The ovens in Kosher-Halal Co-op remain inoperative, but behind-the-scenes progress has been made. According to Facilities Planner and Assistant Director Leo Evans, the chief building inspector’s secretary confirmed Tuesday afternoon that the plans examiner had reviewed and approved the construction documents that were resubmitted after it was noted that the new kitchen hood did not completely adhere to the new building code.

Facilities received permission on Wednesday to resume work in the kitchen, Evans wrote to the Review in an e-mail. The chief building official will provide Facilities with the approved documents and a building permit next week.

The contractor has already begun fabrication of the ductwork as defined on the approved construction documents, continued Evans, and will begin the installation early next week.

After the initial installation is complete, the OC building inspector will look it over. If it is approved, the contractor can begin the final installation and the building inspector will re-inspect the finished work. The fire chief will then make his rounds. Upon his approval, the chief building official will provide an “occupancy permit,” granting permission to use the hoods.

Meanwhile, Kosher-Halal co-opers spent a hectic Wednesday cooking Rosh Hashanah dinner. The cooking began at 8 a.m., with 75 pounds of uncooked turkey distributed in eight pans. They were to use the oven in Lord Saunders, which was made kosher prior to Wednesday. After discovering that they could only fit six pans in the oven, they brought the other two to Jewish Chaplain Rabbi Shimon Brand’s house to cook.

“Running back and forth between Lord Saunders, Shimon’s house and the KHC co-op, we managed to put together a delicious meal,” said double-degree fifth-year and DLEC of KHC Zeev Saffir.

Director of Business Operations and College Liaison to the Oberlin Student Co-op Association Michelle Gross explained that “the College has continued to assist Kosher [-Halal] Co-op by supporting their purchase of food from a kosher caterer in Cleveland for the Rosh Hashanah meal and the Friday Shabbat meal. ResEd and Dining Services has also provided members of the Kosher [-Halal] co-op with the option to have additional meals in CDS.”

This would be a change from this past week. Saffir said he sent an email to Gross on Monday asking for a week’s refill supply of nine CDS meals per co-oper, but said he never received a response and the meals were not granted.

An expected date for completion of the kitchen has not yet been set.

“We hope to receive notification from the contractor [on Friday] of the expected date of completion and the date for inspections by the building inspector and the fire chief,” said Gross.