By Yonit Tanenbaum, YQ Media
Innovation has spread to virtually every industry. You can have meals and clothing shipped to your door on a regular basis, have the heat turned on in your home half an hour before you arrive, receive notifications on your phone when there is a speed camera ahead — and cars are even driving themselves.
It is no wonder that the Shidduch process has also experienced innovation.
This month, ChabadMatch.com, a database for Chabad singles and Shadchanim, introduced a new automated matching system. Instead of relying on human intuition alone, the program will search personal characteristics and “looking for” factors, providing a list of match results for members to consider.
How does it work? An algorithm identifies compatibilities in profiles and then matches them to one another, using the very same technology that enables us to automate our homes and vehicles.
Criteria such as age, height, education, lifestyle, Chassidishkeit, and background are some points of differentiation that the algorithm evaluates and matches. Shadchanim are able to see which profiles match best, with the most commonalities between them, and can then help to facilitate a date.
“We realized that with so many parents and singles in need of Shidduchim, as well as limited resources, we needed to think out of the box to find a solution,” ChabadMatch founder Moshe Raichman tells COLlive.com.
Taking this innovation one step further, ChabadMatch has completed development on a system that will generate automated suggestions by email of profiles that match.
For all singles’ profiles added to the website, the algorithm will scan existing profiles, select those profiles that match best, and then send an email to both of the parties (singles or parents) with the suggestions.
The system in current beta testing produces emails to shadchanim with suggested matches for site’s existing and new members in their networks, he said.
The program augments the shadchan’s matchmaking process by generating suggestions from the pool of members, sending these matches to the shadchan and the respective singles, and getting the prospective “ball rolling” on more than one front. The shadchan or the single may then take the next step.
Raichman explains that this process makes the ChabadMatch database a more active process rather than a passive process in which singles are waiting for suggestions to be initiated by a shadchan.
To date, 117 engagements have been celebrated by ChabadMatch members since its founding 10 years ago.
“We had 5 engagements this month since beta testing of the automated feature was launched,” Raichman said. “ChabadMatch expects a significant growth in activity on the site, as Shadchanim regularly receive suggestions for the singles they are working with.”
Automation might just be the key to more simchas…
Find a bashert today at chabadmatch.com
May you, Moishe and your beautiful family receive lots of brochos from your amazing job!!
Brazil
Totally agree that dating costs are way too high and not fair to the boy. This has got to change.
Your words are so true for those who are in Crown Heights. I have flown to other cities, paid for housing meals car rentals plus the cost of the evening out. Sometimes spending $1,000
Thank you for using high tech tools for speeding the process of finding one’s bashert! As always with tznyut and eydelkayt.
You are correct, but check boxes are a good place to begin. Gotta start somewhere!
The “system” does not seem to work past age 25 for guys and not sure which age for girls. We get drained and lose the required energy after dating a number of girls in the “Official” method.
Speed dating or casual Shabbos meals arranged by young couples inviting his and her friends just MAY be a better option.
Just sayin 🙂
If you agree, speak up and perhaps something will “hAppn”
We appreciate the hard work, keep it up!
People would probably reject less offers and have a better chance of finding their shidduch if they knew that it didn’t require so much investment of time and money. If dates would meet up in Manhattan coffee shops or even in Crown Heights homes or some other less committing venues, instead of meeting in fancy hotels, where car rental and parking, or car service expenses, as well as drinks cost so much for the bochur, and takes such a big time and emotional committment from both the bochur and the girl, then more people would be willing to “just give… Read more »
Shadchamin please read this!!!!
Especially for over 25 year olds. Have a dozen men and a dozen women in the room. Nobody needs to know anyones names. Everyone gets a number and at the end, the men and women give in the numbers (to the shadchanim who will be present) they were interested in dating. Over 25 year olds HATE blind dates. This would be so much better.
Whilst its impossible to knock the computer system I stil think it has its faults.after all we all know people got together from totally different backgrounds and also totally different characters eg. Artistic vs professional. I recommend not putting all your eggs in one basket open up to offers and try different methods. You open the door and you never know where hashem will bring the brocha.beshaa tova to all those truly looking for their soulmate.
Yasher Koach, Moshe, and תלך מחיל אל חיל!
Mrs. Saxon
We really need speed dating.
And while this new matching thing sounds good, I really can’t see it working. There is so much more to people than check boxes.
Wonderful service you provide, Moshe, an unsung hero of Chabad shidduchim!
I agree. Enough with this old rusty system. Any one who has dated 10+ people time to move on to speed dating. The system works for the first handful of dates, and after that it becomes draining and a waste of time.
i was prob one 1st ones using it 10yrs ago i emailed the shudchan list they had on there he 1st shudchan responded with soneone they had now married to the girl the sudchan set me up with 9 yrs ago
the more resources, the merrier!
Apparently the online dating fad has reached chabad.
Now everybody gets a streamlined way to explain how nobody is good enough for them
Its time for Speed dating in CH – Too many quality singles out there. Lets do it!
Glad ten year old technology has finally been discovered. “Wait…computers DO THAT?”
This system seems much better than just waiting for a shadchan to get back to you. Thank you Chabadmatch!