YentaCon is a premier conference for matchmakers and connectors who work with Jewish clients to find their Jewish soulmates! At YentaCon, we believe that collaboration is key, and anyone can be a Yenta. Our mission is to spread love and understanding, recognizing that Jewish people are seeking matchmakers from all backgrounds to help them find Jewish matches no matter where they live. We believe in the power of helping one another, which is why YentaCon serves as a collaborative space for matchmakers to come together and share their expertise.

At the core of our conference are three guiding principles

connectivity

Inclusivity

Ingenuity

These principles shape the content and discussions throughout the conference, ensuring a meaningful and impactful experience for all attendees.

YentaCon is designed as a workshop-style conference, providing participants with hands-on learning and actionable insights. For the inaugural year, the Yentas themselves will serve as workshop facilitators, bringing their expertise and passion for matchmaking to the forefront.

Please note that YentaCon is an exclusive invite-only event for our first year. We are curating a select group of matchmakers who align with our vision and can contribute to the vibrant community we aim to foster. If you are interested in attending, please reach out to us for more information.

YentaCon is an exclusive invite-only event for our first year

Key players

Creating opportunities for positive dating experiences in our community around the world 

Aleeza Ben Shalom

The star of Netflix’s Jewish Matchmaking, Aleeza has been featured on various media platforms as dating expert and has appeared everywhere from Netflix, to Aish.com to BBC World News. She is a professional dating coach and founder of Marriage Minded Mentor, which connects singles from around the world with hundreds of trained coaches and matchmakers. Aleeza is also the author of the personal growth book ‘Get Real, Get Married’ and an international speaker.

Michal Naisteter

Michal has passion for connecting people, fostering healthy relationships, and educating on human sexuality. She’s more than just a matchmaker; she’s a super-connector. Michal earned her Bachelor’s degree in Jewish Studies from Penn State University and a Master of Education in Human Sexuality from Widener University. With over five years of experience helping clients find loving relationships, her work has been profiled in the Atlantic, CBS, Fox29, Bustle, NPR, and a Philadelphia Inquirer feature.

Danielle Selber

 Founder of Tribe 12’s Matchmaking Initiative, a not-for-profit program for young professionals dating in Philly’s Jewish community. Danielle takes the best elements from the Jewish tradition of matchmaking and reinterprets them to fit modern dating. She received a graduate degree in Jewish Studies at Gratz College where she completed a thesis on trends in secular Jewish dating. Her work has been featured on Slate’s ‘Working’ podcast and in the short film ‘Make Me a Match’.

PLATINUM SPONSOR 
BONNIE WINSTON

Bonnie Winston is a New York-based celebrity matchmaker and relationship expert. Bonnie’s slogan is, “I find mates, not dates,” and she really delivers. Although her clients include multi-millionaires, A-list celebrities, and Oscar, Grammy, and Tony award winners, you don’t have to be one to benefit as she does many “mitzvah” matches for free, paying it forward to make happy marriages. Bonnie was featured on Bravo’s Real Housewives of Beverly Hills and was the character consultant for the matchmaker on The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. She has been featured in over 100 media outlets, including the New York Post, Forward, Martha Stewart Living, Oprah, Fox, Glamour, Business Insider, and The Daily Mail. 

Thank You So Much, Bonnie! 🖤

WHERE

Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History

Corner of 5th and Market Street in Old City

101 S Independence Mall E Philadelphia, PA 19106

when

Thursday 2/29/24

Full Day Event 

(more details below including a Shabbat hosted by Michal’s mom)

OPTIONAL Lodging

Kimpton Hotel Monaco Philadelphia – 1 block from the conference location

Booking here for our block & discount or call and say “UF8 ””

433 Chestnut St, Philadelphia, PA 19106

CoNFERENCE RATE

$360

All proceeds after costs will go to Tribe 12, a Philadelphia non profit with a matchmaking cornerstone program.

