Matchmaker, matchmaker, make me a match! We wish it was that simple!

Singles of all ages have are having a challenging time meeting their soulmate. They are all looking for 'the one,' but are having a tough time finding him or her.

Rebbetzin Sarah Rabin from the Caulfield Shule in Melbourne, Australia, speaks about why people are having challenges in shiduchim (the Jewish system of matchmaking.) According to Rebbetzin Sarah, the top 5 challenges contributing to today's shidduch crisis are:

1. The fast pace of life--in our society, we race from one thing to the next--the next person, the next appointment, the next job, the next social event. People don't make the time to connect deeply.

2. Technology and distractions. In today's world, people have easy access to technology and dating apps. They are too busy swiping left and right, checking emails, texting, and scrolling social media to get to know someone in person.

3. People have high expectations and fear of commitment--people want their prospective wife/husband to fit all of their ideals. They have many expectations, which are not always realistic. Also, people are afraid of committing because they think that they could potential meet someone better...and better...and better...and...

4. Social circles and geography--Jews who live in smaller Jewish communities are hesitant to date 'that guy they went to school with,' or 'their best friend's brother.' It can be challenging to date when you have known the same people since nursery school. Likewise, in larger Jewish communities, it's harder to date because people are always looking around for someone potentially better. One suggestion is to branch off and visit other Jewish communities in different geographic locations.

5. Emotional readiness and past experience. Not everyone is mature and ready to enter into a committed relationship. Also, people might have had negative experiences with previous relationships, which makes them fearful of entering into another relationship.

Fortunately, Rebbetzin Sarah offered possible SOLUTIONS to the shidduch crisis, including:

1. Singles need to have clarity on their values and their priorities. When a person knows what they believe in, what they value, and what they find most important in life, it makes it easier to identify those same beliefs in another person.

2. Seek guidance. Singles need to resolve past issues of trauma or bad relationships with a therapist, and they need to seek guidance for dating from a rabbi/rebbetzin, mentor, or happily married friends. Singles need guidance in order to develop a healthy perspective on relationships and the work that they entail.

3. Hishtadlus (effort) and Emunah (belief in G-d). Singles need to understand that if they are going out on a date or to a singles event, they need to put effort into getting ready for the evening. They need to look attractive and presentable, and they need to be open to meeting people. Once they have done their part, the rest is in G-d's hands. He will orchestrate two people meeting, and He will guide singles to their soulmate.

4. Fostering connection. Jewish singles really need to give people a chance when they meet them. They need to establish a connection and put in the time and effort to get to know someone in order to see if they are a compatible match.

Singles, stay strong! Your soulmate is out there waiting for you.

Contact: atrebbetzins@gmail.com

What happens to women's bodies during perimenopause and menopause?

In this fun and educational conversation with Functional Nutritionist Nili Grutman, we learn, in depth, about how estrogen and progesterone are produced, as well as the role that these hormones play in a women's body. We also learn what happens when, as women age, the production of these hormones decreases, and the effect that decreased estrogen and progesterone has on our bodies.

Estrogen is produced in the follicles of our ovaries. It is responsible for a variety of functions in our body, including (but not limited to):
--development of our feminine figure
--production of the collagen in our face that keeps us looking young
--support of production of serotonin and dopamine in the brain
--enabling us to feel safe, secure and happy

Progesterone is produced after ovulation. It is also plays a key role in women's bodies, and performs many functions, including (but not limited to):
--thickening the uterine lining
--regulating our menstrual cycle
--helping regulate our sexual libido
--controlling our moods

Women usually experience perimenopause when the are between 35-37 years old. At that time, the number of follicles in their ovaries significantly decreases, and their menstrual cycle becomes less frequent. Nili advises women to take care of their thyroid health and do a liver detox during this time.

Nili strongly suggests that women find a thorough and competent endocrinologist who is able to administer a series of tests to determine their thyroid health. She also advises women to take Kelp as a natural supplement to boost thyroid health.

It is very important to detox your liver because the liver is key in flushing out waste, including hormone waste, from your body. If the liver isn't healthy, toxins stay in your body longer, as may potentially cause damage. Nili talks about a variety of supplements that people can take to help detox their liver, including milk thistle, amino acids, and magnesium glycinate.

As a side note, Nili also reveals the reason behind weight gain (fat gain) specifically in our midsection. She explains why abdominal weight gain happens during perimenopause.

As for menopause, it begins in women between the ages of 45-55. We say that a woman is in menopause one year after her last period. At that time, she is no longer ovulating. In this phase of her life, she may appear cranky and more irritable. She is also more sensitive to stress. She needs to properly care for herself so that she reduces as much stress as possible from her life. She can also take supplements to support her during this time, such as ashwaganda, relora, vitamin D, fish oil, and omega-3 fatty acids.

At the very end, Nili speaks about hormone replacement therapy, which might be helpful to many women.

Nili believes in using nature as a vital resource for health and wellness. To be connected with Nili, please email Vera Kessler, host of America's Top Rebbetzins at atrebbetzins@gmail.com

In this lively conversation with Rebbetzin Tehilla Birnbaum, we talk about the Torah approach to physical, mental and spiritual wellbeing. We learn to understand WHY it is so important for us to care for ourselves in these realms, since they all affect each other.

The age old question is...'Am I a body, or am I a soul?' The answer is both. The body is a vessel that contains our soul. Since our body is a vessel that contains our soul, we need to take the best care of it possible. We need to incorporate physical activity into our lives. We need to sleep properly, make sure that we have good physical hygiene (like bathing daily and brushing our teeth at least twice a day), we need to take the time to get dressed properly so that we are put together. We use our physical being to elevate ourselves spiritually.

Our thoughts and emotions also play a large role in the way we perceive the world and elevate ourselves. When we are able to look at a situation in a positive light and show gratitude for the blessings, and also the challenges, in our lives, we elevate ourselves emotionally and mentally. Focusing on the positive in people, situations, and circumstances promotes clarity of the mind. When our mind is clear, we can make good decisions.

We can keep ourselves spiritually healthy through prayer. It could be through traditional written prayer like you find in a siddur (prayer book) or Tehillim (psalms), or it could be through having a conversation with G-d in your own words (hitbodedut.) By speaking with G-d in your own language throughout the day, our soul is in constant connection with Him. We begin to feel calm and protected.

To be connected to Rebbetzin Tehilla Birnbaum, please email Vera Kessler, host of America's Top Rebbetzins at: atrebbetzins@gmail.com