The Chicago Shidduch Group held their annual Chanukah Melave Malka this past Saturday, December 5, at the home of Aryeh Leib and Rachelle Benjamin. Many Chicago families were represented at the event, which boasted the best turnout since the Shidduch Group began this tradition.

Rabbi Shea Hecht addressed the attendees, speaking honestly on topics not often discussed. He was introduced by Levi Bukiet with a Rebbe story. Local shadchan Rabbi Moishe Raitman gave a Dvar Torah and organized a MadLibs word game. Yale Zimmerman provided musical accompaniment on the piano, playing beautiful niggunim as people arrived. 

YASAHAR KOACH TO EVERYONE WHO WORKED TOGETHER TO HELP MAKE A MEMORABLE EVENT, especially to Rachelle, Menucha and Rochel.

A freilichen Chanukah to all--chag sameach mamash!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Smadar Strauss, left, hosted the Chicago Shidduch Group in her beautiful garden for a networking meeting in honor of Tu B 'Av. Elana Bergovoy, right, and others learned how to make delicious sushi and also enjoyed fresh fruit salad "al fresco." 
Fraida Nathan, LCSW, CADC, ICDVP, was the featured speaker on the topic: "Emotionally Intelligent Marriage: Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work" (based on John Gottman's groundbreaking research).

The Chicago Shidduch Group had their big winter event Sunday night, February 15, at the home of Mrs. Rachel Benjamin! 

As part of the program, Rabbi Meir Chai Benhiyoun gave an inspiring talk on the topic of Bashert: Finders Keepers. He mentioned that every person has a dimension in his or her soul of "beshertness", which has the potential to give. 

After the talk Mrs. Benjamin led the ladies in a hands-on demonstration of a full course, Asian-themed Sheva Brachos meal. Together, the learning and experience generated a lot of inspiration and enthusiasm for the group! 

BS"D

Rabbi Avbrohom & Yehudis Blumberger were the gracious hosts of this year's annual Chicago Shidduch Group Chanukah Couples Melave Malka.

A festive pot-luck seudah was enjoyed by all! Members contributed delicious homemade soup, salmon, quiche, salad, garlic bread, candies & nuts, l'chaim drinks and more!

Elana Bergovoy welcomed the crowd and introduced a short video with highlights from the recent International Shidduch Group Network Conference in Crown Heights. Included in the video was a film clip of keynote speaker, Kivi Bernhart. He emphasized that that when trying to get to the goal--the chuppah--one needn't worry so frantically about "how"--HOW am I going to marry off my child--as long as he/she is clear about the "why." A single should be extremely clear about what marriage is, why they are dating for marriage, & why he/she is getting married!!  Also what qualities he/she brings to the relationship & what he/she needs in a marriage partner.

MC Labish Bergovoy told a beautiful story illustrating the inyanim of hashgacha pratis, bitachon and emunah in shidduchim.

Mr. Bergovoy then introduced guest speaker, Rabbi Mendel Moscowitz. Rabbi Moscowitz spoke about the highlights of the recent workshop on Shidduchim at the Kinus haShluchim. He gave over important news from Moishe Raichman, founder of Chabadmatch.com, and urged everyone to try and utilize this site when searching for shidduchim. He also gave a chazara of remarks by Rabbi Nissen Dovid Dubov, author of "Mazel Tov: A Chabad Wedding Guide." 

Rabbi Dubov said that many times parents feel overwhelmed in their search for matches for their children. However they should try and "compartmentalize." He explained that the ship "Titanic" had a special compartmentalized system to prevent flooding of its enormous engine room in the bottom of the ship. The ship's hold was divided into multiple chambers with heavy doors separating each one from the others. That way, if one chamber became flooded, the doors to the others would seal themselves off from becoming flooded. 

If we, as parents, can try and focus on the particular shidduch suggestion at hand, or other details, as we proceed calmly to the goal, we will avoid becoming overwhelmed by the HUGE challenge of finding "the right ones at the right times" for our children!

Thanks to the Blumbergers, Wolfs, Grossmans, Bukiets, Grinkers, Krokers, Rivkins. Zimmermans, Moscowitzes, Citrins & Bergovoys for their help in putting this memorable event together. May we all share many simchas very soon!

Over forty women gathered at the Annual Chicago Shidduch Group Conference on Sunday, July 27th/Tammuz 29 to learn, network, gain inspiration, and guidance in their journey of making shidduch Group Network welcomed women and post-seminary girls to an evening packed with fun and practical direction in guiding our children to the chuppah.  Mrs. Bergovoy shared the story of how the Chicago Shidduch Group was formed with just a small group of friends nine years ago.  Based upon Torah and the teachings of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, the group’s activities led to engagements and has evolved into a global network.  With chapters in over four dozen cities, the International Shidduch Group Network, now a tax-exempt 501(c)3 charitable organization, has had an important part in making  hundreds of shidduchim since its inception.  

The uplifting evening began with a dvar Torah by Mrs. Brocha Wolf of the Chicago Mitzvah Campaign.  Raffle drawings, including a one day pass to the JLI Women’s Day Event, were sprinkled throughout and winners claimed a variety of prizes.  Elegant table settings were featured by Rochel Bukiet, party planner and stylist extraordinaire.

The highlight of the evening was the sought-after guest speaker Mrs.Esther Friedman.  Mrs. Friedman is an experienced shidduch coach and co-director of the  Torah Learning Center and Director of the Jewish Women’s Institute in Overland Park, Kansas.  With her in-depth knowledge of Torah, Kabballah and Temperament Theory, Rebbetzin Friedman has counseled and helped countless people in all walks of life, including those in the parsha of shidduchim. 

Mrs. Friedman incorporates personal stories into her down-to-earth yet uncommon approach to shidduchim.  She shared that when she was twenty-one, her father came to her with a suggestion for a shidduch.  But first he asked her, “Is there anyone you’re interested in going out with?” 

She emphasized the importance of trusting our children, because “then they will trust us and trust themselves.”   She enumerated over a dozen practical aspects to ensure a good shidduch, including approaches to reference checking, recommended duration and frequency of dating, the importance of a good shadchan as a go-between, and the need for a mashpia/coach with whom to process and explore any and all doubts/concerns that come forward.  While the end goal is to make a dira b’tachtonim--to create a dwelling place for Hashem-- Mrs. Friedman acknowledged that what we accomplish in a shidduch is greater than Kriyas Yam Suf, the splitting of the sea.