I had a particularly hectic erev Pesach this past year. For the entire two weeks before the Celebration of our Freedom, people kept sending their children to knock at my door.

What was all this coming and going, you ask?

Poet's Corner
La Shadchanit
by LMW

A few quiet moments of contemplation,
Part of a cherished summer vacation,
And then the lines start to buzz,
And your brain feels like fuzz.
Unlimited calls on cells, tels, and pels,
Memory bursting with names and claims
About singles, and their clan, names dropped with elan,
At the park, in the pool, on a trail, in school,
In a mall, in a hall, in the air, on the phone,
At home, on the roam.
Files, facts and figures about the elibigle elite,
The delicate and petite,
The robust and smart, dazzling in music and art,
The politest, the nicest and brightest yet,
Grandma's favorite and/or the teacher's pet.
Catch names as they whiz by, at least, try,
Blazing a trail from Vienna to Calgary,
From Toronto, Joberg, Boropark, even Gary,
And back again. No answer? Oh, my! Why?
Mix and match, it's your gamble, take the dare,
But you're dealing with people so handle with care.
It's a heavenly vocation, part of the act of creation,
You may project and propose, suggest and dispose,
Your intent must be right, your goal in sight.
You may miss your goal or misread your role,
Friends may put you on hold; he's too young, she's too old.
They may boycott your call, but you give it your all.
Ignore bad vibrations, orchestrate deliberations,
Heed the tears of singles, waiting for liberation.
Plant seeds of hope for those who grope,
Split the Red Sea for those still on the periphery.
At times you feel lost; forget you're not the boss,
Can't speak with authority, cannot guarantee,
Hesitation and delay, motive us to pray, and pray.
Then the Matchmaker gives a nod, the couple feels a prod,
Salvation is just round the bend, Mazel Tov to the happy end,
Which is really the happy beginning,
And again, La Shadchanit's head begins spinning.
And the lines start to buzz, and your head feels like fuzz...

All material on this site is copyrighted and its use is restricted.

Click here for conditions of use.