Best Jewish Dating Sites 2024 in the U.K.
Looking for a Jewish date but don't know where to start?
Being single and Jewish can add an interesting twist to your search for a partner. Similarly, if you're not Jewish but wish to date someone who is, you'll find it's a different kind of dating scene. You need to connect with someone who aligns with your values and beliefs, which can add an extra layer of excitement to your dating adventures. Although you might need to adjust some typical dating practices to fit Jewish dating customs, these adjustments are straightforward once you know the steps.
Knowing what you want in a partner is one thing; figuring out where to start is another. For many, the first step in religious-based dating, like Jewish dating, is often the most daunting.
But you...
- Have no clue where to begin?
- Are afraid you'll do something wrong?
- Are totally new into Jewish dating?
Are you...
- In search of your Jewish soulmate?
- Curious about dating a Jewish person?
- Intrigued how Jewish dating works?
Then you've come to the right place!
If these sound familiar to you, then you are on the right path. It's easy to become discouraged or buy into the destructive myths about Jewish dating and relationships, so read on as we have detailed the ins and outs of Jewish dating for you in this article.
- Looking for a Jewish date but don't know where to start?
- Jewish Dating Cultures and Traditions
- Benefits of dating Jewish
- Drawbacks of Jewish Dating
- Want to make sure if Jewish dating is for you? Take the test!
- Stereotypes in Jewish dating
- Who can you expect to find on Jewish dating sites?
- How to be successful on Jewish dating sites?
- Just imagine the possibilities and go get that match!
Jewish Dating Cultures and Traditions
Love, dating, and romance in the Jewish perspective have greatly emanated from the laws written on the ancient Talmud, which is basically a collection of writings where most Judaism's religious laws were derived from. Of all the mysterious statements in the Talmud, one highlights that finding a true partner in life is as difficult as parting the Red Sea. This reflects how much weight Jewish people put in finding the perfect partner for them, so dating and marriage are heavily imprinted on their cultures and traditions. Here are some of the most notable Jewish dating culture and tradition:
Believing in "Soulmates"
Jewish people believe that every person has a "soulmate;" a match made in heaven. The term "Bashert," which literally means destiny or fate, is also used to refer to any kind of auspicious good match, such as finding the perfect career or the perfect hobby, but it is more often used to signify a soulmate. A Jewish dating site profile with a personal ad "Looking for my Bashert" simply means that the person is looking for his or her soulmate, thus pointing to a long-term relationship.
The "Shidduch" matchmaking system
Marriage is not to be taken lightly in Jewish traditions, so they have devised their own matchmaking system. In Shidduch matchmaking, you can make inquiries about your prospective partner's character, intelligence, education, financial status, health status, appearance, and level of religious observance. It can be you who make the inquiries personally, but in most cases, it is done by a family member and set you up on a meeting later, like a blind date.
Supervised dating called "Bashow"
It's not always the case, but chaperoned dates exist in the Jewish community. They call these gatherings "Bashow," where a young man with his parents visits the young woman in her house. Both sets of parents leave the two on their own to have a conversation once they sense that the atmosphere has become more relaxed. Jewish parents believe that Bashow helps them guide their children into choosing the right person while giving the young couples the opportunity to see if they actually like each other, beyond the information they receive from matchmaking.
Jewish professional matchmakers
Jewish singles can employ the help of a Shadchan, who can suggest a prospective mate for you and coach you through the dating process. Professional shadchans are traditionally paid for their services, simply because Jewish couples want to begin their new chapter in life honestly and without bearing a grudge.
A taste of Jewish Valentine's
In comparison to the more widely-celebrated Valentine's Day, Jews celebrate Tu B’Av. It is both an ancient and modern holiday. It used to serve as a matchmaking day for unmarried women, but in recent decades, Jewish people have been celebrating Tu B’Av with night festivals of singing and dancing.
Benefits of dating Jewish
There are countless reasons why dating Jewish is an amazing experience you shouldn't deny yourself from having. Having a similar background and upbringing with your partner can be rare for most people, but other Jewish people like you enjoy. You are born into this circle of people with a long shared culture and history, and this connection is special. Many Jews will date non-Jewish people, but when it comes to marriage, having the same faith may have higher importance for them.
On the other hand, if you are a non-Jewish who wish to partake in some "Kosher romance," you are about to experience a whole new side to dating you didn't even know exists.
