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From: rhendel@king.mcs.drexel.edu (Russell Hendel)
Date: Sun, 30 Jun 1996 20:57:43 -0400
Subject: Shidduchim

There have been several posts by [Gelb, e.g. vol 24 # 49] and others
regarding the need and the virtue of "increasing" respectable
opportunities for Shidduch's among young people.

First of all, besides praising the idea I think Janice should also be
praised for the detailed methods which she provided.  I would like to
add a short halachic encouragement to her idea which is not often made
explicit.

The Rambam and *all* other Poskim explicitly list ---food, water,
shelter, *and* finding a mate---as requirements and fulfillments of the
great Jewish Mitzvah of Tzedakkah.  In other words, it is equally
important to give a person food if he is hungry, or shelter if he is in
the cold or a mate if (s)he is single. This suggests that Jewish
Philanthrophists and Jewish Charitable Organizations can equally
manifest their concern by giving money for food, shelter or Shidduchs.
If these halachic views were more widely publicized perhaps people like
Janice could get "funding" for their idea.

Russell Hendel, rhendel @ mcs . drexel . edu