Rabbi David-Seth Kirshner of Temple Emanu-El in Closter, New Jersey says that 70% of the weddings he performs involve couples who met on JDate! Because of the rabbi’s strong belief in curbing interfaith marriage, he delivered a sermon on September 18, 2009 entitled, “Modern Miracles: JDate & Birthright,” asking his congregation to appreciate how JDate is “changing the fabric of Judaism” and “a miracle of the Jewish world.”
Listen to a clip of the sermon now »
[audio:http://www.jdate.com/jmag/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/Hineni-J-Date_01.mp3]
Love this. Thanks for sharing!!
Jdate is definatly a blissful help to Jewish singles, but not all of us find their ones online. As someone who has been doing the net thing for almost 10 years now with no success, I very much believe in the old systems. I.E. newtworking & meeting through family, friends and so one. Unfortunate for me, all of my friends choose to ignore the fact the I need help, although most of them know many elligable bachelors.
I wish Rabbis would educate congregations more. Explaining to people they should not take the person they are dating lightly. Explaining to married people how lucky they are, and how instead of having plain pity for singles, they should get of their butts and at least try helping, thinking or praying for all of us still on our own out there.
I JUST VERY RECENTLY SIGNED UP FOR THIS DATING WEBSITE BECAUSE I SIMPLY ASKED MYSELF, WHAT ABOUT SOMEONE OF JEWISH DESCENT. JUST MAYBE I COULD HIT IT OFF WITH SOMEONE OF JEWISH DESCENT; THEY MIGHT FIND ME INTERESTING & FROM THE PERSPECTIVE THAT I AM FAMILIAR WITH JEWISH HISTORY, JEWISH LITERATURE (FAVORITE BEING ANNE FRANK), & EVEN FAMILIAR WITH JEWISH FEAST DAYS & SOME OF THE PRACTICES. THE PERSON WHO HAS HAD THE LARGEST IMPACT WAS MY JEWISH COLLEGIATE ROOMMATE BECAUSE SHE REALLY INSPIRED MY INTEREST IN CLASSICAL MUSIC BY DRAGGING ME TO WATCH HER SING IN THE CHOIR AT THE NON-DENOMINATIONAL CHURCH & EVENTUALLY I TOOK UP PIANO. IT WAS ALSO THE FIRST TIME I GOT TO EXPERIENCE A SEDER. SO IN ESSENCE I FIND A LOT OF COMFORT IN JUDAIC PRINCIPLES. SO I SAID TO MYSELF, MAYBE THERE IS A WAY TO BUILD A BRIDGE AFTER ALL.
He’s right. I did not appreciate how effective jdate has been in reversing the intermarriage trend. In that sense, jdate is much more important to us collectively, than it is individually.
Yasher Koach Rabbi Kirshner. Well said!