Join Resort Classics For
a few nights or the entire holiday of

PASSOVER

Historically, a percentage of the cou-
"I do all the time. I tell them they just
ples' wedding gifts paid for the service;
have to get over the thought that this is
,t the practice in recent times includes
a dating service."
honoring the individual at the couple's
Beshert Connection diverges from
wedding reception.
meeting points like the Internet and
Although there is no mitzvah that
bars in that it narrows the field to Jews,
commands Jews to do so, the joy of
who specify their level of observance.
making a successful match (shidduch) is
Take Lisa Sandler. In the past, she
related to the
relied on the good
commandment to
intentions
of
"go forth and
friends with
multiply," said
matchmaking pro-
Rabbi Josh
clivities, responded
Bennett of
to Jewish News ads
Temple Israel. "In
and
snagged a date
ancient societies
or
a
few with her
and even in some
own
charm. And
cultures today,
even though noth-
there is a tradition
ing was working,
of families arrang-
she wasn't about to
ing marriages. It is
turn to the com-
a tradition in the
puter
or hang out
Jewish communi-
in a smoky bar
ty- but it is not
hoping to meet
one bound by
Mr. Right.
Jewish law," he
"I have never
said, adding that
been a bar person,
the Beshert
she said, "and the
Connection
Internet is just not
strengthens the
for me."
Beshert Connection's Kari Provizer
/ __ community by
So she joined the
potentially creat-
Beshert
ing new Jewish families.
Connection. After two misses, she hit it
But while the Beshert Connection
big when she sent a card and set a date
seems like a matchmaking or dating se r-
for coffee with Matthew Fein. After an
vice, it is neither. In fact, Bennett and
initial meeting in a Starbucks ("We both
Provizer see it as a way to network with
hate coffee"), they had their first formal
out having to attend events or go on
date at a Kenny Loggins concert ("He
blind dates.
loathes Kenny Loggins") over Labor
\
"We really stress that this is not a
Day 1997. They didn't listen to one
r matchmaking program," said Provizer.
song.
It is up to the singles to put forth the
"We talked the whole time," she
effort in finding someone."
recalls.
Participants see it the same way,
And quickly fell in love. He proposed
although Lauren Altman initially
March 15 by slipping an engagement
thought differently
ring into a brownie, one of her favorite
"I thought, 'Did I hit rock bottom
desserts. She said yes and finished the
to have to use a dating service?'" she
brownie. The pair pledged eternal devo-
said. But, "it did a lot of the research
tion to each other at Temple Israel on
,=) work for me. I didn't have to talk to the
Dec. 12.
person until I knew a little about them
But with a few successful pairings to
and even then I didn't have to talk to
boast about, the Beshert Connection
them."
isn't resting on its laurels.
She is glad she talked to Rick Altman
Instead, membership rises as new
after he sent a card last winter indicatin g
hopefuls join. Provizer points out that
his interest. In May, he concocted a
with each new member, there is anoth-
story to lure her and her dog, Jasper, to
er possibility that someone will find
the waterfall near downtown
their beshert, thus adding to the run-
Birmingham, where a picnic — com-
ning tally of successes in marriages,
plete with a dozen roses and a bottle of
engagements and budding relation-
Dom Perignon — awaited her.
ships.
There, he asked for Jasper's permis-
"What I have learned is that every-
sion to marry Lauren. Both apparently
body is out there looking for their
agreed.
beshert," she said. "There is someone
"I would definitely recommend
out there for everyone, and we are just
Beshert Connection to others," she said.
helping them find each other." El

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Detroit Jewish News

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