kashrut policy
Principle: Students who are a part of the Brown-RISD Hillel follow a variety of levels of observance of the Jewish dietary laws (Kashrut). As an institution, we are committed to having all students, no matter what their level of observance, feel comfortable eating in Brown Hillel. We also are committed to serving Kosher food at Hillel community events.
Guidelines:
- Students will be allowed to bring any type of food into any of the building's spaces for their own personal consumption, except for those which are mentioned in the following guidelines.
- No food is allowed in the Beit Midrash or in the Winnick Chapel.
- All food brought into into the Kitchen or the Social Hall must have a rabbinical certification or hekhsher. Acceptable hekhshers will be decided in consultation with students, staff, and local Rabbis.
- The kashrut policies of the staff wing will be made by the Hillel Staff.
- No outside food may be brought into the building during Passover.
- Food without an approved hekhsher may not be brought into the Sukkah when Hillel dishes are being used. When those dishes are not used, students may bring in any food they choose for their own personal consumption.
- A student trained as a kitchen monitor must be present whenever students are using the kitchen. The key to the kitchen may only be given to students who are trained as kitchen monitors.
- All staff, including front desk staff, must also be trained as kitchen monitors as part of their staff training.
- Events held in the Hillel building that are open to the public, including events not held under the auspices of Brown-RISD Hillel, must serve only food that has an approved hekhsher. At closed events where the list of attendees is known, the event's organizers may decide their own kashrut policy.
- Open events held under the auspices of Brown-RISD Hillel that occur outside the Hillel building are strongly encouraged to provide Kosher food, but are not required to do so.
Enactment:
- Clearly visible signs will be posted in the necessary areas.
- The kitchen area will be clearly labeled and guidelines to keeping the space kosher will be posted within the kitchen.
- The list of approved Kashrut symbols will be given to student leaders and posted in a public manner.
- Students leaders and staff will be made continually aware of this policy and must abide by its guidelines.
- Hillel will conduct regular kitchen monitor certification for students and staff. The protocol for kitchen monitor certification will be determined by the student executive board in consultation with students and staff.
- A list of students who are certified as kitchen monitors will be at the front desk. Staff working at the front desk may only give the kitchen key to students who have been certified as kitchen monitors. If a student is not certified as a kitchen monitor, the person at the front desk will accompany them to the kitchen. In these situations, students may only retrieve food, and may not prepare any food.
- Funding will not be granted to student groups holding events under Hillel's auspices that do not abide by these guidelines.