Ahead of Record Dating Event, Humorous Animated Series Depicts Challenges of Today’s Dating Reality
Ahead of the world’s largest Jewish virtual dating event, a new viral social media series from Met@Chabad humorously showcases the lack of trust, weak ties and shallow choices that shape today’s dating world.
In today’s world, a dating profile can be judged in seconds. Trust takes longer. Even after two people match, hard questions remain: Is this person real? Are they serious? Do they share the values needed to build a Jewish home?
Those questions drive a new series of humorous animated social media shorts on the @jewishmarriage account. The clips show how fast swipes, weak trust and a focus on looks can keep singles from forming a deeper connection.
The account reached 1.5 million people in the past two months alone, according to campaign data. That reach points to a wider need.
From the start of met@chabad in 2021, shluchim knew that the problem was not only a lack of dating options. Today’s singles also needed guidance on how to date with purpose and recognize the values needed for marriage.
“We knew we needed to shift the culture around marriage,” said Rabbi Beryl Frankel, director of Chabad Young Professionals International. “This animated series is one part of that effort.”
Since its founding, Met@Chabad’s approach has had three parts. A values-based AI tool searches a wide pool for a match with marriage potential. Shluchim verify each person and measure whether the idea makes sense in real life. Jewish dating education helps singles focus on the values that matter in a lasting marriage.
“This is about giving young Jews across the world a real path to meet, marry and build strong Jewish homes,” said Rabbi Mendy Kotlarsky, executive director of Merkos 302. “We utilize the best technology to help find a possible match, but the shliach brings trust, care and knowledge of the people involved which is the most important part.”
Met@Chabad also found that meeting the right person was only part of the challenge. Singles needed the tools to know what they valued and to notice those traits in the person sitting across from them.
That need led to a Jewish marriage course now offered in 75 cities, along with the @jewishmarriage podcast and social media account. Each part helps singles date for marriage instead of judging a match by one photo or first impression.
That educational element will continue during the Aug. 9 global online dating event, with 12,000 singles already registered; the event is set to break a new record.
Drawing from a network of 1,000 Chabad House communities across 30 countries. Each participant will join five nine-minute video dates. Short mindset sessions between rounds will help singles clear their heads and enter the next talk with the right goal.
“These mindset setters will help singles enter each date with the proper expectations, many feel that as soon as they are sitting across from their soulmate they will just know!” said Dassi Gansburg, director of Met@Chabad. “The goal is to help each person approach the next date with purpose and clarity.”
When one video window closes and the next name appears, the goal is not only to help a single meet another person. It is to help that person see clearly who may already be sitting in front of them.
It’s not too late for singles in your community to register, visit metatchabad.com today to signup