How to Woo a Jew

November 25, 2013
Advice columnist and “JDate Expert” Caspi wants to help Jews find their Jewish soul mates, or beshert (destiny), arguing that an ideal union is “based on commonalities, traditions, and values,” and that intra-faith Jewish relationships have a lower divorce rate than mixed marriages. She intersperses stories from several friends of varying ages, and includes a tutorial on calling that potentially special someone for the first time, tips for dating on a budget, and advice on charting your “must-haves, wants, and needs” for a partner. Caspi also explains how to use “Jewdar” and “Jewish geography” to your advantage, and guides the reader through every step of creating a profile on the Jewish dating Web site JDate, from which photos to upload to which questions can be skipped, and how to use all of the site’s major features. In a hilarious take on the stereotype of Jewish mothers, Caspi shares “An Open Letter to All Moms and Dads of Single Adult Jews” that begins, “It’s all your fault we’re still single.” The letter is followed by indispensable advice on respecting the family of one’s significant other while maintaining healthy boundaries. Caspi’s guide is equal parts frank and funny and her advice useful to readers of all ages looking for that special fellow member of the tribe.