If you’ve been dreaming of kosher barbecue — and at a family-friendly price — things are looking up.

For its next Shabbat in the Park, PJ Library in partnership with Chabad of Greater Dayton will bring in Smoked on Chai Kosher BBQ food truck from Columbus, Friday, Aug. 22 from 5:30 to 6:45 p.m. at Schoolhouse Park in Centerville.

Reservations are a must for this preordered dinner serving up brisket, turkey, pulled chicken, and for vegetarians, a jackfruit entrée. Sides are coleslaw, macaroni salad, and potato salad.

Here’s the best part: PJ Library and Chabad are generously subsidizing the dinner; the cost is only $36 per family.

The Smoked on Chai Kosher BBQ food truck is run by Max McGarity, founder of Smoked on High BBQ restaurant in Columbus’ Brewery District.

Max, who is Jewish, added the kosher BBQ concept last year, with a kosher pop-up and bulk ordering twice a month at Torat Emet Synagogue in Bexley. He also provides kosher catering to the Columbus Jewish community and is kosher certified by Buckeye Kosher. This year, he added the kosher food truck.

PJ Library, under the auspices of the Jewish Federation of Greater Dayton, sends free Jewish children’s books each month to local families with Jewish connections, and regularly presents Jewish-themed family events.

Its aim is to strengthen families’ connections to Jewish values, traditions, celebrations, and each other.

Schoolhouse Park is located at 1875 Nutt Road in Centerville. The event is open to the community.

Registrations for dinner must be received by Aug. 11 at jewishdayton.org/event.

For more information about PJ Library or the dinner, contact Kate Elder at kelder@jfgd.net.

— Marshall Weiss

To read the complete August 2025 Dayton Jewish Observer, click here.