New Community Support Initiative Tackles Prolonged Singleness in West Bank

Dr. Hannah Katan highlights a new project launched in the West Bank called "You Have a Home," aimed at addressing the prolonged singleness and loneliness experienced by many in the community. The initiative, led by Yael Binyamin, a wedding coach and matchmaker with nearly 40 successes in each role, reverses the traditional approach by offering singles professional support and a sense of partnership rather than expecting them to seek out matchmakers or apps themselves.

The project builds a professional support system within each community, leveraging close friends who know the singles best to facilitate matchmaking. However, since these friends often lack the necessary tools and knowledge, the initiative provides training, digital courses, experienced guidance, access to databases, and social events to enhance their effectiveness. This model applies to various natural community groups, including alumni of religious schools, youth centers, immigrant centers, and military units.

Dr. Katan describes the pilot program for alumnae of religious girls' schools, where each single woman is paired with an "ambassador" from her cohort who dedicates weekly time to find matches. These ambassadors receive ongoing training and support, while singles and their parents also benefit from workshops and personal coaching. The program is set to expand soon to include graduates of the Levona religious school and singles in the Shomron and Binyamin regional councils, with plans for further growth across Israel.

The initiative is timed poignantly just before the Three Weeks, a period of mourning for the destruction of the Temple, symbolizing a constructive response to communal loss. Dr. Katan emphasizes that mutual responsibility is not just a slogan but a practical way to change statistics, heal loneliness, and rebuild communities "house by house" in Jerusalem and beyond.