Twenty-five-year-old TV producer Jared Greenfield loves his big city life -- job, friends, and shopping -- but even with all the fun of big city life, he feels a longing for something, or someone, more. Then, on the very first night of Hanukkah, he spots a handsome, sweaty basketball player at the Jewish Community Center.<br><br>Tall, dark, and Orthodox, the young and athletic Shai Goodhart strikes up an easy friendship with Jared, only to discover Jared has very little appreciation for his own Jewish heritage and religion. Determined to enlighten this “Bad Jew,” Shai invites him over for a family Hanukkah celebration.<br><br>Then Jared discovers Shai’s deepest secret and the biggest threat to his future. Over the eight days of Hanukkah, deep emotions pull them closer and closer together. Can they ever reach across the divide of their shared culture and fall in love?

Hanukkah Gifts

“Oh, you know. Someone like you—wears the whole thing, does the whole thing, follows all the laws, candles and prayers at Sabbath, keeps kosher. You keep kosher, right?”


“I do. But you do know it’s not just about what you wear and eat. I mean, are you even proud that you’re Jewish?”


“That’s a fucking loaded question,” said Jared. “Oh, my God, I said fucking, didn’t I? Oh, my God, I just said God, too. I’m sorry, I’m sorry.”


Shai pretended to cover his ears with both his hands.


“Yeah, I’m proud to be Jewish—of course. Being Jewish is cool, and it’s Hanukkah today, so, yay for Hanukkah!” Jared tried to be cute, but he just felt stupid.


“Do you even know what Hanukkah is about?” asked Shai, teasing Jared a little more. “Like, the original story?”


“Festival of lights. Oil in the temple, lamps keep burning for eight days—yeah, yeah, I know it.”


“Okay. Just checking. Seems like you passed pre-school, at least.”


Chapter 4