What to bring You can decide what you would like to provide - be as creative as you would like. Some of the recent menus have included: dried and fresh fruit, challah and jam, vegetables and dips. Cakes, cookies and pastries (home made, from a store or from a bakery) are always well received.

Everything can be brought to the Temple right before services and placed downstairs in the kitchen. You can also bring them to the Temple on Friday before 1:00 p.m., making sure they are labeled as being for the Temple’s oneg.

The following are items that you will need to bring:

• challah for the kiddush
• beverages, such as seltzer, juice and sodas
• milk or cream 1 pound can of decaf coffee (coffee is optional)
• dish towels for clean-up

The Temple provides sugar, sugar-substitute and very basic-quality plates, napkins, tablecloths and plastic utensils. If you would like something more festive, please feel free to substitute your own.

If you would like to have the food catered and delivered to Temple Sinai, the office is open from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm on Fridays. However, please notify the office in advance. A few local bakeries include:

• New Paris Bakery 617-566-0929
• Cheryl Ann’s Bakery 617-469-9241

Setting Up and Cleaning Up

Mario Calderon (our custodian/accommodator) will set up trays and put everything out for the oneg. If you are expecting a large group of attendees, it would be appreciated if you could help by arranging trays/platters of food ahead of time. Mario will also prepare hot tea, and put out plates and utensils. If you provide a can of coffee (decaffeinated preferred) he will brew it and set it up on the beverage table in Ehrenfried Hall.

We keep some serving plates and utensils in the locked tan cabinet to the right of the kitchen entrance and in the glass-fronted cabinets to the left of the entrance. If you want or need something special or are expecting a large crowd, please bring extra serving items with you. Please call the Temple office at 617-277-5888 for the lock combination. Please be sure to return the washed dishes to the cabinet after the oneg and reset the lock. Please do not put food into the cabinets. Mario will clean up afterwards (this does not include washing dishes.)

Help us to keep Temple Sinai green! Because Temple Sinai strives to be as environmentally responsible as possible, we have adopted the following policies:

Dishes and cups

• If you are going to wash and reuse dishes & cups, bring whatever utensils and dishes you would like
• If you are not going to reuse them, please purchase only recyclable plastic, and be sure to put them into the recycling containers at the end of the evening
• If you can't get reusable/recyclable plastic, buy paper instead because it biodegrades in the trash.

Paper goods:  If possible, buy ones made from recycled or post-consumer materials

Plastic silverware: These can also be washed and reused. No styrofoam, please

Flowers

If you plan to donate flowers for the bimah and/or oneg table, you can use your own florist or call one of the following florists familiar with Temple Sinai:

• Albert’s of Brookline 617-232-3353
• Stephanie’s Flowers 617-469-4747

If you prefer, the Temple office will order the flowers for you if you call by Wednesday. The florist will send the bill directly to your home. You can specify the colors or type of flowers you want in the arrangement. The bimah flowers should be not more than 32" high and should be delivered to the Temple by noon on Friday. Please specify that no lilies be included in the arrangement, as the Cantor is allergic to them.

In conclusion….

There are generally 50-80 people attending services. Some Erev Shabbat services are special occasions and more people may attend. If you are hosting a bat/bar mitzvah oneg Shabbat for another family, it is best to ask that family how many people they are expecting to attend Friday night services and add that number to your count. Please call the office the week prior to the service to get better estimate of attendance or if you have any questions.

Thank you!