Midwest Rabbanim Gather to Address Shidduch Crisis

Meir Kass

Leading rabbanim, roshei yeshivah, and community leaders across the Midwest convened last week to confront a long-standing challenge facing Klal Yisrael—the shidduch crisis. The asifos, held in Chicago, Toronto, Cleveland, and Detroit, focused on a groundbreaking plan spearheaded by Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch, aimed at giving thousands of bnos Yisrael a greater opportunity to find their zivug.

At each event, prominent rabbanim, including Rav Henoch Shachar, Rav Binyomin Cohen, Rav Uri Deutsch, and Rav Dov Kahan, outlined the painful reality faced by many young women waiting for shidduchim. They advanced a practical solution: encouraging bachurim to begin learning in Eretz Yisrael at a younger age and encouraging girls to enter the shidduch parshah about a year later than usual, thereby narrowing the age gap. This initiative has already begun, with hundreds of bachurim departing for Eretz Yisrael earlier than usual this past Pesach and Sukkos.

The asifos also featured an emotional plea from a leading Lakewood shadchan, who, overwhelmed by the suffering of so many waiting for their match, broke down in tears while addressing the rabbanim at the Chicago meeting.

Prior to each asifah, participating rabbanim were given a detailed pamphlet outlining the statistics and the proposed solution, galvanizing widespread support. The gedolim hope that with achdus and commitment, this initiative will bring meaningful change to Klal Yisrael.