The Jewish Matchmaker

Why do you hold things in… and then say them in the worst possible way? In this episode, Aleeza sits down with communication expert Elana Israel to unpack what’s really happening in those moments—when you keep things bottled up until they spill out, use a tone that puts someone on defense, or ask a question that shifts everything off course. This is a conversation about honesty, self-abandonment, and why keeping the peace can quietly cost you the relationship you’re trying to protect.

He grew up between worlds - Filipino by birth, Israeli by life - until he made a choice that would change everything. In this episode, Aleeza Ben Shalom sits down with singer Howie Danao to explore a journey shaped by identity, faith, and purpose. From questioning his place in the Israeli army to choosing conversion, and from October 7 to creating music that brings light to others, his path is anything but typical. And just when he let go of the idea of love… it found him. A conversation about purpose, peoplehood, and the moments that quietly reshape a life.

Should you hide your gray hair? When do you tell someone you’ve been married twice? And how do you stay open and playful without getting hurt? In this unfiltered Q&A, Aleeza Ben Shalom takes on the questions people usually dance around: confidence, timing, emotional risk, and the patterns that quietly sabotage dating. Honest, practical, and a little uncomfortable in the best way, this episode is about dating with clarity, courage, and self-respect.

He’s not a traditional matchmaker, but he's but he’s been bringing people and food together for over 20 years. In this episode, Aleeza Ben Shalom sits down with Joseph Gitler, founder of Leket Israel, the country’s largest food rescue organization. What started as late-night food pickups became a nationwide network connecting surplus to need and people to purpose. From wartime pivots after October 7 to volunteers who found community, aliyah, and even love along the way, this conversation is about impact, connection, and the unexpected ways giving back can change your life.

They both said no at first… and now they’re married. In this episode, Aleeza Ben Shalom sits down with Yaakov and Tehila Zimmerman to share the unlikely path that led from reluctant introductions to marriage just 20 weeks later. Along the way: reserve duty after October 7, a first date that ended in a bomb shelter, and a three-day Rosh Hashanah that made them realize something real was unfolding. A story that proves sometimes the opportunities you almost pass on are the ones that change your life.

What happens when you open your home and it turns into a global community? In this episode, Aleeza Ben Shalom sits down with Jodi Samuels, founder of JIC, whose journey began with hosting 36 international students for Rosh Hashanah just weeks after moving to New York. That one meal grew into a worldwide network helping Jews far from home find belonging. From raising a daughter with Down syndrome to building meaningful experiences and lifelong connections, Jodi shares how choosing purpose over mediocrity can transform a life… and an entire community.

Is it real interest or just attraction? In this Q&A episode, Aleeza Ben Shalom answers the dating questions that feel hardest to decode: long-distance beginnings, mismatched religious levels, and those awkward fiancé phone calls where the conversation stalls. She shares why slowing down physical connection can clarify everything, how to navigate faith differences with honesty, and what it means to take responsibility for the energy you want in a relationship. Practical, grounded, and real, this episode will help you stop guessing and start dating with clarity.

What happens when two people almost say no? In this powerful episode, Aleeza Ben Shalom sits down with Rabbi Leo Dee and his wife, Aliza, to talk about grief, healing, and second love. After losing his wife and two daughters in a terror attack, Rabbi Leo began exploring what it takes to move forward without leaving the past behind. At the same time, Aliza was facing her own crossroads - tempted to return to something familiar but only 60% aligned, and choosing instead to say yes to the unknown. From a lonely Shabbat to reluctant first dates and radical honesty, this conversation is about faith, resilience, and choosing to build again - slowly, intentionally, and together.

What if the biggest threat to your relationship isn’t your partner - but your fear? In this honest conversation, Aleeza Ben Shalom sits down with communication expert Elana Israel to explore why smart, self-aware people keep repeating the same relationship patterns. From people-pleasing and fear of conflict to learning how to sit with uncomfortable emotions, this episode offers practical tools and real-life insight to help you identify the fear running the show and relate more honestly to yourself and others. A powerful listen for anyone who wants healthier connection, not just better communication.

What is love? In this rich, thought-provoking conversation, Aleeza Ben Shalom sits down with Rabbi Nir Menussi to explore love, intimacy, and commitment through a Jewish and mystical lens. From the idea of God as the third presence in a relationship, to why self-acceptance matters more than self-love, to how faith plays a role when certainty disappears, this episode invites you into a deeper way of thinking about dating and marriage. A soulful, grounding listen for anyone seeking meaning - not just chemistry.

What do you do when someone seems interested but won’t say it clearly? When does “having standards” start feeling more like a wall than a boundary? Should you move cities for the chance at love — or stay rooted where you are? In this Q&A episode, Aleeza Ben Shalom tackles the dating questions that live in the gray areas: unclear communication, mismatched styles, and the fine line between real needs and neediness. Direct, compassionate, and deeply practical, this episode helps bring clarity where dating usually feels confusing.

