Ashkenazi Jewish dating

Ashkenazi Jews, with roots in Germany, Poland, Russia and all of Central and Eastern Europe, carry a rich heritage: Yiddish, the great yeshivas, the Chassidic movement, humor and cuisine.

They are the majority of Jews in the United States, the UK, Canada and among Russian-speaking Jews, and a large part of Israeli society.

Many singles want to share these minhagim and this family history with their future spouse.

Ashkenazi Jews, whose families came from Central and Eastern Europe, form the majority of the Jewish communities of North America, the UK and much of Israel. From the Upper West Side to Golders Green, from Toronto to Tel Aviv, Ashkenazi heritage shapes liturgy, food, humor and the memory of the Shoah, which marked these families deeply.

Many Ashkenazi singles are attached to that heritage and to passing it on, sometimes rebuilt by later generations.

Ashkenazim have their own minhagim: liturgical melodies, Passover customs including avoiding kitniyot, Shabbat food, wedding traditions such as the bedeken. For some, sharing these customs is important; for others, it is secondary to values and level of practice.

On ShidduchMatch you choose: search mainly within the Ashkenazi community, or indicate openness to other traditions.

Marriages between Ashkenazim and Sephardim are now very common, in Israel and abroad. They mostly require agreeing on a few practical choices: which customs to follow at home, for example kitniyot at Passover or which synagogue to attend, and how to pass both heritages on to children. Many couples see it as enrichment rather than difficulty.

See also Sephardic dating.

The largest concentrations are in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Boston, London, Manchester, Toronto and Israel.

If you are open to moving or to starting long-distance, widening your search internationally greatly increases your options.

Many Russian-speaking Jews, in Israel, the US, Germany and elsewhere, have Ashkenazi roots from the former Soviet Union. ShidduchMatch works fully in Russian, and you can list every language you speak so as not to close any doors.

For many Ashkenazi families, the memory of the Shoah remains central: grandparents who survived, communities that disappeared, names passed down. Some singles want a partner who shares that history and the sense of responsibility to remember; others prefer a match across traditions. Both approaches have their place.

It is a topic that often comes up naturally once a relationship grows, as couples think about what they will pass on to their children.

Yiddish survives as a daily language mainly in Chassidic communities, but its words, humor and songs remain part of the heritage of many Ashkenazi families. The same goes for the kitchen: gefilte fish, cholent, kugel and Friday-night chicken soup. Sharing these small things often creates an immediate sense of familiarity.

You can state your origins and preferences, and suggestions take them into account.

Yes. You can combine your background and level of observance in your criteria.

Yes. ShidduchMatch works fully in Russian, and many Russian-speaking members are of Ashkenazi origin.

Yes, your tradition can be used as a search criterion.

Yes, notably in the UK, Canada, Israel and France.

Rarely, if discussed early; most couples find a balance that suits them.

It is a common topic, especially kitniyot; most couples choose one custom for the home, often on their rabbi's advice.

No. Yiddish is mainly spoken in Chassidic circles; for most families it is part of the cultural heritage.

Yes, the site works in English, French, Hebrew and Russian; list every language you speak.

Yes, you can widen your search to Israel and other countries.

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