Jerusalem Community Recasts Singleness as a Path to Building Homes
Daniel Dehan, a social entrepreneur and head of the Jerusalem community "Friends of Chazon Zion," is trying to change how Israeli society views singlehood. He says the effort began about four years ago with a personal birthday event that became a social mission, and has since grown into a community of hundreds. Dehan, then a biology teacher and volunteer coordinator at a high school, marked his birthday by organizing a singles conference at David Yellin College, including a woodworking workshop and a talk with Rabbi Shmuel Moreno. "I wanted to do something that had not been done before," he said.
The event quickly led to follow-up relationships, and Dehan realized, in his words, that this was his calling. Together with his partner Yaniv, he founded Chazon Zion, which has become one of Jerusalem’s leading communities. Its model centers on creating a feeling of home, with a Torah class or lecture every Wednesday, shared Shabbat meals, and workshops. Dehan says the goal is to be "a destination for every single man and woman, a place where they are not invisible."
A few months ago, Dehan worked with the Sderot municipality to stage what he described as the first major singles matchmaking event in southern Israel, drawing hundreds of singles and, he said, producing strong results and significant attention. The program included a workshop on removing barriers with coach Chaya Maman, a chocolate workshop, and a special game session with singer Omri Goren. Dehan thanked Sderot city officials for their support and said the event showed that when a local authority gets involved, real change is possible for young adults.
Dehan argues that the central problem in the singles world is the illusion that a better match is always coming next. He says the answer is close guidance, comparing it to hiring a lawyer when buying an apartment. He also wants municipalities to stop treating singleness as a "social nuisance," and to fund dedicated coordinators, annual plans, and support in counseling and housing. To illustrate the need, he cited a woman over 40 who came to the Sderot event nearly hopeless and, after an encounter with Rabbi Yosef Eliahu and the right guidance, got married. His message is that singles should not stay alone in the maze, but should seek help and trust that small steps can lead to major relief.
