‘Tis the season. Coordinating Chanukah parties, 11-year-olds discovering that they’ve outgrown being excited about playing dreidel, and yes, of course, Chanukah presents. In general, Chanukah presents can cause divisiveness in our community. There’s a whole camp who refuses to do it at all (“It’s not a Yiddishe minhag!”), but even among those who do celebrate that way, there’s a deep division: A present every night or one big present that lasts all eight nights? The main struggle for me growing up was exhibiting some measure of discipline when family came to visit before asking, “What did you get me?” I was a present fiend, accosting grandparents, scaling the upper shelves of closets, and peering at ambiguous lumps in the car trunk. I have since matured, but my fascination with gifts in the Jewish community still lingers.
“Yosef and I are so appreciative of all of the work and effort you put in on our behalf to make this such a special simchah.”
As Chavi and Yosef hand over the box to the shadchan, she’s already nervous. Box is way too thin and light to be something serious. Who gives money in box? It’s also too narrow and wide to be jewelry. So many possibilities are running through the shadchan’s head, she didn’t realize the couple are waiting for her to respond to their last question.
Quickly snapping out of her reverie, she responds, “Oh, what number shidduch is this? Baruch Hashem well past 20.”
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