If success in matchmaking can be measured by the amount of time and effort you can save in finding your beshert, employing the services of a professional Jewish matchmaker is one of the best ways of achieving success.

Online Jewish dating sites such as JDate and SawYouAtSinai do give Jews the chance to meet and mingle with other Jewish women and men who share their own cultural and spiritual beliefs. However, although this allows you to meet other Jews, if you are looking for the right Jewish partner, you may end up wasting a lot of time dating people not well suited to you.

Good Jewish matchmakers are able to use the combination of technology and tradition to allow for that precise blend of practicality and romance to match the perfect combination of people. This results in modern Jewish matchmakers becoming increasingly popular and successful. Because they take the time to learn everything they can about their clients, they are more suited than anyone (or any computer) to determine which two people may make a good match. Although technology is involved, to be a successful shadchan is an art.

Nevertheless, even the best Jewish matchmaker will not be successful if you are not honest with them. Knowing yourself and sharing your wants and needs with your matchmaker increases your chances of success. And try to keep an open mind; your attitude and outlook is likely to be one of the greatest determining factors in how successful your Jewish matchmaking experience is.

Marina, a university professor from Omsk, Siberia, joined Simantov International in August 2012; Stéphane, a business man from Paris, became a member in November 2012, and they were introduced to one another in December of that year. This was, for both of them, the first and only introduction: they fell in love and, in June 2013, they were married in Paris. They are currently looking forward to becoming parents.

Here is what Stéphane had to say about his experience with Simantov:

“Rather disappointed by my previous love adventures, I contacted Simantov, the Jewish matchmaking agency, with little hope. Fifteen days after signing up, I was able to contact a beautiful Siberian girl. She almost perfectly met my expectations – highly educated, clever, beautiful. We met two weeks days later in Paris, and love was born – 6 months later, we were happily married in Paris! Each and every day I bless Simantov for having introduced me to Marina.”