If you're single and ready to mingle, you're bound to find others interested in a meet-cute. But depending on where you are in the world and the cultural norms at play, the dating vibes can differ quite a bit. When it comes to dating in the United States versus Israel, for example, the focus on family sets the two apart, according to Aleeza Ben Shalom , the resident matchmaker on Netflix's new series "Jewish Matchmaking.
Ben Shalom, an Orthodox Jew, lives in Israel with her husband and five children, but is from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and lived in the United States when she was single. She also launched her international matchmaking and date-coaching services in while living stateside. Though Jews in both the United States and Israel have diverse religious and cultural traditions, Israelis in their twenties tend to be more family-focused than American singles of the same age who act more independently, Ben Shalom told Insider.
According to Ben Shalom, twenty-something singles in Israel tend to be more "motivated" to get married as an end goal in dating. She said that there are plenty of secular non-religious people living in Israel. But since the culture is so family-oriented, most people want to settle down with a lifetime partner regardless of their religious beliefs, Ben Shalom said. In the United States, twenty-something singles are more likely to value independence over getting married and starting a family, Ben Shalom said.
On average, American women get married at almost 29 and American men get married at about 30, according to the latest US Census Bureau data from She said that she's notice a larger focus on personal autonomy in the US, with young people prioritizing their careers, financial independence, and the ability to live away from family.
She added that there are plenty of older singles in Israel too, like widows and divorced people, who she's successfully helped find a second marriage partner. Since young Israeli singles are more likely to make a concerted effort to get married, the dating process usually moves along more quickly, according to Ben Shalom.
