The Yom Kippur Challenge

Sass, Ben and I have a friend who isn't a mutant. (None of our friends are mutants - are you surprised? We discriminate.) Anyway, this non-mutant friend is of particular note because she hasn't been on a proper date in literally years. In this case, however, it's totally for lack of trying, so we don't feel too bad for her. It's just that somewhere along the line, she started to ask herself that question made famous in The 40 Year-Old Virgin: "Is it true that if you don't use it, you lose it?" Well, our friend is neither 40, nor a virgin, but she definitely lost whatever she may have only questionably had in the first case, by which of course I mean a modicum of suave in the dating department. Our friend, bless her heart, is the epitome of awkward when it comes to men. I keep telling her, "It's endearing! Someone is going to find that incredibly cute some day!" But someday hasn't happened yet, and this is where the Yom Kippur Challenge comes in.

The Yom Kippur Challenge: 10 blind dates set up by 10 friends between now and next Yom Kippur. This was our friend's idea, and she was kind enough to let La Classe track her progress, under the sole condition that she remain anonymous. Here and there, we will be unable to avoid dropping certain hints; For example, a Yom Kippur Challenge is probably not a goy's idea, but this only eliminates the two non-Jew friends that we have at La Classe ('Sup, Livvy. 'Sup, Lauren Thomas).

The Rules, as dictated by our friend:

1. a date is defined as one-on-one time that exceeds an hour in a public space with person whom you've never met previously (and who didn't attend ******** College)

2. one person can only fulfill one date (however, addendum: if you decide to only date one person continuously and a relationship emerges, you've actually WON the yom kippur challenge. congratulations.)

3. contrary to popular belief, eating full cartons of ice cream alone on a couch by yourself (this is a purely hypothetical scenario) is not a celebratory act. ice cream may be consumed in this manner following a horrific date. it may also be consumed next yom kippur following failure to complete the challenge.)

4 and 5. emoticons are objectively uncool. however, exceptions will be made for international dates.

We are so excited for the Yom Kippur Challenge. It's already off to an incredibly gauche and cringe-worthy start. So please check in often for updates. We are also currently accepting referrals and applications.