Latkes signal Hanukkah's arrival

As part of “Latkes for Love,” guests paid one price and were treated to all the latkes they could eat. Event organizers gave visitors several items to place atop their latkes, including traditional toppings like apple sauce and sour cream as well as nontraditional toppers like ketchup, hot fudge and ranch salad dressing.

Meanwhile, the students doing the cooking in the kitchen were a lively crew, showing off their mastery of latke-making with lots of pride.

Matthew Lorch, 22, an OU senior from Los Angeles, said he watched his mother make latkes for years. He said memories of her holiday cooking sessions came to his aid when he began making latkes for the annual charity event.

“I had watched my mom and then experimented on my own,” Lorch said. “Several burn injuries later, I'm able to make them.”

Zachary Evilsizer, 22, an OU senior from Yukon, said “Latkes for Love” included sweet potato latkes and matzo ball soup in previous years and he helped make such treats. He said this year's cooks and organizers decided to keep things simple by offering a main course of traditional latkes and Israeli salad, a mixture of tomatoes, cucumbers and onions.

OU freshman Tanner Lurie, 18, of Dallas, said he and the other latke cooks worked over a two-day period to make the potato pancakes. They continued putting their frying pans to use as the fundraiser got under way.

Yonatan Schmidt, 22, a freshman from Jerusalem, said he liked the charity event because it helped promote Judaism and supports important causes.

“It shows people that we're here. Even though we're small, we're here and we're growing,” he said.

“Plus, it's for a good cause. I'm thankful to everyone who comes and opens their hearts and wallets.”