Rice University is introducing a kosher serving station in Seibel Servery, enhancing its already diverse array of dining choices. This new addition, which will be available starting this fall, reflects Rice's ongoing commitment meeting the diverse cultural and religious needs of its student body, said David McDonald, assistant vice president of housing and dining.
“By providing this service, we aim to create a welcoming, inclusive environment where every student feels respected and valued, and where their dietary practices can be seamlessly integrated into their daily lives on campus,” McDonald said.
Rice Housing and Dining will work with Rabbi Shmuli Slonim, Chabad at Rice co-director, to meet the kosher requirements.
“We are so grateful to Rice for investing the resources to provide a great kosher option for our community, and we are so excited for this new initiative,” Slonim said.
Kosher is a Hebrew word that means “fit,” and when applied to food, it means the food is approved to eat for someone who follows kosher laws. It stems from the Hebrew word “kashrut,” a set of Jewish religious dietary laws.
Among the numerous laws of kashrut are prohibitions on the consumption of certain animals (such as pork and shellfish), mixtures of meat and milk and the commandment to slaughter mammals and birds according to a process known as shechita. There are also laws regarding agricultural produce that might impact the suitability of food for consumption.
To ensure the food meets standards, Housing and Dining will implement practices to maintain the adherence to kashrut.
“We will hire a kosher supervisor, and the position will require a very specific person who has the training and the knowledge to ensure the food is kosher every single day we open,” McDonald said. “In addition, by introducing kosher options, this means the product has to be stored properly, and this person is the only one who has the key to ensure this process happens properly.”
Employees will be trained about the rules regarding the cooking utensils and what protocols to follow for each of the foods and their preparation.
McDonald mentioned that if the station proves successful, kosher dining options have potential to expand to retail locations on campus.
Students have responded favorably to the addition of kosher dining.
“I am very thankful that we have a kosher food option on campus,” said Gregory Chekler, a junior in McMurtry College. “Many other top universities have one, so this shows that Rice can also accommodate the dietary restrictions of students from all backgrounds. Furthermore, since kosher food would be integrated into one of the serveries, students can eat with their friends and participate in the college experience just like anyone else. Having kosher food on campus allows Jewish students to stay true to their beliefs and traditions with little friction, enabling them to focus their attention on positively contributing to the classroom and the broader Rice community.”
For more information about dining options on campus, visit dining.rice.edu.