Shadchan

Shadchan (Hebrew:שַׁדְּכָן‎, plural shadchanim or shadchonim Hebrew:שַׁדְּכֳנִם‎) is a Hebrew word for matchmaker.

The word Shadchan often refers to Shadchanim or people who carry out Shidduchim as a profession within the religious Jewish community. However, Shadchan can also be used to refer to anyone who introduces two single Jews to one another with the hope that they will form a couple. Centuries of experience and tradition have shown that a good match is most likely to be formed between people with similar outlooks, attitudes, beliefs and backgrounds. Therefore, a matchmaker is most likely to be someone who is familiar with both sides and is in a position to introduce the interested parties to each other.