when putting simcha baking into the oven:

"Adonai, in your hand is all blessing. I come now to revere your Holiness and I pray You bestow Your blessings on my baked goods. Send an angel to guard the baking, so that all will be well baked, will rise nicely, and will not burn as I work to honor the holy Shabbat. You have chosen Shabbat as a gift to us so that Your children may rest on it. As you blessed the dough of Sarah and Rebekah our mothers, bless my baking. God, listen to my voice. You hear the voices of those who call to You with their whole heart."

Adapted from an 18th c.. Yiddish Techinah prayer translated by Chava Weissler, in Ellen Umansky and Dianne Ashton, eds., Four Centuries of Jewish Women's Spirituality (Beacon Press, 1992)

Meats

Fresh and frozen meats and poultry: The kosher butcher will prepare a written statement of the amount of each delivery. Only meat that is tagged as kosher will be received.

Canned and Frozen Commercially Prepared Foods

Canned and frozen goods with a kosher label may be used. For a list of acceptable labels or to check on a product, contact the Rabbis. 

Canned and frozen goods without a kosher label must be checked to determine that they contain kosher ingredients.  When in doubt, ask the Rabbi.

Baked Goods and Candies

Baked goods and candies prepared commercially. Those bakeries on the approved list may bring their products into the synagogue. The company must send a note indicating whether the shipment is parve or milchig.

Baked goods and candies prepared in homes. Home baked goods may be brought into the synagogue when these rules are followed:

• Only vegetable shortening is used.
  
• Use pans reserved exclusively for kosher baking.
  
• Use only those cake mixes having a kosher label or kosher ingredients.
  
• May be used for Oneg Shabbat, Kiddush or to accompany milk meals only.
  
• No home prepared goods can be served with a meat meal.
• Crackers: Only crackers with a kosher or 100% vegetable shortening only label may be used. (Many crackers have non-kosher ingredients).

Other Locally-Prepared Foods

A kosher caterer whose kitchen is supervised by a Mashgiach may bring prepared foods into the synagogue. They must enclose a note stating the quantity of food delivered and attesting to its kashrut.

Caterers not supervised by a Mashgiach, private family and volunteers of the of the various organizations must prepare all foods except bakery in the synagogue kitchen. A kitchen supervisor must be in attendance.

Gelatin Products Gelatin products including marshmallows: The Rabbinical Assembly Committee on Jewish Law and Standards, after careful study of the Halachic problem, has ruled that all gelatins are kosher.

Milk Products May Not Be Served at Meat Meals

Those serving meat meals must be careful that all ingredients of all foods served are parve or fleishig. Among those products which must be carefully checked to be sure there is no milchig ingredients are:

• Breads
  
• Bakery goods
  
• Candy
  
• Canned foods

To ensure parve status, baked goods for meat meals must come from an authorized bakery or baked in the synagogue kitchen under supervision.

Only Kosher Utensils in the Synagogue Kitchen

Utensils General Rule

• All caterers must use the utensils of the Temple of Aaron
  
• Synagogue cooking utensils and containers cannot be removed from the premises.Once removed, they CANNOT be returned and you will be charged the cost for their replacement.

Silver Service for Hot Foods

The general caterers are given special permission to purchase and use kosher silver service for foods if, and as long as, they accept and observe the following:

• The use of such silver items is for strictly kosher affairs only
  
• Each item must be clearly marked "milk" or "meat"
  
• To accept such spot checking of their practices in this matter as Synagogues or Rabbis deem necessary.

Other Items That May Be Introduced by Any User

• Metal trays for baked goods on condition that user covers the tray with Saran wrap, or other non-porous covering
  
• Tea and coffee urns and servers
  
• Plain nuts
  
• Glass plates

Kosher Caterers and Bakeries

You can request a copy of our updated Authorized Caterers and Bakers List. It contains contact information on Twin Cities caterers and bakeries authorized to cater events in our synagogue. They are then under the supervision of the rabbi of the synagogue. If they cater outside the synagogue in a hotel or hall, etc. they must prepare their food in a kitchen approved by the Twin Cities Rabbinic Kashruth Council, and have a mashgiach assigned by the Twin Cities Rabbinic Kashruth Council present at all times.  For questions about this list, contact the Rabbi. 

