Our Shadchanim

Rivka Sarah Jaffe brings many years of community involvement, as well as a keen understanding of people and human nature. She works to ensure that people are serviced in a timely, comprehensive manner, availing themselves of all of Simcha Link's wide-ranging services, as well as to help with follow-up with shadchanim on behalf of shidduch prospects and their parents.

As a longtime educator at Hanna Sacks Bais Yaakov and Bais Yaakov High School, Faith Neuman is a familiar, beloved face in this vital role. She works to ensure that alumni of our local high schools are being optimally serviced by Simcha Link.

This includes connecting them with shadchanim who are best suited to their needs, making sure their shidduch resumes are updated correctly, clarifying what they’re looking for in a spouse, and helping them and their parents navigate the shidduch scene in general.

Shelly Adler has been with Simcha Link since its inception. Her previous positions as a limudei kodesh teacher, in both elementary and high school levels, have prepared her to focus on the particular needs of each one coming to her for help with shidduchim. Shelly works with eagerness and devotion to be a good shaliach in the holy work of arranging shidduchim. She is happy to work with singles of all ages and backgrounds.

“Simcha Link is on my mind day and night. It is a great privilege and enormous responsibility to be involved in this most important part of the lives of my clients. I daven daily for siyata d’shemaya.”

Our newest addition to the team, Sarah Rivkie Greenspoon brings so much to the table. Her many years living in Lakewood, N.J. and her many years of experience working with parents of pre-school children, have opened up many doorways for her to fulfill her passion for bringing shidduchim to fruition. In addition, Sarah Rivkie has the opportunity to host many bochurim and get to know them well, as her husband is a Rebbe in a well-known Yeshiva. With her outgoing personality, Sarah Rivkie makes the young men and women she works with feel comfortable so they can be open to conversation and possibilities. She enjoys networking with some of our other Simcha Link shadchanim which has proven to be very successful. 

“Being involved in shidduchim for the past years has given me the clearcut vision of the hashgachas Hashem that is involved in this tapestry of miracles. Working for Simcha Link gives me the ability to feel the presence of Hashem at every twist and turn.”

Miriam Gross is proud of being part of the Simcha Link team for years, and is passionate about making shidduchim for singles from her hometown, Chicago. Currently located in Lakewood, NJ, Miriam is focused not just on setting up the singles, but on coaching them throughout the entire process. She makes it her business to understand the needs of the singles she is working with, and to help them every step of the way.

**Miriam works mainly with working boys, as well as some short-term learners. She also has experience working with sensitive shidduchim.

“I take shidduchim very seriously. I try to be a shaliach in doing Hashem’s work. I’m a big believer in making sure the single goes out with an open mind and doesn’t get stuck on the small things in making a life decision.”

Naomi Homnick was in high school when she made her best friend’s shidduch. One 40-year-education-career later, and Naomi is still making shidduchim for the people she knows and loves. Recently, she celebrated the marriage of 2 of her former first grade students! Guided by her “small-town” warmth and genuine Ahavas Yisroel, Naomi is dedicated to the people of the Midwest and happily works with singles of all ages.

“Ultimately, it’s the Ribono Shel Olam who is really making shidduchim, but I’m honored to play a role in the process. I love people; I love seeing them happy; And I love when I get to watch them walk down the aisle!”

Hilary Kahn has more than 30 years of teaching experience in both secular and frum environments. Her forthright and intuitive personality has made her a much sought after mentor and educator. She brings Torah wisdom as a parenting mentor, dating and relationship coach, and a Jewish woman, to women of all stages and ages. She has successfully matched 22 couples and hopes to match many more.

“It is an honor and a privilege to help facilitate shidduchim for Simcha Link. Rabbi Fuerst is a model of selflessness and dedication to the klal, and to be involved in one of his myriad projects is very special.”

Working as a kindergarten teacher in the local Bais Yaakov, Estie is devoted to helping the Chicago community. For years, she has been a dedicated shadchan of Simcha Link. As a native Chicagoan herself, Estie loves working with Chicago girls. Estie networks with boys from all over, but specifically focuses on the Beth Medrash Govoha crowd in Lakewood, NJ.

“My goal is to help as many people as I can and to make the process as smooth and comfortable as possible.”

One of Simcha Link’s dedicated East Coast shadchanim, Tzodek Katz, works closely with us to ensure Simcha Link’s presence is felt by our East Coast neighbors. His many years of matchmaking experience and helping many families and singles throughout the dating process is an invaluable service to the Chicago Jewish community.

