In the world of dating of the 21st century, more and more couples are encountered using online dating applications - removing traditional matchmakers and replacing them with a "world wide web."

This is reported by the Jerusalem Post newspaper in an article devoted to the "holiday of love" in the Jewish religious calendar - Tu B'Av (15th day of the month of Menachem-Av), which begins tonight.

Using a variety of Internet applications - from Tinder to Jswipe, and from OKCupid to Bumble, lonely people are increasingly turning to special applications in their mobile phones to find a pair.

At the same time, sometimes they make important conclusions only on the basis of several photographs and some identifying details of their virtual interlocutor.

Throughout the world, dating applications are a world of strange encounters and strange conversations. And the Jewish state is almost no different from other countries.

But, as in all aspects of life in the Jewish state, certain nuances definitely meet "only in Israel."

On dating sites it all starts with photos. In Israel, "profile photos", especially for men, are usually associated with the army - many are photographed in military uniforms - whether they are soldiers or reservists.

But some go even further - for example, photographing inside the Hamas tunnel in Gaza. Someone puts a love letter in the Torah Scroll, and someone dressing in talith and tfillin, aiming from the pistol to an unknown target outside the field of view of the camera.

One young man posted an image of the Lubavitcher Rebbe as a photograph of his profile. Another lover used the photo of soldier Elior Azaria and provided him with a message: "Thank you for killing a terrorist!"

For others, the background on which the photographs are taken is more important. "

I think the number of screenshots with a picture of visits against the background of the Temple Mount is much larger than the actual number of visits to this site.

But I was especially puzzled by the man who chose the photo on which he finds himself in the Hall of Imams of the Holocaust Museum Yad Vashem, "writes the author of the article Ami Spiro

Of course, many prefer to be on the card in the "good company", which they infiltrated with the help of Photoshop.

Those wishing to marry or get married "met" in photos with Miriam and Sheldon Adelson, as well as with US President Donald Trump.

There are also images of suitors and brides with the participation of the Israeli ambassador to the US Ron Dermer and former US President Barack Obama.

However, it's one thing to simply "rush" through the many Israeli dating sites, but it's quite another - not only to start a conversation, but to go out with men or women to a real acquaintance.

While the correspondent of the newspaper The Jerusalem Post spoke about singles across the country - about using the "home" application of this publication for acquaintances, most agreed to share their stories only on conditions of anonymity.

For the same purpose, those who agreed to talk to a journalist are identified only by their names or initials.

Sarah, who lives in Jerusalem, said she sees "many strange and funny things" that she herself also makes a lot of photos and sends them to her virtual friends (who, in return, do the same). In these photos you can see naked bodies and questionable costumes, as well as many strange looks and poses.

Sarah explains this by saying that communication on the Internet is often "more like a game than an opportunity for a serious meeting."

Stacy, who lives in Tel Aviv, recently realized what it means to be a "small world" called Israel.

Looking through the OKCupid site, she came across a guy whose picture made her laugh. He was in the uniform of the IDF, and was photographed grinning, against the backdrop of an Arabic ligature complete with a rifle and a Palestinian flag.

She liked it and at the same time seemed familiar, and the girl thought: "Why not?". The very next day, Stacy met with her pension plan manager ... which, as you might guess, turned out to be the "cool guy" from OKCupid.

But it also happens on the contrary ... Kayla, who lives in the South, corresponded with a guy with whom they met on the Internet.

They switched to talking on the phone, and soon he invited her to a first date. But at the same time he said that he had serious intentions and would bring his entire family to the first meeting. Needless to say, the girl refused such a rapid development of events ...