The one-time special kosher dinner at Novellus in St. Charles on Oct. 25 raised more than $88,000 in donations and matching gifts by the restaurant. That will translate to 16,000 meals that will be distributed to displaced Israelis. Bob Affholder, owner of Novellus, is not Jewish. After watching news coverage of the Hamas attack on Israel, he reached out to the Chabad Jewish Center of St. Charles County to offer his help.

With assistance from the Vaad Hoeir of St. Louis, the Novellus commercial kitchen was completely kosherized in preparation for the event. Two seatings of 90 diners each sold out quickly. The kosher meal options were beef or fish. Jenna O’Shea, who attended with her Torah study group members, said her meal was excellent.

“The food was good,” O’Shea said. “Everybody was waiting to see what it would be like. I had the encrusted salmon. It was delicious. There was also a chopped liver appetizer. There was very nice ambiance. The restaurant is super cute. It’s just a really nice laid-back spot.

“I know that it wasn’t easy, and it had to be outside of their comfort zone, especially the chef. But they just went out of their way to create this night, and it was just really nice.”

Steve Ehlmann, St. Charles County executive, also attended the event and said, “A lot of people in St. Charles were happy to help and the restaurant was generous in their support. The food was good and the fellowship was even better. It was a good feeling all around. I taught at Clayton High School in 1976 and I ran into one my former students, Susan Kalishman, who recognized me.”

O’Shea said the restaurant had a distinctive positive energy that evening.

“Everyone came together to support our brothers and sisters in Israel,” she said. “There was a somberness about the event, of course, but also positivity, togetherness and support and just spreading goodness. That’s what Chabad has done for St. Charles, especially in light of the recent events. And our community here in St. Charles just really seems to embrace it. The whole event made me proud to be a resident here in St. Charles. We have an awesome community here.”

Funds raised at the Novellus kosher dinner will be used by Colel Chabad, an Israeli ​​charity that provides food, medical care and support to widows and orphans.