“Asserting themselves into a new market with unfamiliar faces was not a simple task, but Simcha Link’s innovative approach, excellent communication skills and willingness to work with everyone, no matter the situation, has resonated with the community.”

Etty Klein has been a dedicated shadchan for many years. In the past few years, she’s used her skills to branch out and become a dating coach as well. She has seen much success and gets real pleasure from helping singles find their basherts. Etty has connections in many places, but she mainly focuses on matching girls with multiple types of boys learning in BMG.

“I've been to Chicago numerous times, and am so impressed by the girls there. I have a real appreciation and love for the Chicago girls and I’m happy to use my connections to help them find their basherts.”

Sora Chana, a Chicago native and current Lakewood resident,has over 25 years of experience as a shaddchan and dating coach. She is heavily involved in the shidduch scene and has played a vital role in Simcha Link’s efforts to expand outside the Windy City. She is well-known for her insightful dating advice, and for being a valuable resource for parents and other shadchanim inquiring about singles in the Lakewood and Chicago communities.

“Being able to work with Rabbi Shmuel Fuerst and his relentless commitment to helping others, as if they were his own children, is worth all the time in the world. It is an honor to work with ChesedChicago and Simcha Link.”

A long-time shadchan in the community, Mrs. Krystal is open and available to meet boys or girls from across the spectrum of backgrounds and ages.

“The close kesher we have with Rabbi Fuerst, who is passionate about the work of Simcha Link, motivates all of us. We feed off his energy to help others.”

Shani Leiman is a well-known shadchan and dating coach based in Silver Spring, Maryland. She dedicates her time around the clock to making shidduchim for klal yisroel’s singles. She has met much success b”H both in making shidduchim and in coaching countless couples. She is also known for her column, “Ring Me,” in the Mishpacha. Shani works with singles from all walks of life and all over the country. She has been instrumental in helping couples understand when to work on a relationship and when to walk away. With her insights and objective relationship advice, she has seen much success through this stressful and confusing time in life.

“It is crucial in dating to keep an open mind, be receptive and flexible. We never really know what the outer trappings of the person intended for you will look like.”

Rivkie Levitin has many years of experience teaching pre-school and high school, which is how she has established a rapport with many parents and girls in the Chicago community. She is a shidduch columnist for the Monsey Mevaser to date, and has formerly written for the Yated Ne’eman as well. Rivkie has contact with people in many cities. She uses her warmth and sensitive approach to work with young men and women navigating the shidduch world. Rivkie works with the many different types of people that out-of-town has to offer. She prioritizes boys who are interested in dating out-of-town girls.

“I enjoy working with people and hope to ease the plight of the many singles who are struggling with the shidduch process. I daven each day for hatzlocha in this avodas hakodesh, as one can only redt shidduchim with mega doses of Siyata Dishmaya!”

As a beloved mechaneches at Joan Dachs Bais Yaakov with 30 years of teaching experience, and Director of Kesher (a big sister program under the auspices of Agudath Israel of Illinois), Frumit Roberts has honed the fine art of navigating relationships. While making shidduchim has always been a dear side hobby, she is excited to now be spending more time focused on helping people through the shidduch process. Frumit sees much success from working with the short and long term learners.

“Shidduchim is the time when you clearly see Yad Hashem”

As one of our senior shadchanim, within the last 50 years, B"H, Mrs. Shabat has been zoche to be the shaliach for 65 couples. She is devoted to helping our Chicago singles, and offers advice and guidance to both the singles and their parents. On several occasions, she has had the privilege of making multiple shidduchim within a few families, and has even made a few 2 generational matches (ie the parents and some of their children.) She is grateful that HKB"H has enabled her to fulfill, what she considers, her mission in life.

“A big bonus of being a part of Simcha Link is the opportunity to consult with Rabbi Shmuel Fuerst, shlita, the driving force of our organization. He treats each single as his own child. His loving concern and boundless devotion inspire all of us.”

Nina Siegal has been helping men and women find their soulmates for over 20 years. A mother of eight beautiful children and experienced grandmother as well, Nina brought her knowledge and expertise to Simcha Link in 2009. She is a dedicated dating coach, and is well known for her various work within the community, helping Jewish singles throughout Chicago.

“What I like most is seeing the Hashghacha Pratis that's involved in shidduchim, and helping singles achieve their goals."