Glossary of Kosher Event Terms

Showing of 39 terms, A to Z

AufrufYiddish

The groom's aliyah on the Shabbat before the wedding

In event staffingThe aufruf dinner is served after Shabbos, so our crew's hours follow that pattern.

Bein HazmanimHebrew

The recess of the yeshiva, which is the busiest season for events

In event staffingBetween Pesach and Shavuos, Bein Hazmanim is when the event calendar fills up.

Bishul YisroelHebrew

Cooking performed by a Jew, as required by kosher practice

In event staffingOur kitchen help cooks the food themselves, so bishul Yisroel is satisfied.

BlechYiddish

A hot plate that keeps food warm without cooking it on Shabbos

In event staffingOur Shabbat dinner crews set the blech and the food before Shabbos starts.

Bris / Brit MilahHebrew

The circumcision ceremony and the celebration that follows it

In event staffingWe staff the bris and the vachnacht meal the night before it.

BrochaHebrew

A blessing, and by extension good wishes to someone

In event staffingGuests at a vort come to give a brocha to the couple.

Chillul ShabbosHebrew

The desecration of the Sabbath through prohibited activity

In event staffingAn event that ends with staff cooking after Shabbos has started risks chillul Shabbos.

CholentYiddish

A slow-cooked Shabbos stew, prepared before Shabbos begins

In event staffingA cholent is finished and held with a blech, never cooked during Shabbos.

DaveningYiddish

To pray, and also the prayer service itself

In event staffingA crew working around davening knows when the room needs to be quiet.

Erev Shabbos / Erev ShabbatHebrew

The eve of the Sabbath, Friday evening and the run-up to it

In event staffingMost of the cooking for a Shabbat dinner is done on Erev Shabbos.

EruvHebrew

A Shabbos perimeter that permits carrying within a defined area

In event staffingThe eruv status of an outdoor venue changes what our crews can carry on Shabbos.

FrumYiddish

Observant, and the standard that our staff hold themselves to

In event staffingA frum family can book our crews without checking who is turning up.

Gemach / GemachimHebrew

A fund or society that lends equipment or money to the community

In event staffingCommunity gemachim and their halls are part of the local event calendar.

Glatt kosher / glattYiddish

The stricter level of kosher practice, requiring smooth lung inspection

In event staffingOn a glatt kosher event our kitchen works to glatt-level protocols as standard.

HavdalahHebrew

The ceremony that marks the end of Shabbos

In event staffingA Shabbat dinner evening often ends with Havdalah and the crew's wrap-up.

HechsherHebrew

Kosher certification, and the authority who grants it

In event staffingAsk who holds the hechsher for your event rather than only whether the food is kosher.

HeimisheYiddish

From our own, meaning of and for the community

In event staffingHeimishe staffing means crews who come from the community they serve.

KCL / Kashrus Council of Lakewood

The local kosher certification agency that supervises Lakewood kitchens

In event staffingAll of our crews work under the supervision of the Kashrus Council of Lakewood.

KehillaHebrew

The community, and specifically the congregation of a shul

In event staffingWe work with kehilla organizations and shuls across the Lakewood area.

KiddushHebrew

The blessing over wine, and the reception that follows a service

In event staffingA kiddush and the meal after it are covered by our Shabbat dinner crews.

LeichterYiddish

The Shabbos candlesticks, and also a Shabbos lamp

In event staffingThe leichter is lit before Shabbos, and the meal is served after the candles.

Leil ShishiHebrew

The night of the sixth day, Thursday night, with a special menu

In event staffingA Leil Shishi table carries its own menu, which our crews are used to.

LuachHebrew

A calendar, and by extension the community calendar of events

In event staffingThe community luach of simchas is where most families find their dates.

MashgiachHebrew

A supervisor of kosher practice in a kitchen or at an event

In event staffingA mashgiach can be booked on request for your event, kitchen or venue.

Mazel tovYiddish / Hebrew

The customary congratulations, said to someone

In event staffingIt is the congratulations a family hears all night at a bar mitzvah.

Milchig / FleishigYiddish

Dairy and meat, which require separation of equipment and food

In event staffingMilchig and fleishig equipment is separated on every event we staff.

Pesach / PassoverHebrew

The festival of Passover, with a restricted menu and its own preparation

In event staffingPesach staffing covers the kashering, the cleaning and the seder meal.

Sefer TorahHebrew

The Torah scroll, and by extension the honour of being called to it

In event staffingThe sefer Torah is carried out for the aufruch, which sets the dinner schedule.

Shabbos / ShabbatYiddish / Hebrew

The Sabbath, Saturday, from Friday sunset to Saturday nightfall

In event staffingShomer Shabbos staff will not drive to your event on Shabbos.

ShacharisHebrew

The morning prayer service, held after dawn

In event staffingA Shabbos event often begins with shacharis, which sets the crew's arrival time.

Sheva BrachosHebrew

The seven blessings, celebrated over a week of meals after a wedding

In event staffingWe staff the whole sheva brachot week, with each night's meal itemised.

ShivaHebrew

The mourning period after a death, including the hosted meals

In event staffingWe staff shiva meals and gatherings, often at short notice.

Shomer ShabbosHebrew

Someone who observes Shabbos, including its prohibitions on work

In event staffingShomer Shabbos staff observe the Sabbath fully, which is why families ask for them.

SimchaHebrew

A joyful celebration, and the word for a family gathering

In event staffingThe goal of our staffing is that you can be present at your own simcha.

TenoyimHebrew

The engagement itself and the conditions agreed for it

In event staffingThe tenoyim are often celebrated with a vort, which we staff as a single event.

UpsherinYiddish

The first haircut of a boy's hair, at the age of three

In event staffingAn upsherin is a small event, and we staff it with a compact crew.

VachnachtYiddish

The night of vigil before the bris, usually hosted as a meal

In event staffingOur kitchen help cooks the vachnacht meal so the family can host rather than cook.

VortYiddish

An engagement celebration, usually hosted as a meal

In event staffingOur vort crews cover the meal, the drinks and the clearing afterwards.

Yom TovHebrew

A festival day, such as Pesach, Shavuos or Succos

In event staffingYom Tov prep staffing covers the kashering and cooking before the holiday.