Page 104 - Issue4-November2017_online_opt
P. 104
the shidduch project
The elevator jolted to a holt, and the wouldn’t worry about it. Either the Mai- Gemara. Although that morning’s learn-
two women exited together. Molly played zelses would be so thrilled to grab Asher ing had been more demanding than usu-
with the strap on her purse before turn- that they’d find the money, or she’d con- al, it wasn’t on his mind right now.
ing to her car. “Yes, baruch Hashem.” vince Nachum to drop the demand.
As he loaded the washing machine, he
“He’s at Hadar Yeshiva, I hear. Your uuu thought about Dena Maizels. What had
phone must be ringing off the hook.” his mother been thinking? How could
At midday, Asher came home, drag- she fail to realize that Dena was too short
“He actually hasn’t started dating ging a small black suitcase with wheels. and too loud and that her family lived too
yet, but I have an idea for him. Can you close by? No one married their upstairs
help?” Molly asked. “The yeshiva’s washing machine neighbor. He knew his mother loved him.
broke down,” he said. He admired her courage and her honesty
Esther looked into her eyes. “I like in seeking out a religious life and moving
a mom who knows what she wants. “Can I help you?” to Israel. If he’d been planted in a differ-
Shoot.” “No, Ima, I can do my own laundry.” ent country and culture, would he have
What a good boy – really young man – made those kinds of changes? And yet,
“Remember Dena Maizels?” he was. And good looking. He’d inherited having baalei teshuva for parents had its
Esther nodded, her faux curls bobbing Nachum’s large, hazel eyes; a full head of downside. He’d long suspected his moth-
up and down. “Do you want me to set it thick, brown hair; and an elegant Roman er was clueless about shidduchim, and
up?” nose. she’d now confirmed his fear.
“Yes.” Molly smiled broadly, the mem- “Asher, it’s bashert that you’re here
ory of the failed yoga class erased. now.” Dating was on his mind. It was on ev-
“I must run to my next appointment, “Bashert? Ima, it’s just the washing eryone’s mind. Just last night, his room-
but I’ll call you,” Esther yelled over her machine.” mates spoke about their wish lists, and
shoulder as she hurried away. “Remember how you said that you’d everyone had different ideas.
As she unlocked the car, Molly like to start dating?”
hummed “Od Yishama.” Her new life “I meant after the zeman ends. “Rich,” said Ezi Pollack, a large, strap-
was about to get better. There’s still another five weeks left.” ping guy with dark wavy hair and a barrel
Once home, she texted her husband, “I know, but something came up.” chest. Ezi was Asher’s morning chavru-
Nachum. He was an international com- Asher looked at her strangely. “Who?” sa. “I don’t care what she looks like.”
muter practicing law at his brother-in- “Dena Maizels.”
law Scott’s firm in New Jersey, not an “That giggly girl with the braces from “Really? How ugly can she be?” asked
entirely uncommon arrangement among upstairs? Are you kidding, Ima?” Itamar Levy. At 25, Levy was an alter
US immigrants in Israel. While Molly “But you used to be such good bachur.
missed him on his frequent absences, friends.”
she knew he couldn’t find comparable “Ima.” Asher twirled his finger in the “You can buy good looks with plastic
work locally. air as if he were giving a Talmudic argu- surgery or makeup. I want her to be so
Find out what the Maizelses are offer- ment. “When was the last time you saw rich that I can afford whatever I want –
ing, Nachum wrote back. me playing with Legos? Besides, she’s fancy steaks, vacations. I want to go to
He was the only person she knew who not my type.” Switzerland. I want to wear clothes from
refused to use text language. “Not your type?” America. I’m tired of the Turkish junk
R we selling Asher 2 highest bidder? Since when did her son have a type? they sell here.”
Some parents made financial arrange- “Please. Dena Maizels isn’t for me.”
ments prior to the first date, but Molly “Are you sure?” Everyone laughed. They all knew
never thought that she’d be one of them. “Ima, I don’t want to be disrespectful, Ezi’s declaration was purely theoretical.
Her children would marry as she did: but trust me.” He had four older unmarried sisters and
for compatibility, for friendship, and for his parents insisted that he wait for them
shared values. uuu to marry before he started dating.
Of course not, but the kids will need
an apartment. Would you rather they Asher’s wardrobe divided easily into Asher didn’t say what he wanted, but
live in a tent? two colors: black and white. He consid- he knew. His family was relatively well-
Molly reread her husband’s response. ered this one of the many nice things off, so he wasn’t overly concerned with
Why was he so obsessed with the bottom about yeshiva, the simplicity life pared money. What he did care about was looks
line? What was the point of being religious down to essentials. Not that he was to- and yichus. She didn’t have to be the
if you couldn’t trust Hashem? Besides, tally oblivious to fashion. A talmid cha- daughter of the gadol hador, but at least
who knew if the Maizelses had that much cham had a dignified appearance, and the daughter of a talmid chacham.
money? Rabbi Maizels taught in a yeshiva. Asher’s clothing was of excellent quality.
His wife, Evelyn, was a social worker. She Nonetheless, Asher’s taste was conserva- He also wanted to join a large, extend-
tive, simple. This freed his mind up for ed clan of FFBs. Other than his father’s
more important matters, like learning sister, Glenda, who had also become
religious, he had no cousins, no one
to visit on vacations or Chol HaMoed.
