Dating Was Never Meant To Look Like This: Rethinking The Shidduch ConversationBy Rachel Tuchman, LMHCWe keep talking about the “shidduch crisis” as if it’s some kind of a math problem, but it isn’t. We also need to address how leadership guidance is affecting dating in real life. Supporting healthy relationships and eventual marriages requires not only boundaries, but also permission to be in the kinds of spaces where connection can actually happen. They come from people being allowed to connect, being prepared for real relationships, and not doing it all alone. If we want better outcomes, we need to stop putting this entirely on individuals and start building systems that make real, healthy connections possible again.