Building Rules

 

1. The sanctuary, chapel, classrooms, Social Hall, kitchens and grounds are provided primarily for the congregation, to serve their spiritual, educational and social needs.

2. The facilities may be made available to such other organizations of a religious, educational and/or charitable nature who may request their use, but only at the discretion of the Executive board based on policy approved by the Board of Trustees. The facilities are available to non-member and outside groups only at such times when not in conflict with our own programs.

3. The House Committee and the Executive Board retain the right to check on the conformity with established rules at the time of any function, and to take steps immediately to correct any non-conformity including asking any person(s) to leave the premises because of unseemly conduct.

4. The Executive Board will, in the event of any dispute, authorize or reject the use of facilities.

5. These rules may be amended or changed with approval of the Board of Trustees

GENERAL RULES

1. The use of our name in any literature or publicity of any organization is not permitted without prior approval of the Executive Board.

2. Organizations are requested to mail to the office copies of invitations and publicity for all functions to be held at the synagogue, prior to general distribution, for approval by the President.

3. We assume no liability or responsibility for damage or loss of personal property of others while on our premises, and all such personal property, including motor vehicles, brought or left on the premises shall at all times be at the owner’s risk.

4. All persons and organizations will use the premises and equipment allotted to them will all due care. Any damage to this property or equipment resulting from its use shall render the persons and organizations liable for damages.

5. No decorations, signs, bulletins or other similar objects are to be tacked or taped to any part of the building, without the express consent of a member of the Executive Board. No person or organization may move chairs, furniture, microphones or any synagogue equipment except as authorized by a member of the Executive Board.

6. Our property or equipment may be loaned only with the permission of the President.

7. No business meetings, rehearsals or functions other than those of an appropriate spiritual nature shall be held in the building on the Sabbath, High Holy Days, or on days of religious festivities.

8. All activities in the building shall conclude by 12:00 midnight, and premises shall be vacated not later than 1 a.m. by all persons, including catering personnel. The President may grant exceptions to this rule upon written request by the applicant organization, individual or committee.

9. Proper decorum and a reasonable standard of behavior shall be maintained and enforced by all persons and organizations using our premises, while in or near the building or its adjacent areas, including the parking lot.

10. All persons, organizations, committees or other groups, including auxiliary associations and activity units of this congregation, to whom the Executive Board has granted the use of any of the facilities of the building or grounds shall use only the area, room or rooms &/or facilities assigned to their use, and shall comply with all rules and regulations as herein set forth insofar as the same may be applicable.

CLEANUP REQUIREMENTS

1.  All persons or organizations and their caterers, having use of the whole or any portion of the building or grounds or of the kitchen &/or facilities, shall leave the same, including all kitchen equipment, utensils and other physical property, in a clean and undamaged condition, and see to the removal of all surface garbage from the premises immediately following the conclusion of the meeting or reception, and before the caterer (where applicable) leaves the premises, and shall indemnify us for all loss, cost and damage resulting from failure to do so. A building use charge of $100 shall be assessed for large events and $50 for small events, except it shall be waived in the event of a funeral for a member family.

2. Use of the kitchen utensils, dishes, silverware, equipment and supplies is limited to functions of the Sunday School, Men’s Club, Sisterhood, and Synagogue, and in strict accordance with Jewish Dietary Laws.

3. Deliveries to &/or removals from the kitchens shall be made by appointment only. No deliveries will be accepted after sundown on Friday, or at all on the Sabbath, High Holy Days, or other religious festival days.

RITUAL OBSERVANCE

1. Smoking is prohibited anywhere in the building.

2. Before entering the Sanctuary or chapel, men are requested to cover their heads with a hat or Kippah. Men and women are required to wear a Tallit and head covering for aliyot. Men and women are requested to dress in a dignified manner, appropriate to the occasion.

3. No flash photography, motion pictures or videos may be taken of any religious service or ceremonies in the Sanctuary or any place in the building where such religious services or ceremonies may be held, on the Sabbath, High Holy Days, or religious festivals. The Rabbi shall have final authority on the subject and may grant exceptions where the Halacha permits.

4. The foods that can and cannot be brought into the building are addressed in the kashrut policy attached and made a part of this Policy document.

Clergy other than those directly associated with the congregation shall be permitted to officiate at religious ceremonies in the synagogue only upon the express invitation of the Rabbi.

KASHRUT POLICY

When the ancient Temple stood, the sacrifices offered on the altar were instruments of atonement and thanksgiving. Now that the altar is gone, it is our tables that instead serve as these instruments. “They ate and drank and had a vision of G-d”. (Exodus 24:11). Consumption of food has an impact on the spirit. Pure food confers the spirit of holiness, while consumption of forbidden food is detrimental to the spirit.

At Temple Beth El, we recognize the importance of the rules of kashrut, which provide what is fit for Jews to eat. (“Kosher” means “fit”). Meat products and dairy products must be cooked and served separately. Certain animals may not be eaten at all. Permitted animals must be ritually slaughtered. No blood may be eaten.

1. Packaged products must be labeled with one of the following designations: k, ou, va’ad ha kashruth (VHK), K, which show that they have been inspected and passed on by rabbinical authority. (See too whether the item is marked “meat”, “dairy”, or “pareve”; pareve items may be used with meat or dairy.)

2. People may bring dishes prepared at home if they meet the following requirements: Dairy dishes only, brought in new, disposable or glass containers, and having been made using cooking vessels and utensils only used for dairy preparations. This does not apply to kosher caterers.

3. Meat dishes must be cooked at the synagogue, using only synagogue cooking vessels and utensils, under the supervision of the Rabbi or his assistants. No dairy products may be served with meat meals.

4.Outside caterers must be approved by the Rabbi and Ritual Committee.

5. The kitchenette on the main floor is a dairy kitchen.

6. All Temple Beth El organizations and groups are to honor these rules when eating together as a group in the Temple and outside.

Eggs are pareve, but must first each be inspected in glass containers for blood spots. Any egg with a blood spot should be discarded. Fish must have fins and scales. Shellfish is forbidden. Kosher fishes are considered pareve .

Cheeses that are labeled “kosher” are difficult to obtain here. The following hard cheeses may be used even if not labeled as kosher: swiss, muenster, cheddar. However, the following cheeses must be labeled “kosher” to be used, as they are sometimes hardened with rennet, a product made from calves’ stomach lining and therefore considered a mixture of milk with meat: mozzarella, romano, parmesan, provolone. (Grated kosher parmesan and romano cheese may be obtained at Price Chopper in Colonie, near Albany. They have a full kosher department, including a butcher shop. 800-727-5674).

Please call Rabbi Roberts with any questions.
 

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