Yes, it’s still winter and too cold and unpleasant to be outside in the chilly outdoors for very long. So if you’re seeking an interesting (plus totally free!) venue for your next shidduch date, here’s a wonderful suggestion for you.
Jews have been known as ‘the people of the book’ for thousands of years and since most of us do love books, a bookstore (or library) is the perfect location. Of course exactly which type of bookstore or library is up to you, according to your own personal preference and approval by your halachic authority.
First, find a bookstore or library which has comfortable seating.
Preferably check it out in advance. Some places provide chairs, armchairs, or even couches. Of course the two of you are not going to just sit there reading quietly to yourselves. Since you can’t judge a book by its cover, you are going to learn more about each other which, after all, is the entire point of going out.
Once you get there, present your shidduch date with these three tasks that you will both complete. You can have them written down on index cards.
#1 – Start by visiting the COOKING section and find a recipe that sounds good enough for you to cook or to eat.
(Since Jews enjoy eating and discussing food almost as much as reading, this is a perfect starting point to discover each other’s favorite foods!)
Moishy: My mom’s potato kugel and gefilte fish are totally amazing!
Shaindy: Really? I’d love to get her recipes!
Moishy: I’m sure that could be easily arranged.
#2 .Visit the TRAVEL section and find a picture or information about an interesting place you may want to visit someday. (If the person you’re with turns out to be your beshert, you might even travel there with each other!)
Shaindy: Peru? What’s in Peru? Where’s it exactly? Personally, I’ve always dreamed of going to Hawaii one day.
Moishy: Maybe it’s possible to go to Hawaii via Peru?
#3 – Visit the CHILDREN’S section to find a book that was a favorite when you were a child and read them to each other afterwards.
(This can be a very insightful experience to learn about your shidduch date’s childhood.)
Shaindy: My all-time favorite book as a kid was ‘Goldie Lox’s Shabbos with the Three Bearnstein Bears.’
Moishy: I really loved ‘Eli and his Little White Lie.’
Shaindy: Oh, that was a classic!
There are lots of plusses here! First, the venue is absolutely free. However, if things are going very well with the two of you and, if you’re in a bookstore, you might offer to buy the childhood favorite book as a gift if your date seems really interested in it. If you’re at a library, you could obtain a library card, if you don’t already have one, and take out the book. If you wish to keep the date going longer, suggest having coffee to continue your discussion about books.
If you really cannot find a suitable bookstore or library where you live, and you have to resort to a conventional hotel lobby, you could still utilize all the above tasks by using your phones. It’s still fun and free, plus you can learn a lot about the other person. Definitely a great idea in my book!
(Menucha Chana Levin – SimchaSpot.com)
