D News TRAVEL MAX Introduces Heartfelt Evenings Royal Caribbean's Newest Ship 0g VISION OF THE SEAS In Kew Gardens Hills, observant women take matchmaking matters into their own hands. This beautiful ship will be inaugurated May, 1998. This spectacular ship offers a dramatic two-story dining room, state-of-the-art fitness center, two pools and much, much more! HILARY LARSON Special to The Jewish News 7-NIGHT MEDITERRANEAN T C he Orthodox women of Kew Gardens Hills, N.Y., have developed' a new twist on an age-old art. With no interest in a profit other than bringing happiness to friends, but with a sense of organization common to dating service businesses, hundreds of women are involved in a roughly five-year-old phenomenon of match- making "clubs." Without offices or computers, circles of women host par- ties at which they pool their romantic resources to find love and happiness, or at least a night on the town, for lonely Orthodox singles. "This isn't a business," stated Danielle Strauss, who attends groups as well as holding singles parties in her home. She noted that the women charge nothing for their time and effort, which they see as a service to their family-oriented community "Finding someone is a huge problem," she added. "When you move to New York, you kind of rely on friends, acquaintances, people you know — it's hard to meet people otherwise," says Orit Kanowitz, a young married woman who recently moved from California and has become involved in the matchmaking scene. Based on this notion, women have been getting together in groups as small as five and as large as 50 to brain- storm lists of available singles, trying to identify probable matches. The move- ment is concentrated in Kew Gardens Hills, but groups of this nature are springing up around the metropolitan area, including Far Rockaway. Despite the informality of meetings, which take the form of cocktail or dessert parties in private homes, "we're very serious about it," said one woman. Armed with notebooks, the women, who are mostly married but sometimes single (depending on the group), gath- er information on each single acquain- tance ranging from level of religiosity to occupation to divorced or widowed status. Looks and age are also impor- tant information, and if the person in question is baal teshuva, or newly HEARTFELT on page 64 NEW ITINERARY BARCELONA ROUND TRIP VISION OF THE SEAS BARCELONA ROUND TRIP VISION OF THE SEAS JUNE 13, 1998 Day Ports of Call SAT. BARCELONA, SPAIN SUN. VILL, FRANCE MON. AIACCIO , CORSICA TUE. CIVITAVECCHIO, ITALY WED. MESSINA, SICILY THUR. YALLE ► I A MALTA FRI. AT SEA SAT. BARCELONA, SPAIN Arrive Depart 7:00 P.M. 10:00 A.M. 11:00 P.M. 8:00 A.M. 6:00 P.M. 7:00 A.M. 7:00 P.M. ROME NOON 6:00 P.M. 8:00 A.M. 5:00 P.M. 8:30 A.M. cz TRAVEL MA 7-NIGHT MEDITERRANEAN JULY 4, 1998 Day Ports of Call SAT. BARCELONA, SPAIN SUN. PALMA, MAJORCA MON. MARSEILLES, FRANCE TUE. FLORENCE, ITALY WED. NAPLES, ITALY THUR. OLBIA, SARDINIA FRI. AT SEA SAT. BARCELONA, SPAIN Arrive 8:00 A.M. 9:00 A.M. 7:00 A.M. 9:30 A.M. 11:00 A.M. Depart 7:00 P.M. 5:00 P.M. 6:00 P.M. 7:00 P.M. 8:00 P.M. 6:00 P.M. 8:30 A.M. Rates from $1,154* p.p. Call now for rates and information on these and all Royal Caribbean Cruises (248) 851-7760 *Airfare from Detroit and port charges additional Call TOR Pictllre Our Chanukah I Art Contest is About to Begin. I- The winning entry will be displayed on our annual Chanukah cover. Look for an entry blank in The Jewish News, or pick one up at Tapper's Diamonds and Fine Jewelry in the Orchard Mall or at the JCC/JPM branch. Ono presser 1996 Winning Entry by Samantha Jane DETROIT JEWISH NEWS Jig Call The Sales Department (248) 354-7123 Ext. 209 vertise in our Entertainment Section! 11/7 1997 -63