by Tamara Stokes

Staff Writer

Matchmaking is a mitzvah, says Ben Glatzer.

To help accomplish that mitzvah, Glatzer has founded DallasJewishSingles.com (DJS), an on-line dating service that he believes will "revolutionize the Jewish dating scene by building the largest active database of Dallas-Fort Worth area Jewish singles profiles."

With the Jewish community experiencing a dramatic increase in intermarriage in recent decades, Glatzer says, "Jewish singles initiatives warrant high priority in the DFW Jewish community."

His mission is to have "100 percent participation with the DFW singles community."

"We hope to achieve this goal by the virtue of our personal local relationships in addition to cross-marketing plans with all DFW Jewish organizations and synagogues," says Glatzer, president and marketing executive for an investment firm.

The site, for singles 18 and over, was launched Jan. 31. To commemorate the event, the Jewish Community Center (JCC) of Greater Dallas threw a party at Kismet on Greenville Avenue.

Partygoer Debra Strauss says on-line services provide an opportunity to meet people who "otherwise wouldn't cross each other's paths."

Glatzer sees the DJS not only as a matchmaking service, but as a philanthropic venture, with a portion of the proceeds going back to the Jewish community.

The site indicates a "meaningful" portion of all proceeds will be distributed among the JCC; Jewish Federation of Greater Dallas; Temple Emanu-El; Congregations Anshai Torah, Beth Torah and Shearith Israel; and the Dallas Area Torah Association (DATA).

Glatzer says DJS improves upon existing on-line singles services by using a questionnaire that is not only more locally focused, but more detailed and Jewish-oriented than those used by national services. Members may display and search profiles by synagogue and local Jewish organization affiliations and display more detailed and Jewish-oriented personal information in their profiles than is currently possible on national singles services.

"Existing on-line Jewish dating services have not maximized the potential reach and impact of online dating services in the DFW Jewish community," Glatzer says. "These services lack the local membership base and sense of community made possible by a focused, local Web site and coordinated event and marketing efforts with local organizations."

The service is accessible online 24/7. Singles may post profiles, browse other profiles and respond to e-mail contacts from DJS members at no cost. The membership charge for unlimited ability to initiate contact with other members via e-mail is $24.95 per month. Free memberships are available until March 31.

For more information, please contact Benjamin Glatzer at (214) 693-7803.