Sharing is Caring

By Dr. Limor Blockman
Published on April 17, 2013

Bali Bargains? (video)

By Lisa Niver Rajna
Published on July 24, 2012

Ten Tweets to Avoid That Will Ruin Relationships

By Tamara Shayne Kagel
Published on April 27, 2012

Ten Ways to Distinguish Yourself From a Hooker

By Tamara Shayne Kagel
Published on February 22, 2012

And We’re Back…

By Tamara Shayne Kagel
Published on January 24, 2012

Is He My Soul Mate or Just a Good Mate?

By Tamara Shayne Kagel
Published on September 15, 2011

Steve P.

Published on May 24, 2011

Steve is extremely complimentary to women. They find him charming, even if the rest of us want to puke listening to accolades so saccharine. He’s an old-school charmer in the way that American men aren’t anymore. He’s like that Italian guy you meet in Rome who offers to take you on a private tour of the Colosseum because “a beautiful American girl shouldn’t be traveling alone.” The guys roll their eyes and then can’t understand how the girl actually jumps on the back of his Vespa. But she does. And we should all take note.

Jami R.

Published on May 17, 2011

Although I’ve met Jami, 39, a few times over the years, it’s generally been when I’ve been auditioning, as an actor, for her, a casting director. And you can’t really get to know someone when you’re nervously reading for a part you want to book. So I was excited to turn the tables on her and ask her out on a date … a date for my single peeps.

The Currency of Flirting

By Tamara Shayne Kagel
Published on March 3, 2011

The swing of things

By Mrs. Shoshana F
Published on June 6, 2008

Let’s stay together

By Mrs. Shoshana F
Published on March 6, 2008

The Connector

By Amy Klein
Published on November 8, 2007

But they can't give me credit -- only God can. It says if you make three successful shidduchim, three matches, you automatically go to heaven. And this High Holy Day season I was thinking that I'd really like an automatic pass. ("Go directly to heaven. Do not pass hell; do not collect $200.) Three should be easy enough. I meet so many guys who just because they aren't for me doesn't mean they wouldn't be good for someone. What if this is my purpose in life? What if the point of my meeting so many people is to serve as what Malcolm Gladwell, in his book, "The Tipping Point," calls "The connector?" I feel heady with possibilities.

A match made in D.C.?

Published on February 8, 2007

One of the primary reasons many groups give for the limited availability of premarital counseling programming is the lack of available funding.

Majority Rules

By Amy Klein
Published on January 25, 2007

Let me state for the record: I am a trendsetter.

This just in, according to no less an authority than The New York Times. Based on their most recent census analysis, more American women are living without a husband than with one.

Rabbinical marriage counseling works—up to a point

By Marc Ballon
Published on October 5, 2006

Although rabbis can play a positive role in brokering a reconciliation in couples with relatively minor problems, they are generally ill-equipped, both educationally and often temperamentally, to grapple with spousal abuse, depression, bullying and other serious issues that can destroy marriages and souls.

Book review: The Divorce Lawyers’ Guide

Published on October 5, 2006

Author and former practicing attorney Wendy Jaffe has written an interesting and illuminating work called, "The Divorce Lawyers' Guide to Staying Married."

Marriage Conversion Rate Proves Low

By Rachel Silverman
Published on June 1, 2006

Fewer than one-fifth of non-Jews who marry Jews convert to Judaism, according to a new study distributed by the American Jewish Committee.

Conservatives Focus on Intermarrieds

By Sue Fishkoff
Published on June 1, 2006

Stephen Lachter didn't know what to expect when a friend dragged him to a men's club meeting at his Conservative synagogue five years ago.

"My father was in a men's club, and to me, it was guys sitting around playing pinochle and volunteer ushering," he admitted.

Lachter was surprised to see "interesting people having serious discussions," and he "fell into a session on kiruv," or outreach, to intermarried families. "I said to myself, this is something shuls need to be talking about."

Singles - Imperfect One and Only

By Annie Korzen
Published on February 9, 2006

I have a friend who answered one of these "too-good-to-be-true" ads. They met for brunch and she knew right away it wasn't going to work out because he glanced at the menu and then said, "So, do you want to split an order of toast?"

He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Dated

By Amy Klein
Published on November 24, 2005

I met Dan a few weeks ago at an awesome party downtown. It was held on the entire floor of an industrial building on Spring Street, where a dozen or so artists were showing their work -- mostly photographs and paintings but with a couple of jewelry and clothing designers interspersed. The lighting and the ceilings were low in a way that made everyone look more scintillating than they might in a retro basement bar in Santa Monica. Of course, it could have been the flutes of wine or the chocolate truffles. Or could it really have been Dan?

How to Keep Your Love Alive

By Ellie Kahn
Published on November 3, 2005

Couples who have created a partnership and life together consistently talk of the effort involved. Yes, some relationships seem easier than others, but all say it takes time, energy and a true willingness to face whatever comes along on their journey together.

Wedding Bell Oops!

By Carin Davis
Published on October 27, 2005

Canceling a wedding has become that common these days. Just because a couple gets engaged, doesn't mean that they'll get married. It just means they've registered at Macy's.

Thy Name Is Too Wrong

By Teresa Strasser
Published on June 30, 2005

Love is a beautiful thing. That is, unless it happens to a couple of excessively famous people whose affair we can no longer stand.

