圣诞平安夜对美国棕榈滩的犹太教单身人士们来说是一个聚会的好时候。22年前源于波士顿并与次年传入博卡拉顿的犹太聚会在近几年广受欢迎，其举办地已经从之前的五个城市扩展到今年的20个城市，奥斯丁、得克萨斯等地均在今年犹太聚会的举办城市之列。美国的犹太教人数只占美国总人口的2％，而他们一般都主张与同教人士通婚，因此，这样大规模的犹太聚会在犹太教人群中很受欢迎。

Christmas Eve never seemed so festive¹ for hundreds of Jewish people in Palm Beach County who have transformed the Christian² 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 previously³ 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 venue⁴ ... and we decided⁵ 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 inviting⁶ atmosphere for Jews to meet other Jews. It's not like going to synagogue with an uptight⁷ 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 helping⁸ to promote the Matzo Ball, along with other events like Jewish coed adult sports leagues and social gatherings⁹.

Rudnik said past Matzo Balls in Boca Raton have drawn¹⁰ 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 venues¹¹, 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 bowling¹², Chinese food or the movies," Lustig said. "That's it."

Vocabulary:

Matzo Ball: 在圣诞节前夜或者圣诞节当天举行的犹太教聚会