In the last five years, a group of local women in the Edison/Highland Park community launched a shidduch organization to help single Orthodox Jewish men and women find their better half. While we have conducted successful events and activities for singles to meet and interact, the vast majority of our time has been spent on helping set up dates for like-minded individuals.

Through time and experience, I have discovered that the process of making successful matches can be quite challenging. The “rules of the game” can be frustrating for the singles and the entire process often leads to dating burnout. The advent of mandatory resumes, checklists and having “expert” shadchanim manage the dating process can be awkward and uncomfortable for many people.

But all that is about to change.

The Highland Park/Edison community is pleased to announce an inaugural single’s shabbaton on March 1-2. The event will be co-sponsored by three of our local Orthodox synagogues: Cong. Ahavas Achim, Cong. Ohav Emeth and Cong. Ohr Torah. The purpose of this event is to create a natural and organic opportunity for singles to meet and partake in activities that will help develop skills that will lead to better dating experiences.

The theme of the weekend is “Empowered Dating.” The shabbaton is intended to create a low stress environment where singles will learn how to approach dating from a new perspective.

A key focus will be on gaining self-awareness that we hope will lead to more successful results.

Our featured facilitator during Shabbos is Montreal’s Rabbi Yisroel Bernath, also known as a “The Love Rabbi.” He is a well-known dating coach and matchmaker who has successfully made dozens of matches. He is also the founder of J-Matchmaking International, a successful network of Jewish dating sites. During the shabbaton he will speak and lead interactive programming.

The shabbaton will be capped off Motzei Shabbat with a special program featuring Aleeza Ben Shalom of the Netflix series, “Jewish Matchmaking.” Ben-Shalom will address the singles and general community with a spirited talk about her odyssey from shadchan to show business. She will then deliver an address titled, “How to Get Married and Stay Married” along with a demonstration of “live matchmaking.”

For further information regarding the shabbaton and/or the Motzei Shabbos program, email [email protected]