"Beshert in Bakersfield" tells the love story of newlyweds Emma and Héber, who met at a Bakersfield synagogue in 2018 when Emma formed a Jewish young adult group. The two became friends through the group, but neither of them were thinking about love or marriage at the time. In late 2019, sparks of romance began to fly, but Emma dismissed her feelings for Héber, focused instead on her upcoming move back to the Bay Area. Hear about the pivotal moment that changed the course of their relationship forever.



See Emma and Héber's wedding announcement in J.

"Checking All the Right Boxes" is about a couple who meets through a computerized Jewish matching service, a "high tech yenta" for the early 90s. Donna, a 34-year-old dental hygienist living in San Francisco, decided to fill out the dating service's questionnaire and see what comes of it. Soon, a printout arrives at her apartment, listing three Jewish men she's matched with, along with their phone numbers. When it came to matching with Joe, timing, it turns out, was everything. 

Read about other successful matches that came from the Jewish Singles Computer Service, from the J archives.

"It Was Love at First 'Fiddler'" is about Jackie, a woman raised Roman Catholic who falls in love with Judaism at a young age. As she grows up, the men she's attracted to all happen to be Jewish. In July 1994 Jackie leaves a voicemail in response to a personal ad she discovered in the Jewish Bulletin (a newspaper her ex-boyfriend introduced her to.) This week's Jewish love story is about an instant connection between Jackie and Mark, and also about Jackie's conversion to Judaism.


Read the Jewish Bulletin personal ad from July 1994, that begins with "33, SJM, physician."

"From Zero to 100 on a First Date" is a real-life rom-com! David and Mimi's previous marriage had both ended, and the two find themselves alone during the Jewish high holidays, yearning for romance. When Mimi places an ad in the Jewish Bulletin's personals section, mentioning that she's "40 and stunning," David can't help but reply to her ad. When they meet for dinner on their first date, they find their offbeat senses of humor are a perfect match.

Read David's first-person story he wrote about meeting Mimi, featured in the Jewish Bulletin in January 2000.

"Persistence Pays Off" offers a glimpse at how dating culture 30 years ago mirrors some of what singles experience today. The story begins in 1995, when Mike, a 32-year-old Bay Area transplant from Los Angeles, puts an ad in the Jewish Bulletin's personals section. He receives a promising response to his ad from a woman named Gwynne, who's interested in meeting him for a date. Unlike the guys Gwynne's met in the past, who have ghosted her and played games, hear her reaction when she meets Mike, a straightforward, no-nonsense mensch. 
See Mike and Gwynne's wedding announcement and photo in the Jewish Bulletin
Read the 1997 Valentine's Day article featuring Gwynne and Mike's story

"The Journalist Who Got Scooped," begins in 1954, when 23-year-old Joanne, a young reporter at the Jewish Community Bulletin, goes on assignment to write about the Western States Jewish Youth Council conference, a story that would change everything for Joanne. There, she meets Bernie, a handsome and charming 29-year-old PhD student at Stanford. Hear the enduring love story of Joanne and Bernie, together for 70 years and counting.

Articles referenced:
Eleanor Roosevelt

Western States Jewish Youth Council Conference

Marriage announcement

"Love Atop a Keyboard," tells the humorous and serendipitous love story of Janet and Allen, which inspired this podcast! In 1999, Janet, a copy editor at the Jewish Bulletin, was in her 50s, divorced, and hopelessly single.  She had almost given up on finding her beshert. But, to fulfill a New Year's resolution, she took one last try to find "Mr. Right" and placed her very last personals ad in the Bulletin, which led to a first date straight out of a rom-com, and a revealing memoir about their late-life love story.

In March 1997, Vivian was single, pushing 30, and had recently moved back home. One day, her mother put an ad in the Jewish Bulletin, now the J, to try to match Vivian up. Soon, the home answering machine was filling up with messages from eligible Jewish men interested in taking Vivian on a date. One voicemail in particular stood out — it was a woman with a thick Polish accent, hoping her “vunderful” son Joe could meet Vivian. Enjoy listening to this sweet, hilarious and enduring love story.

Do you have a Jewish love story for Such a Match? Or want to share your thoughts on the podcast? Email us at [email protected]

Introducing “Such a Match,” an original podcast from J. The Jewish News of Northern California all about old-fashioned Jewish love stories told by the couples themselves.

On “Such a Match,” you’ll hear about hilarious blind dates and endearing marriage proposals, finding love after divorce, dating after 60 and much more.

“Such a Match” debuts Jan. 21, 2025.