(2/28) Wednesday: 

Theme: Welcome

Location: Renaissance Hotel Bar & Lounge

(401 Chestnut St)

7pm – 10pm

Informal Rendezvous at Renaissance Hotel Bar & Lounge


(2/29) Thursday: Main Program

Theme: Collaboration

Location: Weitzman Museum

(101 S Independence Mall E / 5th and Market)

8:30am – 9:15am 

Welcome/Registration & coffee

9:15am – 9:45am 

Yenta Kickoff

9:45am – 10:30am

Aleeza Ben Shalom: Your Client Blueprint – How to Work with Every Client According to Their Way

10:30am – 10:45am

Matchmakers present clients / Collaboration Workshop Time

10:45am – 11:30am

Danielle Selber: Collaboration, Not Competition: The World’s First Nonprofit Matchmaking Model

11:30am – 11:45pm

Matchmakers present clients / Collaboration Workshop Time

11:45am – 12:30pm

Rabbi Yisroel Bernath: The Kabbalah of Love

12:30pm – 2:00pm

LUNCH (Kosher)

2:00pm – 2:45pm

Jeremy and Ilana Hamburg: The Three Big Questions About Matching Autistic and Neurodivergent Singles

2:45pm – 3:00pm

Matchmakers present clients / Collaboration Workshop Time

3:00pm – 3:45pm

Michal Naisteter: Judaism and Sexuality

3:45pm – 4:00pm 

Matchmakers present clients / Collaboration Workshop Time

4:00pm – 4:30pm

Yentas Closing

7:00-9:30pm

Cocktail Party with a Select Group of Jewish Daters (Kosher)


(3/1) Friday: (optional extra day)

Theme: Connectivity

Location: Weitzman Museum

(101 S Independence Mall E / 5th and Market)

10:00am – 12:30pm

Workshop: Authentic Relating

12:30pm – 1:30pm

Lunch (not kosher)

5:30pm – 9:00pm

 Shabbat (The Philadelphian, 2401 Pennsylvania Ave.) (not kosher)



WORKSHOPS
ALEEZA BEN SHALOM: Your Client Blueprint: How to Work with Every Client According to Their Way

In this interactive and insightful class, discover the power of effective communication when it comes to guiding your dating clients towards success. By mastering the art of speaking in a way that resonates with your clients, you can help them navigate the dating world with grace and effortlessly adapt to your expert recommendations.

In this workshop, you will learn invaluable techniques to bridge the gap between your mindset and your client’s perspective, ensuring a strong connection that leaves them feeling truly understood. Through practical exercises and engaging discussions, you will uncover strategies to tap into your client’s way of thinking about dating, building a solid foundation for effective communication.

Join us as we explore the secrets to speaking in a language your client can relate to, creating a win-win situation for both of you. By honing your communication skills, you will not only empower your clients to embrace your dating advice, but also strengthen the trust and rapport between you. Don’t miss this opportunity to enhance your ability to connect with your clients on a deeper level and help them achieve dating success. Just like in Judaism we say educate every child according to their way, we will learn how to work with every client according to their way.

Aleeza Ben Shalom is the renowned globe-trotting Jewish Matchmaker, captivating audiences worldwide. With her highly popular Netflix show, “Jewish Matchmaking,” reaching millions of viewers across 130 countries and being translated into 37 languages, she has become a true international sensation. Aleeza has helped over 200 couples to get to the chuppah and trained over 350 matchmakers and dating coaches. She firmly believes world peace begins at home and is intent on helping others find their match and build their home. She is a loving wife and mother of 5 children and 2 friendly dogs.


DANIELLE SELBER: Collaboration, Not Competition: The World’s First Nonprofit Matchmaking Model

Join us as we unravel the innovative approach of Tribe 12, a seasoned non-profit in Philadelphia with over 20 years of experience, which pioneered the world’s first “matchmaking for community engagement” non-profit model of Jewish matchmaking. Learn how Tribe 12 took the best elements of traditional Jewish matchmaking and, with inspired sector-crossing collaborations with boutique matchmakers and date coaches, created a “rising tide lifts all ships” container and a powerful tool for community engagement. Don’t miss this opportunity to explore the intersection of matchmaking, collaboration, and community building!

Danielle Selber is the founder of Tribe 12’s matchmaking initiative, a not-for-profit program for young professionals dating in Philly’s Jewish community. Danielle takes the best elements from the Jewish tradition of matchmaking and reinterprets them to fit modern dating. She received a graduate degree in Jewish Studies at Gratz College where she completed a thesis on trends in secular Jewish dating. Her work has been featured on Slate’s ‘Working’ podcast and in the short film ‘Make Me a Match’.

