Board Update – January 5, 2022

Rabbinic Search

The search continues. Unfortunately, the rabbi who visited the first week of January, has taken another position and will not be joining our Baton Rouge family. We understand this to be mostly a matter of logistics and not a reflection on our congregation. Rabbi was very impressed by our people, dedication to Judaism and enthusiasm for our new congregation.

The Rabbinic search team hopes to bring another candidate in this month and is still completing interviews with other candidates. We will continue to update you on the progress.

Finance Action Team Update

The Finance team has been diligently working on the nitty gritty, but necessary, steps to unify our congregations financially. Things like getting a state charter number, state tax number and transferring funds from existing bank accounts to new bank accounts are high on the to-do list this month. In December, the Finance team presented the board with a 2022 budget, which they accepted.

ShulCloud

BSS legacy members should receive an email this month with a link to their ShulCloud account and instructions for how to log in and use it. ShulCloud is a convenient way to manage your contact information with the office, track lifecycle events, manage Yahrzeits, and even make online payments for your annual pledge.

Kosher guidelines

At its meeting on Jan. 5, the board accepted Dietary Guidelines presented by the ritual action team. The full policy will be included in our new website (launching soon!) and is included below.

Dietary Guidelines
Food is central to our lives as individuals and in Jewish community life. Kashrut (Kosher) refers to a system of dietary laws that some Jews observe. The guidelines of the Unified Jewish Congregation of Baton Rouge are consistent with previous policies and are intended to provide as many as possible in our Baton Rouge Jewish community the opportunity to participate in activities whether they observe a degree of Kashrut, are vegetarian, avoiding certain foods due to allergies, or have no restrictions.

Where Does it Apply?
This policy applies to all foods served during any Synagogue-sponsored activity, regardless of location. It also applies at any gathering or event on synagogue premises.

What foods are prohibited?

• • Pork (bacon, ham, pepperoni, tasso, etc.). This includes lard-based greases.
  • Shellfish (crabs, oysters, crawfish, etc.).
  •  Fish without fins and/or scales such as catfish and shark.
  • Dairy products and meat (including chicken) in the same dish may not be served (ie: chicken parmesan, cheeseburgers, etc).

Other recommended guidelines

• • Kosher meats (beef, chicken) are preferred but not required. If a meat is not certified as Kosher, it should be clearly labeled.
  • Meat dishes will be kept on a separate table from milk dishes.
  • Fish is considered parve (neither meat nor milk) and can be served with any other food.
  • Consider using vegetable oils and non-dairy substitutes (rather than milk, butter, and cream) in dishes and baked goods. Foods with dairy products should be labeled as such.
  • Consider avoiding foods that are common allergens (peanuts, tree nuts, soy, sesame). Labeling of any foods with these products is encouraged.
  • For on-premises events, congregants are asked to submit a complete food and beverage menu to the Rabbi for approval prior to finalizing their choices for any event they are sponsoring.
  • Dairy and vegetarian meals are lower in cost and eliminate many of the complications due to prohibited foods.