Five Year Old Perspective On The Shidduch Crisis

The "Shidduch Crisis" has become one of the favorite discussion topics of our generation. A week can't go by without an article or letter in one of the heimishe papers, proclaiming new dimensions to the crisis, or suggesting yet another ridiculous solution to this monumental problem.

Everywhere you go, everyone knows: girls aren't getting dates. Boys are inundated. People are simply not getting engaged. Life is terrible.

Oh wait, it's no so terrible! It's just that we can't possibly be anything less than miserable if we are (lo aleinu) single. So it had become a crisis, and it's affecting people at younger and younger ages.

When I was little, I knew nothing about dating. How would I? None of my siblings had reached that stage yet! I remember my oldest sister's first date. I was sure she was the coolest person ever, and had a hard time not telling all my friends how cool she was. But that initial naivete was something nice, something I wish children nowadays would get to experience.

But no, today's children are putting their young minds to work, trying to find a solution to the epic crisis that is threatening to destroy the foundations of our society. And even worse, children today are horribly concerned about their shidduch chances. Which reminds me of the story that brought all of this to mind.

My friend told me that her little brother, a sweet five year old boy, came inside from playing. She noticed that he had a worried expression on his face, and inquired what the problem was. His answer stunned me. "How am I ever going to find a girl to marry if I never find anyone by hide and go seek?"

Poor kid, five years old and devoid of the most basic innocence.