Following a successful DineNMeet/YUConnects event last year that culminated in two marriages, DineNMeet returned to Woodmere last Shabbos, with 90 guests. Young Israel of Woodmere, which is active in promoting singles events and initiatives, partnered with YUConnects and DineNMeet to make the Shabbos uniquely productive and comfortable for all participants. “I never attended any organized event before,” e-mailed one attendee afterward. “I was impressed with the high quality of the people, my super-sweet hosts, and how well it was structured. So glad I came!”
The concept is simple and successful. On Friday night after Ma’ariv, the guests dispersed across ten hosts’ homes for delicious meals. Equally divided between men and women, approximately eight guests were placed in each home based on compatibility and commonalities. Conversation took off and many meals lasted well past midnight.
Shabbos day, participants came together at 2:30 p.m. in the shul’s social hall. Following words of welcome by Rabbi Dr. Aaron Glatt, the guests were able to all meet each other by a rotation system of fun and fast board games and enjoyed some delicious desserts. Again, the schmoozing went on for hours even as janitors were setting up for the shul’s shalosh seudos! The DineNMeet group reconnected at a lovely local home for their own gala shalosh seudos where the conversation picked up right where it left off. Many local matchmakers and facilitators assisted throughout by mingling and getting to know the participants. An entertaining trivia game allowed the guests yet another meeting opportunity by having them form their own teams to solve the answers. Rabbi Shalom Axelrod offered a short insight from the parashah. Then, following a beautiful musical Havdallah by Rabbi Eliyahu Wolf, accompanied by Rabbi Noam Weinberg and Mr. Adam Kaufman on guitars, the guests left spiritually uplifted and happy to have made so many new connections.
Following the event, the DNM/YUC staff received over 165 requests of interest from the men and women attendees! Surveys are still coming in, and the results are consistent: it was a success. Seven dates have already been arranged in the three days since the event, and a team of top-notch matchmakers from DineNMeet and YUConnects are busily–and happily–following up on all other requests.
DineNMeet plans exclusive, elegant events for targeted groups of Jewish singles based on age, hashkafah, and other factors. Each event focuses on a different niche, ensuring maximum compatibility and success amongst participants. Five shidduchim have already been made directly from the events in the past year-and-a-half alone.
YUConnects is open to the entire Jewish community and is a self-funded nonprofit organization offering a “one-stop dating resource.” By conducting interactive workshops and hosting educational forums and unique social activities, it is changing the current dating scene. YUConnects’ many events and friendly professional matchmakers have, to date, enabled 412 people to meet their spouses.
For more information about these programs, e-mail yuconnects@yu.edu or support@dinenmeet.com. To join the Young Israel of Woodmere’s e-mail list and find out about periodic upcoming singles events, please e-mail yiwmeet@gmail.com.
