focus

Seeking Love n srael

JDaters go

offline and

search for

friendship

on Israel

trip.

118

June 1 2006

Dina Kraft

Jewish Telegraphic Agency

Tel Aviv

t a candlelit restau-

rant by the sea, Iriet
Schulman and Josh
Gartenberg lean toward each
other and giggle over a private
joke.
They were on a JDate-spon-
sored group trip to Israel in May
and had just checked into their
rooms when they stepped into
the same elevator of their Tel
Aviv hotel and felt an immediate
click.
"I came here mainly because
of the journey and experience
and if I do meet someone all the
better," said Schulman, 30, smil-
ing at Gartenberg, 31.
"She's a great girl;' said
Gartenberg, a New York film-
maker who happily admits the
two have been inseparable since
their elevator meeting.
Surrounding them is a boister-

Masada and had a boat party on
the Sea of Galilee.
They met Israeli members of
JDate and the itinerary focused
on social activity as well as sight-
seeing, with cocktail and pool
parties and nights out.
Taking in the sunset over the
Mediterranean, Barry Kushner,
67, from Marin County, Calif.,
said he was thrilled to finally be
in Israel for the first time and
was not averse to meeting some-
one at the same time.
"Would I be interested in
meeting a woman here, why
not?" said Stuart Rosenberg, a
47-year-old financial executive
from Los Angeles, was also see-
ing Israel for the first time. He
downplayed the dating aspect of
the trip and said what drew him
was an opportunity to see the
Jewish state.
"People here are single, they
want to see Israel and want to
meet people they can connect
with',' he said. "If I meet some-
one, then terrific. If I don't, I do
not care. I came here to experi-
ence Israel."
Elizabeth Crews, 40, a special
Participants on what was billed
ous gang of newfound friends,
education teacher from Santa
by JDate as "an offline 10-day
clinking wine glasses and pos-
Cruz, Calif., sat at a small table
journey to Israel" came from the
ing for photos. They have only
with a mix of new people. She
United States, Canada, Mexico,
known each other for two days,
was drawn to a trip where "you
Brazil and England. They ranged
but the group says it feels like a
get to know people over time,
in age from late 20s to mid-70s.
lifetime of connection.
things evolve more organically.
JDate has more than 500,000
Among the laughing, joking
It's not a forced set-
members and is the
crowd is Emily Ross, a 27-year-
ting."
largest Jewish singles
old midwife from San Francisco.
A group visiting
Jesse Arfa, 32, who
Web site in the world.
"A trip like this is a great idea
Israel o n a JDate
does
custom metal
The site has sponsored
because you come here with a
trip wal k through
work
on motorcycles
group trips to places like
bunch of Jewish people who feel
the Old City o
in
Clearwater,
Fla.,
Jamaica and Mexico, but
like family," she said. "When else
agreed
that
being
in
do you meet a group of people on this is the first time it
a
group
setting
takes
organized one to Israel.
vacation that you identify with
off some of the pressure that can
"It's about emotions," said
about everything?"
accompany meeting new people.
David Siminoff, president and
Like Ross, many on the trip
"I came here for a mix of
chief executive officer of Spark
were in Israel for the first time.
reasons,
but it would be great
Networks, JDate's owner and
Some of the 130 participants
to
meet
someone.
I'm all for the
operator.
were regular JDaters but oth-
adventure
part
of
it
— just to be
Being in Israel heightens a
ers, including Schulman and
happy
and
have
something
good
sense of connection both to
Gartenberg, signed up after see-
to
remember:'
he
said.
Israel as Jews, and possibly to
ing ads for the trip.
Schulman, who was beaming
one another as potential love
Gartenberg was intrigued
as
she continued to laugh and
interests and friends, he said.
by a JDate billboard in Times
talk
with Gartenberg and her
The group crisscrossed the
Square. Schulman, who lives in
new
circle of friends, raved,"It's
Hollywood, Calif., registered after country — touring Jerusalem's
a
fabulous
trip." And she added,
Old City, kayaking down the
she read an ad in the Jewish
"More
than
I expected?' 111
Journal of Greater Los Angeles. Jordan River, hiking to the top of