平安夜美國猶太單身大聚會
Hundreds of Jewish singles in Palm Beach County will spend Christmas Eve mingling

圣誕平安夜對美國棕櫚灘的猶太教單身人士們來說是一個聚會的好時候。22年前源于波士頓并與次年傳入博卡拉頓的猶太聚會在近幾年廣受歡迎，其舉辦地已經從之前的五個城市擴展到今年的20個城市，奧斯丁、得克薩斯等地均在今年猶太聚會的舉辦城市之列。美國的猶太教人數只占美國總人口的2％，而他們一般都主張與同教人士通婚，因此，這樣大規模的猶太聚會在猶太教人群中很受歡迎。

Christmas Eve never seemed so festive for hundreds of Jewish people in Palm Beach County who have transformed the Christian holiday into a Jewish singles night.

Christmas Eve never seemed so festive for hundreds of Jewish people in Palm Beach County who have transformed the Christian holiday into a Jewish singles night.

The Matzo Ball isn't new to the county. It was conceived in Boston 22 years ago and introduced to Boca Raton the following year. Party organizer Andy Rudnik took a previously quiet night and opened clubs for bored Jewish singles, as well as couples and any non-Jews who wanted to venture out on Christmas Eve.

But the event has taken on a life of its own, expanding from five cities just several years ago to 20 this year, including West Palm Beach.

Austin, Texas, Scottsdale, Ariz., and Foxwoods Casino in Connecticut are all in on the festivities this year, while a growing Jewish population in northern Palm Beach County warranted expansion to the Hotel Nightclub and Rock Lobby in CityPlace.

"Boca is Boca, it gets its numbers," Rudnik said. "But a lot of people were traveling down from farther north, coming from Jupiter, Wellington and other areas. We've had a lot of people inquiring, asking why we haven't had it in West Palm in the past. Now we have the right venue ... and we decided to go forward with it."

With events in Boca, Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, Tampa and now West Palm Beach, Florida has a large share of the Matzo Ball market. Another event, the Matzah Ball at the new Blue Martini in Boca Raton, is being advertised to an older crowd.

Just 2 percent of the U.S. population is Jewish, which is why the young adult department at the Jewish Community Center of the Palm Beaches is putting more emphasis on introducing singles.

Online dating services like JDate have been tapping into the Jewish singles market, but the Matzo Ball gives Jews a venue to meet over drinks in a club atmosphere that stays open until 4 a.m.

"It's not easy for Jews to meet other Jews, and subsequently, interfaith marriages are really on the rise," said Paul Steinmetz, national event manager for the Matzo Ball. "We create a really warm and inviting atmosphere for Jews to meet other Jews. It's not like going to synagogue with an uptight formal atmosphere. It's a party, and it's a big party."

Tami Lustig, director of the JCC's young adult department, knows "there's nothing else to do on Christmas Eve for Jewish people."

So she's been helping to promote the Matzo Ball, along with other events like Jewish coed adult sports leagues and social gatherings.

Rudnik said past Matzo Balls in Boca Raton have drawn 800 to 1,000 people. With West Palm Beach holding its own event, he expects the number to drop, but he anticipates an overall larger crowd between the two venues, and not all Jews.

"We have non-Jewish girls looking for Jewish doctors, or non-Jewish guys just looking to meet a Jewish girl," Steinmetz said.

And even if a night of Christmas Eve partying leaves club-goers worn out on Thursday, it's not like there's much to do on Christmas Day for the Jewish community.

"There's bowling, Chinese food or the movies," Lustig said. "That's it."

(Agencies)

Vocabulary:

Matzo Ball: 在圣誕節前夜或者圣誕節當天舉行的猶太教聚會

（英語點津 Helen 編輯）