What does building community teach us about love, leadership, and loneliness? In this episode, Aleeza Ben Shalom sits down with David Siegel, former CEO of Meetup, to talk about the loneliness epidemic, trust, and the hard lessons that come from ambition, failure, and growth. From why Meetup was born after 9/11, to the leadership mistake that cost him his job, to how the same principles apply to dating, this conversation is about making choices from love instead of fear.

Danielle Yablonka didn’t set out to be a pageant girl — or a spokesperson. Yet here she is: Miss Herzliya, Israel advocate, and young Jewish woman figuring out love in real time. In this thoughtful conversation, Aleeza Ben Shalom and Danielle talk dating, values, aliyah, and what matters when the spotlight fades. From losing modeling opportunities to finding deeper meaning, from Gen-Z hasbara to what she actually wants in a partner, this episode is about choosing substance over surface.

After unimaginable loss, Rav Doron Perez chose connection over collapse. In this deeply moving episode, Aleeza Ben Shalom speaks with the Rav Doron, the Chair of World Mizrachi and President of WZO, about grief, marriage, and what it means to truly see another person. From how couples survive heartbreak, to why empathy requires letting others grieve differently, to the radical idea that pain can unite rather than divide, this conversation is raw, wise, and unexpectedly hopeful. A powerful reminder that even after October 7, building love, unity, and Jewish future still matters.

You asked, Aleeza answered. In this Q&A episode, Aleeza Ben Shalom takes on the real dating questions you've been DMing — the messy, complicated, no-easy-answer ones. Should you move in when he’s just been laid off but you’re emotionally invested? What do you do when values and chemistry align, but your personalities move at totally different speeds? When is the right time to share something as personal as a mastectomy? And how do you know if you’re actually ready to date? This is honest guidance for real life, not dating theory.

What happens when you stop chasing the finish line and start trusting the run? In this episode, Aleeza Ben Shalom speaks with Beatie Deutsch, Israeli national champion, “Marathon Mother,” and Olympic hopeful, about resilience, faith, and releasing control. From running for Israel under the threat of antisemitism to redefining success beyond medals and timelines, Beatie shares how pacing, presence, and purpose shape both racing and relationships. A powerful reminder that sometimes the real victory isn’t the outcome – it’s staying in the race.

When influencers lost their livelihoods for standing with Israel, Brian stepped up. In this inspiring episode, Aleeza Ben Shalom talks with Brian Spivak, founder of Barzel Media, the “business matchmaker” connecting pro-Israel creators with brands that share their values. A dad of two who just turned 40 and is looking for his match, Brian is loving Jewish life in Tel Aviv — where all the cool people (and the best dad jokes) live. With humor, heart, and a deep belief in good communication, he reminds us that even when you’re scared… you can still show up.

What began as a promise on her husband’s hospital bed became a nationwide matchmaking mission. In this episode, Aleeza Ben Shalom talks with Tzippi Shechet, founder of Points of Contact,the grassroots network helping Anglos in Israel (and beyond!) find love and belonging. Together they explore faith, resilience, and why sometimes, finding your match means thinking way outside the box. Because in the end, one connection can change everything.

This episode goes everywhere you secretly hope a Q&A will. From reaching out to someone you met 15 years ago, to whether you should date without instant attraction, to healing after a complicated divorce, to setting early-dating boundaries that actually work… we cover the questions people are really asking. Aleeza even clears the air on her viral height-gap moment. It’s vulnerable, practical, and a little provocative — the kind of conversation that leaves you thinking, I need more of this.

What happens when a matchmaker meets a storyteller who finds light in the darkest moments? In this episode, Aleeza Ben Shalom talks with Rabbi Dov Lipman, former Knesset member, founder of Yad L’Olim, and author of The Magic in the Tragic. Together, they explore the stories that lift our nation, the faith that holds us together, and how even in chaos, the Jewish people keep finding love and building families.

From Tel Aviv to Kansas City, Shana Tibi has seen it all - long-distance love stories, second-chance matches, and ambitious singles finally finding their person. Aleeza Ben Shalom sits down with the founder of Shana Connects to talk about what really makes a great dater, why strategy matters more than swiping, and how October 7 sparked a renewed desire to marry Jewish. Equal parts behind-the-scenes insight and practical advice, this episode is a masterclass in modern love.

When love for people becomes a mission, matchmaking and Shabbat meet in the most beautiful way. In this heart-warming episode, Aleeza Ben Shalom sits down with Rabbi Benzion Klatzko of Shabbat.com, the platform that’s connected over a million Jews to Shabbat tables in 234 countries, to talk about faith, relationships, and legacy. From couples who met on Shabbat.com (including his own kids!) to “Shabbat as my date with God,” this conversation is full of laughter, legacy, and light — proving that Judaism isn’t just a religion… it’s the ultimate relationship.