Godsend

When Noam Married Hagit

Adam Dickter — Mon, 07 May 2012 15:06:00 +0000

Godsend

Leah Hakimian

Jewish Week Online Columnist

Everyone expects fireworks when they fall in love. For Noam and Hagit, the skies lit up on their wedding day – two months ago. But these fireworks weren’t fun. These were rockets fired by Arab terrorists.

Hundreds of rockets from the Gaza Strip were aimed at cities in southern Israel, placing more than a million Israelis under the threat of death. The IDF had important decisions to make. So did Noam and Hagit.

Ashdod Gaza IDF Rishon LeZion rocket attacks

How Leon Met Joanna

Adam Dickter — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 14:55:00 +0000

Godsend

Leah Hakimian

Jewish Week Online Columnist

“My mom encouraged me to join JDate,” says 33-year-old Leon Smulakowski, an amateur weight-lifter, who can break an apple in two with his bare hands.

The last day of his subscription to the dating site – he was going to cancel – he saw Joanna's profile. “It was her beautiful smile that attracted me,” says Leon. He messaged her.

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How Ilan Met Michelle

Adam Dickter — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 15:12:00 +0000

Godsend

Leah Hakimian

Jewish Week Online Columnist

“It takes a village to raise a child,” says the African proverb, and in the tony village of Great Neck, New York, the family helps to match 'em up. “For me and Ilan, it worked,” says Michelle Nabavian. “Our families knew when to get involved and when to stay out.”

Her uncle, Payam, was the first would-be matchmaker. He started dropping hints about bringing together Michelle with his friend, Ilan Hakimian. But it took a snowstorm in January 2011 to make things really happen.

Great Neck Mashadi Jews

How Frank Met Esther Avital

Adam Dickter — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 16:46:00 +0000

Godsend

Leah Hakimian

Jewish Week Online Columnist

“I prayed that God would help me find my bashert, [meant-to-be spouse]” says Esther Avital, “and my prayers came true.”

Esther Avital Gottesman was not born Jewish. She was born Heather Fuller to Christian parents in Santa Ana, California. Around the age of 10, she didn’t want to be Christian anymore. She didn't like having to pray through an intermediary and she had a teenage obsession with Adam Duritz, lead singer of Counting Crows, who was Jewish.

Counting Crows Western Wall

How Jason Met Robyn

Adam Dickter — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 15:55:00 +0000

Godsend

Leah Hakimian

Jewish Week Online Columnist

The father, Dr. David Kreiner, married a nurse. Their son, Dr. Jason Kreiner, married another physician. Rites have changed in 37 years.

“I knew I’d marry someone who is hard-working,” says Jason. And indeed Robyn Epstein was working hard when the two met. In the fall of 2006, Robyn was beginning her first year at Sackler School of Medicine at Tel Aviv University, and Jason was a second-year student.

Costa Rica Downstate Medical Center New York University Sandeep Jauhar

How Daniel Met Lauren

Adam Dickter — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 15:19:00 +0000

Godsend

Leah Hakimian

Jewish Week Online Columnist

Want to meet your match? “Come to the Stephen Wise Free Synagogue in Manhattan,” advises Daniel Singer. That’s what he did.

He wasn’t just visiting. Daniel is the senior cantor of the temple, and so attends the Havdallah service marking the beginning of a new week. On Saturday evening, March 28, 2009, he was there as was Tamara Engel, a greeter from the temple, who is known for her good deeds and is an amateur matchmaker. “It’s like Tamara has a Rolodex in her head,” says Daniel.

How Joe Met Erin

Adam Dickter — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 15:43:00 +0000

Godsend

Leah Hakimian

Jewish Week Online Columnist

Two rabbis in the making swore to themselves the same sensible vow: They would never fall in love with a fellow rabbi, bli neder – without making a formal commitment.

In the fall of 2006, Erin Glazer, 26, started her third year at the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in New York (HUC-JIR). She made friends with two new arrivals, second-year students who had spent the first year studying in Jerusalem.

Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion National Science Foundation Princeton University rabbis married Westfield

How Saul met Elke

Adam Dickter — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 18:38:38 +0000

Godsend

Leah Hakimian

Jewish Week Online Columnist

Stoically, Saul Sudin says that when he met his future wife, one thing was clear: “We did not look like a match.”

Both were pursuing a life in the arts – he wanted to be a filmmaker, and Elke Engelson wanted to be a professional illustrator. He was a senior, she was a freshman. They met in Brooklyn at Pratt Institute.

36 Under 36 Elke Sudin Pratt Rabbi Simcha Weinstein Saul Sudin

How Pete Met Grace

Adam Dickter — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 20:02:51 +0000

Godsend

Leah Hakimian

Jewish Week Online Columnist

On paper, they didn’t seem like a match. “Like so many other people, I too had my shopping list when I started dating,” says history teacher Grace McMillan. “And I might have overlooked Pete were it not for a colleague.”

Charles E. Smith Jewish day School Dating Marriage

How Jesse Met Joyce

Adam Dickter — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 14:41:16 +0000

Godsend

Leah Hakimian

Jewish Week Online Columnist

Tying the knot is not the first choice of every couple these days. Joyce Silver and Jesse Koch got hitched in part because of the grandchildren.

A new trend in retirement is for couples to live together outside the marriage bond. In fact, unmarried seniors living together are the fastest growing segment of cohabitants in the United States. People don't want to put up with loneliness. They want to live together. But they are likely to remain unmarried to avoid tax issues and inheritance questions.

Herzliya Marriage matchmaking retirement United Jewish Appeal

How Isaac met Abby

James Besser — Sun, 05 Jun 2011 12:30:35 +0000

Godsend

Leah Hakimian

Special to the Jewish Week

"The happiest couples, it seems, are those who met through church," concludes Laura Blue, Time Magazine correspondent. "These partners report the highest overall relationship satisfaction."

Abby, 26, and Isaac, 28, agree. They started dating when they were both working at Chizuk Amuno Synagogue in Baltimore.

Jewish dating Singles

Godsend: How Josh met Michelle

James Besser — Mon, 02 May 2011 01:02:36 +0000

Godsend

Leah Hakimian

Special to the Jewish Week

Gary Garrison, a playwright and author, is not even Jewish. But he gets the mitzvah points for introducing two of his friends in New York, Michelle and Josh.

In May 2009, Michelle Fadem dropped by to see Garrison. He was her former professor and a colleague in an online social network for over 3,000 playwrights called The Loop. "Most importantly, he's one of my favorite people," adds Michelle.

Gary Garrison Jewish dating Singles

How Steve Met Sara

James Besser — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 13:40:00 +0000

Godsend

Leah Hakimian

Special to the Jewish Week

A New York comedian is likely to say clever things. Here's one from Steve Hofstetter: “It’s a scary thought when you’ve known the condiments in your refrigerator longer than your fiancée.”

Dating Jewish singles

How Avi met Suzanne

James Besser — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 13:59:22 +0000

Godsend

Leah Hakimian

Special to the Jewish Week

Suzanne took a leap of faith and traveled 7500 miles to pursue the guy she hoped would be her husband. “I didn’t have a clue,” says Avi.

In December, 2008, Suzanne Anziska was a 28-year old business school student at Northwestern University. Her family was celebrating her dad’s 60th birthday; not in Teaneck, where her parents lived, but in her dad’s hometown of Cape Town, South Africa.

Jewish dating Jewish life Marriage

How Barry met Rachel

James Besser — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 16:14:31 +0000

Godsend

Leah Hakimian

Special to the Jewish Week

Rachel was a rising star in the Democratic Party and she left her home base to follow her man. A Republican, no less.

Rachel Storch was a state representative in the Missouri House and had been chosen to head its Democratic campaign. Then another opportunity knocked.

Jewish dating Marriage