RABBI YISROEL BERNATH: Kabbalah of Love

Delve into a comprehensive exploration of love from a Kabbalistic perspective. This enlightening session will dissect the true meaning of love as taught through Jewish thought and Kabbalah, revealing that love is not just a spontaneous feeling but so much more.

If you are looking for ways to explain love through a more mystical lens this session is for you. You will learn how consistent acts of giving, both big and small, can strengthen and deepen connections, challenging the common misconceptions of ‘love at first sight’ and the superficial allure of infatuation.

We will also delve into the mystical aspects of love in Kabbalah, discussing how love transcends physical boundaries to become a divine connection between souls. This session will empower matchmakers to look beyond surface-level compatibilities, encouraging them to foster matches that are deeply rooted in spiritual and emotional congruence.

This session at Yentacon is not just a class; it’s a transformative experience that promises to change how you perceive and approach love, relationships, and matchmaking.

Cherished for his incredible warmth and non-judgmental personality, this hipster is not your typical rabbi. In 2012, Rabbi Bernath founded JMatchmaking International, a network of Jewish dating sites. He has made hundreds of matches! In addition to being a matchmaker and dating coach, Rabbi Bernath is also the author of three books, and continuously produces engaging content on his many social media & podcast platforms. He has been a part of dozens of productions, including the award winning Documentary “Kosher Love”.



JEREMY & ILANA HAMBURG: The Three Big Questions About Matching Autistic and Neurodivergent Singles

In this workshop, we will dive into three of the biggest questions matchmakers have when considering autistic or otherwise neurodivergent clients:

  1. How do I address neurodiversity with a client who has not identified themselves as autistic or neurodivergent?
  2.  Do I need to match neurodivergent people with each other?
  3. Do I tell a match that my client is neurotypical?

The goal is to help you expand your client base – and your social impact – by reaching a population that is underserved by the matchmaking market.

Jeremy and Ilana Hamburgh are friendship and dating coaches who teach the strategies and skills that empower autistic and neurodivergent adults to find community, make friends, start dating, and build relationships. Ilana has over 16 years of experience as a special education teacher in New York City and Jeremy has over 14 years of experience as a social coach for autistic and neurodivergent adults.

Their passion is their cutting-edge strategy and skills program, called Social Life 360, which teaches their clients how to confidently meet new people in new places. What makes the Social Life 360 program so innovative is that Jeremy and Ilana decode the social world for their clients using formulas, diagrams, and step-by-step processes that make more sense to their neurodivergent brains. The Social Life 360 program also provides clients with a warm, inclusive, and vibrant online community that makes them feel embraced on their social journey.

Autistic and neurodivergent adults, and their families, can take their free training or learn more about the Social Life 360 approach at MyBestSocialLife.com. You can contact them anytime at Ilana@MyBestSocialLife.com.

MICHAL NAISTETER: Judaism and Sexuality

In this workshop, we focus on the dynamic intersection of Judaism and sexuality, revealing the inherently sex-positive perspective embedded in our traditions. Together we will examine the nuanced dynamics shaping relationships within the Jewish community, emphasizing the seamless harmony we find when weaving traditional values with contemporary, sex-positive perspectives. Attendees can expect a thorough examination of the celebratory and empowering elements of intimacy within Jewish traditions. As experienced matchmakers, we adeptly navigate the evolving landscape of modern relationships, engaging in insightful discussions with our clients as they transition from singlehood to coupledom. Join us for a professional and respectful discourse that highlights the life affirming nature of love and affection within the context of Judaism.

Michal has passion for connecting people, fostering healthy relationships, and educating on human sexuality. She’s more than just a matchmaker; she’s a super-connector. Michal earned her Bachelor’s degree in Jewish Studies from Penn State University and a Master of Education in Human Sexuality from Widener University. With over five years of experience helping clients find loving relationships, her work has been profiled in the Atlantic, CBS, Fox29, Bustle, NPR, and a Philadelphia Inquirer feature.

Sponsored by:

Thank you to all of our sponsors including  Wholesale Nuts and Fruits