Snacks

Parents are asked to provide snacks for their child's class on a rotating basis throughout the year.  A snack schedule will be distributed for each class at the start of the school year.  Along with the snack and beverage, parents are asked to provide sealed packages of 5 ounce cups, napkins and plates during their allotted snack period, usually a week at a time.  We also ask that you provide proper utensils (knives, forks, etc.) for the cutting or spreading of certain snacks where necessary.

If you have difficulty delivering juice or water to the school during the week, please note that the school building is open on most Sundays from 8:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.  You can bring these items to the school office and label it with the appropriate class name.  You should also leave a note for your child's teacher in their mailbox, located in the main hall of the school, indicating that snack has been delivered.  The elevator can be used if you have difficulty with the stairs.

Parent participation makes it possible for the children to enjoy a variety of fresh and wholesome foods during the year.  There are two requirements for snacks brought to The Jewish Center:  They must be kosher - either dairy or pareve (contains neither meat nor dairy products), and they should be healthy.  We strongly encourage you to purchase snack foods that are made in Israel as a way of showing support for the country.  Shop Rite, located on Route 130 and also in the Mercer Mall, has a large Kosher department with many Israeli brands.

Pareve snacks include pre-cut fruit and vegetables.  Please do not include raisins or grapes (unless cut into quarters), marshmallows, carrots, popcorn, nuts, hard candies
or lollipops in your child's lunch.  Dairy snacks include anything prepared with milk or a milk product - butter, cheese, etc.  Crackers and other baked goods can fall into either category, but they can also be non-kosher if they contain animal fat as many packaged baked goods do.  Thus, it is important to read labels carefully when shopping for nursery class snacks.  Packaged foods carry symbols indicating whether they are kosher, kosher (dairy), or kosher (pareve).  The most common symbols are U and K, often followed by the word "dairy," or the word "pareve."  When in doubt about the ingredients of a product, read the ingredient list.  Any products made with animal fat or lard are not kosher.  Please check carefully.  Baked goods can be made at home if they contain only pareve or dairy ingredients.  Fresh kosher baked goods can be purchased at McCaffrey's Supermarket bakery department in the Princeton Shopping Center or at Shop Rite.

On the first day of school, there will be a posted list of foods to which children in the class are allergic.  Please avoid these foods for snack.  If your own child is allergic to a particular food or drink, you are responsible for  providing a supply of a substitute food or beverage.  Please make sure that you indicate any food allergies on your child's medical and emergency forms.

Some of the favorite snack items as well as appropriate quantities are:

Juice  or water - Per Day

Water wins hands down as the favorite; Kedem or other kosher grape juice on Shabbat.  Note that the very large size bottle (128 oz.) does not fit in our refrigerator and therefore, we would prefer the smaller size bottles (64 ounces).

Snack Foods  - Per Day

Apples, bananas, oranges - ½ per child
Strawberries - 3 to 4 per child
Any other fruit such as cantaloupe or watermelon - 4 pieces per child

Crackers  - 1 box

Mini bagels (with ½ lb. cream cheese and/or margarine) - 1 per child

We would prefer fresh fruits and vegetables to boxed goods.  Any combination of the above items, as well as other items your child enjoys eating, are always welcomed and appreciated.

For your interest: There are several explanations of the Jewish concept of Kashrut.  The Hebrew root "Kashar" has the intrinsic meaning of "proper, fit, appropriate."  The basis of Kashrut is a biblical injunction (Leviticus 112:1-43), which has had a variety of interpretations throughout history.  Some scholars explain it as an indication of respect for the sanctity of life and nature.  Some explain it is a fierce rejection of the cultic rituals of the ancient Canaanites.  Some interpreters see health concerns as the basis of Kashrut.  Still other scholars say that, by observing the laws of kashrut, we are exercising self-control, setting limits and disciplining ourselves.

Kashrut Regulations For The Jewish Center

Since Biblical times, the Jewish People have always believed that Kashrut is an important value.  The laws of Kashrut were first described in the Torah and then developed in Rabbinic texts.  Throughout our history, we Jews have taken one of the most basic things we do as human beings and raised it to a level of sanctity.  Just as we begin and end our meals with blessings to remind us that eating is a religious act, so, too, we have certain standards of what food is acceptable and what is not acceptable.  An equally important standard is that we want everyone to feel comfortable in our community, especially when it comes to eating in our Synagogue.  Therefore, the Religious Affairs Committee, in consultation with Rabbi Feldman, has established these regulations for Kashrut at The Jewish Center.  We established these standards as a way of helping people understand the importance we give to Kashrut and we do so in a way that helps everyone feel comfortable with our standards.

We also see this as an opportunity to educate members of our community about the laws of Kashrut and the meanings of the laws.  We hope that many people will take advantage of the educational opportunities we will all have in the coming months toward that goal.  Any questions about these standards should be directed to Rabbi Feldman.

1.   Only meat products purchased from and delivered by one of our acceptable kosher caterers may be brought into the building.  No other meat products may be brought into the kitchens, social hall, lobby or any other part of either building.  This includes individual lunches for our students.

2.   All products brought into The Jewish Center must carry a symbol of Kashrut supervision such as U or K.  This applies to all dairy products, cake mixes, etc.  Major supermarkets in our area have extensive kosher sections including the Kosher Experience at Shop Rite on Rt. 1.  There are also many places to buy kosher baked goods including the ACME in East Brunswick.  For more information about where such products can be bought, please contact The Jewish Center Main Office.

