By Jeffrey Catalano
Assistant Editor
On Thursday, February 12, from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., the “Jewish and Israeli Film Festival,” in partnership with Cincinnati Hillel, will be screening the sixth film in its line-up, “Matchmaking 2,” at the Kenwood Theatre. This charming film is a sequel to “Matchmaking,” the film that opened last year’s festival.
The “Matchmaking” films, released in 2022 and 2024, respectively, are Hebrew-language romantic comedies. Both “Matchmaking” films feature the same director, Erez Tadmor (who also serves as one of the film’s writers), and writing team, Hava Divon and Yaki Reisner. “Matchmaking 2” is 100 minutes long.
In “Matchmaking 2,” the story now focus on Baruch Auerbach, a Yeshiva student who’s missed just about every opportunity for marriage. The irony is that he is the devoted assistant of a beloved matchmaker, Malki, who is always trying to find Baruch his beshert (soulmate).
Baruch will find love, but only after he opens his heart to finding the one and realizing how much he’s misunderstood the circumstances of his life.
“Matchmaking 2” is witty, visually stunning and very romantic. It’s a humorous film about finding love and clashing traditions, with some pretty big-hearted and memorable characters.
At the screening of “Matchmaking 2,” a short film, “Half a Date,” will also be shown. The 2025 short is directed by Eden Abitbol and is 25 minutes long.
“Half a Date” follows the story of Tzvi, an ultra-Orthodox student who arrives at a recruitment office to receive a deferral from military service. There he meets Carmel, and their chance encounter leads to the most unlikely of connections.
There is a fee for admission to the screening of “Matchmaking 2.”
