Sponsor Kiddush in 3 EASY STEPS!

Step 1: Reach out to our friendly kiddush team (kiddush@kehilathadar.org) about purchasing or ordering food (even if you plan to purchase and bring the food entirely on your own, please communicate with the kiddush team in advance so that you are aware of our policies).
Step 2: Prepare the food on Shabbat morning (with our help).
Step 3: Clean up food and wash/dry platters after kiddush (with our help).

Sponsoring Kiddush FAQ

For what occasions do people sponsor kiddush?

ANYTHING! Birthdays, weddings, yahrzeits, new jobs, favorite/memorable historical events, OR just because you love having a nosh and a schmooze after services. 

We also welcome anonymous sponsorship, as well as co-sponsorship(s). Please let us know if you would like our help finding a co-sponsor. 

Do I just pay for the kiddush, or is there more to it?

Kiddush sponsors are asked to 1) purchase or order the food for that week’s kiddush, 2) prepare the food and set it out on platters with the help of a Kiddush Team member, and 3) help clean up after the kiddush with the help of a Kiddush Team member.   

1. Purchase

Sponsors have the option to shop for food and drop it off at Schechter Manhattan after school hours, bring food with them on Saturday morning, or place an online order. Many people place a FreshDirect, Instacart, or Amazon order and have it delivered to Schechter to save time. 

Administrator Evan Feist can assist in placing food orders and ensuring delivered perishables will be unpacked and refrigerated. If you’d like Evan to assist you in the food ordering process, you can specify that request when you reach out to the KH Kiddush Team about sponsoring.

Bread products (challah, bagels): KH 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 other items which do not require hamotzi. Our kiddush team is happy to guide you in selecting appropriate options: just let us know! If you are interested in sponsoring a more substantial meal which will include bread, please inform the kiddush team as far in advance as possible.

2. Prepare

On Shabbat, the sponsors and the Kiddush Team volunteer start preparing the food platters during Shabbat morning services.

3. Clean Up

Sponsors are expected to assist with cleanup toward the end of kiddush, alongside members of the Kiddush Team. This includes throwing away trash, cleaning table cloths, washing platters, taking care of leftovers, and tidying up the kitchen. Some sponsors have brought Tupperware or plastic bags with them to take any leftovers home with them – something to consider as well.

What does a basic kiddush include?

You are free to be as creative as you like with your food selections! Sponsoring kiddush can range from $200+, depending on how much you choose to buy and how elaborate you would like your kiddush to be. Here is a link with suggested shopping lists from Instacart. In general, we recommend the following:

• Required: 1 bottle of wine or grape juice for kiddush
• 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 - packages of persian 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

You may also choose 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. A member of the team will let you know what paper goods or utensils to provide, if any, depending on what we have in stock. 

Kehilat Hadar has small paring knives and cutting boards, so you can cut vegetables or cheese blocks on Shabbat morning during setup.

If you have a special occasion to celebrate or commemorate and are considering a more formal kiddush spread with catering, please email kiddush@kehilathadar.org to discuss the logistics. 

Please be mindful of Kehilat Hadar’s Kashrut Policy.

How much does it cost to sponsor kiddush?

Now that we share Shabbat morning services with Shaare Zedek and our numbers have increased sponsoring kiddush can range from $200+, depending on how much you choose to buy and how elaborate you would like your kiddush to be. As mentioned above, co-sponsorships are encouraged!

How does it all work at Schechter Manhattan?

You are welcome to drop things off in the kitchen at Schechter Manhattan on the Thursday or Friday before your kiddush. The school is open from 7:30 AM to 5:00 PM Monday through Thursday and until 3:00 PM on Friday. Please make sure that everything is boxed or bagged and labeled clearly and that the items are placed out of the way of Schechter staff using the pantry. 

If you are placing a FreshDirect and/or Amazon order, please have it delivered on Friday before noon. Send the order to Kehilat Hadar, c/o Schechter Manhattan, 805 Columbus Ave, New York, NY 10025. Put a special instruction that the entrance is on 100th street. The phone number is (212) 427-9500. Evan can also help arrange for deliveries to arrive at Schechter Manhattan and ensure perishables are refrigerated. 

How do I sign up?

E-mail kiddush@kehilathadar.org, and a member of the team will get right back to you about available dates and/or connect you with cosponsors. In your email, you can let us know if you prefer to arrange for the food personally, or have Evan do it on your behalf. Thanks in advance!