Swiping Right on Bubbe’s Orders – My Adventures on JDate

Let’s talk about JDate—that magical corner of the internet where your mom’s deepest wish (you meeting a “nice Jewish boy/girl”) gets outsourced to algorithms and profile pictures with just enough forehead showing to leave you curious.

JDate is where Shabbat meets swiping. It's not just a dating app. It's a Jewish mother’s fantasy turned digital. You don’t just find love here—you find someone whose Bubbe uses the same kugel recipe and who won’t question your very passionate opinions about bagels Looking for Jewish Princess - Unisex Softstyle T-Shirt – Oy Vey

First Things First: The Profile

JDate profiles are a work of art. They start with a warm "Shalom!" and end with, "I keep Kosher... except when I don’t." You’ll often find photos featuring:

• A Birthright trip camel pic (required by law)
• A bar mitzvah throwback (with braces)
• At least one photo with Grandma, labelled: "She approves."

And under religious observance, options range from “Orthodox” to “Culturally Jewish but spiritually in a relationship with smoked salmon.”

The First Message Vibes

Forget your typical "Hey" or "U up?"
On JDate, it’s more like:

“Hey! I noticed we both liked Fiddler on the Roof and fear disappointing our parents. Want to grab a lox bagel and discuss generational trauma?”

Flirting on JDate is 10% romance, 90% mutual trauma bonding over Hebrew school.

The Dates

Here’s what I’ve learned:

• You will go on a date with someone who says their “Jewish identity is very important to them” and proceeds to suggest a pork BBQ spot.
• You will meet a guy whose mom FaceTimes during the date “just to say hi.”
• You will meet a girl who asks for your Hebrew name before your actual name.
• You will 100% run into someone from your cousin's wedding.

Also, if the date goes well, you’ll leave with a mezuzah, a playlist of klezmer EDM, and plans to “do Shabbat together next time, maybe invite the moms?”

But Seriously...

JDate is a glorious mess, and we love it for that. It’s the one place where asking “Do you believe in G-d?” doesn’t make you sound weird, and where your love of latkes can actually be considered a love language.

So whether you’re looking for your bashert, a bubbe-approved situationship, or just someone to split a challah with—JDate’s got you covered.

And hey, if it doesn’t work out? There’s always your aunt’s co-worker's nephew’s dentist’s son. She says he’s very nice.

🕍💙 Mazel on the matchmaking journey, and may your next date be free of unsolicited Torah debates and gluten-free kugel. Or not. Depends what you're into.