(Courtesy of YUConnects) Matchmaking organization YUConnects is approaching its 600th successful marriage match. In anticipation of this milestone and with the goal of further developing and building upon its successful programming and resources, YUConnects is launching a 600 Circle fundraising campaign. To join the 600 Circle, please visit www.yu.edu/yuconnects600.
YUConnects is already the address that many Orthodox singles look to for targeted matchmaking. The organization is constantly looking to grow and expand its initiatives, most recently initiating the “Beis Medrash Program,” adding Rabbi Jason Finkelstein, Rabbi Andrew Israeli and Rabbi Jed Zaslow to the staff as connectors who work nightly alongside the mashgichim and night seder rabbeim in the YU Beis Medrash. These additional staff members are quickly fostering relationships resulting in more targeted dates for its members.
YUConnects also provides guidance and education through media such as podcasts, programs and educational panels. An amazingly successful panel on May 3 was hosted by Congregation Bnai Yeshurun in cooperation with YUConnects week. More than 200 parents of those in the dating and early marriage stages attended a community symposium that addressed questions such as: “How do you and your child know if they are ready to date and get married?”, “How involved should a parent be in the process?,” “Are there core traits or values we should be encouraging our dating children to look for?, and What steps should our engaged and young married couples take to better ensure healthy marriages?”
Rabbi Elliot Schrier of Congregation Bnai Yeshurun, and Director of YUConnects Dr. Efrat Sobolofsky moderated questions posed to Rabbi Aryeh Lebowitz, who is a rosh yeshiva at Yeshiva University and rabbi of Beis Haknesses of North Woodmere; Professor Naomi Nechama Klapper, licensed psychotherapist and chair of the department of psychology at Lander College for Women; and Mindy Eisenman, a staff connector at YUConnects. Each of the panelists provided valuable and nuanced answers to dilemmas frequently faced by members of the audience and their children.
One attendee wrote, “Each speaker contributed valuable knowledge and solid advice. They were informative, supportive, and encouraging. I took notes and have shared it with so many friends. Everyone I have spoken to had the same feedback.” Another parent said, “This event gave me some tools to help me navigate the delicate and complex role of parenting an adult child during these stages of dating and early marriage.”
Some of the other myriad programs provided by YUConnects include Zoom meetings with connectors; curated in-person and online social events for single men and women; connector trainings; coaching for daters and matchmakers; YeshivaSeminaryLinks (YSLinks), which coordinates YUConnects with the yeshiva and seminary administrators in Israel; community consultations; referrals and resources for daters and involved community members (much of which is available at www.yuconnects.com).
To hear a recording of the May 3 symposium visit YUTorah at https://tinyurl.com/parents-roles-dating. To hear any of the 50+ YUConnects CandiDate podcasts (which already have over 70,000 downloads), visit https://yuconnects.com/candidate-podcast/ or wherever you get your podcasts.
As YUConnects approaches 600 engagements, the organization hopes the community will support the launch of its annual fundraiser. To join the 600 Circle, please visit www.yu.edu/yuconnects600. With your partnership, they can continue programs like these and expand their effort to build more healthy Jewish homes.
