Sponsor Kiddush in 3 EASY STEPS!

Thank you so much for your interest in sponsoring kiddush! We appreciate your support of good food and good conversation for the community.

Kiddush FAQ

How do I sign up to sponsor?

Please email evan@kehilathadar.org with: the date you would like to sponsor; the reason for sponsorship (so we can acknowledge your support in our communications); and if known) whether you plan to schedule a delivery or will be shopping and bringing the kiddush food yourself. A member of the kiddush team will promptly follow up with you to help with logistics and walk you through our policies. Thank you!

What are sponsor responsibilities?

As a volunteer-led community, we request that sponsors participate in set-up and clean-up on the date of their sponsorship. They will also be supported in this by a kiddush team member. The kiddush team will share the guidelines and policies with sponsors in advance of their sponsorship date.

1. Order or pick up food

Sponsors have the option to shop for food and drop it off at 210 West 93rd Street, or place an online order for delivery to 210 West 93rd Street. Before placing any order, please email Evan Feist, KHSZ Administration & Operations Manager, at evan@kehilathadar.org to coordinate delivery times and to ensure that delivered perishables will be unpacked and refrigerated.

Note regarding bread products (challah, bagels): KHSZ policy is to permit bread only as part of a substantial meal, as it requires netilat yadayim (washing hands before eating bread), hamotzi (reciting a blessing over bread), and bentching (saying Grace After Meals). If you are sponsoring a kiddush and not a lunch, please select crackers or chips. If you are interested in sponsoring a more substantial meal which will include bread, please inform the kiddush team.

2. Set up

On Shabbat morning, the sponsors and the kiddush team volunteer start preparing the food platters in the kitchen off of the social hall. When that is completed, the sponsors and a kiddush team member bring the food out from the kitchen to the round tables in the middle of the social hall. This should be completed before Shabbat morning services conclude, as kiddush takes place immediately after the end of services.

3. Clean up

When kiddush is over, please throw away (or compost) food scraps; organize the kitchen (e.g. toss or recycle any open and empty bags/containers); take care of leftovers by taking them home or asking community members if they want them; and put platters and bowls in the sink. Sponsors do not have to wash and dry platters and bowls. 

How many people should I plan for?

Please plan to provide food for at least 150 people on a standard Shabbat.

What food should I buy?

Here are links to suggested items from Instacart and FreshDirect; please order through your personal Instacart or FreshDirect account. In general, we recommend the following:

• 7-8 bags of a variety of chips, pretzels, and crackers
• 6 boxes of cookies
• 1-2 containers of wrapped chocolate or sweets
• 3 16oz containers of strawberries
• 3 2lb bags of grapes
• 3 10-16oz containers of other fruits (blackberries, blueberries, etc) 
• 2 1lb bags of baby carrots
• 3 12oz containers of grape tomatoes
• (+ other snackable vegetables - cucumbers; baby bell peppers; broccoli)
• 2 jars of salsa 
• 4+ containers of hummus, guacamole, and other dips/spreads
• 2-3 1.5lb pre-packaged trays of kosher cheese slices, or blocks of cheese to be cut on Shabbat morning

Other options to add: egg & tuna salads; whitefish salad; ice cream; sorbet; dried fruits; and nuts. We always have pitchers of water available, but you are welcome to also provide bottles of soda and seltzer. 

Please be mindful of the community's Kashrut Policy.

How can I coordinate a larger kiddush or a lunch?

If you are considering a more extensive kiddush spread or a catered order, please email evan@kehilathadar.org to discuss logistics. The kiddush team can provide you with a list of packages that community members have previously used.

How can I schedule a delivery or a drop-off?

Email evan@kehilathadar.org and the kiddush team can help you coordinate.