96 u www.wherewhatwhen.com u
The elevator jolted to a holt, and the wouldn’t worry about it. Either the Mai- Gemara. Although that morning’s learn-
two women exited together. Molly played zelses would be so thrilled to grab Asher ing had been more demanding than usu-
with the strap on her purse before turn- that they’d find the money, or she’d con- al, it wasn’t on his mind right now.
ing to her car. “Yes, baruch Hashem.” vince Nachum to drop the demand.
As he loaded the washing machine, he
“He’s at Hadar Yeshiva, I hear. Your uuu thought about Dena Maizels. What had
phone must be ringing off the hook.” his mother been thinking? How could
At midday, Asher came home, drag- she fail to realize that Dena was too short
“He actually hasn’t started dating ging a small black suitcase with wheels. and too loud and that her family lived too
yet, but I have an idea for him. Can you close by? No one married their upstairs
help?” Molly asked. “The yeshiva’s washing machine neighbor. He knew his mother loved him.
broke down,” he said. He admired her courage and her honesty
Esther looked into her eyes. “I like in seeking out a religious life and moving
a mom who knows what she wants. “Can I help you?” to Israel. If he’d been planted in a differ-
Shoot.” “No, Ima, I can do my own laundry.” ent country and culture, would he have
What a good boy – really young man – made those kinds of changes? And yet,
“Remember Dena Maizels?” he was. And good looking. He’d inherited having baalei teshuva for parents had its
Esther nodded, her faux curls bobbing Nachum’s large, hazel eyes; a full head of downside. He’d long suspected his moth-
up and down. “Do you want me to set it thick, brown hair; and an elegant Roman er was clueless about shidduchim, and
up?” nose. she’d now confirmed his fear.
“Yes.” Molly smiled broadly, the mem- “Asher, it’s bashert that you’re here
ory of the failed yoga class erased. now.” Dating was on his mind. It was on ev-
“I must run to my next appointment, “Bashert? Ima, it’s just the washing eryone’s mind. Just last night, his room-
but I’ll call you,” Esther yelled over her machine.” mates spoke about their wish lists, and
shoulder as she hurried away. “Remember how you said that you’d everyone had different ideas.
As she unlocked the car, Molly like to start dating?”
hummed “Od Yishama.” Her new life “I meant after the zeman ends. “Rich,” said Ezi Pollack, a large, strap-
was about to get better. There’s still another five weeks left.” ping guy with dark wavy hair and a barrel
Once home, she texted her husband, “I know, but something came up.” chest. Ezi was Asher’s morning chavru-
Nachum. He was an international com- Asher looked at her strangely. “Who?” sa. “I don’t care what she looks like.”
muter practicing law at his brother-in- “Dena Maizels.”
law Scott’s firm in New Jersey, not an “That giggly girl with the braces from “Really? How ugly can she be?” asked
entirely uncommon arrangement among upstairs? Are you kidding, Ima?” Itamar Levy. At 25, Levy was an alter
US immigrants in Israel. While Molly “But you used to be such good bachur.
missed him on his frequent absences, friends.”
she knew he couldn’t find comparable “Ima.” Asher twirled his finger in the “You can buy good looks with plastic
work locally. air as if he were giving a Talmudic argu- surgery or makeup. I want her to be so
Find out what the Maizelses are offer- ment. “When was the last time you saw rich that I can afford whatever I want –
ing, Nachum wrote back. me playing with Legos? Besides, she’s fancy steaks, vacations. I want to go to
He was the only person she knew who not my type.” Switzerland. I want to wear clothes from
refused to use text language. “Not your type?” America. I’m tired of the Turkish junk
R we selling Asher 2 highest bidder? Since when did her son have a type? they sell here.”
Some parents made financial arrange- “Please. Dena Maizels isn’t for me.”
ments prior to the first date, but Molly “Are you sure?” Everyone laughed. They all knew
never thought that she’d be one of them. “Ima, I don’t want to be disrespectful, Ezi’s declaration was purely theoretical.
Her children would marry as she did: but trust me.” He had four older unmarried sisters and
for compatibility, for friendship, and for his parents insisted that he wait for them
shared values. uuu to marry before he started dating.
Of course not, but the kids will need
an apartment. Would you rather they Asher’s wardrobe divided easily into Asher didn’t say what he wanted, but
live in a tent? two colors: black and white. He consid- he knew. His family was relatively well-
Molly reread her husband’s response. ered this one of the many nice things off, so he wasn’t overly concerned with
Why was he so obsessed with the bottom about yeshiva, the simplicity life pared money. What he did care about was looks
line? What was the point of being religious down to essentials. Not that he was to- and yichus. She didn’t have to be the
if you couldn’t trust Hashem? Besides, tally oblivious to fashion. A talmid cha- daughter of the gadol hador, but at least
who knew if the Maizelses had that much cham had a dignified appearance, and the daughter of a talmid chacham.
money? Rabbi Maizels taught in a yeshiva. Asher’s clothing was of excellent quality.
His wife, Evelyn, was a social worker. She Nonetheless, Asher’s taste was conserva- He also wanted to join a large, extend-
tive, simple. This freed his mind up for ed clan of FFBs. Other than his father’s
more important matters, like learning sister, Glenda, who had also become
religious, he had no cousins, no one
to visit on vacations or Chol HaMoed.
96 u www.wherewhatwhen.com u
