not just your mother.

With all the talk about fighting intermarriage and marrying off eligible Jewish New Yorkers who hem and haw about tying the knot, Jewish non-profits don’t seem to be too upset with the wave of marriages resulting from office romances. Nevermind the chatter in the cafeteria, you might even get a year-end bonus for setting a good example.

Sarah Kay, the director of community programs at the JCC in Manhattan, met her fiancé at the JCC. Matt Lacks was the director of “tween” programs (for 10-13 year-olds) when they met. After telling co-workers at lunch about her recent break-up, Matt offered to

set her up—and that’s when she realized

he might be for her.

“I was thinking that I felt the way about Matt as teenagers would feel like when they

have a crush,” says Sarah, “because nonprofits are campy, collegiate and a very young environment.” Sarah was told by others at work that she wasn’t breaking any rules and that the other employees who knew about the relationship were rooting for her.

The JCC, which now boasts 6 matches,became such an integral part of their relationship

that Matt asked some of his co-workers to orchestrate a phony party as a surprise for

his marriage proposal, aided by the director of film and literary programs at the JCC.

And just when you thought one’s work and private life couldn’t be any more integrated,

the executive director of the JCC, Rabbi Joy Levitt, will be officiating at the couple’s wedding.

“We have a highly professional staff, and there’s appropriate behavior in a workplace, which we expect and get,” says Levitt.” She adds, “A significant number of the staff work here because they believe in the mission of the JCC… so that provides a natural environment for them to make not just loving relationships but also friendships.”

While in most offices the boss would be the last person you’d want to know about an

office romance, on the contrary, in the Jewish non-profit world, some bosses inevitably become matchmakers.

In the fall of 2003, the Teva Learning Center—a Jewish environmental-education institute

based in Connecticut—was looking for someone who could lead hikes and play music for

prayer services. Chana Rothman, who is now an established singer/songwriter, joined the

staff at the last minute. Teva’s director, Nili Simhai, immediately told Kevin Kleinman,

a Teva administrator who is now a rabbinical student, “I think we found someone that you’ll

really get along with.”

Chana and Kevin’s relationship slowly developed. They tried to keep it under wraps, but then decided it was time to let their coworkers know. “People weren’t really nosey—they were very supportive and thought it was cool,” says Chana.

There have been three or four Teva weddings so far, Chana surmises. Another non-profit where the “boss” played matchmaker occurred at Dorot, an organization that works to enhance the lives of elderly people. Ethan Horwitz, an attorney and father of two, had been on Dorot’s board of directors for years when Freddi Finegood, a businesswoman, joined. In a scenario that

you could picture on a show like “The Nanny,” the board’s executive director told Freddi,

a divorcee with a child, that there was a great guy on the board who was getting divorced. At the first board meeting, Ethan and Freddi debated almost every point, but after

finding out that Ethan was the “great guy,” Freddi wasn’t deterred. She called Ethan and

asked him out, and the two hit off it off. This past year, Dorot honored the couple at their annual dinner, especially highlighting how they met.

So, if you happen to be single and working at a Jewish non-profit organization, proceed

with caution: The nosiness may seem intrusive, but with the help of your co-workers, your basherte may not be far away.