The 5 Best Dating Apps To Use While In Israel
Image by Pixabay
By Amy Albertson February 9, 2017
This piece was contributed by Masa Israel Journey — for more information, click here.”
We’re sure you’ve heard the news—there is an app for everything. Finding love (or at least a date) is no exception. And in the “startup nation,” we obviously believe in the swipe-to-like revolution. Here in Israel we have not one, but five, popular dating apps to lead us to the good Jewish boy/girl of our dreams. With that many options, it seems silly not to take your chances. After all, what would be better than falling in love in the Holy Land?
Of course not all dating applications are created equally and like with just about everything else, there are cultural differences. Lucky for you we’re here to breakdown Israel’s most popular dating apps.
Tinder
Image by Courtesy Tinder
The pioneer of the swipe-to-like revolution, Tinder, like in most places, is probably the most well-known dating app on the market. I suspect Israelis enjoy it for the same reason as everyone else—it is simple. You swipe right to like, left to dislike, and profiles contain only minimal information. Predominantly visual profiles leave less room for a language barrier initially, but be ready to practice your Hebrew skills as soon as the messaging starts. Ma at mehapeset? What are you looking for? Although constantly debated, Tinder in Israel is not the most recommended place to find true love. Swipers here are most likely looking for something much more casual, so keep that in mind.
Jswipe
Image by Screenshot
We have our own country, so why shouldn’t Jews have their own dating app? We do! Jswipe is commonly referred to as “the Jewish Tinder” because its similar format. However, Jswipe profiles have some extra categories, such as kosher or not kosher and level of observance—super handy things to know when searching for one’s beshert (soulmate). For those of you not so confident with your Hebrew skills, a high percentage of Jswipe users are either non-Israeli or speak English. Who knows, maybe you’ll find a Hebrew tutor in addition to a match? Either way, Jswipe is Israeli tested and Jewish-mother approved.
OkCupid
Image by OkCupid
OkCupid is basically the yenta (Jewish matchmaker) of the Israeli dating app world. The app matches couples using an algorithm and matches are determined by your answers to specially designed questions. Although the mobile version includes a swiping feature, OkCupid is has a reputation for being the best app for finding a serious relationship. Profiles include a lot more personal details and space for in-depth information. Luckily Israelis love to talk about themselves and tend to fill out a majority of the profile, giving you lots of information to consider before making contact.
Bumble
Image by Bumble
The newest addition to the Israeli dating scene is Bumble, known for its feminist features. Like most of the other apps you swipe one way or another to like or dislike. However on Bumble, females have to message first (when set for heterosexual relationships). Additionally, males have 24 hours to respond to a message before the match expires. If you’re interested in dating native Israelis, Bumble might not be the right app for you. A bit new to Israel, it is mostly full of hulnikim (non-Israelis). Yalla, ladies!
Jfixx
Image by JFixx
If an Israeli were a dating app, they would be Jfixx. If you are looking to immerse yourself into a truly Israeli dating app scene, this is it. Jfixx is filled with almost exclusively native Israelis and only works in Israel. Pros: you browse rather than swipe, are more detailed profile options than Tinder (including what kind of relationship you’re searching for and those trusty Jewish-specific questions), and has more dynamic options for liking profiles or just specific photos. Cons: the interface is completely in Hebrew and most of its users only speak only Hebrew. Think you have the chutzpah? We say go for it.
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