Eight Dates and Nights

You’d think that living in a densely populated Jewish state would ensure that I was never the sole representative for my religion in any given group. You would be wrong. A Jewish person, even in the most Jewish of areas, often finds themselves in some isolating situations. Missing commencement dinner on Friday night, unable to eat the food at the office “holiday party,” or my personal favorite – the only writer in the critique group whose characters don’t use the same cultural touchstones as everyone else’s. With supportive peers, it can be a beautiful thing to represent Judaism to colleagues and have them share their own traditions in turn. It can also be exhausting. 

Which is all to say that when I met Noah, the love interest of Betsy Aldredge’s YA Hanukkah romance, Eight Dates and Nights, I really felt for the guy and what he was trying to do. The book is told from the perspective of Hannah, a New Yorker who comes out to Texas to visit her grandmother and ends up stuck there for the entire Hanukkah to weather issues. Hannah is feeling alone and sad when she stumbles into the Jewish deli run by Noah and his grandfather. She’s surprised to learn that this small Texas town was once home to a vibrant Jewish community, but now Noah and the deli are almost all that’s left of Jewish culture there. 

Does this get Noah down? No it does not. In fact, he’s a one man Hanukkah machine, spreading joy and Judaism so that the history of the towns Jewish community will not be forgotten. He’s so into his Hanukkah mission that he bets he can spread the holiday spirit to grouchy Hannah too. She agrees to help him out at the deli, which is in dire need of saving, and he shows her the Hanukkah magic with a new experience every night. 

This is grumpy sunshine relationship goals. Noah’s joy is infectious and Hannah learns that maybe life outside a large Jewish community is still worthwhile, albeit different from what she is used to. But what I loved most of all was Noah’s devotion to representing Judaism, and the towns history. It can be exhausting, and Hannah leaned to appreciate that, but Noah is determined to keep the spark of Judaism – and the deli – alive. 

Hanukkah is about making things last, about spreading light to the world, and sharing our miracle with others. Noah was a really great example of that. Sure, sometimes it may feel like the millionth time you have to explain something, but each person and each positive encounter is another small light to the world. May all our torches shine as bright as Noah’s this holiday and spread light and joy to the world. 

Note: BookishlyJewish received a copy of the book from the author after she filled out our Suggest a Book Form

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