Anonymous
Post 01/18/2023 01:28     Subject: Indian vegetarian food for Jewish friend.
Thank you all. Yes, I intend to be tactful. All suggestions (even the admonishments) were super helpful.


Anonymous
Post 01/18/2023 00:28     Subject: Indian vegetarian food for Jewish friend.
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:No, nothing from your home is kosher.


I see.

Any ideas about what I can get for my friends? I do not want to offend.


If they do not keep a kosher kitchen that sounds fantastic!
Is there someone you can ask? Some families just wont have specifically non-kosher things like pork, but they don’t keep a whole kosher kitchen.
Most Jewish families we know would be delighted with that.
So many people send sweets; it’s great to get real food in times like this.

I’m Jewish, and I’ve brought a ham and rolls and sides to Christian friends after a death in their family.
I think your effort is lovely.


Thank you. As I am reading more on the internet about what is allowed and what is kosher etc, I think a lot of Indian vegetarian cooking will lend itself to meeting at least the dietary requirements (even if it is not meeting the purification and religious requirements) I intend to go several times to visit and I think I can then find out what I can make for them and if they are very strict or not.

I agree. I think some real food will be a change for them. I am sure their family and friends are getting them their regular food, so I want to bring them something different. Indian homemade vegetarian food is lighter, less spicy, fresher, more varied, more flavorful and healthier than what the regular Indian restaurants serve.

Anyways, thank you to all who responded. I am also reading a bit more about how a kosher kitchen is run and all I can say is that it makes so much sense. All of this is to make people mindful of what they eat and to prevent diseases and cross contamination.


Please don't cite secular reasons as justification for keeping kosher. This is actually a little bit belittling. I understand that it may feel like praise or being understanding or supportive, but it undermines that this is a commandment to be holy. It isn't done for reasons like preventing disease or cross contamination. That was never the point.

Thank you for your kindness and respect to this family. May this be returned to you tenfold.
Anonymous
Post 01/17/2023 23:36     Subject: Indian vegetarian food for Jewish friend.
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:No, nothing from your home is kosher.


I see.

Any ideas about what I can get for my friends? I do not want to offend.


If they do not keep a kosher kitchen that sounds fantastic!
Is there someone you can ask? Some families just wont have specifically non-kosher things like pork, but they don’t keep a whole kosher kitchen.
Most Jewish families we know would be delighted with that.
So many people send sweets; it’s great to get real food in times like this.

I’m Jewish, and I’ve brought a ham and rolls and sides to Christian friends after a death in their family.
I think your effort is lovely.


Thank you. As I am reading more on the internet about what is allowed and what is kosher etc, I think a lot of Indian vegetarian cooking will lend itself to meeting at least the dietary requirements (even if it is not meeting the purification and religious requirements) I intend to go several times to visit and I think I can then find out what I can make for them and if they are very strict or not.

I agree. I think some real food will be a change for them. I am sure their family and friends are getting them their regular food, so I want to bring them something different. Indian homemade vegetarian food is lighter, less spicy, fresher, more varied, more flavorful and healthier than what the regular Indian restaurants serve.

Anyways, thank you to all who responded. I am also reading a bit more about how a kosher kitchen is run and all I can say is that it makes so much sense. All of this is to make people mindful of what they eat and to prevent diseases and cross contamination.


You aren't getting they WILL not eat anything cooked in your kitchen. I am vegetarian. My kosher friends will not eat from my kitchen nor anyone else's that is not Kosher. It's not as simple as cross-contamination and diseases.

Ask them what they like. We wouldn't eat that.
Anonymous
Post 01/17/2023 23:26     Subject: Indian vegetarian food for Jewish friend.
Are they orthodox jewish? If not, I'd assume not kosher and buy anything except pork or shellfish.
Anonymous
Post 01/17/2023 23:16     Subject: Re:Indian vegetarian food for Jewish friend.
Do you know how observant they are? My best friend is Jewish, keeps a mostly kosher kitchen (separate milk and meat dishes), and follows the general dietary restrictions, but she eats at restaurants and at people’s homes. She would eat all of the dishes you describe, i.e. they wouldn’t violate any of the dietary restrictions she follows. So if they eat outside the home and/or outside of strictly kosher kitchens, that meal is fine.
Anonymous
Post 01/17/2023 22:32     Subject: Re:Indian vegetarian food for Jewish friend.
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:The majority of American Jews do not keep kosher at all.

Do you have a mutual friend you could ask if she keeps kosher? What have you seen her eat?

Other than that your menu sounds amazing.


Thank you. I will probably go with just dried fruits and nuts platter for the Shiva. I think I will get a better sense after I visit her and after this period is over I can make some meals and see if they like it? Not sure how strict they are but I think in such times people revert to their traditions for comfort. Thank you.


Kashering a kitchen is exhausting and time consuming and expensive. I can’t imagine someone who didn’t keep kosher before suddenly doing so during Shiva. I think if you have doubts bringing fruit or whatever when you visit and then saying “I would love to cook a vegetarian Indian meal for you if that is something you would like, and they can say no thank you we keep kosher or have food allergies or whatever. Or they can say yes please!


+1 this is perfect t advice

Agree they won't suddenly go kosher with all the restrictions if they were not previously doing so

Have you ever been to a restaurant with them etc? If they eat out at regular places, they are not kosher in the real sense
Anonymous
Post 01/17/2023 22:27     Subject: Re:Indian vegetarian food for Jewish friend.
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:The majority of American Jews do not keep kosher at all.

Do you have a mutual friend you could ask if she keeps kosher? What have you seen her eat?

Other than that your menu sounds amazing.


