By Danit Schusterman – COLlive
“Speed dating, singles events, online dating – you name it, I’ve tried it,” says Sarede Switzer, founder and CEO of Bring the Gym to Me, a recruiting agency that matches up clients with fitness instructors.
Throughout the years, Sarede hosted a number of parties and events geared towards singles, from which a number of shidduchim have come about. Her latest shidduchim initiative is entitled, Splitting the Red Sea, whereby singles gather to network to expand their social circles and think of ideas of matches for one another.
“Before Covid, I was a part of a business network where representatives from different businesses gathered together to connect,” she says. “There were real estate developers, lawyers, and fitness instructors, to name a few. All who attended came with the intent to refer these businesses to others. After seeing the success of this model, I came up with the idea to try this with shidduchim.
The goal of a “Splitting the Red Sea” event is to go with the mindset to set up friends. The first event was held online, where 15 men and 15 women ages 30-49 attended. Each attendee got 1 minute to share a little about themselves and what they are looking for in a partner. All who were there listened with the intent to set up this person with someone who they think will be a good match.
There is a moderator at each event and there are usually 2 singles who will get a few more minutes to go into more detail about themselves and what they are looking for.
The success of this online event was so astounding that Sarede realized the need to do this more often and, if possible, in person.
The upcoming in-person “Splitting the Red Sea” event will be held this week in Crown Heights for men and women aged 27-42. There will be a moderator and an equal amount of men and women. Each attendee will be given about a minute to share who they are as well as what they are looking for in a partner. Everyone will be given each other’s contact information and those who think of potential matches for another will contact them directly or through the moderator. If they are comfortable, they can suggest a potential match right then and there.
Sarede says that the beauty of this event is that all who are attending are coming with the intent to set up others. “It is very empowering,” she says.
The Splitting the Red Sea Shidduch Networking event will take place on Thursday, 14 Kislev – December 8, in honor of the Rebbe and Rebbetzin’s wedding anniversary. It will be held at Chevras Ahavas Yisroel at 306 Albany Avenue at 8:00 PM.
The next zoom event is planned to take place on Monday, December 26th.
Space is limited and this event will fill up fast. The cost is $10 per person. Sign up at tinyURL.com/ShidduchCAY
To find out more about future Splitting the Red Sea events and to be put on their mailing list, email: [email protected]
For out of towners?
The online events are for anyone in any location. Here’s the info for the next upcoming one: https://form.jotform.com/223237398621459
Yasher koach! I hope this brings lots of successful shidduchim!
Sarede,
Thank you for being SO Open! Everything you said is so REAL. I haven’t been redt a shidduch in 5 years, and every potential bocher that “I” look into says NO within a day.
The only YESes I’ve received were (when I didn’t do MY homework first) from men who were either Socially Challenged or Mentally Challenged.
Please HASHEM, help all these beautiful young ladies find their bashert NOW!.
To all the people waiting anxiously for the next online event, no need to wait.
keep in mind that the way this works is that you attend as matchmaker. The other people attending do the same and might become your matchmaker but that’s besides the point.
You can start going through your phone contacts right now and start thinking about possible matches for them!
So often, men in the right age group for these women are expecting to marry a woman still of childbearing age.
While this is understandable if the man has not yet done the mitzvah of pru ur’vu, it makes things nearly impossible for these women.
Oftentimes, a man who has already done that mitzvah could have a wonderful marriage if he would meet these delightful mature women.
A program is really needed for this forgotten age group!
Yes! As one of those men a little over 50, I find that most programs are for the younger crowd (which is understandable) and most shadchannim don’t work with divorcees and men our age.
if there’s enough of a demand, we’ll gladly set up an event for that age group – just email us to be put on the mailing list at [email protected]