It’s a right of passage for every Jewish woman when the day comes that she turns into a matchmaker.  Whether by design or just happenstance, ladies, it happens to each of us.  Either someone will seek us out, or we just wont be able to help ourselves!

See the thing about Jewish women is that we know other Jewish women and if you’re lucky, we know attractive Jewish women.  But without a doubt we definitely know single Jewish women. 

So it should not have been a shock to me when an old friend, correction, an old Hebrew school friend, called me the other day to tell me that the time has come to make finding a relationship a priority and that he would appreciate it if I would set him up with someone that he might like.  The only qualifications - she must be Jewish and not in the entertainment industry. (The second being of equal importance, this is LA after all.)  

When I first heard his request I thought it odd for a second.  Yes he and I had spoken of his dating (or lack thereof) woes in the past, but why did he think to call me to set him up?  And then like a flash, I knew.  

He was probably on the phone with his mother ( a lovely Israeli woman I remember from Hebrew school carpools) who predictably asked him if he’s seeing anyone.  (If the answer was yes, she would follow with “Is she Jewish?”)  But when he obviously answered no, there was something a bit more somber in his voice.  Unlike times before, when annoyance would be the undertone, she heard something different this time.  She heard a longing, a lonliness.  It was time, he was ready.  So, like a good Jewish mother, she picked up on this and the rest of the conversation probably sounding a bit like this: 

Nice Israeli Mom
You need to get out there more!  Are you going to Jewish events? Single girls always go to those to find husbands!  
 
Single Son
I went to one.
 
Nice Israeli Mom
What about Lauren, have you asked her to set you up with anyone?  
 
Single Son
No, Mom, I haven’t asked Lauren to set me up!  That’s so dumb!

And soon after he hung up.  But that was not it.  Because of that new longing in his voice, which was really a longing in his heart, he actually thought about what his mother said.  Maybe it was time to “put it out there” more.  He was ready for a relationship in his life and clearly whatever measures he was taking to make that happen weren’t working. 

And then I got a phone call.  The funny thing is he actually left me a message a few weeks ago, and because I was out of town I hadn’t gotten a chance to call him back and he called me again.  But almost instinctively, I knew by that first message what he wanted and it had only said to call him back.  And I think that I was a little intimidated by my new awesome responsibility.

As one might imagine, it is more than a little implied that when setting up two Jews you are not only helping a couple find love, but you are performing a mitzvah, a good deed, in perpetuating our religion for at least one more generation.   And no doubt, if you are successful, others will ask!  Oy!  And what if it doesn’t work out…the “How could you think I would like him?” or “You said she was pretty!”  I’m exhausted just thinking about it!

Many, many factors go into a match, but like an angel getting her wings, it is my time. I did not ask for this, but I accept my destiny.