About Us

 Our Mission

Temple Beth El of South Orange County is a welcoming Jewish home where individuals and families come together to celebrate, explore, and engage in diverse Jewish practices through mitzvot: prayer, learning and acts of loving kindness.

Our Vision

As the Samueli Center for Progressive Judaism, we honor Judaism of the past by making it relevant today and for generations to come. We envision a future where we connect Jewish living with a life of meaning, fulfillment, and the opportunity to serve others.  We are stewards of a Jewish future in South Orange County. 

Kashrut at Community Events

Temple Beth El of South Orange County Events (on or off site, catered or potluck, or bring your own food) follow “Kosher Style” as described below.
 The downstairs/dairy kitchen is dairy/vegetarian only. All meals that are connected to Shabbat morning or Festival Day services are dairy/vegetarian.
 KOSHER STYLE
1.     Any product where meat is an ingredient (e.g. beef, lamb, chicken, turkey….) will not be served at the same event with product where dairy is an ingredient (e.g. milk, butter, cheese, ice cream… If there are food items that contain additives at a meat meal,  like casein, sodium caseinate, whey, lecithin, and lactose, which are dairy derivatives, they need to be labeled as such so congregants can choose how they want to observe.
2.    No shellfish (e.g. shrimp, crab, lobster, mussels, clams…) or any sea animals that do not have scales and fins (e.g. catfish, shark…) will be prepared or served
3.    No pork, ham or products made with lard will be prepared or served.
4.    Catered meals will be either dairy or meat.
5.    Potluck events where food is shared (either appetizers, main course, sides, and/or dessert) will be restricted to dairy or vegetarian foods.
6.    All foods being served (including meat) may or may not have a hekhsher (kosher certification)
7.    Any meal where meat is served will have a vegetarian alternative that includes an alternative entrée containing a vegetarian protein or fish entrée.  

Private Event Rentals

Temple Beth El of South Orange County rents space privately to members and non-members. For rentals, the following applies. 
Jewish event rentals: #1-4  under Kosher Style apply. No other food policy items must be adhered to.
Non-Jewish event rentals: Kosher-style food policy, with the exception of #1 under Kosher Policy, only applies to Kitchen rentals. No food policy adherence is required throughout the rest of the building.