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Campus dining options for Passover and Ramadan

During Passover and Ramadan and year-round, Stanford institutions and affiliated organizations collaborate to help students follow religious dining guidelines.

In the coming weeks, meals and fasting will take on special significance as Stanford’s Jewish and Muslim communities observe Passover and Ramadan.

During holy days, as well as throughout the year, the Office for Religious & Spiritual Life, Stanford Dining Hospitality & Auxiliaries (SDHA), and affiliated faith organizations work together to help students meet their religious dietary needs.

Here is an overview of campus dining options and accommodations for Passover, Ramadan, and year-round.

Ramadan

  • The Muslim Student Union is organizing free nightly community iftar dinners in Old Union Courtyard and Ramadan-specific Taraweeh prayers afterward in the CIRCLE on the third floor of Old Union. The iftars, which will run from April 3-20, will include various cuisines that celebrate the diversity of the campus Muslim community.
  • SDHA’s Ramadan dining options will be available at Arrillaga Family Dining Commons (AFDC) and Lakeside Dining from sunset until 9 p.m. Monday through Friday and sunset until 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. These include iftar meals and build-your-own Suhoor (pre-dawn meal) stations, with a rotating assortment of grab-and-go sandwiches and heatable breakfast items such as breakfast burritos, vegan wraps, and breakfast sandwiches.
  • Breads and pastries, assorted fruit, snack bars, yogurts, hard-boiled eggs, trail mix, and other items will be readily available for assembling nutritious pre-dawn meals. Note that students are required to have a meal plan, as they will be charged for the breakfast swipe. Click here to register for Suhoor box and Iftar meals and to specify special dietary needs, and for more information about R&DE options.
  • AFDC and Lakeside Dining will offer special iftar menus – reflecting student and staff input and representing Muslim cultures around the world – on Tuesdays during Ramadan and a special Eid dinner on April 22.
  • Food options and accommodations are designed to enable students to practice observant dining during Ramadan. However, students on undergraduate dining plans can request temporary exemptions if they have a demonstrated religious need that cannot be accommodated on the meal plan. Requests are considered on a case-by-case basis and managed through ORSL.

Throughout the year:

  • All chicken and beef served in SDHA are certified halal unless noted on the label. SDHA cooks do not use alcohol in their recipes.
  • Through the Fresh Plate program, diners who are concerned about cross-contact with haram foods may request a fresh plate, and a manager will plate the food separately from food items that have not been placed on the serving line.

Passover

  • Hillel at Stanford is offering four different seder opportunities this year: a first-night community seder for students at 7 p.m. on April 5, a traditional Orthodox Seder on April 5, a second-night seder at 8 p.m. on April 6, and, for those who prefer DIY, support for those who want to host their own seders by providing seder plates and haggadot. All options are free and open to students, but registration is required.
  • SDHA will cook and serve strictly Kosher for Passover meals – lunch and dinner – out of Hillel’s Koret Pavilion. Lunch will be served from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and dinner from 5 to 7 p.m. Graduate students may purchase meal plan blocks for a discounted per-meal price. Undergrads on the meal plan will be able to use their swipes at Hillel.
  • Hillel will also have snacks and breakfast foods available for grab-and-go every day during the holiday.
  • Matzah and matzah ball soup will be available in all SDHA dining halls, including EVGR Dining, throughout Passover.

Throughout the year:

  • Supervised Kosher food is available through SDHA’s Kosher dining program. Meals are served at Florence Moore Dining Hall – FloMo – on weekdays for lunch and for dinner, and Shabbat dinner is at Hillel on Friday evenings.
  • Both the FloMo and Hillel kitchens are under Vaad supervision. The Hillel kitchen is used during Passover and the FloMo kitchen at other times during the year.