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SINGLES CHAVURA
A DISCUSSION GROUP FOR JEWISH SINGLES OF ALL AGES
New Programs Strive
To Pair Jewish Singles
BEN GALLOB
Special to The Jewish News
wo regional programs
have been added to
the wide range of ef-
forts to help resolve one of
the most disturbing threats
to American Jewish con-
tinuity — the inability of
Jewish singles to meet ac-
ceptable potential mates.
No one has taken a census
of Jewish singles nationally,
but the number is known to
be substantial. Many of them
long for companionship which
\- might lead' to marriage, but
don't know how to find it.
One of the new programs is
a computerized, matchmaker
service which has been avail-
able in Los Angeles and New
Jersey for several years.
Jewish Computermates is one
of the services to singles of
the New York metropolitan
region of United Synagogue
of America, the central
agency for Conservative con-
gregations. The other, the
Midwest Jewish Singles Net-
work, has been developed by
two Jewish grandmothers in
Omaha, Neb.
Jewish Computermates is
open to all Jewish singles,
regardless of affiliation (or
lack of it), between the ages
of 21 and 54. Participation in
this computerized program,
believed to be unique in the
Jewish community, starts
with an application form fil-
led out by the interested
single.
Two pages of the four-page
Computermates application
provides space in which the
applicant lists his or her facts
of life, including religious
lifestyle, and what he or she
seeks in a mate.
The data are entered on a
computer. A subscription for
a modest fee entitles the
applicant to three computer
printouts, each consisting of
five names and telephone
numbers "of those found to
have the highest degree of
compatibility with you.
Simultaneously, each of your
matches is sent your name
and phone number." The
printouts are mailed at about
two-month intervals.
Assurance is given that
other information, "including
your address ... is never dis-
closed." The applicant is ad-
vised to contact "a match,"
and if the initial contact is
found to be "mutually agree-
able, arrange a meeting."
The New York Com-
putermates program has re-
ceived 75 applications in its
two-plus months of operation,
Torn Kagedan, program coor-
dinator, said. The male-
female ratio is roughly one-
one in the 21-34 age group
and slightly more than one
man per woman in the 35-
54-year-old group.
The Omaha program, only
recently established, is meant
•
to serve a substantial area,
according to a report in the
Jewish• Press of Omaha. Mary
Fellman of Omaha and Annie
Allen of Lincoln, Neb., see
their Midwest Jewish Singles
Ne,work extending from De-
nver to St. Louis to Chicago
to the Twin Cities.
Fellman is a past president
of the Jewish Federation of
Omaha. Her program co-
founder and sister is a past
president of the local Hadas-
sah and a one-time state so-
cial worker. Both are admit-
ted match-makers.
For starters, their Omaha-
based project plans a personal
exchange publication to iden-
tify participants. The first
newsletter contains 45 per-
sonal ads. Each message will
be encoded and contacts will
have to be approved before
identifications are released.
The second aspect of their
program reportedly is a
professionally-administered
dating service to be directed
Led by
RABBI ELIMELECH GOLDBERG
of Young Israel of Southfield
by a social worker who is an
expert in family counseling.
The first issue of the publi-
cation, The Connector, was
published in September. In
addition to mailings to all
participants, it will be avail-
able in synagogues, Jewish
centers and similar Jewish
institutions in the service
area.
Information and applica-
tion forms for Jewish Corn-
putermates in the New York
metropolitan area are avail-
able by dialing (212) 533-
0400. The service is available
only in the New York met-
ropolitan area.
Information about the
Midwest Jewish Singles Net-
work is available by letter to:
Jewish Singles Network, P.O.
Box 24331, Omaha, Neb.
68124. The Omaha sponsors
ask that a stamped self-
addressed envelope be in-
cluded with the request.
Sunday, Dec. 14, 1986
of his time wooing industry
to his town. He has had some
success. There are nearly 100
factories and small craft
shops in Karmiel, employing
over 2,500 local residents.
Venger admits this is not
enough. "A person working in
Karmiel will naturally have
strong bonds with the town,"
he says.
Not all forms of industry
are welcome, however. "Right
now," Venger states, "we are
primarily interested in at-
high-tech,
tracting
clean,
environmentally
science-based industry." The
reason is twofold; to provide
jobs for Karmiel's skilled pro-
fessionals, and to keep the
town clean.
1:30 p.m.
For location and directions
call: DAVID KRUGER 357-4282
JOIN US FOR LIVELY DISCUSSION AND DIRECTIONS
1111 ■
Air .
/MAI I
111=1
/1111111111111L
GET THE
LOOK YOU
WANT
Copyright 1986, Jewish
Telegraphic Agency
A Town That Works
Karmiel, Israel — With
stone-carpeted hills, gnarled
olive trees, and luscious
vineyards, the Galilee pro-
vides a breathtaking biblical
backdrop to Israel's newest
development town; Karmiel.
Founded by 90 families in
1964, Karmiel has since blos-
somed into a respectable
town of over 20,000 souls. In
Israel is is often referred to
as the "development town
that works."
Much of the credit for this
success must be placed at the
doorstep of Baruch Venger,
Karmiel's mayor since 1967.
During his tenure, Venger
has overseen the transforma-
tion of a rugged hilltop into a
polished town. Standing in
the center of Karmiel — sur-
rounded by high-rise apart-
ment buildings, manicured
parks, high-tech industry, a
library, concert hall, and
community center — it is
hard to imagine that just 25
years ago this model
environment resembled one
of its neighboring stark and
barren Galilee hills.
"The fact that Karmiel
wasn't built until 1964 is one
of the reason's for the town's
success," Venger says. "You
see, we've learned from
everyone else's mistakes."
What Karmiel learned is
that to attract and keep resi-
dents it must provide a good
"quality of life," not only an
outlet for idealism. The Is-
raeli of the '80s, Venger in-
sists, is only going to move
out of the big cities if he can
improve his lot.
Yet, each day nearly 2,000
people travel to work from
Karmiel to nearby Akko,
Haifa and Nahariya. Recog-
nizing the potentially disrup-
tive effect of this daily
exodus, Venger spends much
Topic:
BEING TOGETHER — ALL BY YOURSELF
Tanfaster
SUN TANNING CENTERS
NO MATTER WHAT THE FASHION SEASON,
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474-1128
425-5650
855-5240
443-0140
459-5510
FARMINGTON, Grand River and Drake
VJESTLAND, Wayne Rd. north of Westland
ORCHARD LAKE RD., lust south of 13 Mile
SOUTHFIELD, Evergreen and 12 Mile
PLYMOUTH, Riverbank Square on Ann Arbor Rd.
Games Network
For Singles Opens
Men and women age 30-40
are invited to the new singles
card and board games net-
work sponsored by the Com-
munity Network for Jewish
Singles.
Games are hosted in mem-
bers' homes on a rotating
basis. Members must com-
plete a questionnaire to join
the group. Admission is free.
For information, call Babs
Sepe, 661-1000, ext. 347; or
Paula Smith, 543-4990.
Scrabble Group
For Singles 50+
Singles age 50 and up are
invited to the Jewish Com-
munity Center's Scrabble
group.
The group meets in mem-
bers' homes on a rotating
basis. For details, call Ber-
nice Forrest, 851-3154.
•
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