JDate
JDate is an online dating service aimed at Jewish singles. The service is one of a number of demographically focused online match-making websites operated by Spark Networks plc. Joe Shapira and Alon Carmel co-founded the site, which debuted in 1997. Shapira is specifically credited with overseeing the design, software development, and implementation of the business model.
JDate offers two tiers of service: free and premium. The former allows prospects to post a profile and search for members, reply to instant messages, and send a fixed menu of messages known as “flirts.” The premium service includes a fuller range of communications options, including email, chat, and the service's internal messaging system. A site redesign in late 2005 gave members the ability to note mutual interest with a click to each other's profile, triggering an alert, as well as support for webcams and the ability to keep a list of prospects. Profile items include some fields of particular interest to Jews: adherence to dietary law, frequency of attendance at synagogue, and form of Judaism (if any) practiced. When members are not Jewish, they are asked to indicate whether or not they would consider conversion to Judaism. The site's in-person activities have included the usual cruises and ski trips – but also organized trips to Israel.
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[edit] Membership
JDate claims to have more than 450,000 active members worldwide, about half in the United States. Most members are in major metropolitan areas, with women slightly outnumbering men: 54%-46%. Searches can be conducted for members of the same or opposite sex. The site won a 2006 Webby award for social networking.[1]
While JDate is oriented toward Jews, it has attracted others seeking Jewish mates. The reasons cited often have to do with perceived cultural traits, whether stereotypical or true: "nice" or wealthy Jewish men who treat women well; take-charge, independent Jewish women who still hold onto tradition. While many JDate members respond in kind, others view the phenomenon as an intrusion that defeats the purpose of the site.[2]
[edit] Cultural significance
JDate's stated mission is "to strengthen the Jewish community and ensure that Jewish traditions are sustained for generations to come," presumably by reducing the high percentage of Jews who marry gentiles. According to the Council of Jewish Federations' 1990 National Jewish Population Survey, since 1985, 52% of American Jews who married have done so outside the faith. This phenomenon has also been noted by Harvard law professor Alan M. Dershowitz in his book The Vanishing American Jew.
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In the broader context, JDate's brand has become notably associated with Jewish culture. The service has been referenced in some theatrical works, such as Jewtopia. JDate has also been mentioned by name in popular media as a reference to Jewish dating: in the TV series House, Entourage episode "Date Night", American Dad, South Park episode "The Snuke, "The Ones" episode of 30 Rock. Jewish writer Judd Apatow also includes a spoken reference to JDate in his movie Funny People. Television writer Rodney Rothman mentions his use of JDate in his book Early Bird: A Memoir of Premature Retirement. The Internet video show Goodnight Burbank regularly uses JDate as the dating service of Kenny Schickler the business anchor.
In 2004, JDate attracted negative publicity when it was discovered that some of its Internet banner advertisements featured fictitious profiles of Israeli singles which turned out to be of pornography models. The pictures were taken from models' websites.[3][4] JDate again drew negative attention in July, 2006 when e-mails and blogs started recounting a story of how JDate member Darren Sherman, a CEO and former SEC official, left a series of voicemail messages to a woman he met on JDate, demanding $50 (her portion of their meal cost) since she did not call him for a second date within 2 and a half weeks of their first date. He threatened legal action, called her employer, and even went so far as to call the restaurant they ate at and dispute his credit card charge. The story included the text of the e-mails plus audio recordings he had left on the woman's voice mail. JDate revoked Sherman's membership for his conduct.[5][6]
In 2007, a Rabbi in Marlboro, New Jersey offered to personally pay for six-month memberships to JDate.[7] He did this in an effort to curtail Jews marrying outside the faith.[7]
[edit] Notes
- ^ 10th Annual Webby Awards Nominees & Winners retrieved March 22, 2007
- ^ Richards, Sarah E. (2004-12-05 [subscription required]). "You Don't Have to Be Jewish to Love JDate". New York Times. http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F30615F83D550C768CDDAB0994DC404482. Retrieved 2007-03-20.
- ^ "JDate banners feature pictures of porn models," Haaretz, August 23, 2004, retrieved September 11, 2006
- ^ שחקניות פורנו בעקבות רווק יהודי
- ^ Grove, Lloyd; Katherine Thomson (July 21, 2006). "E-romancer's cash-anova complex". NY Daily News. http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/gossip/2006/07/21/2006-07-21_e-romancer_s_cash-anova_comp.html. Retrieved 2009-09-11.
- ^ Date Bread
- ^ a b Diamant, Jeff (9 November 2007). "Rabbi gives Cupid a nudge with JDate". Religion News Service (USA Today). http://www.usatoday.com/news/religion/2007-11-08-jdate-rabbi_N.htm. Retrieved 12 July 2010.
