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

“Yes, please,” said Shai, who seemed calmer, resigned to the truth of his situation.


Three times they tried calling Shai’s family on Jared’s phone, and three times nobody picked up.


“That’s it,” said Shai. “I will never see my family again.”


“Don’t say that. Trust me, time heals all wounds. They just need some time.”


Shai stared out the window at the falling snow, and for a while, Jared was hopeful that Shai’s mind was elsewhere, and that he was no longer ruminating about the fall-out with his family.


“I’m really grateful to be with you right now, Jared,” began Shai, holding onto Jared with one hand. “But you just can’t understand. I’m sorry, but you can’t. Aside from college and summer camp and a few trips to Israel, I have spent my entire life in Borough Park. I can’t just pick up and leave forever. That’s my home, that’s my world, where it’s safe and where I belong. I really don’t know if I can deal with your world.”


Chapter 29