By 
By Deborah Vietor
Aaron Raimi graduated and bar mitzvahed in the Poway School District prior to attending college and in 2020, created MeetJew, a national dating service for young Jewish singles and a home for all your Jewish social needs. Combining national and international themed events with a matchmaking service, MeetJew has so much to offer Jewish youth, enhancing involvement in the Jewish community.
“My inspiration for starting MeetJew was I wanted Jewish college students to connect for the purpose of dating during the pandemic,” Raimi said. “I thought a Facebook group would be a perfect medium to build an online community since it is interactive and connects thousands of people. Our main priority is to bringing Jews together for the purpose of dating, marriage, networking, making friends and building community.”
Asked how Judaism informed his decision to create the organization, Raimi said he studied with Rabbi Mendy Rubenfeld through Chabad of Poway for his bar mitzvah, where he became connected to his Jewishness, adding depth and meaning to his life. He attended UC Santa Barbara, transferring to SDSU online during the pandemic. His biggest inspiration for MeetJew is his Zaide, who was a survivor of Auschwitz and lost his entire family, except for his brother in the Holocaust. He fought for the Haganah in 1948 for Israel following his survival.
Judaism is the foundation of MeetJew, sccording to Raimi.
“We believe strongly in Jewish continuity and reject intermarriage,” he said. “MeetJew’s focus is for Jews to marry and be plentiful, a commandment in the Torah.”
A community-based platform online, MeetJew is unlike a traditional swipe dating app, offering in-person events nationwide. MeetJew combines both aspects of a dating app and a real-life community akin to a local Chabad or an event production company. Anywhere from 200 to 500 people attend with events taking place at clubs, bars, private homes, shuls or event spaces. MeetJew has held events in California, Florida, New York, Massachusetts and Georgia. Currently, national themed events are in the works for Texas, Pennsylvania, Ohio, New Jersey and Washington, DC. International programs in 15 cities, including Israel have been held with great success. Jews of all backgrounds are included, from secular to Haredi Orthodox, united through a welcoming environment combining fun and tradition.
MeetJew offers a comprehensive Dating Survey, with over 10,000 users ensuring matches every two weeks via email. There are 72,000+ followers/members combined on social media platforms. Matches are based on compatibility and filtered via an algorithm heavily focused on users beliefs, values, life goals and interests. Currently, over 250 couples have met though MeetJew.
Raimi plans to offer additional services, including personalized matchmakers, dating/relationship coaching, building an app and positioning event coordinators in cities nationally. Fundraising will make MeetJew a community institution for years to come.
MeetJew is a 501(c)(3) Fiscal Sponsorship non-profit. Learn more at meetjew.org.
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