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

An hour later, Shai was on the basketball court, shooting hoops as if trying to impress Jared, who was on the sideline. Jared did not need any help; he was already impressed. He spent most of the game e-mailing all the names and birthdates of Shai’s family to the studio so they could be added to the guest list of Peachy’s List. The rest of the time, he spent admiring Shai’s athletic body, which, even wrapped in modest knee-length gym shorts and an innocently cut tank top, posed quite a figure.


Chapter 15