Nine writers recount their search for chometz — and what they found

“M

azel tov! I’m so happy for you!” I beamed at the brand-new kallah.

Then I stood there awkwardly, having said mazel tov and asked all the questions I knew to ask (though not fully grasping the subtext of the answers). Now what was I supposed to do?

I smiled at the kallah, who I assume was also wondering why I was still standing there, since she was ready to move on to greet the next person already. I quickly backed away, scanning the room for anyone whom I knew even slightly.

But what would I talk to them about? I was newly married and new to town. Without any mutual friends or family or connections from camp or seminary or kids in school, I was a major dead-end in Jewish Geography. I didn’t really have much in common yet with the majority of women in the room, and while I was genuinely excited for the new couple, I was also genuinely stumped at what I was supposed to do at a vort beyond wishing mazel tov.

On top of that, I wasn’t sure my outfit was fancy enough, or that I was wearing the right sheitel, or that I even had enough shaychus to be there at all.