There's nothing more frustrating than an unsuccessful first date. After investing in your appearance, dealing with traffic, and spending money, you meet someone who isn't right for you and waste precious time that you'll never get back. "Shlish Gan Eden" (One-Third Paradise), a dating site for traditional and observant Jews, recently launched video dating – online speed dates where users can meet potential partners without leaving their homes.

"Speed dating events are based on the idea that you can tell whether someone is right for you within a short time. Studies have found that within just three seconds, you can feel the energy and get that first impression from the other person to understand if they might be 'the one,'" says Assaf Navon, CEO of Shlish Gan Eden.

"Using an AI-based system and user activity on the site, we can identify profiles that users have liked and suggest speed date matches with them."

The service offers conversations with six people in one evening, all with good compatibility potential. If there's a connection, users can proceed to meet in person, saving heartache, time, and money on matches that weren't meant to be.

Each week, the site hosts a video speed dating event with a limited number of singles. Participation is open to registered site members and requires no special software.

After entering the event, users see a list of their dates on the side. Each private video conversation lasts six minutes, with two-minute breaks between dates.

If there's mutual interest and agreement between both parties, the system will exchange phone numbers. "After a video conversation, there's a better chance the date will start with confidence. From there, the path to a happy relationship is much faster," Navon concludes.

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The world is conflicted on many subjects, but a sole worldwide consensus exists – dating in 2024 is hard. As if Valentine's Day isn't enough, Tu B'Av – the Jewish holiday of love, is right around the corner to remind us yet again of the mission impossible that is dating, highlighting how much we crave love. 

With dating apps dominating the world, romance has thrown in the towel. Spontaneous meet-cutes have been replaced with doom-scrolling through a catalog of potential partners, hoping to become part of the statistics of those lucky matches that lead to a lifetime of happiness. Don't get me wrong, I have no complaints about living in the 2000s, but it made me ponder how people searched for love back in the day.

It was a well-known Tu B'Av tradition for women, dressed in white, flowers adorning their heads, to dance as part of a match-making festival to find a love interest. While it would be more fitting in 2024 if all genders participated, I focus on this tradition's emphasis on joy, face-to-face communication, and connection – elements our society currently lacks.

The absence of a human connection beyond smartphone screens is so prominent, that in Israel, the Tel Aviv Municipality itself intervened and initiated a singles event for the Israeli crowd, especially for Tu B'Av. When your family sets you up on a date, you know the situation is dire. But when the government steps in? it is a whole lot worse. 

Although times are different and late singlehood doesn't make you an old maid, and although celebrating a "Galentines Day" is quite fun, the truth catches up with you eventually – nothing replaces a true love bond. As tacky as it sounds, whether we care to admit it or not, we would much rather await a sweet surprise celebration from our partner. The only problem is – no one is willing to dance freely in the fields. 

It seems we'd rather keep our options open, even when we like someone, always believing a better version might come along. So many opportunities are missed due to a shallow impression of a mere photo with a caption, mainly aimed at impressing rather than showcasing your true self. This loop traps millions worldwide, causing them to give up on dating or love itself. We've become unable to form live connections or take leaps of faith, fearing rejection – causing us to conform to meaningless relationships as no one is ever deemed "good enough." 

In this old-new tradition of celebrating Tu B'Av, we can choose to make these modern times simpler times. Whether at a municipality-planned event or not, we can give a raw conversation a chance, trust our gut, and become a little conservative perhaps – explore our options while being careful enough not to overlook a treasure. 

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Young adults and influencers are ditching dating apps in favor of in-person activities like running clubs, sports leagues, gyms, and pickleball courts to find emotionally mature partners ready for commitment. These activities provide opportunities for socializing, flirting, and meeting potential partners through shared interests and a friendly, competitive atmosphere.

Pickleball Dating is an app co-founded by Jyl Steinback that helps pickleball players find love, friends, or potential partners who share their passion for the sport. The app allows users to connect based on interests and location.

Pickleball courts in New York City, particularly on Houston and Sixth Avenue, as well as James J Walker Park and Pier 2 in Dumbo, have become hotspots for Gen Zs and millennials to play, socialize, and potentially find love. The small court size and casual vibe allow for chatting and flirting between games.

Running clubs like the Lunge Run Club in Manhattan have seen a surge in attendance, with some attracting over 400 attendees, as singles seek opportunities to meet potential partners through shared interests and post-workout socializing.

Couples like Yael and Emma, Danielle and her boyfriend, and Maureen and Daphne (who met playing kickball) have found romance through sports like pickleball and kickball.

While some individuals are skeptical about dating workout partners due to potential fallouts affecting their shared gym experiences, others actively seek out new pickleball courts, tournaments, and singles nights organized by sports leagues and clubs to meet potential partners.

Sources: The Cut, New York Post, phoenix.org

This article was written in collaboration with Generative AI news company Alchemiq.

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The host of the Netflix hit dating show "Jewish Matchmaking," which reflects the pursuit of love in an entertaining and relatable way, discussed her time on the show and revealed secrets for singles in an interview with i24NEWS.

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Shimon Hayut, the man who was accused of defrauding women he met through the Tinder dating app, has provided his first interview since the debut of the show Netflix show about him, "The Tinder Swindler". 