Thank you. I will probably go with just dried fruits and nuts platter for the Shiva. I think I will get a better sense after I visit her and after this period is over I can make some meals and see if they like it? Not sure how strict they are but I think in such times people revert to their traditions for comfort. Thank you.


Kashering a kitchen is exhausting and time consuming and expensive. I can’t imagine someone who didn’t keep kosher before suddenly doing so during Shiva. I think if you have doubts bringing fruit or whatever when you visit and then saying “I would love to cook a vegetarian Indian meal for you if that is something you would like, and they can say no thank you we keep kosher or have food allergies or whatever. Or they can say yes please!


Thank you. Yes, will do.
Anonymous
Post 01/17/2023 22:21     Subject: Re:Indian vegetarian food for Jewish friend.
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:The majority of American Jews do not keep kosher at all.

Do you have a mutual friend you could ask if she keeps kosher? What have you seen her eat?

Other than that your menu sounds amazing.


Thank you. I will probably go with just dried fruits and nuts platter for the Shiva. I think I will get a better sense after I visit her and after this period is over I can make some meals and see if they like it? Not sure how strict they are but I think in such times people revert to their traditions for comfort. Thank you.


Kashering a kitchen is exhausting and time consuming and expensive. I can’t imagine someone who didn’t keep kosher before suddenly doing so during Shiva. I think if you have doubts bringing fruit or whatever when you visit and then saying “I would love to cook a vegetarian Indian meal for you if that is something you would like, and they can say no thank you we keep kosher or have food allergies or whatever. Or they can say yes please!
Anonymous
Post 01/17/2023 22:07     Subject: Indian vegetarian food for Jewish friend.
Anonymous wrote:Just call Motis or Shaloms and tell them the name of the family, your budget, and date of delivery. They will look at what they are already delivering and coordinate ie… they are already sending chicken on Tuesday so for dinner on Wed they will send beef or fish. Or if they’re already sending a fish platter then they’ll send danish and quiche the next day.

They will work with whatever budget you give you them.


Ah, thank you so much. Very helpful. I will do that.
Anonymous
Post 01/17/2023 22:06     Subject: Indian vegetarian food for Jewish friend.
Anonymous wrote:What can I make that will be well recieved for a Jewish family observing Shiva? DH thinks I should take a fruit basket but I want to take something which will be a change. I am a vegetarian and I do not cook non-veg at home.

I was thinking a simple meal of -
Cauliflower-potatoes (Gobi Aloo)
Plain basmati rice
Whole Masoor Dal (Dal makhani)
Spinach - paneer. (palak-paneer)

Is this Kosher? I will be using kosher salt and my kitchen is vegetarian.




This is joke?
Anonymous
Post 01/17/2023 22:05     Subject: Indian vegetarian food for Jewish friend.
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:No, nothing from your home is kosher.


I see.

Any ideas about what I can get for my friends? I do not want to offend.


If they do not keep a kosher kitchen that sounds fantastic!
Is there someone you can ask? Some families just wont have specifically non-kosher things like pork, but they don’t keep a whole kosher kitchen.
Most Jewish families we know would be delighted with that.
So many people send sweets; it’s great to get real food in times like this.

I’m Jewish, and I’ve brought a ham and rolls and sides to Christian friends after a death in their family.
I think your effort is lovely.


Thank you. As I am reading more on the internet about what is allowed and what is kosher etc, I think a lot of Indian vegetarian cooking will lend itself to meeting at least the dietary requirements (even if it is not meeting the purification and religious requirements) I intend to go several times to visit and I think I can then find out what I can make for them and if they are very strict or not.

I agree. I think some real food will be a change for them. I am sure their family and friends are getting them their regular food, so I want to bring them something different. Indian homemade vegetarian food is lighter, less spicy, fresher, more varied, more flavorful and healthier than what the regular Indian restaurants serve.

Anyways, thank you to all who responded. I am also reading a bit more about how a kosher kitchen is run and all I can say is that it makes so much sense. All of this is to make people mindful of what they eat and to prevent diseases and cross contamination.
Anonymous
Post 01/17/2023 21:38     Subject: Indian vegetarian food for Jewish friend.
Just call Motis or Shaloms and tell them the name of the family, your budget, and date of delivery. They will look at what they are already delivering and coordinate ie… they are already sending chicken on Tuesday so for dinner on Wed they will send beef or fish. Or if they’re already sending a fish platter then they’ll send danish and quiche the next day.

They will work with whatever budget you give you them.
Anonymous
Post 01/17/2023 21:17     Subject: Indian vegetarian food for Jewish friend.
Anonymous wrote:Bolling Brook Parkway or Kemp Mill - get a gift card to a restaurant. Several Stores/Restaurants


Thank you. I did not think about a gift card but I read that it is also allowed.
Anonymous
Post 01/17/2023 21:15     Subject: Indian vegetarian food for Jewish friend.
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:No, nothing from your home is kosher.


I see.

Any ideas about what I can get for my friends? I do not want to offend.


If they do not keep a kosher kitchen that sounds fantastic!
Is there someone you can ask? Some families just wont have specifically non-kosher things like pork, but they don’t keep a whole kosher kitchen.
Most Jewish families we know would be delighted with that.
So many people send sweets; it’s great to get real food in times like this.

I’m Jewish, and I’ve brought a ham and rolls and sides to Christian friends after a death in their family.
I think your effort is lovely.
Anonymous
Post 01/17/2023 21:12     Subject: Indian vegetarian food for Jewish friend.
Anonymous wrote:Here is a list of places - the grocery store on Bolling Brooke Parkway is gross.

https://gatherdc.org/resources/kosher-food-finder/



Noted. Thank you.