JSwipe: The Founder Of ‘Jewish Tinder’ Gives Us Dating Tips

Jenny Singer and David Yarus swipe for love Image by Forward Footage

By Jenny Singer, Michelle HonigDecember 5, 2017

If you’re a Jewish woman who wants a tall doctor, a short lawyer, a startup founder of average height, or just a man who can really rock a hamsa necklace at family gatherings, JSwipe is the app for you. The definitive Jewish dating app has nearly one million users and is responsible for countless relationships and marriages.

But last summer, one brave journalist (it was me) dared to ask: “Jews, We Need To Talk: Why Are The Men On JSwipe So Awful?” In an interview with anonymous female JSwipe users, the women complained about men they met on the app who gave unsolicited personal advice, exhibited extreme insecurity about height, and smug Libertarians.

When the article was published, the response was overwhelming. Men reached out, proclaiming that the women in the article sounded stupid and wanting to know what exactly is wrong with being a Libertarian. Women reached out, saying that the article described their experience on the app. And David Yarus, JSwipe’s founder, reached out asking why he hadn’t been contacted for the piece.

Well, we contacted David Yarus. In fact, he graciously agreed to come to the Forward’s office and teach me the true secrets of finding “big love” on JSwipe. Does he convince me? The results are below. Happy swiping!

Jenny Singer is a writer for the Forward. You can reach her at [email protected] or on Twitter @jeanvaljenny

Michelle Honig is the style writer at the Forward. Contact her at [email protected]. Find her on Instagram and Twitter.

Jenny Singer is a freelance writer with pieces in Vox, the Washington Post, The San Francisco Chronicle, Teen Vogue, and more. She was previously a staff writer at Glamour and the Forward, and she’s currently getting an MFA in nonfiction writing at the University of Iowa.

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