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During the interview with Inside Edition, in which used his alternative name Simon Leviev, he denied any wrongdoing. "I was just a single guy that wanted to meet some girls on Tinder," he told the online US outlet. "I am not a Tinder Swindler," he added.

Speaking alongside his girlfriend, Hayut also insisted that he would never disrespect women. "I'm the biggest gentleman in the world," he claimed. 

Hayut has recently claimed through an agent that he would reveal evidence that would debunk the allegations against him.

Hayut, who was convicted and sentenced to 15 months in prison for his actions, was released after five months, but his victims have won widespread sympathy in the wake of the release of the Netflix show and have even begun a crowdfunding campaign to get back their funds.

The interview triggered a backlash online with users slamming his attempt to clear his name. "He deserves to rot in jail!," one user angry wrote.

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Has the COVID pandemic changed people's priorities? The answer, of course, is "yes."

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A new study conducted in Britain in February 2021, seven months after the country instated a mask mandate for public spaces, found that women were more attracted to men wearing masks than to men with their faces exposed.

The results of the study, which have yet to undergo the peer review process, indicate that women's perception of what constitutes attractiveness in men has changed completely, since a similar study from Japan, conducted prior to the pandemic in 2016, found that woman were significantly more attracted to men whose faces were exposed than to men wearing face masks.

The lead researcher on the team was Dr. Michael Lewis of Cardiff University. Lewis' team took a group of 43 female students who looked at 40 faces of conventionally attractive men. The women were asked to rate how attractive they found each man, some of whom were wearing surgical masks in accordance with COVID regulations, some of whom were wearing surgical masks incorrectly, and some of whom were pictured without masks at all.

The men whose pictures showed them correctly wearing surgical masks were ranked the most attractive.

Lewis said he was not surprised by the results, noting that in the pre-pandemic Japanese study, women associated men in masks with illness. But today, he said, masks were associated with calm and protection, leading the women to feel more attraction to and sympathy with the men wearing masks.

The university plans to run a similar study to see whether or not men were more attracted to women wearing masks.

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A new Jewish dating app called LEV (Hebrew for "heart") is now available to help members bypass the fatigue often associated with traditional apps, the company announced this week. 

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LEV (Hebrew for "heart") seeks to help users narrow down options so they can make the best choice possible by providing members with access to a curated community of potential matches without the hassle of sifting through hundreds of profiles. 

The app does away with swipes or likes, replacing them with what it calls "intentional introductions." 

A statement from LEV cites studies that have shown that after a certain point, having too many options on dating apps becomes counterproductive – turning them into a source of regret, missed opportunities, and unrealistic expectations. 

With LEV, a new user fills out an application that has to be approved by curators. Upon approval, the app will sift through its database and offer the user suitable matches. If both members show interest in each other, a match is created and the two are allowed to exchange a limited number of messages. 

LEV's founder was inspired to create the app by the COVID pandemic, which restricted social gatherings and caused her to rely more on traditional dating apps, which left her dissatisfied.  

The founder shared her frustration with friends, and quickly realized many people felt the same way. 

LEV's founder then set up a website and mentioned the app's core principles and innovative services. Within weeks, the website was flooded with interest. LEV's Instagram account has accumulated over 50,000 comments and likes in a single month. 

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Not sure what to order on a first date? The latest poll by popular dating site OkCupid reveals meal choices "guaranteed" to make your date happy.

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If there is anything Israelis love, it is good food. But what would that look in practice, especially since going on a first date is stressful enough as it is?

According to data, Italian food is the safest bet, with 56% of users having chosen this type of cuisine over Thai, Mexican or Indian food. When asked to choose between pizza and sushi, a slight majority (58%) chose the Italian staple food over the Japanese dish.

If the couple-to-be are in a mood for a burger in Tel Aviv, they should visit Eyal Shani's The Dirty, which 50% of poll participants chose as the city's best burger place. Moses received 23% of the vote and SUSU 12%.

Unsurprisingly, 17% of poll participants were vegetarian or vegan, so it is always a good idea to make sure the restaurant has plenty of plant-based options as well. If the first date takes place at McDonalds, best not to order your date a Happy Meal, as 70% reported they would never order a meal designed for children.

Vegetarian or carnivore, most Israelis (70%) share a love for spicy food: 13% said they liked it extra spicy, 49% preferred moderately spicy, and 32% liked food only a little bit spicy.

If the singles are looking for a snack rather than a whole meal, they should opt for the famous Bamba peanut snack, which 68% of participants said they preferred over the wheat snack Bissli.

If going on a picnic, it would not hurt to bag a few sweets as well, as 65% of Israelis said they preferred sweet over salty, with only 6% not liking sweets at all.

In terms of drinks, 41% of Israelis said they would be happy with beer, with only 18% not drinking this beverage at all; 48% said they like all alcoholic drinks and only 29% said there were drinks they never consume. With regard to coffee, 30% said they loved the world's most ubiquitous drink, and only 22% said they did not drink it at all.

Wondering what your date would think of sharing a meal? In the poll, 79% of participants said they would not mind, 14% said they would only mind in the beginning, and 7% were not fond of the idea.

As for double-dipping one's food, 32% said they do not like it; another 32% would only be comfortable to do so when sharing a meal with family or friends; and 23% would only do so when sharing a meal with a partner.

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