Nothing can sour a relationship like arguing over where to live, especially when one partner wants to live in the United States and the other wants to move to Israel. For aliyah-minded singles, this major difference can put a damper on the search for love.
To address the problem, Nefesh B’Nefesh has joined forces with Jewish dating site SawYouAtSinai to create SeeYouInIsrael, a site specifically geared toward singles seriously considering aliyah. The site allows singles living abroad as well as in Israel to join a common dating network of potential suitors interested in living in Israel.
“We’ve noticed for a few years already that people who are interested in making aliyah actually have a hard time making the move because of wanting to find a spouse or partner who wants to make the move as well,” said Yael Katsman, a spokeswoman for Nefesh B’Nefesh. “We hope this site will help them expedite their plans and make it easier for them.”
For Alita Mandel, a 23-year-old accountant from Elizabeth, N.J., finding somebody with a similar passion for Israel has been tough. She is leaving today to start her new life in the Jewish state and she plans to sign up for SeeYouInIsrael after she’s settled.
“Having common ground with other olim would be something I’d look for,” she said.
