If you're single and ready to mingle, you're bound to find others interested in a meet-cute. But depending dating where you are in the world and the cultural norms at play, the dating vibes can differ quite a bit. When it comes to dating in the United States versus Israel, for example, the focus on family sets the two apart, according to Aleeza Ben Shalomthe resident matchmaker on Netflix's new series "Jewish Women.
Ben Shalom, an Orthodox Jew, lives in Israel with her husband and five children, but is from Philadelphia, Women and lived in the United States when she was single. She also launched her international matchmaking and date-coaching services in while living stateside. Though Jews in both the United States and Israel have diverse religious and cultural traditions, Israelis in their twenties tend to be more family-focused than American singles of the same age who act more independently, Ben Shalom told Insider. Dating to Ben Shalom, twenty-something singles in Israel tend to be more "motivated" to get married women an end goal in dating.
She said that there are plenty of secular non-religious people living in Israel. But since the culture is so israeli, most people want to settle down with a lifetime "israeli" regardless of their religious beliefs, Ben Shalom said.
In the United States, here singles are more likely to value independence over getting married and starting a family, Ben Shalom said.
On average, American women get married at almost 29 and American men get married at about 30, according to the latest US Census Bureau data from She said that she's notice a larger focus on personal hookup bars chicago in the US, with young people prioritizing their careers, financial independence, and the ability to live away from family.
She added that there are plenty of older singles in Israel too, like widows and divorced people, who she's successfully helped find a second marriage partner. Since young Israeli singles are more likely to make a concerted effort to get married, the dating process usually moves along more quickly, according to Dating Shalom. In Israeli, if someone is serious about marriage and meets someone they like, the wedding process can be quick, Ben Shalom said.
Israeli Dating Website
There, it's normal for someone to introduce their israeli to their parents within a couple of weeks of dating, she said.
Sharon Feiereisen, a freelance writer who splits her time between the US and Israel, wrote that she also noticed how meeting the parents can here over a period of weeksrather than months, in Israel.
According to Ben Shalom, it wouldn't be unheard of for a couple to meet, go on 10 dates, get engaged, and get married three months later in Israel. Close icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'.
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Become an Insider and start reading now. Have an account? Log in. Aleeza Ben Shalom, an American matchmaker based in Israel, sets up clients across the globe, with a large base in the US. Shalom said there are key differences to dating in Israel versus the US because of family-related cultural norms. In Israel, young singles are more focused on marriage and introduce israeli partners to parents after a couple of weeks.
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