By Nina Schoenberg, Chicago Tribune

 

When Tom Sondag was growing up in the 1960s, back to school meant a trip to Chernin’s Shoes in Chicago’s South Loop, where his parents bought the brown Oxfords he wore with his Catholic school uniform.

Then, it was on to Manny’s deli for a much-anticipated treat: a steaming bowl of matzo ball soup.

"I can remember the first time I tasted it," said Sondag, principal of Castle Honda in Morton Grove. "I loved it. I loved it."

Sixty years later, his enthusiasm for Chicago’s iconic Jewish deli hasn’t wavered. So when Sondag was looking for ways to make Christmas better for his fellow Chicagoans during the COVID-19 pandemic, he didn’t have to look far.

"I’m going to treat ’em to Manny’s corned beef," he said.

Sondag, 67, ponied up for 1,000 corned beef sandwich kits, each with enough meat, rye bread and Manny’s mayonnaise-mustard to make four sandwiches, according to Manny’s owner Dan Raskin. Raskin, whose family has owned Manny’s for four generations, declined to say how much Sondag donated, but put the retail value of the food at $30,000.

"It’s an amazing blessing, and we’re very grateful to have customers who not only want to support us, but want to support the community," said Raskin.

The sandwich kits were distributed Dec. 21 at St. Sabina Catholic Church on the South Side. The Rev. Michael Pfleger, the church’s senior pastor, said that so many people have been showing up for weekly distributions of 500 boxes of food, that the church consistently runs out.

"I’ve never seen a greater need," said Pfleger.

Manny’s has experienced financial ups and downs during the pandemic, but the restaurant, owned by the same family since the 1940s, has benefited from a partnership with World Central Kitchen, which buys restaurant meals and distributes them to people in need. Manny’s has also expanded into suburban delivery.

Pfleger said he had been trying to figure out how to get fresh meals for food giveaway recipients and was overjoyed when he learned of Sondag’s donation.

"That’s what it’s all about: It’s about partnerships," Pfleger said. "That’s how we’re going to get through this thing."

Sondag, of Chicago’s Wicker Park neighborhood, recalled how his Catholic mother delighted in Manny’s authentic Jewish food and said it was great to be part of a "rainbow of people" working together to bring Christmas joy.