The Jewish Matchmaker

The Soulmate Myth That Destroys Relationships

What if the person you want is not the person you need? In this episode, Aleeza Ben Shalom and Lori Palatnik explore the spiritual perspective on soulmates, marriage, and the choices that shape who you become with someone else. The conversation moves from the Jewish idea of destined soulmates into the hard realities of attraction, respect, toxic relationships, gray divorce, and why parents may know more than friends when it comes to choosing a spouse. This is about love without the fantasy and marriage without the escape hatch.

Red Flags, Hot Guys, and Bad Decisions

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.

Stop People-Pleasing in Relationships

Why do you hold things in… and then say them in the worst possible way? In this episode, Aleeza sits down with communication expert Elana Israel to unpack what’s really happening in those moments—when you keep things bottled up until they spill out, use a tone that puts someone on defense, or ask a question that shifts everything off course. This is a conversation about honesty, self-abandonment, and why keeping the peace can quietly cost you the relationship you’re trying to protect.

The Convert Who Couldn’t Get a Second Date

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.

Men Are Not Big, Hairy Women

Should you hide your gray hair? When do you tell someone you’ve been married twice? And how do you stay open and playful without getting hurt? In this unfiltered Q&A, Aleeza Ben Shalom takes on the questions people usually dance around: confidence, timing, emotional risk, and the patterns that quietly sabotage dating. Honest, practical, and a little uncomfortable in the best way, this episode is about dating with clarity, courage, and self-respect.