The Jerusalem Post, "In Jerusalem" section, April 23, 1999
Sara Sherbill
neighborhood figure more experienced at gathering together gossip than at gathering together couples? Someone more adept at sensing the right ingredients for a good cholent than for a good marriage?
Countering these preconceived notions is Leah Hakimian, Ph.D., whom this month launched Scopus - the Center for Matchmaking in the Jewish World. What makes Scopus different from other matchmaking services begins with what makes Hakimian different from other matchmakers.
A former math professor and day school principal, Hakimian recently made aliyah from St. Louis where she served as founding director of Connections of St. Louis, a non-profit Jewish matchmaking program begun with a grant from the Jewish Federation of St. Louis. Under Hakimian's guidance, Connections grew into the largest non-profit matchmaking program of its kind in the United States, with more than 1000 participants and 12 engagements and marriages to its credit. Now based in Jerusalem - with frequent commutes to New York - Hakimian plans to turn her expertise to bringing singles together throughout the international Jewish community.
'A lot of people think matchmaking is only for the ultra religious, or else they see it as a business whose main goal is to make a profit,' asserts Hakimian. But Scopus is open to Jews from all walks of religious life and, as a non-profit organization supported by a private grant, charges its members a modest fee of $50 to be matched within a single country and $85 to be matched internationally. The only criteria for participating are that you be single, Jewish and between the ages of 20 and 45.
The simple questionnaire can be filled out on-line, but Hakimian requests a face-to-face meeting with all potential participants. Employing computer technology was a priority for Hakimian when designing the program. 'People in Israel work six days a week,' she says. 'I respect people's time. Yet, the personal touch is also important to me.
'Scopus is a program without boxes, without limits,' stresses Hakimian. 'It's for people who are open - geographically, religiously, philosophically.'
Hakimian knows what she is talking about: she has been happily married to her husband, Yusef, an Iranian native, for 38 years. When the couple made Aliyah last spring, they joined their three married daughters, two of whom are married to Israelis. Hakimian views her links to both the Ashkenazic and Sephardic worlds, to both the religious and secular worlds, to both English and Hebrew speakers, as vital assets when it comes to bringing people together.
Still, unlike many other matchmakers, Hakimian does not rely solely on her own assets and expertise. Scopus also has an advisory committee which - in keeping with Hakimian's commitment to a plurality of voices - is comprised of community leaders and political and academic figures from both Israel and the United States. Members of the Scopus rabbinical committee have been pooled from across the denominational spectrum.
Rabbi Danny Landes, director of Jerusalem's Pardes Institute, who serves on the committee, believes there is a great need in Jerusalem for a program like Scopus.
Landes sees Hakimian's role as that of an advocate. 'In many ways, Jerusalem is a good place to meet people,' he maintains, 'but it's also very lonely. Many people here are deprived of family support. It's good to have an advocate for yourself here.'
Rabbi Lee Levine, Professor of Jewish History and Archeology at Hebrew
Indeed, as Shoshana and Ezra Hosiosky can attest, connecting people who have ties to more than one place is something with which Hakimian has experience. Ezra is originally from South Africa. While serving in the Israeli army, he was temporarily stationed in St. Louis for an aviation seminar. At the same time, Shoshana was in St. Louis visiting with her family. Hakimian helped bring them together two years ago. The couple now lives in Israel with their one-month-old son. 'Everybody has to meet somehow,' asserts Shoshana. 'A matchmaker can help you branch out.'
Hakimian wants to help people do just that. 'There is a contingency of people from New York, for example, who would be happy to settle in Israel if they met the right person,' she explains. 'My antenna is always up. When I commute to New York's Upper West Side, I am on the lookout for my Jerusalem constituency.'
'On the lookout' is a good way to describe Hakimian. 'I chose the name 'Scopus' because it means lookout,' she relates, 'and I chose an open eye as the Scopus logo because I see myself as a second pair of eyes.'
More than another pair of eyes, however, Hakimian is 'an especially insightful person,' maintains Sarah Bierman, who is currently a student in Jerusalem and has known Hakimian for many years. 'She is friendly in a way that's receptive; she picks up on where people are coming from.' Bierman asserts that Hakimian possesses the skill that is perhaps most important in a matchmaker: 'She is a very good listener.'
Though Hakimian came to Jerusalem with quite a bit of matchmaking practice behind her, she maintained an open eye to the fact that this city's single population has its own unique character. 'I came here with a grant to start the program,' she explains, 'but I didn't just hang up a sign. I wanted to get to know people
One such person is Naomi Bloom, who made aliyah from New York three years ago. Bloom was impressed by 'how invested [Hakimian] is in knowing the people she's catering to. She's in touch with people on a personal level.' Bloom highlights the important niche that Hakimian is filling. 'I always hear people saying that they're not meeting anyone,' she remarks. 'People think they already know everyone. Sometimes it takes someone external to introduce you to the world outside of the world you're in.'
Hakimian's initial target group is the English- speaking community in Jerusalem, though she emphasizes that others are also welcome. The next step will be to expand her focus to non-English speakers, with an eye towards her eventual goal of creating a research center.
Hakimian says that matchmaking has taken on a new significance for her since moving to Jerusalem. 'I love Jerusalem and I believe in marriage,' she shares. 'I am passionate about people meeting and raising families here.' Unlike other matchmaking programs which promise clients a specific number of introductions, Hakimian promises only to search 'actively and thoroughly' on behalf of each participant. While she offers no guarantees, one nevertheless exists: matchmaking in the Jewish world is about to change.
Leah Hakimian can be reached at 02-532-8435. e-mail: us@scopus.org
Website: www.scopus.org