OU Jewish organizations OU Hillel and Alpha Epsilon Pi taught OU students about Jewish culture and raised money for a medical center with its Latkes for Love event Thursday night at the OU Hillel Jewish Student Center.

The fourth annual event featured a buffet of Jewish and Israeli food, such as latkes and matzo-ball soup, and had Hanukkah activities and live music.

A big part of the event was sharing Jewish culture and traditions with the community, said Misheala Giddings, international area studies junior and Hillel member.

“[Jewish people] know all about Christmas and its story,” Giddings said. “It would be nice to say ‘My mom’s making latkes’ and not look like a crazy pants.”

Latkes for Love is the one big event to showcase the Jewish community and who they are, Giddings said.

The group expected a turnout of around 400 people, said Joshua Fried, event coordinator and French and public relations senior. Within the first hour, the event had 150 attendees.

Another part of the event was fundraising for Shaare Zedek Medical Center in Jerusalem, Israel, Fried said. The center, associated with the Faculty of Medicine at Hebrew University, is a leader in medical progress in the Middle East.

The event raised a record-breaking $7,000 last year, twice the set goal, Fried said. This year the group hoped to match that.

“There [was] a lot of excitement for the event this year, both on and off campus,” Fried said. “But due to the fact that Oklahomans, as well as Norman businesses, are still hurting from the economic issues, it is possible that we will not have a turnout as successful as in years previous.”

Around 1 1/2 hours into the event scheduled for four, Fried said he predicted the event had raised around $5,000.

Over the past three years, the group has raised over $10,000 for the medical center, Fried said.

Hillel member Jonathan Wille said it was his first time to be involved with Latkes for Love and he enjoyed it.

“There is a great turnout, lots of energy,” said Wille, University College freshman. “The cold hasn’t affected it one bit. There are a lot of people experiencing Jewish culture tonight.”

Students started cooking food Monday and continued through Thursday, Wille said. Overall, they cooked 250 pounds of potatoes to make the latkes.

Emma Newberry-Daves, University College freshman, had never had latkes, a type of potato pancake, before and said she thought the event was a good experience.

“They should keep doing this,” Newberry-Daves said.

This was the first year the Jewish fraternity Alpha Epsilon Pi helped cosponsor the event, Fried said. OU Hillel has always been a sponsor of the event, providing facilities, funds and support.