Dead Right

By Rabbi Steven Z. Leder
Published on February 24, 2005

I met Bob and Susie at the end of a float plane trip deep in the Alaskan wilderness. Most of the year they live on a 40-foot boat surrounded by nothing but forest and water.

Why the Web Wins

By Mark Miller
Published on February 17, 2005

I know you're not gonna believe this, but before Internet dating sites, couples actually used to meet "offline" -- out in public -- often by chance: at parties, dances, supermarkets, museums, bookstores. No, really! But like the Tyrannosaurus rex, the Edsel automobile and Steven Segal's career, offline dating is seemingly on its way to extinction. Oh, sure, a few couples occasionally meet offline, as God intended, in the course of their daily lives, much like our pioneer ancestors, but they're just lucky and we resent them. Just because they didn't have to pay $25 a month, post a photo, write a profile and proceed to meet hundreds of people with whom they felt less chemistry than Dick Cheney and Barbra Streisand on a tunnel of love ride, must they rub their joy in our faces?

More and more singles are meeting via Internet dating sites. There's gotta be a reason for that.

Interfaith Couples ‘Prepare’ for Bliss

By Michael Jackman
Published on February 10, 2005

The rose-colored glasses often worn by couples headed for the bimah can easily hide some relationship blemishes. So when the glasses come off after the honeymoon, the new vision of the future can be a bit shocking.

To Tree or Not to Tree

By Seth Menachem
Published on December 16, 2004

For the first time in my adult life I'm dating a Jewish girl.

Her father's Catholic -- an Italian -- but according to my

rabbi, "She's all good."

(Maybe he didn't use those exact words, but something to that effect.)

Carrie and I bicker but never have any real fights; that is not until Christmastime. She was raised with Christmas in her house. Chanukah was a pool they may have dipped their toes into out of some traditional obligation, but it was Christmas that they jumped into cannonball style.

Getting Married? Get ‘Creative’

By Sonja Hyams
Published on December 9, 2004

"The Creative Jewish Wedding Book" by Gabrielle Kaplan-Mayer helps couples tap into their creativity and design the wedding that really suits them. Kaplan-Mayer inspires readers to honor their own comfort level of style, taste, emotional and financial resources and Jewish observance.

No Rush

By Seth Menachem
Published on October 21, 2004

Lately it seems as if everyone I know is interested in me getting married. In fact, the person pressuring me the least is my girlfriend, Carrie.

Teshuvah for Two

By Carin Davis
Published on September 23, 2004

There's nothing more romantic than a cantor's serenade, a symphony of grumbling stomachs, and an oversized sheet of dry honey cake.

Same-Sex Marriage Poses Key Questions

By Sandy Frank
Published on July 8, 2004

I can't prove that allowing same-sex marriage would be bad for society.

Looking for Ms. Wrong

By Glenn M. Gottlieb
Published on June 3, 2004

A good friend of mine got married a couple of months ago to the wrong guy. The thing is, I think they're going to last a long time.

My friend, "Karen," is a top administrative officer for a government agency. She hired this lawyer, Joe, to do some outside legal work for the agency. He was living with someone at the time, and he wasn't her "type" anyway. No problem: no chemistry, no conflict.

Karen and Joe worked together peacefully for more than four years. They got to be good friends on strictly a professional level. All was fine.

After 45 Years,

By Marilyn Zeitlin
Published on May 13, 2004

Berkeley, 1959. The Berkeley Gazette announced the marriage of two students at Temple Beth El.

Enjoy Wedded Bliss in Lotus Position

By Alison Ashton
Published on November 13, 2003

Not every couple's notion of the ideal honeymoon entails a hedonistic beach resort and lots of fruity drinks garnished with umbrellas. Some want to begin married life with yoga.

Some couples pursue tantric yoga, a form that includes a tranquil sexuality, in hopes of creating a powerful union of mind, body and spirit. The Institute for Ecstatic Living -- (877) 982-6872; www.ecstaticliving.com -- organizes tantric vacations to Costa Rica, Hawaii and cruise getaways.

The Guy Clock

By Carin Davis
Published on November 13, 2003

Ryan and I did the L.A. supercasual thing for six or seven months. When I tried to rev up our relationship from supercasual to just plain casual, he freaked. I'm talking full-on, take-it-to-Dr. Phil meltdown:

Romancing the Industry

By Tom Teicholz
Published on August 28, 2003

Los Angeles is often depicted as a hedonist's pleasure palace adorned with beauty and perfumed by sex.

Love and Loyalty

By Lia del Sesto
Published on May 22, 2003

We would always say that we were the ambassadors of love and happiness, causing people to smile as they passed by us, the chemistry almost touchable.

Wingman Wanted

By Carin Davis
Published on November 14, 2002

Oh where, oh where did my single friends go? Seems the chicks in my clique are all dating, married or hauling around gargantuan diamonds.

Hit the Road, Jeff

By J.D. Smith
Published on March 28, 2002

I have heard people refer to the process of meeting someone as "the dating minefield."

A Belated Wedding Present

By Nancy Sokoler Steiner
Published on March 12, 1998

The ad caught our eye: an all-expense paid Shabbat weekend at the Brandeis-Bardin Institute for couples married withinthe past 18 months. I had been to Brandeis before, so I knew that, if nothing else, my husband, Neal, and I would experience a tranquil Shabbat in a beautiful setting.