OUR COMMUNITY
Y
ou could feel the love in each and
every post on the Jewish Moms of
Metro Detroit Facebook page. One
day only, Feb. 15, the day after Valentine’s
Day, was dedicated solely to posts about
Jewish singles of all ages looking for the
right Jewish match.
Using the hashtag for “it’s a shidduch”
— #itsashidduchjmoms — dozens of the
group’s 2,600 members posted about their
brothers, sisters, best friends, mothers,
fathers and others who are single and
looking for love, especially in the midst of
the COVID-19 pandemic. Shidduch is the
Yiddish word for “a match that leads to mar-
riage.
”
“It’s hard for people who are single,
” said
Katey Wagner, one of the private Facebook
group’s four administrators along with
Lindsay Mall, Lindsay Cox and Brooke
Leiberman. “You can’t really go to bars, you
can’t go on singles trips, there are no net-
working events going on … so there’s little
opportunity for people to meet others right
now. A lot of people have actually moved
home because of the pandemic.
”
Dr. Sarah (no last name given on the
post), 33, is the perfect example. Her friend,
Sharon Minkin, posted on her behalf and
gave the JN permission to share an excerpt
of her post.
“Sarah just moved back to Metro Detroit
after being away for 15 years,
” she wrote.
“
As beautiful on the inside as she is on the
outside, she’s kind and funny compassionate
and hardworking, wicked smart and
adventurous.
”
“My brother, he’s a doctor,
” one of
the JMoms enthusiastically responded.
“PM [private message] me,
” Minkin
replied.
Throughout the day, private mes-
sages were flying, and phone numbers
were being exchanged behind the
scenes.
“I got my mother-in-law a date, so
that’s fun,
” Wagner said. “
A woman
gave me her dad’s number, and they
both saw photos of one another; who
knows if it will work out, but that was
pretty cool.
”
The posts featured local men and
women in a wide variety of profes-
sions. There was Rachel, 30, who
works in real estate; Ari, 34, who loves
health and fitness; beautiful cousin
Sarah, 43, who lives in Chicago. Most people
posted on behalf of others, but several spoke
about themselves.
“Decided to be a little brave and post for
myself,
” wrote Nicole Kovenich who also
gave the JN permission to share her post.
“I’m 28, in the process of a divorce, and I
have a 5-year-old boy … ‘Looking for: intel-
ligent, motivated, active gentlemen with a
good sense of humor.
’”
BRISK RESPONSE
One woman posted about her brother-in-
law and set off a slight frenzy. Within two
hours, there were 30 comments under the
post and lots of messages that said things
like, “I might have someone,
” “I know some-
one amazing” and “messaging you now.
”
Katey admits she was a little surprised by
how quickly this new feature took off.
“I wasn’t sure how it was going to go, but
it’s going really well. There are a lot of people
participating, taking screen shots and texting
people,
” she said. “The main goal is just to
get people talking. Who knows what’s going
to come out this? I’m very excited to see!”
It was an anonymous JMom who first
reached out with the matchmaking idea.
Katey announced the rules on the night
before (first names only, post a photo, and
the rest is up to you) and by the next morn-
ing the Facebook page was buzzing with
potential.
As the Jewish News reported last year, the
Jewish Moms of Metro Detroit Facebook
page was founded in 2017. The group has
become an online support network and a
hub for sharing tips, swapping recommen-
dations, promoting family-friendly activities,
building businesses and more. Now, add
love to the list. This is the first time they’ve
ever had a special day dedicated to singles
and dating.
“I am married, but I am loving all of these
posts today,
” one mom wrote. “I can’t wait to
see how many connections come out of it!”
“Can we please have updates on who
made a shidduch?” wrote another mom.
Several participants were asking the
administrators if they’ll do this again. But,
the big question is — will any of the Jewish
singles connected by the click of a mouse
truly “click?” Only time will tell. The JMoms
are hoping some weddings will come out of
the day of online matchmaking. And what a
great story that would be.
Jewish moms’ Facebook
page dedicates a day
to help singles fi
nd love.
MOMS
Making
Matches
ROBIN SCHWARTZ
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
18 | FEBRUARY 25 • 2021