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 

