We do not charge any establishment for our certification. We want to encourage the restaurants to become certified as kosher, so we make the entry barrier as low as possible. Of course, there is a cost for our work, but that comes from our community’s budget, and not the local restaurant owners.

Individuals should be aware that not all vegan restaurants are kosher. Just because something is vegan, it does not mean that it is necessarily kosher.

In our experience this is most pronounced in three areas:
1. Wine and other grape derivatives are often vegan but still require strict kosher certification.
2. We need to make sure that the product being served is completely vegan and that there is no crossover with non-kosher products.
3. We need to make certain that a strict protocol is followed as it relates to checking leafy vegetables for bugs.

DC Kosher is an Orthodox kashrut supervision, utilizing similar standards as well‐known kashrut organizations. Products served at the restaurants contain kosher ingredients with accepted hechsherim, all vegetables are thoroughly washed, and there are Mashgichim who conduct checks.

The Washington, DC area is home to the third largest Jewish population in the United States and traditionally has had only few kosher establishments. There has been both a great need and a strong desire for additional kosher options, and DC Kosher hopes to help fill that void. By certifying these establishments we are hoping that it will be easier for more people to follow kosher dietary laws.

As mentioned, DC Kosher does not charge for this service, but we welcome your donations to help us expand our efforts. Please contact your local synagogue to make a donation towards our efforts.