Kosher At ASU Initiative Gains Traction
by Rabbi Mendy Rimler, Assistant Rabbi At Chabad At ASU
There are no kosher meals currently available at ASU, so a meeting held by Jewish students last Wednesday marked a watershed for Jewish life on campus at ASU.
Headed up by Rabbi Shmuel Tiechtel and Rabbi Mendy Rimler, the group met with district manager for Aramark at ASU Brandi Heatherly and Associate VP for Student Services Jennifer Hightower to discuss the expansion of kosher options at ASU.
"We put a stake in the ground with our goal to join other students at many colleges in the U.S who benefit from a richer college experience with kosher food available on campus," explains Ronen Baturow, a psychology major at ASU.
The students presented at the meeting an outline of the possible options to explore, from vendiing machines and carts to food trucks and hot kosher meals. Participating at the meeting were students Sivan Markowitz, Jake Ashby, Ronen Baturow and Elliot Goltsman. While not available to attend the meeting, Gabe Wood-Isenberg has worked tirelessly for this project and has coordinated the efforts of the group throughout the process.
Students were gratified with the warm reception of the Aramark and student services staff who were present at the meeting.
"Right from the start of the meeting, it became clear that kosher food at ASU was a common goal for both parties, students and faculty," says Baturow. He points to the fact that kosher is a draw not just for Jewish students who may not consider ASU because of the paucity of kosher food, but also for the large muslim population and other students who subsist on healthier diets.
"It's an exciting new development, kosher food will soon become a reality at ASU," he says.
For more info, or to get involved in this important initiative, please email [email protected]