Stay Kosher on Campus
I've already chosen my college, how will I manage to keep kosher?
Keeping Kosher in Oxford has never been easier! The standard method for keeping kosher at the average Oxford college is as follows: Students eat weekday evenings and Shabbatot at the Oxford Jewish Congregation (OJC); the congregation provides sumptuous subsidised meals for students. Students ask permission from their college to have a microwave in a nearby communal kitchen and keep a fridge in their room to prepare all other meals. Oven use in communal kitchens is often possible with the standard 'double wrapping'. There are 'lunch-and-learn' sessions most weekday lunchtimes, which means that if you are able to go and get there and back in time (for those who do sciences this is more difficult) you will have lunch sorted most days. Although 'living-out' of college would make things easier, it is usually not possible during the first year and is always more expensive.
Some tips: Firstly, the bottom line is 'ask or you won't get'; don't be afraid to ask and explain how much of a big deal keeping kosher can be. E.g. Even if a college has a policy on microwaves in rooms they may be willing to make an exception for you. Secondly, there is strength in numbers; for two people the college will always make an effort. Even if you don't know of anyone else going to your college, email Jsoc or ask around the Jewish community, if you find others going to a different college then ask who they know; work that Jewish geography! Thirdly, whether there's just you or three of you, let your college accommodation people know about you ahead of time and explain to them what keeping kosher means. We have even prepared a letter explaining it all; just click here to see it!
Click here to see our college 'kosher-friendly' ratings. This will give you a sense of what to expect, what has been done in the past and what to ask for.
