Oneg Shabbat / Kiddush Sponsor Instructions

Please coordinate your plans with your fellow sponsors in advance to simplify the evening.  Plan on being at the temple approximately 30 minutes prior to the service.

The duties of the sponsor families are to:

  • Provide refreshments and apple juice
  • Purchase milk or light cream for coffee or tea
  • Set up the beverage table and the food table
  • Hold/serve tray with cups of wine for those attending Kiddush
  • Clean up after the Oneg/Kiddush

Sisterhood provides the coffee, tea, sugar, wine, challah and paper goods.  As you enter the kitchen from the social hall, on your right there is a small white cabinet/drawer unit where you will find the coffee, tea, sugar and food wraps (i.e. cellophane/tin-foil). On top of this cabinet is the coffee maker that also has a supply of hot water. In front of the coffee cabinet is a large black storage cabinet marked “Oneg”. In this black cabinet you will find the challah board(s), challah cover, Kiddush cup, glass and plastic serving platters, glass pitchers, can opener, knives, milk/cream pitcher, small glass bowls for the tea and sugar, and trays for serving the Kiddush wine.  A supply of paper products such as hot and cold cups, three-ounce wine cups, napkins, and doilies, as well as paper or cloth tablecloths (for the food and beverage tables), are also in this cabinet. Wine is in the white refrigerator that has glass doors.  (NOTE: Supplies in the large stainless refrigerator are not for Oneg/Kiddush use, unless otherwise specified.)

SHOPPING LIST:

  1. PASTRIES:  Pastries can be homemade or purchased, following the Kashrut policy, such as Stella D’Oro (pareve), Pepperidge Farm (K or U) or Entemann’s (K or U).  Animal shortening must not be used in any food brought into the synagogue.
  2. AMOUNT:  Figure approximately 2-3 dozen pieces of pastry per sponsor (e.g. cookies, brownies, etc.) for a standard Shabbat service and 3-4 dozen per sponsor for a family or holiday service.
  3. MILK/CREAM:  One pint is sufficient for most services.  For larger services, please plan accordingly.
  4. APPLE JUICE:  Total amount: one – two   64 ounce bottles for a small service
    two – three 64 ounce bottles for a medium service
    four – six 64 ounce bottles for a holiday or children’s service

SETTING UP:

1.     COVER TABLES:  Take tablecloths from the black Oneg cabinet, and cover the Beverage and Food tables.

2.     PREPARE COFFEE & TEA:  Make 10 cups for a small Shabbat service, 20 cups for a standard Shabbat service and 30 cups for a large family or holiday service.  (Note: Each bag makes 10 cups.)

  • Turn the coffee maker on, and the warmer on.
  • Place a square coffee container on the coffee maker if one is not already there.  Be sure the container is empty – there is a clear tube on the front of it that can be read to see if it is empty.  To open the top of the coffee container, tilt the handle on the back right to the right, and the lid can be removed.  The lid should be in place when brewing.
  • To brew coffee, place a coffee filter paper (top drawer under coffee unit) and 1 bag of coffee (for 10 cups) into the filter holder and slide it into place above the coffee container.  (To brew 30 cups of coffee, you must brew 20 cups, throw out the coffee grinds and filter paper, place a clean filter paper and another bag of coffee into the plastic filter holder, and brew an additional 10 cups.  Coffee container holds a maximum of 30 cups.
  • To brew, turn the machine to the on position if you have not already done so.  Turn the “Brew Selector” switch to 1 for 10 cups or to 2 for 20 cups.  Be sure the warmer button is on (pressed to the right and lit).  Toggle the green “BREW” button to start brewing.  When brewing is complete, move the coffee container to the warming stand, and be sure to turn the coffee maker off.
  • Use an air pump container for hot water, by filling it using the water from the hot water tap on the upper left of the coffee maker.  (Open the pot lid, remove the pump mechanism, fill the pot with hot water, replace the pump mechanism and close the lid.)

3.     PREPARE MILK/CREAM/JUICE:  Fill milk/cream and juice pitcher(s).  The can opener is in the black Oneg cabinet.  Start out with one pitcher of juice for a standard service and 2-3 cans for a larger service. Some cups of juice can be pre-poured (~half-way) and placed on the beverage table (note: please use your discretion as to the appropriate number of juice cups to pre-pour).

4.     ARRANGE COOKIES/PASTRIES:  Use the glass or plastic platters from the black Oneg cabinet. Doilies can be used if desired and available

5.     PLACE CHALLAH:  Use a board and a challah cover.  There are several sets of challah board/challah cover and Kiddush cup in plastic containers on the open shelves under the stainless steel counters.  You may use whichever set you prefer, but please be sure to return these items to the bin after they are cleaned  NOTE:  Challah boards are to be used only for challah.

6.     ON SHABBAT ONLY:  Before services begin, place Shabbat candles on the small table in the sanctuary.  The candles, two candle holders, small plastic tray and matches are in the black Oneg cabinet to the left of the dairy sink.  Note: Shabbat candles are only lit if services begin prior to sundown.

7.     SET TABLES as follows:

Beverage Table:

  • pre-poured cups of juice
  • pitcher filled with juice 
  • extra cold cups
  • bottle of Kiddush wine
  • extra small cups for wine (tray with pre-poured wine cups should be held by sponsor(s)) 
  • napkins
  • thermos with hot water for tea
  • thermos(es) with coffee 
  • hot cups (near coffee/tea pots)
  • tea bags 
  • sugar, cream, stirrers

 Food Table:

  • cookies/pastries
  • napkins
  • challah
  • Rabbi’s Kiddush cup with wine (half-filled)

8.     LAST MINUTE PREPARATIONS:  Oneg Shabbat/Kiddush sponsors should leave the service at the Alenu prayer to pour the wine and juice and put the milk/cream pitcher on the beverage table.  Partially (half-fill) the Rabbi’s Kiddush cup and place in front of the challah on the food table. Place small wine cups on a plastic tray and pour a small amount of wine (less than half full) into each wine cup.

9.     CLEAN UP:  After the Oneg, return unused supplies to the proper cabinets.  Wash, dry and return the thermoses, platters, pitchers, trays, utensils, etc. to their proper locations.  Please also wipe down all countertops and other surfaces.  Be sure to dispose of the coffee filter and grounds from the coffee maker, and rinse the filter holder with running water.  Also be sure the coffee maker has been switched off.  If desired, leftover juice can be left in the refrigerator.  Cover the top of any juice pitcher with plastic wrap.  Do not save milk/cream in the refrigerator.  Any leftover foods should be taken home or disposed of. If there are a significant number of leftovers and there is an upcoming event at the synagogue, you may want to talk to those involved and see if they are interested in these items.


If you have any questions, please call Honi Kawut at 978-266-9722.  Thank you for sharing your time.