Since its release on Netflix in 2020 during the height of the pandemic, I have become obsessed with the reality show “Indian Matchmaking.” Although I often disagree with the pairings of matchmaker Sima Taparia from Mumbai, better known as “Sima aunty,” I love the drama’s cringey moments and enigmatic characters, as well as intangible elements of cultural vibrancy and appeal that have fueled each of the three seasons.
While it’s embarrassing to admit, I’ve actually watched each season at least several times, as my obsession did not end with lockdown. However, as a member of the Jewish faith and culture, which shares many similarities with Indian culture, including a strong emphasis on marriage, I naturally wondered when a show featuring Jewish matchmaking would air.
As if Netflix had heeded my wishes, the first season of the new show “Jewish Matchmaking” was officially released May 4 with eight episodes. Capitalizing upon the desires of singles worldwide to forgo dating apps in favor of more traditional ways of finding a partner, the show offers a refreshing yet timeless alternative to endlessly swiping left or right on strangers’ profiles. As I know from absorbing classic media like “Fiddler on the Roof” while growing up, matchmaking has formed a central part of Judaism for centuries. So, what were my immediate reactions to Netflix’s modern twist on this ancient custom?
Oyyy vey. Similar to “Indian Matchmaking,” matchmaker Aleeza Ben Shalom traverses the globe in an ardent and wildly humorous search to help young Jews find their spouses, traveling from L.A. to Israel. And like its cultural counterpart resonating with Indian audiences, the show does feel familiar to Jewish viewers, representing our values and culture in a fairly authentic as well as diverse light. One Jewish single, Nakysha Osadchey, is the sole Jew of color in all of Kansas, joining other singles of both Ashkenazi and Sephardic backgrounds. Moreover, Jews of all denominations—and preferences—are represented.
However, I found that the show missed the same cultural zest and spark that has made “Indian Matchmaking” so enjoyable to watch—and this deficit is not because Jewish culture is in any way less interesting than Indian culture. Whereas Sima aunty’s magnetic and at times controversial personality demands center stage in “Indian Matchmaking,” the unfortunate fact is that the lead matchmaker, Ben Shalom, simply is not that charismatic—and I’m not just saying this under the belief that Netflix should have hired me.
Yet as someone who is constantly trying to set up her two older sisters in an attempt to find their future Jewish husbands, I couldn’t help but criticize the objective incompatibility of many of Ben Shalom’s pairings. Yes, Sima aunty has the same trouble of dealing with an overrepresented cast of attractive and educated females, but perhaps a key difference between her and Ben Shalom is their diametrically opposed perspectives on dating. While Ben Shalom will happily seek to oblige her clientele, Sima aunty takes the unconventional and questionable perspective on finding a life partner, repeating to her crushed and concerned clients that “100 percent you will not get, 60 percent you will get.” Of course, such disheartening advice makes us distrust Sima aunty, but that sense of conflict and inherent humor ultimately drives the show.
Now, even with all this kvetching, I will be the first to admit that “Jewish Matchmaking” is still worth your binge time. Chock full of heartwarming Jewish traditions and incredibly fun personalities like Harmonie Krieger (who by the way truly believes she’s a magical unicorn), there is no shortage of surprises with this show. Look no further than its creative episode titles such as “How big is his mezuzah?,” or the undeniable fact of 52-year-old Stuart Chaseman’s W rizz, to the extent that the Jewish single from Chicago has been compared to Pete Davidson. Overall, the show proves that certain aspects of love, rejection and identity are universal to all parts of the world—and time will only tell which culture’s way of matchmaking will next be featured on Netflix.
Photo courtesy of Netflix
