AMY J. MEHLER

Staff Writer

Fli yen a matchmaker

needs a little help
now and -then.
4 When Irene Slo-
bin, 45, of Irene's Dating
Service in Southfield, wanted
to meet an eligible pool of
Jewish, self-made men, she
contacted the couple with
over 4,000 successful matches
to their credit.
Pearl and Yeheskel Lebovic,
founders of Likrat Shiduch,
an international match-
making service, have been in
business 10 years and have
only lost four couples — to
divorce.
"Everyone has someone
designated for them," Mrs.
Lebovic, a former teacher

'Everyone has
someone
designated for
them."

Pearl Lebovic

said. "Some need more than
one to help them reach their
inner potential. Others, sad-
ly enough, maybe didn't
take enough time to salvage
their marriage."
Irene, who officially began
her business a few months
ago, fixes up Jews as well as
non-Jews. She called the
Lebovics because she doesn't
believe in mixing business
with pleasure.
"I need to network a little
for myself now," said Irene,
who's been through two
divorces.
The Lebovics, who meet
about 25 prospective clients
a week from an active
registry numbering over
1,000, can't wait to meet
Detroit's Jewish singles.

They will be the guests of
Bais Chabad of West Bloom-
field next Shabbat (May 10-
11) to participate in a special
singles' Shabbaton.
"We are open to all Jews,
regardless of affiliation,",
said Mrs. Lebovic, who is a
Lubavitcher. "We don't try
and change those who aren't
religious."
Likrat Shiduch, which is
headquartered in Mor-
ristown, N.J., is a not-for-
profit organization. In 1986,
the Lebovics were awarded a
$7_,500 grant from the
United Jewish Federation of
Metrowest to offset what
they argued were the
cancers eating away at the
Jewish community: zero
population growth, increas-
ed intermarriage, and the
apparent inability on the
part of many young people to
initiate lasting relation-
ships.
"We are living in a very
narcissistic society," Mrs.
Lebovic said. "People get too
caught up in the idea of hav-
ing to first fulfill them-
selves. It takes a giving na-
ture to build a home."
In order for the Lebovics to
meet operating costs, they
charge their clients a one-
time $180 fee.
"It covers the client until
mazel tov time," Mrs.
Lebovic said.
The couple used to charge
$54, three times Chai, or
life, representing God, the
bridegroom and the bride,
Mrs. Lebovic said.
While they'd prefer not to
charge clients anything,
(and they didn't for many
years), some money is need-
ed to pay office staff and
traveling expenses.
Likrat Shiduch now has
regional offices in Washing-
ton, D.C., Baltimore, Toron-
to, Montreal and Los
Angeles.

ENERATION

SINGLE LIFE

Hard at work: Pearl and Yeheskel Lebovic.

Pearl and Yeheskel Lebovic
devote their lives to making the
perfect shiduchim.

Through an extensive
interview and question-
naire, the Lebovics assess
an individual's religious
commitment, intellect and
attitudes regarding love and
marriage. The Lebovics also
rely on something else to en-
sure a successful match —
God's help.
"God alone keeps the iden-
tity of your bashert, or fated
one, a secret," Mrs. Lebovic
said. "Our work would be
easier if He didn't."
Many Jews believe that
one's spouse is chosen by
God. This concept is express-
ed in the Talmud, a collec-
tion of rabbinical discourses

and rulings on Jewish law:
"Forty days before the crea-
tion of a child, a heavenly
voice issues forth and pro-
claims, the daughter of that
one is for this one."
The Lebovics have been in-
troducing friends ever since
she was a young girl. Mrs.
Lebovic was introduced to
her husband when she was
18 and he was 23.
"Our match was the result
of a shiduch, and we've been
married for 25 years."
Irene hopes something just
as substantial comes from
next week's Shabbaton.
"It's time the matchmaker
makes a match," she said. ❑

THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS

93