
After Months of Deliberations, Gedolei Yisroel Back Supervised Shidduch Initiative
Following months of discussions with leading roshei yeshivah, poskim, and Torah leaders, a significant decision has been reached in the world of shidduchim: broad support has been granted to “Hashadchan,” a supervised shidduch platform that operates through a monitored telephone system and digital network.
Earlier this week, shortly before departing for the Keren Olam HaTorah fundraising mission in the United States, Slabodka Rosh Yeshivah Rav Dov Landau met with the organization’s leadership and members of its spiritual oversight committee. During the meeting, he received a detailed presentation outlining the platform’s operations, supervision procedures, and security safeguards, and subsequently offered his blessing for the initiative.
Sources familiar with the process told Matzav.com that the decision followed an extended period during which leading Torah authorities carefully evaluated the changes that have taken place in the shidduch world in recent years, particularly the growing use of digital platforms. One of the primary issues under discussion was the widespread circulation of photographs during the shidduch process and concerns over the lack of control families often have over how those images are shared.
According to individuals involved in the discussions, the transmission of photographs among shadchanim, acquaintances, and other parties became a major focus. To address those concerns, the platform developed a specialized security feature known as the “Vault,” which prevents users from downloading, saving, or forwarding images. Photographs become viewable only after approval from both sides and may be accessed only a limited number of times and for a restricted period.
Another distinctive aspect of the initiative is its emphasis on parental involvement. Access to the database is limited exclusively to parents through a controlled supervision system. Once an initial match is identified, the process is transferred to a certified shadchan affiliated with the program. Yeshivah bochurim and seminary students are not directly involved in the search process itself.
Following the approval of the initiative, a spiritual oversight committee was established to guide and monitor its development. The committee operates under the direction of the project’s presidents, Rav Yehoshua Eichenstein, Rosh Yeshivah of Yad Aharon, and Rav Amram Fried. Other members include Rav Dovid Eisenstein, one of the roshei yeshivah of Lehavas HaTorah in Beitar Illit, and veteran shadchan and educator Rabbi Hillel Mann.
A substantial number of prominent rabbinic figures from both the Litvishe and Sephardic communities have already expressed support for the project. Among them are Rav Berel Povarsky, Rav Yitzchok Zilberstein, Rav Asher Weiss, Rav Shlomo Yehudah Zafrani, Rav Mordechai Shmuel Edelstein, Rav Shimon Galei, Rav Chaim Peretz Berman, Rav Yehudah Silman, and others.
The initiative was first presented approximately a year ago to Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch, who voiced his support for the concept. More recently, Rav Dovid Cohen also endorsed the project.
At the same time, representatives of the initiative have spent recent weeks presenting the model to rabbanim and educators in a number of chassidic communities, particularly within Belz and Vizhnitz. Leaders in those circles have reportedly expressed interest in the platform, and discussions are underway regarding the possibility of integrating it into the shidduch systems used by their educational institutions, under the guidance of the respective rabbinic leadership and in cooperation with the organization’s administration.
According to the organizers, the platform has already helped facilitate the establishment of more than 320 Jewish homes throughout Israel.
Next week, the leadership of the initiative is scheduled to meet with Rav Meir Tzvi Bergman, the senior member of the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah, to seek his blessing for the continued growth of the project and its planned expansion both in Israel and abroad.