Aussie-Israeli matches up Anglos looking for love, and fast

Many Anglo immigrants come to Israel hoping to learn a new language, and if the owner of an English-centric speed dating service has her way, it will be the language of love. Endless Knot has been in operation in the Tel Aviv area for the past three years, and its founder has recently decided to ramp up activity with weekly encounters designed to match up as many guys with gals as possible. Sigal Abbatovi, who grew up in Australia and studied in England, says that two other companies also operate speed-dating services in the Tel Aviv area, but that her company fills a unique niche by catering to Anglo immigrants like herself.

The speed-dating system, which gives potential mates a short time to chat before they rotate to the next person, had already been in operation for about a decade by the time Abbatovi adopted the model in 2008 and began applying it to Anglos and Israelis. She says she put the plan into action when she herself rejoined the dating pool and came to the realization that it was a desperately needed feature in Tel Aviv's lacking dating scene.

	Endless Knot founder Sigal Abbatovi.
	Photo by: Tali Mayer

On a typical midsummer night, the drinking establishments of Tel Aviv are filled to capacity with hopeful Romeos looking for love, and leading ladies trying to find Mr. Right. But the bars are often packed with Levantine Lotharios looking for Ms. Right Now. With the music being blasted at high decibel levels, it's hard to conduct even a simple conversation, let alone get to know somebody new, Abbatovi points out. Abbatovi says that for those interested in long-term relationships, speed-dating will produce better results.

Abbatovi, a psychologist by profession who has recently decided to make her living from speedy matchmaking, sets the mood by choosing a bar that has comfortable couches, enough for every one of the rotating couples. The room is dimly lit but light enough to tell if you're attracted to the person you're talking to. Music is low enough to allow for personal conversations, but loud enough to drown out everyone else's. The price of admission includes a couple of alcoholic drinks.

While Endless Knot caters to many Anglos, native Israelis are certainly part of the mix as well. Abbatovi ensures that every event includes both men and women from each category.

"Israelis always want to meet Anglos, Anglos always want to meet Israelis, and Anglos," she says, and notes that the second tendency increases the longer an immigrant has been living in Israel. "Anglos, when they come here, they really like to integrate and date as many Israelis as possible, because they made aliyah and they want to stay here. And then, within a few years, they really go the other way and again want to meet someone who's Anglo."

Ronel, 34, who asked his real name not be used, has attended several speed-date events hosted by Abbatovi because, he says, the clubs are too competitive, and Internet dating is alienating. "By the time she answers, and you want to go on a date, she wants to chat on Facebook first, and then talk on the telephone, it fizzles out. Usually nothing comes out of it," the native Israeli says. "Here it's more intimate, that's why I come.

Native-English speaking women are also part of the appeal, he says. "It's good to open your mind, not just stick with [Israeli girls]. And if she has a house in Los Angeles, even better," he laughs. "I'm not closing doors, I'm opening them - especially with what's happening nowadays, with the protests. It's expensive to live in Israel, if you have the opportunity to live elsewhere, if you meet an American girl, you could go live outside of Israel. What's wrong with that?"

Hodaya, 32, also an alias, says she comes to the Endless Knot speed-dating events because she trusts Abbatovi's matchmaking instincts. "For me personally, she always knows when to tell me to come or not to come, she doesn't invite me every time out," she says.

The speed-dates have led to some ordinary dates, but Hodaya, also a native Israeli, hasn't met that special someone quite yet.

"I usually go out with Israelis. But the reason I come here is, as far I can see, the American mentality is more suited to me," she says. "The Anglo mentality of politeness, the things that are less common among Israeli men. But despite that, in the end, whatever is supposed to happen will happen. I don't know where it will come from, so I try from every angle."