4210 li";:A'rf . a • . - r - - 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, YOU'LL LOOK YOUR BEST IN A TANFASTER TAN 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. • "Where The Action Is" A RESTAURANT 555 Woodward Birmingham 642-9400 Now Appearing For Dancing Tues. Thru Sat. Evening ALLURE Mondays Celebrate The New Year In Grand 'Style With Us Call About Our Complete Package Alexander Zonjic Trio 107