a point to ponder about the "shidduch crisis"

The Shidduch Crisis, it is claimed, affects girls more than boys – i.e. there are many more frum unmarried girls than there are frum unmarried boys (let’s say <i>x</i> girls). I have no idea whether this is true. But if it is, then (barring the remote possibility of a higher intermarriage rate among frum boys) there can be ONLY ONE EXPLANATION: that there are MORE frum girls than boys – to be more precise, <i>x</i> more frum girls than frum boys. That’s right. Only one explanation.

This means that all the ideas being put forward, such as limiting the age-gap etc., will never completely solve the problem, even if they increase the number of marriages. They are still very good ideas – more boys and girls (an equal number of each) will be married as a result BH – but there will always be <i>x</i> more unmarried girls than unmarried boys. It’s simple maths.

For example (using simple small figures), imagine that before the Rechnitz theories are tested there are 100 Chassunahs every year, leaving over 40 unmarried girls and 20 unmarried boys. [This means that for every 70 boys (50 married, 20 unmarried) there are 90 girls (50 married, 40 unmarried).] There are 20 more unmarried girls than unmarried boys.

Now R’ Rechnitz waves his wand, and manages to convince the remaining 20 Bochurim to ALL get married. Now there are 120 Chassunahs, leaving over 20 unmarried girls, and 0 unmarried boys! As you can see, there are still 20 more unmarried girls than unmarried boys! To reduce this figure (without allowing bigamy) is simply impossible, and anybody who says otherwise is… wrong.