I am pretty much as single as it gets. A pandemic combined with crippling anxiety and depression has that effect. But that doesn’t stop me from downloading every dating app in the App Store and swiping ‘til my thumb cramps up. And despite the fact that I bop from app to app like I’m 18 and they’re an NYC night club, I rarely match with anyone. It’s a mixture of being a picky bitch and general dating app culture.
Something that isn’t a dealbreaker, but is important to me is that my partner be Jewish. It’s something I have come to realize more and more in the last few years. I am not terribly religious and I don’t plan on having children, but I do think my Judaism is important and I want to be more involved in it, however that looks. I think having a partner who is also Jewish brings me closer to that. Maybe it’s because I follow a shit ton of Jewish meme accounts and read Hey Alma like it's my job, but I was targeted on Instagram with an ad for a new dating app for culturally Jewish people.
The Lox Club is a new members-only dating app, like Raya meets Hinge, founded by Austin Kevitch. Kevitch found the whole online dating scene to be painstaking and cringey and saw an opportunity for something more fun for people genuinely looking for their partner in crime. One need not be Jewish to apply, but you’ll probably appreciate it more if you are. The waiting list to join exceeds 20,000 as Lox Club employees review each applicant with meticulous detail (they've been known to go so far as to research your friends list). They are looking for applicants to show passion, vulnerability, and individuality in their applications; people who are looking for a genuine connection.
During the application process you have to read a story about the app’s founder’s late grandparents, Morris Spielman and Josephine Kevitch, and their (fictional) speakeasy behind a deli. Within the story is a hidden password you need in order to apply. You also need to agree to the community rules, which most notably includes no screenshots and a Fight Club-esque policy on not talking about The Lox Club outside The Lox Club. Kevitch claims the photo rule is to protect the identities of those on the app which he claims to include executives, authors and singer-songwriters (I myself have spotted a celeb or two). The Fight Club rule just adds to the air of mystery.
While the whole app is very tongue-in-cheek, Kevitch’s honest end goal is to be the matchmaker missing in this digital age. Within the app you will find a number to text The Lox Club’s dedicated matchmaker, a real life person there to help you answer every question you’ve ever had about your own profile. They will help you optimize your photos and your profile prompts to present your very best self. When I texted in asking about my photos they suggested I put my last photo first and that I move another into one of the first three positions. I had a match within the hour.
All the problems I have with traditional dating apps seems to be solved with The Lox Club. The users are curated based on their personality, people are looking for a genuine connection (theoretically), and it values connections. As a culturally Jewish person, looking for another culturally Jewish person, the app resonates with me. And while I haven’t found my perfect match yet, I don’t feel as discouraged as I do after about 3 minutes on Bumble or Hinge
Shit We’re Loving: EXPERIENCE
Sydney’s Pick: Smart Money With Sam
No one told me life was going to be this way. While my job might not be a joke, I am broke and my love life is DOA. The pandemic kind of makes it hard to do anything about the latter, but there seems to be no better time to try and straighten out my finances. Unlike my saver sister, I have spent every penny I have ever made and while that hasn’t really been a problem in the past, I am moving into my *cringe* late twenties with no savings and no idea how to plan for my future.
While high school was very concerned that we be able to run a mile and analyze the symbolism in The Great Gatsby, they provided no education in financial literacy. I was blessed to have parents that handled all the mechanics of taking out loans for college and I never had to do anything except make my monthly payment (I didn’t even know exactly how much I owed until this week). All this is to say I am financially illiterate.
At the recommendation of one my friends, I signed up for an exploratory call with Sam from Smart Money With Sam. She is a financial coach that specializes in guiding millennial women to a financially free future. Her time and guidance is certainly an investment, but after my call I knew she would be able to help me. We had our first coaching call this week where she broke down how our 3 month program would go and started out on my journey to financial freedom.
While I may not be in loads of debt, Sam is still a great fit for me because she will be able to help me pay of the bit of debt I do have and help me save fo the future! Check out her website for information on coaching and check out her Instagram for great tips!
Show Your Support: NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund
In honor of Black History Month, Our Trust Fund is choosing to showcase NAACP’s Legal Defense and Educational Fund. This fund is a branch of the NAACP and is America’s premier legal organization fighting for racial justice. Through litigation, advocacy, and public education, LDF seeks structural changes to expand democracy, eliminate disparities, and achieve racial justice in a society that fulfills the promise of equality for all Americans. LDF also defends the gains and protections won over the past 80 years of civil rights struggle and works to improve the quality and diversity of judicial and executive appointments.
LDF’s mission has always been transformative: to achieve racial justice, equality, and an inclusive society.
On their website, they have a place to search and look at different ongoing cases where you can get the facts and updates on the case as well as links to petitions or other important information. They have cases involving not just crucial civil rights laws, but also things like economic and transportation cases as well as education rights which is another cornerstone to the organization. As we progress into 2021, it’s important to remember what 2020 brought us and the drive to keep moving forward. We may have a new president (thank the gods) but we still have an insurmountable amount of work to do. At OTF, we support this movement forward and will be donating $100 to this cause.
Daily Intention
Today I will…
not let my day be derailed by panic.
Here’s some nifty buttons for you to press, enjoy: