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A Mensch in an Unkosher Kitchen:
JFCS Partners with King of Steaks
Sasha Rogelberg | Staff Writer
and father would hide the cheese to keep the restau-
rant “kosher” for them, Olivieri said.

Olivieri’s commitment to serving food to Jewish
Philadelphia as part of JFCS’ Nourishing Community
is less superfi cial.

“We pride ourselves on giving back to the commu-
nity in any way possible,” he said. “So it just seemed
very natural to do this.”
Beyond cooking a three-course kosher meal for
event attendees, Olivieri and Sichel’s demonstration
was a fundraiser for JFCS’ Food Security Initiative,
which impacts Philadelphians beyond the Jewish
community. Th e initiative includes providing groceries to
homebound JFCS clients; fi nancial assistance
and help in applying for Supplemental Nutrition
Assistance Program, or food stamp, benefi ts; teach-
ing kitchen programs; and the Our Closet In Your
Neighborhood program, which distributes food,
F 8
DECEMBER 8, 2022 | JEWISHEXPONENT.COM
Frank Olivieri is the owner of Pat’s King of Steaks
and great-nephew of creator Pat Olivieri.

Frank Olivieri and Yehuda Sichel at the Feb. 1 JFCS
Nourishing Community event over Zoom
Olivieri said. “Th at’s what we do. We love food. For
us, food is the way that we show our love. Food is
the way that we keep our traditions alive, which
is important for both Roman Catholic Italian and
Jewish folks.”
Jewish-Italian relations have existed in Oliveri’s
family for decades. His great-uncle and restaurant
namesake Pat was married to a Jewish woman whose
ex-husband was a kosher butcher, and the couple had
plenty of Jewish friends and family.

At the store’s original location, according to
Olivieri, the Olivieris had two separate kitchens to
keep up the appearance of a kosher or kosher-style
establishment. When Jewish loved ones would come
to patronize the place, Frank Olivieri’s grandfather
clothing and services to clients in need.

In addition to bringing funds to the organization,
the Nourishing Community program helps bring
awareness of JFCS’ work, which is rooted in the
Jewish values of community, dignity and repairing
the world.

Olivieri’s consistent participation in JFCS
reinforces the organization’s mission of extending
services to Philadelphians across all backgrounds.

“We want anyone in the community Jewish or not,
to feel a part of JFCS,” Eisenberg said, “and to feel like
they are supporting not just the Jewish community,
but the entire community as well.” JE
srogelberg@midatlanticmedia.com Courtesy of Jesson Geipel
or the past few years, Jewish Family and
Children’s Service of Greater Philadelphia has
found help in an unlikely source: one of the
city’s largest purveyors of treyf.

Since the onset of the pandemic, Frank Olivieri,
owner of cheesesteak purveyor Pat’s King of Steaks,
has teamed up with a Jewish chef for JFCS’s annual
“Nourishing Community” fundraiser for its Food
Security Initiative.

On Dec. 6, Olivieri and James Beard Award-
nominated chef and HUDA owner Yehuda Sichel
teamed up for the in-person and virtual event, where
they cooked a Glatt-kosher meal together for the
fundraiser. Th is is the second time the duo partnered
for the event.

“Chefs and people in the restaurant and food and
beverage world understand that we’re on the side of
serving a luxury, and that there are unfortunately
people that are food insecure,” Sichel said.

Olivieri shares Sichel’s desire to give back to the
community and, despite not sharing Sichel’s Jewish
upbringing, Olivieri’s connection to community out-
reach has Jewish roots.

In 2019, Olivieri’s wife Nancy Schure, who is
Jewish, began volunteering at JFCS.

“ We have a lot of people who come to our [Barbara
and Harvey] Brodsky Enrichment Center to volun-
teer and really help us with the community aspect
of the work that we do,” JFCS Chief Business and
Resource Development Offi cer Pia Eisenberg said.

“Because everyone we serve, we feel should be part
of a community and part of the larger community.”
According to Eisenberg, Schure was part of a
cooking program at the Brodsky Enrichment Center
teaching kitchen and came up with the idea to have
Olivieri conduct a virtual Nourishing Community
cooking demonstration during COVID.

Olivieri is also the founder of the Spread the Whiz
Foundation, which has the goal to “inform and
demonstrate healthy eating habits and nutrition in
school-aged children through artistic and cooking
expressions,” according to the foundation’s website.

Th e fi rst iteration of the Nourishing Community
event with Olivieri had him working along-
side CookNSolo chef Michael Solomonov. For the
February event this year, Olivieri started his partner-
ship with Sichel.

