New kashrut guidelines help community celebrate under Covid conditions

Caterers told they 'must not cater an event at a private home for more than two households inside or 30 people outside'

Caterers supervised by the KLBD — the kashrut arm of the United Synagogue — have received new guidelines this week in an effort to revive the community’s ability to celebrate under post-lockdown conditions, with the threat of new outbreaks of Covid-19 still present.

In its guidance to its licensees, the KLBD says its emphasis is on safety for both the caterers and those employing them. At the moment, events taking place in private homes are limited to a maximum of 30 people.

The KLBD says: “Appropriate social distancing must be in place. KLBD caterers must not cater an event at a private home for more than two households inside or 30 people outside”.

Strictures apply to events held in other venues, too. All events, for the time being, will be seated celebrations with appropriate social distancing in place, and no standing receptions will be allowed.

A KLBD spokesperson said: “The past few months have been very difficult for our community with a tragic loss of life, great damage to livelihoods and many families’ s’machot postponed. As the government has begun to ease certain parts of the lockdown, KLBD has prepared guidance for its licensed caterers setting out the limited circumstances where they can cater small, socially-distanced events. The guidance has been drawn up with much careful thought and in consultation with medical professionals. We are pleased to enable the community to begin celebrating s’machot again and allow our caterers to start catering once more.”