3.   All fresh fruits and vegetables are acceptable in The Jewish Center.

4.   Only kosher fish may be brought into the building.  Acceptable fish includes tuna, salmon, flounder, lox and sole.

5.   When a meal is being prepared in one of the two kitchens, please do not use the other kitchen unless absolutely necessary.  It is much safer to do all work for a particular meal in the appropriate kitchen.

6.   If you would like to bring baked goods into the building, we ask that you purchase these baked goods at an acceptable bakery.  If they have been baked in someone's home, they should either be baked in a kosher oven or in disposable pans using disposable utensils.  Please bring these utensils with you to serve them at The Jewish Center.  Please do not use our utensils for these baked goods.

These standards apply to the school building and the main building as well as all parts of the building including the kitchens, the social hall, the lobby, the libraries, offices and all classrooms.

All matters of Kashrut at The Jewish Center, including questions, clarifications and other issues should be brought to Rabbi Feldman's attention.  Thank you for your assistance.

Lunch

If your child is staying for the 12:00 to 12:55 p.m. lunchtime, kindly provide his/her lunch.  You may send a dairy or pareve lunch.  Please do not send any meat or meat products even if they are kosher (i.e., kosher salami, bologna, chicken, turkey, etc. are not permitted). 

Sample Lunches: * peanut butter & jelly * cottage cheese * any hard cheese * pasta * yogurt * quiche * salad * tuna fish * eggs * bagels, crackers, rice cakes, * etc., or any bread made with vegetable shortening.

While the teachers are responsible for deciding when lunchtime will occur, your child has the responsibility to decide how much to eat.  No child is forced to eat and no child is denied food as a method of discipline.  The staff will make every effort to wrap up and send home any uneaten food so parents can see how much a child has eaten.

In our desire to promote sustainability and to do our share to minimize recycling, please follow these few steps: 1. Reusable lunch boxes or bags, with the child’s name on it are favored over throw away bags.  2. Sippy cups, thermoses or reusable drinking container should be used in place of juice packs or disposable water bottles.  3. Containers are preferred to Ziploc bags and will be returned in the child’s lunch bag daily.  4.  Real eating utensils, in place of disposable cutlery are encouraged and will be returned daily. Please remember to label everything with your child’s name.  We thank you for your efforts and for setting a good example for our students.  

Parents have the option of prepaying for lunch for the year at a discounted rate.  If you do not want to choose the prepaid lunch option, your child is still welcome to stay for lunch at any time.  You will receive a monthly bill for this service.  However, the fee charged will be at a higher rate than the prepaid rate.

Shabbat And Shabbat Parents

Each Friday, the Nursery children celebrate the arrival of Shabbat.  The children get ready for this weekly celebration by "cleaning" the tables, chairs, toys and "straightening up" the room.  In addition, parents are asked to complete a Mitzvah Gram every week for their child, indicating a good deed their child has done. The teachers read the Mitzvah Grams to the class so everyone can hear the mitzvot. Children are encouraged to give tzedakah. (See "Tzedakah")

Children are chosen on a rotating basis to say the appropriate blessing over the candles, wine and hallah.  The parent(s) providing snack for the week is asked to provide sliced hallah and kosher grape juice for this observance and is designated as the week's Shabbat parent.  (Please see section on "Hallah Delivery Service"). Shabbat parents are invited to participate in classroom activities for the morning.  The children truly treasure the times when their mom and/or dad, relative and/or family friend are the Shabbat guest(s).  If you cannot attend on your scheduled Friday, please let the teacher know in advance.  Parents of 2-1/2 to 3 year old students are invited to join the children for Shabbat starting in December when the children are better acclimated to classroom routines.  Children attending on Tuesday and Thursday only and their families will celebrate Shabbat on Thursdays.

The Rabbi, the Cantor and the Nursery School Director do shira (Hebrew for "singing") with the children.  Songs and prayers often revolve around Shabbat or a holiday.

Each class has a Shabbat mascot in the form of a stuffed animal.  Each mascot comes with a backpack in which there is a miniature set of Judaic items to help you with your in-home Shabbat celebration.  There is a Shabbat story which includes the appropriate blessings and wooden candlesticks, hallot and a kiddush cup.  The mascot is sent home each Friday with a different child.  Kindly return the mascot and all the Shabbat items when your child returns to school after the weekend.  If you inadvertently misplace the Shabbat Kit, you will be assessed for a replacement.

School-wide Shabbat and Birthday Celebration

Once per month, all classes meet at 10:00 a.m. in the Sanctuary to celebrate the arrival of Shabbat and to honor the children who have a birthday in that particular month.  The appropriate Shabbat blessings are recited.  The Rabbis and Cantor bless the birthday children.  *The birthday children are encouraged to bring a small gift in honor of their birthday (e.g. crayons, a book, game or puzzle).  This gift will be sent to various worthwhile organizations that help those in need.  We hope that this project will make children aware of those less fortunate than they and give our children a chance to do a mitzvah.  Our school wide celebration also includes "shira" (singing) with the Cantor and the Nursery School Director and a brief Shabbat service including a Torah parade and story.  All parents, particularly those whose children are celebrating a birthday, are invited to attend.