In this inspiring conversation, international matchmaker Rivkah Fox joins Talia Mashiach to discuss revolutionizing the traditional matchmaking model in the Jewish community. Rivkah shares her journey from volunteer matchmaker to professional entrepreneur, setting up nearly 50 couples since 2019 while building a sustainable business model. The discussion explores the challenges of monetizing a mitzvah, the importance of setting boundaries, and why the community needs both volunteer and professional matchmakers. Rivkah opens up about her creative approaches to dating—from anonymous bio posts to spontaneous blind dates—and how she's making matchmaking more accessible and fun for the next generation.

[1:48] How Rivka set up Talia's daughter

[5:00] Rivka's husband's role as Penn campus rabbi & their kiruv mission

[14:15] Rivka's family background & father's ba'al teshuva story

[21:45] The volunteer vs. professional matchmaker distinction

[28:20] Why women struggle with monetizing chesed work

[35:40] The moment Rivka decided to go professional

[41:20] Pushback & the discomfort of charging for mitzvos

[53:30] The transformative conversation with the business coach

[1:03:20] How charging changed client dynamics

[1:10:00] Addressing the "only wealthy people get help" concern

[1:18:45] Building systems: assistants, databases & AI

[1:22:30] Creative matchmaking approaches (Instagram polls, blind dates, spontaneous connections)

[1:30:00] The painful phone call that changed everything

[1:45:00] Educating the community about shadchan gelt & hakaras hatov

[2:00:45] Advice for singles: Be the person you're looking for

[2:03:20] The importance of Instagram in kiruv & staying connected

[2:05:15] Rivka's superpower & message to her younger self

Guest Summary

Rivkah Fox is an international professional matchmaker based in Philadelphia with nearly 50 successful matches since 2019 and a database of 4,000 singles. She holds a graduate degree in education with a focus in psychology from the University of Pennsylvania. Married to a Penn campus rabbi, Rivkah is a mother of four who has pioneered innovative matchmaking approaches including Instagram-based anonymous profiles, public voting on date pairings, and spontaneous video call setups. She's passionate about creating sustainable professional models for matchmakers while maintaining accessibility across all economic backgrounds. Her work spans eight countries and breaks traditional barriers in the Orthodox dating world through creativity, technology, and a fresh perspective on this mitzvah. This Episode is brought to you by Roth & Co. Innovators in accounting and business advisory. To learn more visit https://rothcocpa.com/ Early Bird tickets for the annual JWE Powered by Her Conference are now live! to purchase tickets visit Thejwe.com/conference. Use code PODCAST to save an additional $10 off your purchase.

Breaking the Mold: How Rivkah Fox Built a Matchmaking Business