WATCH: How White House Kitchen Goes Kosher for Hanukkah Party
![](https://images.forwardcdn.com/image/970x/center/images/cropped/w-whitehousekitchen-1481736737.jpg)
Doughnuts being fried in the White House kitchen, which was kosherized for the annual Hanukkah party. Image by You Tube
At tonight’s White House Hanukkah party, where President Barack Obama will light the menorah for the last time as Commander in Chief, the festive food being served will come out of a kitchen that meets the highest standards of kosher observance. So how is this feat accomplished?
Rabbi Levi Shemtov, who oversees the kasherizing process, told Mishpacha magazine that Marines or Navy personel employed by the White House scrub the ovens, which are then heated to 500–600˚ F. Every kitchen surface is cleaned and boiled, according to White House Executive Chef Christeta Comerford, then wrapped in plastic wrap and aluminum foil.
A couple of helpful videos let us in on the process:
And here, you can watch the action at high speed:
Tonight, President Obama will enjoy kosher food with honored guests. Tomorrow, the White House kitchen will return to its regular state of treyf.
Related
Liza Schoenfein is food editor of the Forward. Contact her at [email protected] or on Twitter, @LifeDeathDinner
A message from our editor-in-chief Jodi Rudoren
![](https://forward.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Jodi-Headshot.jpg)
We're building on 127 years of independent journalism to help you develop deeper connections to what it means to be Jewish today.
With so much at stake for the Jewish people right now — war, rising antisemitism, a high-stakes U.S. presidential election — American Jews depend on the Forward's perspective, integrity and courage.
— Jodi Rudoren, Editor-in-Chief