Catered Events at Temple of Aaron

• All arrangements for facility use should be in writing. Please keep in mind that the meal should be entirely milchig or kosher in order to extend the proper religious perspective to the celebration. Temple of Aaron does not permit use of its facilities by its members unless all financial obligations are current.  For informaiton or to reserve a room, contact the Executive Director.
• All catered events at Temple of Aaron have a facility utilization fee of $3.00 per person for the first 200 guests, and $1.50 per person for the second 200; with a maximum cost of $900 per event. This covers utilities, custodial labor, cleaning supplies, breakage and use of equipment.
• All caterers must reserve time for kitchen use. It is Temple of Aaron policy that the Kitchen Supervisor be present at all times. Caterers are required to pay the current Kitchen Supervisor fee of $25.00 per hour while using Temple facilities.
  
• All Scheduling for kitchen use must be approved by the Temple of Aaron Executive Director.
  
• Observing Kosher food laws can exert a powerful influence on the modern Jew. It establishes reverence, self-discipline and loyalty to our heritage of justice and righteousness.  We recommend serving a kosher meal after all events that celebrate a mitzvah (Brit/Simchat Bat - Bar-Bat Mitzvah - wedding, etc.)

Catering For Smaller Events (less than 10 people)
Temple of Aaron Catering has established a minimum fee for smaller parties. We all recognize there is a higher cost per person for smaller groups because of fixed expenses. The current policy established a $300 minimum for any event catered by Temple of Aaron Catering. (food, labor, facility usage fee, etc. are included)

Tables
Temple of Aaron has 20 round tables (each table seats 10) and 30 banquet tables (each seats 8)

Linen
Arrangements for linens should be made with your caterer.

Serving Alcoholic Beverages
It is illegal to dispense any alcoholic beverages to a minor. The Temple of Aaron is NOT liable for any action that may result from your guests securing such beverages at your event.

Deliveries
All Deliveries of food, flowers, tables, linen, decorations, etc. must be completed by 3:30 P.M. on Friday afternoon, or prior to the eve of a holiday. Please advise the Kitchen Supervisor of the time of major deliveries. NO DELIVERIES ON SHABBAT.

Insurance Suggestion
It is economical to add a floater provision to your home insurance policy to insure against any mishaps at your special function. We strongly suggest contacting your insurance agent.  For information on insurance coverage contact the Executive Director.

Click here to download a pdf of the authorized kosher caterers.

Disclaimer

Proper planning and preparation will enrich your experiences during all Jewish life-cycle ceremonies and the Temple will share in your happy occasion. We have established guidelines but no written document can anticipate all situations that may arise. Therefore, feel free to contact the Temple of Aaron office for further information.

Please remember the following:

1. Temple of Aaron is NOT responsible for the loss or theft of clothing or personal articles.

2. The Board of Directors of the Temple of Aaron has established a policy that congregational facilities CANNOT be used by members whose total obligations are not current 30 days prior to the event.

3. The renter agrees to hold the Temple of Aaron harmless for any claims on any account, and particularly, on account of injuries, death or damage occasioned out of the use of the Temple of Aaron facilities (consider adding a floater to home insurance policy)

4. The cost of any special service needs are the responsibility of the family. The Temple staff will assist in making any necessary arrangements.

We will continue to revise and update to match current policies and to incorporate helpful suggestions made by all of you. Any policy changes approved by our Board of Directors will supercede policies listed in this booklet.

Note: The Board of Directors periodically modifies existing policies. Any new policies will supercede policies listed in this page.