When you date Jewish, you will meet people who grew up in a household that valued conversation, education, and family more than anything. Dating Jewish means that you’re more likely to meet someone who always keeps open communication with you.
Either way, entering into a relationship with a Jewish person highly leads to an event in your life where you are valued and treated with love because it is a relationship built on principles.
Pros of dating a Jewish woman
Did you know that some of the stereotypes of Jewish women include being loud-mouthed and controlling towards their husbands? It is time to break this image and celebrate all the fabulous qualities of Jewish women.
She's always direct
They are always direct, not hesitating or beating around the bush. You will not sense any false airs when you are around them so you will always understand what they mean. They are such great conversationalists that you will not run out of topics to talk about. This trait is often misinterpreted as rudeness by outsiders, but it is actually a good thing because she's always transparent — what you see is what you get.
She loves feeding people
She knows that the best way to a man's heart is a good brisket. Who wouldn't fall for someone who can make all the traditional food that he experienced growing up? You can make all these food together — matzah ball soup, noodle kugel, crispy latkes — and share it with your friends and family.
She's not a pushover
Judaism has a history of strong and self-possessed women. Jewish women always speak their minds. They don’t hold back on their thoughts and are prepared to fight battles together or celebrate joy with their partners. Strong women always look attractive to strong men.
Pros of dating a Jewish man
A Jewish man is always diligent and dedicated. These traits, added with compassion and patience, are hard to find in most men. Marrying a Jewish guy pays off in the form of loyal devotion and hard-to-pronounce last names daily. What they lack in stature, they make up for in good character and fun holidays.
He's committed
Jewish men are highly-committed people. Attending Hebrew School for the better part of their adolescent years has prepared them for engaging in long-term commitments. For this reason, they are likely to stay faithful and attached to you.
He values vacation days
From their early years spent at sleep-away camp, they know that summers are meant to be spent elsewhere. They are such good travel companions, and anything by the water will more than suffice as your next summer destination. They are always on the lookout for the next place to visit but never fail to include you in all the travel plans.
He's a forward-thinker
Jewish boys have always been taught to keep an eye on the future. They like to make sure that they have a bright future ahead of them in terms of career. These values are passed on from Jewish parents to children by teaching them self-motivation. With this, you'll be creating little babies geared up for medals and PhDs.
Drawbacks of Jewish Dating
On the flipside, Jewish dating can create its own contradictions. These contradictions vary for every person, but here are some of the most common inconsistencies of entering into a Jewish matchmaker:
Kosher is hard to follow
Keeping kosher takes a lot of patience and dedication to follow, especially if you are surrounded by temptation. Kosher foods are those that conform to the Jewish dietary regulations. On the upside, kosher foods to some degree, are safer and therefore healthier than other products. This is because the preparation of kosher food follows a strict procedure and requires closer inspection and monitoring.
They are too expressive for some people
Their expressive behavior may come off as a bit too much for outsiders, but it actually works out if you are aiming for a transparent relationship with a Jewish person. However, this trait also comes with them being more helpful, and it is so much easier to strike up a conversation with Jews because they like communicating.
You are basically in a relationship with the family
Jewish dating and marriage are strongly attached to culture and tradition. One of the most important values that they follow is being family-oriented. Meeting up with the entire extended family can be overwhelming to some. However, this can be a great opportunity for you to get to know about your Jewish date.
Want to make sure if Jewish dating is for you? Take the test!
Get a personalised recommendation whether Jewish dating will work out for you or not by answering the fun and quick test below:
Stereotypes in Jewish dating
Jewish dating, having created a unique section of its own, has its fair share of misconceptions. Like urban legends, these stories may seem credible at first but are actually only dating myths.
Jewish women value their own ambition more
Generally speaking, Jewish women tend to project into a feminist outlook. They are likely to care about their own ambitions as much as their partner's. However, this does not mean that they are selfish people who only put value on their endeavors.
Everything turns into a fight
It is a common misconception that Jewish women like to argue like conflict is a part of breathing or as constant as saying hello. This is misinterpreted by some because Jewish women value their opinion and will not stay silent for the sake of making someone feel comfortable.
Jewish men are "mama's boys"
Jewish men are always stereotyped to have an excessive attachment to their mothers even at an age at which men are expected to be independent. Jewish men value their mother and are taught to do so even when they were little. This stereotype may have come from this value and at some point exaggerated.
