Vampire Weekend's Surprising Jewish Stories
5 min read
Nakysha has a new date in Miami. New participant Stuart gets a fresh look before his dating journey begins, and Aleeza meets with Noah from Rome in Israel.
The episode opens up at a skating rink with Nakysha and her date, Ryan. Nakysha has been skating since she was three years old. She reveals that her father passed away when she was 12.
Ryan is very close with his family. He reveals that his older brother has a learning disability and this fueled his desire to get a degree in special education.
Ryan is a gentleman, helping Nakysha to tie her laces and offering her his hand if she feels unbalanced.
She’s interested in a second date and is actually not bothered by the age difference between her and Ryan.
Ryan said they had a nice time but was not feeling a romantic spark.
Aleeza suggests a new prospect for Nakysha—Evan. He appreciates Judaism and he is not bald—two important criteria for Nakysha. They both happen to be in Miami, so the timing is perfect.
Aleeza meets Stuart, a 51-year-old musician who owns an advertising company. He’s been dating since his mid-twenties and hasn’t given up on finding his other half.
Stuart has a lot of energy and a fun sense of humor. In the past, he often got stuck in relationships he knew had no potential. It took him two and a half years to break up with someone he knew was a no on the first date.
Dating is the one component of his life that has not fallen into place. “My parents were deeply in love with each other, so maybe they set the bar really high.”
Aleeza suggests that Stuart sport a new look because his clothing is too large. “I want him to have a makeover because I want his mindset to be shifted. He needs to be fresh like he was when he was 20—excited to be dating again.”
After visiting the stylist, Stuart jokes, “I would have been married earlier if I was wearing a large instead of an extra-large all these years!”
Stuart goes on a date with Hope. She appreciates music and even plays guitar herself. They share the common preference to date someone Jewish. She shares that she received her master’s degree at a seminary in religious education and loves campfire singing.
While she found Stuart easy to talk to and witty, it’s a no-go for Stuart. “She is more invested in her Judaism than me, and there was something a little off with our communication.”
A new participant named Noah is introduced in this episode. He’s been living in Tel Aviv for six months. He fell in love with Tel Aviv his first time there, when he was seven. His mother is a diplomat, and they have been all over the world. Noah is a picky man.
The show follows Noah to the beach with his friends. They discuss how Noah is easily bored with women. He’ll need someone funny, beautiful, and with good vibes.
Noah wants a girlfriend and a best friend, in one package. He wants to get married…eventually.
Aleeza explains that her goal is not to help him get married; but rather it is to help him stay married. She also stresses to Noah that she helps people who actually want to get married. “Just dating for dating—you can do that on your own.”
Fun facts about Noah:
Noah’s criteria:
Noah goes out with Alyssa for a Dune Buggy ride.
Alyssa is vegan and has two cats. Noah prepares a picnic on the sand with red wine, cheese, and grapes. This makes for an awkward date because she does not like red wine and does not eat cheese. They enjoy grapes and the view.
Noah doesn’t think it is a match and says no. He adds, “I do not usually date curly-haired girls.”
1. Keep your limits broad. When Stuart mentioned that four kids and 2 cats was his limit, Aleeza was thrilled. The broader you can cast the net, the easier finding a date becomes. Try to be as flexible as possible.
2. Be decisive. If you know you do not want to marry the other person, end things before they get too serious. It not only creates false hope but holding the other person hostage, will prevent him or her from finding their own soulmate.
3. The external is just a shell. It is not the hair or the pets that are important; rather it is the values that truly matter in a relationship. People often mistake interests as pet peeves, letting them become unnecessary deal-breakers. Those things change over time. What does not change are your core inner values and personality. Those remain throughout your life. Identifying the core values within yourself will make it easier to find those in others.
4. Be real about what you are looking for. If you’re just looking to date or have a good time, be upfront and honest about that. Don’t mislead the other party into believing that you are more serious than you are.
Click here to meet Aleeza Ben Shalom in Sarah Pachter's interview with the star of Jewish Matchmaking. Watch as they review dating tips and discuss the Netflix series.
Click here for the recap of Episode 1
Click here for the recap of Episode 2
Click here for the recap of Episode 3
Click here for the recap of Episode 4
Click here for the recap of Episode 5
Click here for the recap of Episode 6
