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Students who are a part of the Hillel community may observe the Jewish dietary laws (Kashrut) differently. As an institution, we are committed to having all students, no matter what the nature of their observance, feel comfortable eating at Hillel.  We also are committed to providing kosher food at Hillel and Hillel community events. Our facility has only one kitchen with care taken to use separate ovens, cooking utensils, cookware, etc. during the preparation of meals. With limited access to Kosher products and due to the set-up of our kitchen, Hillel is not on a regular basis able to provide 100% Kosher meals or snacks, outside of specific holiday requirements. We do work to ensure that options are provided for students with dietary restrictions or preferences, but students must let staff know. 

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Values:

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1. Tradition: Traditional Jewish food practices, including the halacha (Jewish legal tradition) of kashrut, Shabbat, and holiday cooking, provide the basis for our policies.

 

   2. Inclusivity: Hillel eats food as a community and prepares food so that all can join at one table.

 

   3. Community: We cook our meals together with help from staff and students, both to bond as we  

prepare food and to benefit the larger community.

 

   4. Justice: Hillel will try to purchase food from suppliers that respect workers’ rights. Only Kosher meat is used when preparing meals. Meat and dairy are never served together and this applies also to food made outside of Hillel’s kitchen that is brought in.

 

    5. Education: There are no prerequisites of skills or knowledge for students to cook in the Hillel kitchen. 

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• Staff and/or trained interns will supervise all cooking events to assist newcomers, facilitate introductions to the kitchen, kashrut, and other volunteers. 

• Students who cook at Hillel will learn cooking skills and about kashrut and sustainability practices. 

• Hillel encourages food interns and other students to create educational initiatives around food and food values to enrich our community.

• Hillel will help connect students to resources in the wider Jewish and Oklahoma City/Norman communities to aid in their education about food and ethical food practices if requested.

 

    6. Zero waste: We strive to make economic choices in line with our values in purchasing food, and we work hard to ensure that as little food as possible is wasted.

 

    7. Taste: Hillel will strive to make and serve delicious, homemade foods, when possible, to ensure that our students receive nutritious and high-quality foods.

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Kitchen Policy:

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1. Supervision:

• All initial kitchen use will be supervised by Hillel staff or trained interns.

• Refrigerators, stove, cabinets, cookware, and drawers are all clearly labeled to ensure items are not mixed.

• Professional staff and student interns will be trained to follow all rules and policies (including kosher practices) and will be asked to enforce those policies.

• All users of the kitchen (including, students, staff, guests) are forbidden from bringing in items that are strictly forbidden. 

• Outside food (non-Kosher) may not be stored in the kitchen refrigerators.

 

   2. Separation of Milk and Meat: Hillel will maintain separate dairy and meat kitchens. No utensils or foodstuffs will be shared between these items. 

 

   3. Shabbat and Holiday meals: Hillel will complete work all cooking in advance of Shabbat and observe traditional Jewish halacha (Jewish legal tradition) regarding food preparation on holidays.

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Outside the Kitchens:

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In common spaces outside of the kitchens, including the refrigerator and microwave in the lounge, food may be brought into Hillel that is not kosher.

 

If the kitchens are being used, or if there is a kosher meal being eaten in the auditorium, no other food or drinks may be brought into the auditorium.