The Jewish Matchmaker

When grief has nowhere to go, it can turn into something dangerous fast. In this conversation with Aleeza Ben Shalom, Ilana Israel opens up about losing her best friend, carrying a devastating secret, and using drugs to numb the pain until her life unraveled completely. From the streets of Kensington to 12-step recovery, making amends to nearly 40 people, and learning how honesty rebuilds trust, this is a story about addiction, faith, and why real relationships cannot survive without truth.

When fear, chemistry, and timing collide, dating gets real fast. In this episode, Aleeza Ben Shalom tackles the questions people usually wrestle with in private: why we ignore red flags when someone is attractive, what real investment in dating actually looks like, and whether you can want a partner without truly having space for one. She also gets brutally honest about dealbreakers, the fear of ending up alone, and why staying with the wrong person costs far more than starting over. Practical, direct, and deeply relatable, this episode goes right to the heart of modern dating.

He grew up between worlds - Filipino by birth, Israeli by life - until he made a choice that would change everything. In this episode, Aleeza Ben Shalom sits down with singer Howie Danao to explore a journey shaped by identity, faith, and purpose. From questioning his place in the Israeli army to choosing conversion, and from October 7 to creating music that brings light to others, his path is anything but typical. And just when he let go of the idea of love… it found him. A conversation about purpose, peoplehood, and the moments that quietly reshape a life.

He’s not a traditional matchmaker, but he's but he’s been bringing people and food together for over 20 years. In this episode, Aleeza Ben Shalom sits down with Joseph Gitler, founder of Leket Israel, the country’s largest food rescue organization. What started as late-night food pickups became a nationwide network connecting surplus to need and people to purpose. From wartime pivots after October 7 to volunteers who found community, aliyah, and even love along the way, this conversation is about impact, connection, and the unexpected ways giving back can change your life.

What happens when you open your home and it turns into a global community? In this episode, Aleeza Ben Shalom sits down with Jodi Samuels, founder of JIC, whose journey began with hosting 36 international students for Rosh Hashanah just weeks after moving to New York. That one meal grew into a worldwide network helping Jews far from home find belonging. From raising a daughter with Down syndrome to building meaningful experiences and lifelong connections, Jodi shares how choosing purpose over mediocrity can transform a life… and an entire community.

What happens when two people almost say no? In this powerful episode, Aleeza Ben Shalom sits down with Rabbi Leo Dee and his wife, Aliza, to talk about grief, healing, and second love. After losing his wife and two daughters in a terror attack, Rabbi Leo began exploring what it takes to move forward without leaving the past behind. At the same time, Aliza was facing her own crossroads - tempted to return to something familiar but only 60% aligned, and choosing instead to say yes to the unknown. From a lonely Shabbat to reluctant first dates and radical honesty, this conversation is about faith, resilience, and choosing to build again - slowly, intentionally, and together.

What is love? In this rich, thought-provoking conversation, Aleeza Ben Shalom sits down with Rabbi Nir Menussi to explore love, intimacy, and commitment through a Jewish and mystical lens. From the idea of God as the third presence in a relationship, to why self-acceptance matters more than self-love, to how faith plays a role when certainty disappears, this episode invites you into a deeper way of thinking about dating and marriage. A soulful, grounding listen for anyone seeking meaning - not just chemistry.

What does building community teach us about love, leadership, and loneliness? In this episode, Aleeza Ben Shalom sits down with David Siegel, former CEO of Meetup, to talk about the loneliness epidemic, trust, and the hard lessons that come from ambition, failure, and growth. From why Meetup was born after 9/11, to the leadership mistake that cost him his job, to how the same principles apply to dating, this conversation is about making choices from love instead of fear.

After unimaginable loss, Rav Doron Perez chose connection over collapse. In this deeply moving episode, Aleeza Ben Shalom speaks with the Rav Doron, the Chair of World Mizrachi and President of WZO, about grief, marriage, and what it means to truly see another person. From how couples survive heartbreak, to why empathy requires letting others grieve differently, to the radical idea that pain can unite rather than divide, this conversation is raw, wise, and unexpectedly hopeful. A powerful reminder that even after October 7, building love, unity, and Jewish future still matters.

What happens when you stop chasing the finish line and start trusting the run? In this episode, Aleeza Ben Shalom speaks with Beatie Deutsch, Israeli national champion, “Marathon Mother,” and Olympic hopeful, about resilience, faith, and releasing control. From running for Israel under the threat of antisemitism to redefining success beyond medals and timelines, Beatie shares how pacing, presence, and purpose shape both racing and relationships. A powerful reminder that sometimes the real victory isn’t the outcome – it’s staying in the race.

What began as a promise on her husband’s hospital bed became a nationwide matchmaking mission. In this episode, Aleeza Ben Shalom talks with Tzippi Shechet, founder of Points of Contact,the grassroots network helping Anglos in Israel (and beyond!) find love and belonging. Together they explore faith, resilience, and why sometimes, finding your match means thinking way outside the box. Because in the end, one connection can change everything.

What happens when a matchmaker meets a storyteller who finds light in the darkest moments? In this episode, Aleeza Ben Shalom talks with Rabbi Dov Lipman, former Knesset member, founder of Yad L’Olim, and author of The Magic in the Tragic. Together, they explore the stories that lift our nation, the faith that holds us together, and how even in chaos, the Jewish people keep finding love and building families.

When love for people becomes a mission, matchmaking and Shabbat meet in the most beautiful way. In this heart-warming episode, Aleeza Ben Shalom sits down with Rabbi Benzion Klatzko of Shabbat.com, the platform that’s connected over a million Jews to Shabbat tables in 234 countries, to talk about faith, relationships, and legacy. From couples who met on Shabbat.com (including his own kids!) to “Shabbat as my date with God,” this conversation is full of laughter, legacy, and light — proving that Judaism isn’t just a religion… it’s the ultimate relationship.