Aleeza Ben Shalom is an American–Israeli matchmaker, relationship coach, author, and reality television personality. She is prominently featured in the Netflix series Jewish Matchmaking,[1][2][3] which follows her attempts at helping Jewish singles in the United States and Israel find love and get married.[4][5]

Aleeza Bracha Ben Shalom
Born
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Alma materUniversity of Pittsburgh
Occupation(s)Matchmaker, relationship coach, and television personality
Known forAppearance on Netflix's Jewish Matchmaking
Websitemarriagemindedmentor.com

Matchmaking and relationship coaching

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In 2012 Shalom founded Marriage Minded Mentor, a global service that provides matchmaking, dating coaching, matchmaker training, dating courses online and pairs Jewish singles with relationship coaches to help them circumvent the hurdles of modern dating.[6] In 2022, the company expanded their services by partnering with JMatchmaking, the Jewish dating service founded by Montreal-based rabbi, Yisroel Bernath.[7]  Over the years, Ben Shalom has successfully paired over 200 Jewish singles get married.[8][9][10][11]

On March 30, 2023, Netflix announced that, on May 3 of that year, they would be releasing Jewish Matchmaking which follows Ben Shalom in her role as matchmaker, meeting Jewish singles in both the United States and Israel to help them find a life partner.[12] The show forms part of the Netflix Matchmaking Universe and was produced by the creators of their hit series Indian Matchmaking.[13]

Authorship and media

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In 2013 Shalom published Get Real Get Married, which focuses on helping singles find their soulmate through intense self-reflection and assessment of values.[14]  In 2020, she published Virtual Dating: Your Guide to a Relationship in a Socially Distanced World, which grappled with the challenges that singles were facing during the COVID-19 pandemic in their journey to find love.[15]  

In December 2022 Shalom began a weekly podcast "Matchmaker, Matchmaker" with Rabbi Yisroel Bernath, where they discuss dating, love, and matchmaking.[16] She started another podcast in March 2023, called The Yentas, which she co-hosts with fellow matchmakers Michal Naisteter and Danielle Selber, answering listener questions about dating.[17]

In 2017 she was featured on season 1, episode 5 of the American Jewish comedy series, Soon By You.

She is a featured columnist for Aish,[18]  and has published articles in both the HuffPost and The Times of Israel. She has also been featured on NPR and BBC World News.

Personal life

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Ben Shalom was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.[19][20][21] She holds a bachelor's degree in interdisciplinary studies from the University of Pittsburgh.[22] In an interview with the Jewish Journal, Ben Shalom shared that she does not own a television.[23]

In 2021 Shalom moved to Pardes-Hanna, Israel, with her husband, five children, and family dog, Koda the Kelev.[24]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Mangan, Lucy (May 3, 2023). "Jewish Matchmaking review – proof that if you want a date, you should ask your mum". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved May 9, 2023.
  2. ^ Delbyck, Cole. "Be a Mensch and Tune into 'Jewish Matchmaking' This May". Netflix Tudum. Retrieved May 9, 2023.
  3. ^ Jeffrey, Joyann (May 10, 2023). "'Jewish Matchmaking' star Aleeza Ben Shalom says she has the hardest job in the world". TODAY.com. Retrieved May 22, 2023.
  4. ^ Trainor, Daniel (March 30, 2023). "Jewish Matchmaking: Get a First Look at Your New Netflix Obsession". E! Online. Retrieved May 1, 2023.
  5. ^ Frick, Evelyn (May 3, 2023). "'Jewish Matchmaking' Star Aleeza Ben Shalom Wants You to Find Your Person". Hey Alma. Retrieved May 9, 2023.
  6. ^ "Aleeza Ben Shalom". LinkedIn. Retrieved May 1, 2023.
  7. ^ "Matchmaking". Aleeza Ben Shalom. Retrieved May 1, 2023.
  8. ^ The SportsGrail (April 4, 2023). "Who Is Aleeza Ben Shalom dating coach on Jewish Matchmaking, bio, Instagram and Twitter". The SportsGrail. Retrieved May 1, 2023.
  9. ^ Staff, Ajn. "Matchmaker, matchmaker… it's a date". www.australianjewishnews.com. Retrieved May 1, 2023.
  10. ^ "A Jewish matchmaker with more than 200 weddings under her belt says singles need 'clarity' to find their soulmates". Business Insider. Retrieved May 9, 2023.
  11. ^ Witter, Brad (May 3, 2023). "'Jewish Matchmaking' Could Replicate The Success Of 'Indian Matchmaking'". Bustle. Retrieved May 9, 2023.
  12. ^ Cole, Delbyck. "Be a Mensch and Tune into 'Jewish Matchmaking' This May". Netflix Tudum. Retrieved May 1, 2023.
  13. ^ Wynne, Kelly. "Netflix Announces Jewish Matchmaking Spinoff After Success of Indian Matchmaking Series". People. Retrieved May 1, 2023.
  14. ^ ThriftBooks. "Aleeza Ben Shalom Books | List of books by author Aleeza Ben Shalom". ThriftBooks. Retrieved May 1, 2023.
  15. ^ "Books by Aleeza Ben Shalom (Author of Get Real Get Married)". www.goodreads.com. Retrieved May 1, 2023.
  16. ^ "Matchmaker, Matchmaker on Apple Podcasts". Apple Podcasts. Retrieved May 1, 2023.
  17. ^ "The Yentas". Spotify. Retrieved May 1, 2023.
  18. ^ "Aleeza Ben Shalom - Author at Aish.com". Aish.com. Retrieved May 1, 2023.
  19. ^ Mehrotra, Kriti (May 3, 2023). "Aleeza Ben Shalom: Where is the Jewish Matchmaker Now?". The Cinemaholic. Retrieved May 9, 2023.
  20. ^ Delbyck, Cole. "Your Guide to All the Catches in the 'Jewish Matchmaking' Cast". Netflix Tudum. Retrieved May 9, 2023.
  21. ^ Naftulin, Julia. "The difference between dating in the US and Israel, according to a matchmaker who has worked with couples in both countries". Insider. Retrieved May 22, 2023.
  22. ^ De La Fuente, Susan (November 11, 2021). "The challenges of marriage and dating through COVID". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. Retrieved May 1, 2023.
  23. ^ Or-El, Ayala (May 17, 2023). "Jewish Matchmaking's Aleeza Ben Shalom — The TV Star Who Doesn't Own a TV". Jewish Journal. Retrieved May 22, 2023.
  24. ^ Shalom, Aleeza Ben. "Jewish Matchmaking with Aleeza Ben Shalom is coming to Netflix, May 3!". blogs.timesofisrael.com. Retrieved May 1, 2023.