What to serve at an azkara or the shloshim

A meal together after the azkara

At an azkara, the shloshim and the yearly memorial, family and friends come together to remember: at prayers in the synagogue, at the graveside or at home. Afterwards the family hosts those who came, and usually everyone eats together. Many families say blessings over the food le'ilui nishmat, for the elevation of their loved one's soul, and some add a Torah lesson or a few words of remembrance.

There is no one menu that is right for everyone. Customs differ from family to family and from community to community: some serve light refreshments, others hold a full meal with a starter and a main course. Choose what suits the family, the number of guests and the time of day you meet.

A meal in courses

A respectful azkara meal usually follows the order of a full family meal: salads and bread to begin, then a starter, then a main course with sides. The menu on our site follows the same order. Here are some of its dishes:

• Salads: matbucha, hummus, tahini, fire-roasted eggplant, Turkish salad, Moroccan carrot salad and more. Pick up to 6.
• Starters: St. Peter's fish in Moroccan sauce, cooked salmon, fish balls in Moroccan sauce and more. Pick up to 2.
• Main courses: pot roast in gravy, boneless chicken thighs, schnitzel, house kebab and more. Pick up to 2.
• Sides: white rice, red rice, oven-baked Parisienne potatoes, couscous, green beans and more. Pick up to 3.
• Breads: hamotzi or mezonot rolls. Pick as many as you like.

When you choose, aim for variety: mild salads next to a spicy one, fish next to meat, vegetables next to rice. That way every guest finds something that suits them.

You put the meal together on the site, category by category: build an azkara menu. For the order itself, delivery and the cities we deliver to, see our page on azkara catering.

Where the meal is held

Some families gather at home, some host guests at the synagogue after prayers, and some choose a small hall. Make sure in advance that there are enough tables and chairs, and decide who will receive the delivery when it arrives.

Enter the address on the order page, including the floor, apartment or entry code. Anything that helps us find the place, such as the name of the synagogue or the hall, goes in the notes box.

What to settle before you order

• The number of guests. Enter it on the order page. How to estimate it, and what else affects the amounts, is explained in our guide on how much food to order for an azkara.
• Allergies and preferences. Allergies, guests who do not eat fish or spicy food, and any other request go in the notes box. If there is an allergy, also call us before you order and ask about each dish.
• Kashrut. Our kashrut, in its original Hebrew wording: כשרות מהדרין בת-ים. Details on the kashrut page.
• The date. The yearly memorial follows the Hebrew date, so each year it falls on a different date in the regular calendar. Find it with the yahrzeit calculator.
• The delivery time. When the date is known, choose a date and time on the order page. You can also order for the same day: the delivery arrives within 3 hours of ordering, on business days and hours. On Fridays and holiday eves it arrives before Shabbat or the holiday begins, and we are closed on Shabbat and holidays.

If anything is unclear, ask us by phone or on WhatsApp.