JFS Celebrates 50 Years of Kosher Meals on Wheels & Expanded Food Pantry

Click here for the full gallery of photos from the event!

On a mild Spring evening last week, 225 community members were held spellbound by Chef Michael Solomonov candid, humorous and humble reflections on the role of Israel in his life, the future of Israeli cuisine and how he came to grips with his addiction issues at the moment he was opening Zahav. Solomonov, also opened up about the loss of his brother, David, who died in combat while serving on a patrol for the elite Golani Brigade of the IDF on Yom Kippur 2003.

Solomonov was in Harrisburg as the keynote presenter for Jewish Family Service of Greater Harrisburg’s (JFS) Annual Event, entitled “50 Years of Caring.” The event highlighted the growing role JFS plays in combatting food insecurity in Central PA, celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Finkelstein-Cohen Kosher Meals on Wheels program and the recent expansion of The Libby Urie Food Pantry.

“It’s incredible to think that over the past 50 years, JFS has served more than 250,000 meals to local homebound seniors through our Kosher Meals on Wheels program, and we want to celebrate this incredible achievement” said Dr. Jordan Klein, JFS Board member and chair of the event. The event also acknowledged the expansion of the Libby Urie Food pantry which provides more than 12,500 lbs. in non-perishable food to approximately 100 local families a year.

A highlight of the evening was the announcement of the launch of the Frances Goldberg Fund for Kosher Meals on Wheels through the Jewish Community Foundation of Central PA (JCF). The fund will provide supplemental funds to ensure that JFS can maintain and expand this critical lifesaving program in the years ahead. Any community member interested in donating to the fund should contact Steve Schauder, JFS Executive Director at [email protected] or to Paulette Keifer, Executive Director of JCF at [email protected]

JFS is deeply grateful to the sponsors who underwrote the event, such as lead sponsor, The Alexander Grass Foundation and presenting sponsors, UPMC and Lois Lehrman Grass and Kristen Olewine-Milke, who good-humoredly referred to themselves as “The Grocery Daughters,” as both their families have ties to the grocery industry.

The event was catered by Norman Gras who was assisted by many local amateur chefs in recreating numerous recipes from Solomonov’s many cookbooks. The celebration also allowed JFS to share information on many of the essential services it provides to over 1,500 people annually. JFS Executive Director, Steve Schauder, shared some of the following achievements that JFS has accomplished over the past year, including:
• Providing more than 3,200 mental health counseling sessions to children, teens, families and seniors in the community.
• Providing more than $30,000 in financial assistance and case management to 270 community members.
• Resettling 45 recently arrived Afghan refugees in Greater Harrisburg since December 2021.

If you or someone you know is in need of JFS services or would like to learn more about the agency, please go to www.jfsofhbg.org or call JFS at (717) 233-1681.