Is the dating scene got you and your single friends longing for the days of arranged marriages? Even with the many dating services and apps that are out there, finding the perfect match isn’t always easy, especially if this is the second time around. Singles looking to meet a special person without the help of your well-meaning friends and social media, speed dating events could hold the answer.

 

Speed dating has been around since 1999, when Rabbi Yaacov Deyo and several of his single students put a new twist on the longstanding Jewish tradition of introducing young Jewish singles to one another at chaperoned gatherings. At a speed dating event, participants are paired up in a series of quick five- to seven-minute "dates." When the time is up, a bell or timer is rung, and participants move on to their next one-on-one conversation.

While five minutes may not seem long enough to determine whether a new acquaintance is a potential match, it gives participants plenty of time to gauge their level of interest or get a feeling that the other person is just not the right fit. As an added bonus, the round-robin setup enables participants to meet more potential matches in one evening than they might otherwise encounter in a month or more of traditional dating.

 

As with any first date, the object of a speed date is to determine if the person sitting across from you is someone you'd like to know better. The difference is that you have just seven minutes to make that decision (and to make a good impression on your date), so skip the small talk and start with the questions that matter most to you, like "What's your favorite breakfast cereal to eat for dinner?" or “Star Wars or Star Trek?” A series of 5-minute interactions or “dates” will allow you to sum up your interest.

 

Daters can keep track of new acquaintances they meet on a comment card. Comment cards are kept confidential and turned into the host at the end of the event. If (and only if!) there is a mutual interest, the host will share contact information with the other interested party. Helps take the pressure off, right?