Library Minyan Kiddush Options

Temple Beth Am provides a “basic” kiddush for the Library Minyan each week, as part of the member services covered by general membership fees.  Even our most basic kiddush is more elaborate than at many shuls, and includes wine/juice, coffee, lemonade, challah, vegetarian cholent, and cookies.

In order to enhance our Shabbat joy and maximize schmoozing opportunities, we seek to provide enhanced kiddushim as frequently as possible, but this can only be done with the help of our members.  Someone wishing to celebrate an event by sponsoring a kiddush in any of the ways described below should contact the Minyan Master (currently Abby Harris) at minyanmaster@libraryminyan.org to schedule it. 

There are three ways to sponsor a kiddush; cater one, co-sponsor one with the Library Minyan, or participate in Kiddush Shelanu.

1. The most sumptuous (and expensive) method is for an individual – or group of individuals – celebrating a simcha to hire an outside caterer.  A list of TBA-approved caterers is available from Ronna Sundy, rsundy@tbala.org, (310) 652-7354 ext. 217.   The cost of this begins at $2,000 for buffet style, and can be considerably higher, depending on the menu, serving arrangements, and number of people expected.  Although potentially quite expensive, this method provides almost unlimited menu options. 

A second catering method is for an individual to hire the TBA in-house catering staff.  They can provide items from a limited but satisfying cold dairy menu.  The cost for this method begins at $1,200 and can be higher if more items are included. For information about the TBA in-house catering, contact Amy Rabin, arabin@tbala.org, (310) 652-7354 ext. 213.

2. A second kiddush option is the Library Minyan co-sponsored kiddush (LMCSK.)  This is provided by the in-house catering staff, and features bagels, cream cheese, tuna salad, egg salad, herring, vegetarian cholent, cookies, and fruit.  There is some flexibility with the menu; for more information contact the Minyan Master.

Funding is provided partly by TBA, partly by the Library Minyan itself (from donations received over the year), and partly from specific sponsors who wish to celebrate some event that week.  The minimum donation is $18; more typical donations by each sponsor range from $100 - 300.

A LM co-sponsored kiddush cannot be used to sponsor a kiddush for an aufruf or a bar/bat mitzvah, and cannot be scheduled more than once a month.

3. The third method is the Kiddush Shelanu.  Unlike all the above options, this kiddush is prepared by members of the minyan themselves.  Some members volunteer to shop for the food, and others to prepare it and set it out on Shabbat morning. 

The menu can be whatever the sponsor(s) – in combination with the volunteers -- wish to prepare, and has included dolmah, various green salads, cheese and crackers, herring, whitefish salad, humus and babaganoush, ice cream, cookies, cakes, and fruit.  TBA provides the wine/juice, coffee, lemonade, challah and vegetarian cholent.  Doing the work ourselves provides an opportunity to serve the minyan and builds community.  This option is only possible when there are sufficient sponsors and preparers, and when the kitchen where we do our preparation is available for our use.  Individual donations from sponsors range from $18 - 300, and must total $400-600, depending on the menu.

For more information about Kiddush Shelanu, contact the committee chairperson (currently Carl Sunshine) at KiddushComm@LibraryMinyan.org.

Kiddush honors:

All LM kiddush sponsors, of any kiddush option enumerated above, and with a contribution of any amount, will be listed in the TBA Shabbat bulletin.  All LM kiddush sponsors and all volunteers involved with Kiddush Shelanu will be publically thanked from the bima.  All LM kiddush sponsors may – but are not required to – lead kiddush.

One can also, at any “basic” kiddush provided by TBA, but which is not sponsored as enumerated above, have one’s name listed in the Shabbat bulletin as a contributor to the TBA Kiddush Fund with a contribution of $100 to the TBA Kiddush Fund.

Payments:

Payments for outside-catered kiddushim should be arranged directly with the caterer.  Payments for in-house catered events and donations for the “basic” kiddush should be made to the TBA office.  Payments for a LMCSK or Kiddush Shelanu should be made to “TBA Library Minyan” and sent to our Treasurer (currently Dale Bodenstein, see TBA Directory for her address).  Such donations qualify as charitable donations for tax purposes.