I think back to that first date when I, frankly, was on the fence (he since has told me that he was too) and I wonder what would have happened if either of us cut it off at that point.  So often we are quick to judge. Think of the times when you made a quick decision – either at work or with a purchase?  How happy were you in the long run? Studies show that 55% of Americans believe in love at first sight, but with a divorce rate that hovers close to that number, maybe we need to rethink our way of making decisions about a potential partner.

I keep my basic criteria for deciding whether or not to go on a second date very small…

Once, when walking out of the library at the university where I was attending graduate school, I saw a teenaged boy walk up behind an unsuspecting man and punch him in the head. As the man turned around, startled, the boy ran away. This is what is meant by not fully considering (allowing for) the existence of another human being. This is the root of all evil.  In similar fashion, walking by when someone stumbles is also the root of all evil – though perhaps to a slightly lesser degree (omission versus commission).

I have nothing to do New Year’s Eve!!!  Is this easy to admit?  No.  I only tell you because I want your sympathy, and possibly an invitation.  It’s humiliating.  People are quick to judge.  When I told my (married) friend Karen, she said, “Oh my God, you might as well plaster an L on your forehead.”  She made one of those annoying buzzer sounds and added, “Loser!”

Believe it or not, the life of the single Jewish person isn’t all nerve-wracking pain, disappointment, frustration, stress and heartache.  Okay, perhaps I’m being overly optimistic.  But there are a couple of positive things to be said about being single. No, really! For example, the world is filled with fascinating occupations and I’ve gained invaluable experience in most of them simply through dating. As a result, my resume is now thirty-four pages long. But I use a smaller font, so it seems more like seventeen.

I love latkes and am head over heels over sufganiyot. But, these Spanish fritters are a tasty alternative during Chanukah. Made from the classic Pate a Choux paste, these airy and delicate pastries are a snap to whip up. The dough is easy and can be made a couple of hours ahead of using.

A picture’s worth a thousand words… but 10 pictures are a waste of time.  Now that Facebook® has taken over the world, when it comes to online dating profiles, people often confuse the concept of posting just a few flattering pictures with posting a whole album.  I have no doubt that your pictures from your trip to Greece with you standing on the Acropolis are amazing… just remember, there’s a time and a place for them, and that place is not JDate®. When choosing which photos to put in your online dating profile, use these five rules of thumb:

I love the latke, and who doesn’t? All crispy and crackly with sizzling onions right out of the pan, the latke holds such promise. And then the whole thing goes right out the window for me when topped with jarred, beige, boring applesauce.

Take this quiz to help determine if your current mate or date is your best choice.

The absolute foundation of everything that we build in the world is who we are as people. If you build a house on a crooked or cracked foundation, you will wind up with a crooked (and then cracked) house. The definition of ‘integrity’ is ‘complete, undivided, unblemished’. If we want to create a world that is complete, undivided, and unblemished – this is how we need to be ourselves. If our intention is to create (through our vision and our actions) a world that is interconnected, whole and in balance, we need to be whole and in balance ourselves.

Hanukkah is on the horizon, and whether you’ll be spending it with loved ones or the one you love, it’s the perfect time to reflect on what you learned this year and how to take those lessons of the heart with you into 2012. I’ve shared plenty of my own tales and advice, so this time around, I did some market research and came up with eight appropriate wine pairings.