Jessica Hecht

Eat, I said, and I pointed to all the goodies Scary Skinny Maggie had turned down.

He said, no, no, thank you.

But he reached for the gooiest, most chocolatey treat of all, a brioche that oozed molten dark brown lava, some vanilla cream, and the faintest architectural remnants of melted chips.

Before he bit in, he asked,

Is it kosher?

Sasha Finkelstein, I asked, referencing the landmark Jewish bakery from which the baked goods were locally sourced.

It seemed kosher.

Sasha Finkelstein, he said, and as if all of his problems were solved, he took a deep, satisfying bite.

We couldn't help ourselves, the rabbi and I. We caught each other's gaze and cracked up,

That eruption of belly laughter, my daughter's eyes widened, startled by the sound.

Poor baby, it was new to her.

So, Mr. Superhero, any women on your squad?

I knew full well that I was flirting, but that is something that I do, naturally, without thinking.

It's the way I am, just not usually with rabbis.

"'Dreidel-meidel,' said the rabbi, chewing thoughtfully.

The chocolate was clearly reviving.

The color was returning to his cheeks, reflecting the red in his damp side curls.

"'Are you serious?'

I said.

"'It's a serious business,' he said.