For the innumerable amount of reality dating shows there are on television, the number of Jews among their contestants has been… slim to say the least. In recent history, we’ve had Ariel Frenkel and Jason Alabaster from “The Bachelor” franchise, Alexa Alfia Lemeiux from “Love Is Blind,” Noam Atzil and Israel Dimri on “FBoy Island,” Jordan Rosengarten on “Love In the Jungle,” Josh Goldstein, Gabe Sadowky and Eyal Booker on “Love Island” and that’s about it.
But soon, there will finally be a reality dating show specifically for the Jews! Hallelujah!
Today, Netflix announced that “Jewish Matchmaking,” a spin-off of “Indian Matchmaking,” will premiere on May 3. Per E! News, the show centers on Philadelphia-based matchmaker and dating coach Aleeza Ben Shalom as she sets up American and Israeli Jewish singles on shidduchim, or marriage dates. (This system of Jewish dating is more prevalent in Orthodox and ultra-Orthodox Jewish communities.)
“I’m not your granny’s matchmaker!” Aleeza teased, adding that the show will “tap into ancient wisdom and apply it to modern love.” In a teaser trailer on Netflix, Aleeza bolstered her credentials, citing that she’s matched over 200 now-married Jewish couples.
In a 2014 episode of “Here & Now” on NPR, Aleeza emphasized why she thinks matchmaking is so important in Judaism, saying, “Without a matchmaker, really, the Jewish people wouldn’t be here.” Adding, “Any part of the world where people want and believe in their people and want to see them live on, the only way to do that is by being matched up and continuing to bring more people into the world and to continue on with your beliefs.” (Though, it’s important for us to note here that intermarriage is absolutely not a threat to Jewish continuity.)
Though there is currently little public information on the Jewish couples featured in the show, we personally cannot wait to learn more about the guy who tells Aleeza in the teaser trailer that he’s looking for a matchmaker because, “I don’t want to have to explain to her why ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm’ is funny.”
We cannot wait to watch “Jewish Matchmaking” and live out our Jewish reality dating show dreams.
