Of all the professions that deserve our honor and respect I think that matchmakers are way up there with nurses, teachers and tax collectors (just kidding about the last one).
Really, remember the person that drove you mad to go on a blind date, or call a girl that his wife was friends with, or come to a party where you best friend's husband''s best friend would be "and don't worry, he's mr. right, not right in your face").
Whether you were on the receiving end of a match and definitely if you were involved in getting one together, you definitely appreciate that bringing two people together is a no simple matter...
So matchmakers, wherever and whoever you are - we appreciate you.
Even G-d thinks so;
This week, in the narrative describing the efforts of Eliezer the servant of Avraham Avinu to find a girl for his master's son Yitzchok the Torah relates a fascinating episode.
As Eliezer stands at the well praying that he find "mrs. right" the Torah tells us that even before he finished his prayer beautiful Rivka appeared at the well.
Now how's that for instant gratification?
He whispers a prayer and poof, before he's even finished she appears (even J-date won't get you such returns...).
Rashi notes, quoting from the Talmud, that Moshe and King Solomon also got instant responses folloing their prayers.
But there it was an instant response - following their prayer. Here it was before he even finished!
(Tevya, are you listening?)
The Rebbe explains that in fact the union of Yitzchok and Rivka whch Eliezer was facilitating was a paradigm for the for fulfillment of the creation of the world.
Yitzchok, himself a sacrifice on the altar, born into the first sanctified marriage into a life of piety and holiness is going to meet Rivka who, despite her own remarkable qualities was born into a family of deceptive and immoral idolators.
And the prayers for such a union, that would shatter the inherent boundaries between physical and spiritual, heaven and earth, G-d and man, and body and soul created an energy that could see G-d's response, even before the Prayer concluded.
But you know, where are all the matchmakers.
Yes, even if you don''t have three married couples and two potentials under your belt, you're still a matchmaker.
Remember the time that you created the match between the change in your pocket and the poor man's outstrectched hand?
Or how about when you connected a downtrodden and depressed friend with the happiness and joy they never met but was already hidden deep in their soul.
Or even when you got your inquisitve but "very secular and agnostic" mind to go on a date with a few words of Torah's wisdom?
Those were very real and meaningful matches that broke through the unspoken seperations and brought two wonderful beings together.
And G-d takes matchmakers very seriously.
As serious as Moses and King Solomon.
So this week as I gather with 3,000 of the Rebbe's full time matchmakers, let me put you up to a challenge;
Think of one special but bold match which you always wished you could get together but never had the guts to make the move - in your own life as Jew, in your family or community - and go ahead and get them together.
Become one of the Rebbe's matchmakers too.
Wishing you a Shabbat of connecting the potential around you.
Thanks Osher for the inspiration!