"Jewish wife stereotype"
This stereotype often involves a nagging, loud, highly-talkative, overprotective, smothering, and overbearing mother or wife, who keeps on interfering with her children's lives. This goes on to continue long after they have become adults.
Who can you expect to find on Jewish dating sites?
For starters, majority of Jewish dating sites have Jewish members. Here are some of the types of people you will date if you seek out partners in Jewish dating sites:
The life of the party
Their profiles are carefully prepared with a few witty jokes to make you laugh. They don't send dull hi's and hello's, they like breaking the ice by being humorous on conversations. They like to show their personality, and sense of humor through their clothing.
The one who believes that genuine human connection is superior
Jewish people love to have conversations. When going on a date with this type, avoid ruining the mood by constantly checking on your phone and distracting your date. Dating is detox time, so make sure to avoid checking your email or socials during your night out.
The "Howard Wollowitz"
You may have heard about the popular character from The Big Bang Theory, Howard Wollowitz. The fictional character is Jewish who has received his degree in Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Expect to find Jewish men and women who have distinguished careers.
How to be successful on Jewish dating sites?
Jewish dating sites range from old-fashioned matchmaking to dating without any emphasis on religion at all. Here are some tips you can follow that will help you become successful on finding a suitable partner in these dating sites:
Dress up and take care of your profile
Dating sites, in general, are all about first impressions. Make sure that you put an effort in presenting your profile in a way that represents who you are in real life.
- Make sure your profile picture portrays who you are. Avoid editing too many filters on your main image. If you do so, you are only sabotaging your chances of having a successful match.
- Most singles, Jewish in particular, will want to know what you do for a living. You can declare what your career or profession is on your profile, but it's not being required, do not put how much you earn. Putting a huge amount, no matter how truthful it is, may come off as bragging.
- Make sure you mention your hobbies and interests. This is one way to find a common denominator that you can do together to make your relationship flourish.
All you need to know before pressing the button!
Jewish dating sites also have variations in how they cost, and the features they offer for the members. To make sure that you are choosing the right one for your needs, here are some of the critical information you need to look for before you decide to enter that dating site.
- How does it work?
Read reviews about the app or dating site first before pressing that button. Make sure that you know how they set up matches inside the site. Doing so will at least give you an idea and overview of how the app or site delivers results for you.
- Is it free or not?
Know which features are free or not and cross-reference it with your requirements. Most dating sites and apps are free to download while locking the key features. This lets you gauge properly if a site or app is worth joining based on your requirements.
- What are the available features?
Do not forget to get a run-down of all the features that it offers. Part of Jewish online dating is trying out its interactive features, apart from actually finding a date.
How much does it cost?
This is one of the important information that you should know before making a choice. From the costs and prices alone, you will know immediately if it is worth your time.
How to find a good match
Dating sites promise to use technology and logic to match you with the love of your life. But how do you find the right one when it gives you a Dead Sea of candidates? Here are some tips on how you can make things so much easier:
- Access and location
You are probably matched together, but how possible is it for the two of you to meet up and actually have a relationship offline? Consider your accessibility and location to gauge how much effort is needed if you decide to work on the relationship.
- Aim for a meeting
Prior to meeting in person, you may already have formed an impression on your match through your online communication. This impression may or may not be the same when you see the real person. Avoid getting disappointed by aiming for a meeting no matter how short as soon as possible. It doesn't have to be a date at first, you can call it a meet up if you want.
- This is your own personal quest, go look for that perfect match
Dating sites and apps have complex formulas or algorithms to match people together. They are developing over time, but remember that these are not yet perfect. Check out your matches, but make sure to rely on your own instincts to look for dates. It hurts when you have invested too much time on a person only to find out in the end that the image created on your head is not exactly who the person is in real life. Read profiles, check out albums, and engage in conversations, to get a good view of a person's personality.
Just imagine the possibilities and go get that match!
You may be open to dating anyone regardless of their religious background in the past, and that’s great! But there’s something special about dating someone who gets where you came from. Give Jewish dating a shot to see why it can lead to a serious love connection.
Are you ready to help yourself of some "kosher romance?" You can check out our recommendations to help you decide. We have checked the sites for all the information you need to know to make searching easier for you.