When a father realizes that his daughter is on her way to becoming a kallah, the normal reaction is to be delighted — especially when that daughter is 26 years old.

When my two older daughters told me they were ready to get engaged, I was thrilled. As could be expected, I experienced a touch of sadness at seeing my children grow up and move on — even though they were both in their mid-20s — but the overall feeling was one of excitement and gratitude to Hashem.

But when I discovered that my 26-year-old daughter Dini was going out seriously, I was furious. Absolutely livid.

It all started when that shadchan, Mrs. Moskowitz, called to suggest a boy named Yisrael Davis. “He’s everything you want for your daughter,” she raved. “Baal middos, serious about his learning, good family, yiras Shamayim.”

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