Israeli Dating Coaches to Receive Professional Training
The "Oumek HaKkesher" institute, which has facilitated over 2,000 weddings, is hosting a professional conference to equip individuals who guide single women in their search for a partner. The conference aims to provide tools for diagnosing barriers and offering precise guidance towards finding a spouse.
Rachel, a 47-year-old educator and counselor, shared her frustration with the limitations of intuitive support. She described helping a bright, accomplished graduate repeatedly face disappointment after dates, feeling helpless despite her best efforts. "I realized that with all my love, I simply lacked the professional tools to know what was truly stopping her," she stated.
This sentiment is common among mothers, educators, counselors, and therapists within the religious and Haredi communities, who often provide support based on intuition rather than professional training. The institute's founder, Nechama Bitkover, explained that individuals seeking a relationship often need more than encouragement; they require someone who can identify underlying patterns and help remove internal obstacles with clarity and calm.
The institute has developed a unique training method combining advanced therapeutic approaches like Gestalt, psychodrama, narrative therapy, and CBT with a deep faith-based perspective. This approach views the individual as whole, needing a roadmap rather than "a project to fix."
The upcoming digital conference on September 16th will cover practical methods for identifying the true blockage, whether it stems from fear of commitment, loss of self, self-image issues, or limiting beliefs about relationships. It will also teach how to listen for unspoken patterns, assist in decision-making without pressure, and navigate the delicate dynamics between parents, guides, and those seeking a partner.
Leading experts, including Nechama Bitkover and educator/therapist Shirat Malach, will present. Representatives from the "Ambassadors in the Heart" organization will discuss effective matchmaking strategies. The conference will also highlight the professional opportunity for women in education, social work, and therapy to turn their counseling and volunteer hours into a respected profession, with many graduates finding work as emotional coaches for marriage.
"There is no greater satisfaction than seeing a bride you accompanied standing under the chuppah, knowing you were the emissary who held her hand during challenging moments," Bitkover concluded. "We want to pass this knowledge on to every woman who feels her heart is open and wants to be part of the great mission of building homes in Israel."