From two diff erent religious and culinary back-
grounds, Sichel and Olivieri had no problem fi nding
common ground.

“Like all Italian families, like all Jewish families,
at a meal, we’re sitting talking about our next meal,”



COMMUNITY NEWS
The Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia mobilizes
financial and volunteer resources to address the
communities’ most critical priorities locally, in Israel and
around the world.

Eight Ways to Celebrate the Eight Days
of Chanukah Across Greater Philadelphia
D reidels spinning, latkes flipping in the pan and
candles lighting up windows — the glow of the
menorah is just around the corner with Chanukah
beginning Sunday, December 18 at sundown.

Over the holiday’s eight days, the Jewish Federation
of Greater Philadelphia’s neighborhood Kehillot and
Jewish Community Relations Council will host a
number of family-friendly programs to celebrate the
Festival of Lights. Open to all, community events will
include candle lightings, mitzvah opportunities, deli-
cious Chanukah treats and more.

Visit jewishphilly.org/hanukkahguide for the
full roundup of community events and registration
details. Miracle of Lights: Chanukah Laser Show
Saturday, Dec. 17 | 6-8:30 p.m.

Beth Sholom Congregation, 8231 Old York Road,
Elkins Park
Celebrate the Festival of Lights with a laser light
show! Join Old York Road Kehillah for an evening
of wonder for people of all ages. Enjoy snacks and
a laser show, presented by Wondergy. Following the Community Chanukah Celebration
program, families are invited to a camp fair. While Monday, Dec. 19 | 5-6 p.m.

this event is sold out, community members can join Shady Brook Farm, 931 Stony Hill Road, Yardley
the waitlist.

Celebrate the second night of Hanukkah with the
Bucks County Kehillah! All are welcome to enjoy
Chanukah Celebration at Horsham Center crafts, candle lighting, music and donuts.

for Jewish Life
Sunday, Dec. 18 | 3-4 p.m.

Horsham Center for Jewish Life, 1425 Horsham Road,
North Wales
Help spread the light of Chanukah with the
Buxmont Kehillah and residents at Horsham Center
for Jewish Life. Welcome in the first night with a
meaningful candle lighting. All ages are invited
to enjoy singing, stories and Chanukah goody
bags. Chanukah Lighting on Boathouse Row
Sunday, Dec. 18 | 4:30 p.m.

Virtual Celebrate the first night of Chanukah with a special
holiday lighting. Virtually join the Jewish Federation’s
Jewish Community Relations Council, Mayor
Jim Kenney, Parks and Recreation Commissioner
Kathryn Ott Lovell and other city officials for songs
and prayers as Boathouse Row is illuminated in blue
and white.

Chanukah Candle Lighting
Tuesday, Dec. 20 | 5 p.m.

Rittenhouse Square Park, 210 W. Rittenhouse Square,
Philadelphia Show your Chanukah love in the hub of the City of
Brotherly Love and Sisterly Affection. Perfect for the
whole family, make the third night of Chanukah one
Chanukah at the Train Station
for the holiday memory books by joining the Center
Monday, Dec. 19 | 5:15- 6:15 p.m.

City Kehillah for a joyous and meaningful candle
Circle at Narberth Train Station, 1 Station Circle, lighting in Rittenhouse Square Park.

Narberth Come gather with friends for some blessings, songs, Community Chanukah Celebration
sufganiyot (jelly donuts) and Chanukah celebrations. Wednesday, Dec. 21 | 6-7 p.m.

Join the Lower Merion Kehillah for candle lighting House of Kosher, 9806 Bustleton Ave, Philadelphia,
with community members and train goers.

PA 19115
Welcome in the fourth night of Chanukah with the
Shine a Light on Antisemitism
Northeast Kehillah! Bring family and friends for an eve-
Monday, Dec. 19 | 7 p.m.

ning of candle lighting, live music by Ken Ulansey, latkes
Gladwyne Presbyterian Church 1321 Beaumont
and donuts — and, of course, schmoozing and all of the
Drive, Gladwyne
Chanukah fun. Nosh will be provided by House of Kosher.

The Jewish Federation’s Jewish Community
*** Relations Council invites the community to join an
Full event listing: jewishphilly.org/hanukkahguide
important interfaith conversation to listen, learn
and discuss the rising antisemitism in America.

Want to get involved in Jewish life within your
Led by Jewish and other faith leaders, the program community? Contact Max Moline, director of com-
will include a menorah lighting, self-reflection and munity development, at mmoline@jewishphilly.org
thoughts on action.

or 215-832-0803.

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