In Judaism relationship compatibility between two potential couples is considered extremely important. In order to ensure peace within a household matchmaking for compatible couples has been an important part of Jewish tradition since the Middle Ages. This matchmaking process is known as Shadkhan and God is considered the biggest matchmaker of all. The original human Shadkhan is Abraham’s servant Eliezer, who arranged a marriage between Abraham’s son Isaac to the matriarch Rebecca. Abraham wanted to find a wife for his son and so sent his servant Eliezer to locate the right spouse for Issac. Eliezer believes he has found a match for Issac in Rebecca, daughter of Bethuel and the nephew of Abraham. He tests her to see if her character of kindness is true and pure, and she passes the test in Elizers eyes. Rebecca succeeds admirably and when Eliezer brings Rebecca to Isaac, who welcomes her into his home, and “he loved her.”. The Shadkan had great prestige in Jewish society because only people of great character and balanced judgement could become a Shadkhan. The ability to look at the character of two people and understand if they would be compatible together is rare so a true matchmaker was greatly sought after and given great status. In determining compatibility the Shadkhan would look beyond physical attribute and make his judgement about compatibility based on character, intelligence and competence that would lend to a fruitful marriage and encourage a high degree of moral stability in the community. In the early Jewish society it was the headmasters of the Higher Torah Academies who were customarily asked to recommend which students were good for marriage.
By the Middle Ages the Shadkhan had become a paid profession where those who could afford it would pay for a professional matchmaker. The reason for the Shadkhan becoming a paid profession has to do with the growth of the concept of romantic love. Marriage based on romantic affection as the highest priority was taking Jewish Society by storm and this new concept of romance was viewed as disastrous by the elders of society. Many scholars began to earn their living as a Shadkhan. While sounding like a fairly simple job it could be very stressful. If a match was unsuccessful the Shadkhan could be banned and his fee bring refused to be paid. The Shadkhan at times would also have to travel on the dangerous medieval roads to other towns in attempt to find a potential match for paying families. This dangerous task of traveling would earn a higher fee and is written in Jewish law. In a literal sense the Shadkhan was a bringer of communities together and integrated towns that had limited contact with each other. As a secondary role they would also be the ones to provide news to the different towns. Since during these times the Jewish community was spread apart over wide distances the Shadkhan was an integral part of showing these isolated communities that they weren’t alone.