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

“Your parents still pay your phone bill?”


Shai nodded as if this was no big deal, but Jared found it problematic. In some ways, Shai seemed so grown up and mature, and in others, he seemed so young and guarded, like a little boy lost at an amusement park.


“They said I have broken the halakha, that I have committed an evil against my family, my people, and my God. They say you are a demon sent by the devil to destroy me and ruin Rebekah’s life. They say I am weak, and worldly, and I have given up my strength and manliness to you, a faygeleh.”


“Is that all?” said Jared, sarcastically.


Chapter 28