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

Jared laughed. “Finally, made me wait long enough.”


“What was it?” asked Shai, pretending to count on his fingers. “A whole week?”


“The whole of Hanukkah. Today’s the last day.”


“Oh, man,” replied Shai, reaching for the yarmulke pinned to his head. He pulled it off and brushed away the sand, then held the small black hat as if he did not know what to do with it.


“Here,” said Jared, taking it and putting it back on Shai’s head.


“What are you doing? I think I might be done with this.”


Chapter 32