Biology student Abby Eldad says she is not looking for grand gestures or money, but for a values-driven man who will join her in doing good, try keeping Shabbat with her and love animals, especially catsFor years, Abby Eldad says, being approached by men made her anxious rather than flattered. “When someone hit on me, I would be surprised and stressed because I thought they were making fun of me,” she says. “Men rarely made the first move because, as I was told, I came across as unapproachable, intimidating and snobbish, though I’m actually the friendliest nerd. I was usually the one making the first move, and I was turned down a lot,” she says. 6 View gallery 'Snobbish? I’m the biggest nerd there is.' Abby Eldad(Photo: sr_photoart)“Once, I went up to a guy at a bar and he laughed in my face, saying, ‘You and me? Haha.’ It was unpleasant and shook my confidence, but I reminded myself it was a matter of taste and tried not to take it personally.”These days, Eldad says, she is less likely to approach men herself. “I really feel I deserve to stop chasing love and let it come to me,” she says. “I’d love for someone to approach me directly, but respectfully and kindly. I want to feel courted and loved, and to know that someone truly wants me.”Eldad, this week’s bachelorette, is a third-year biology student. Her schedule is demanding, with studies every day from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., but she says she will make time for the man her heart chooses. She describes herself as curious and eager to learn. She likes Torah classes, reading and keeping up with new articles. She is home-oriented, close to her family and says she has a lot of love to give. She wakes up each morning with a sense of mission and a desire to make the world better, and she wants a partner who will see the beauty in that and want to join her.6 View gallery Abby Eldad. Biology student(Photo: Yehudit Tolshinsky)“I’m looking for a husband who, like me, believes in acts of kindness and truly seeing other people,” she says. “I moved to Jerusalem shortly after October 7 and felt a sense of emptiness, so on Fridays, before Shabbat, I would buy challahs and pastries and bring them to hospitals to lift people’s spirits.”“Some men mocked me for it, asking, ‘What, don’t you have anything better to do with your time?’ or ‘What are you, a sucker?’ I want a partner who will understand me, someone with values and a generous heart. I think whoever ends up with me will be very happy, because I love with my whole heart. I see my partner, learn and support him, and always try to be better for him.”Eldad says she is not impressed by money or showy romantic gestures. “I don’t need money or flashy gestures. I want his heart, his words and actions. If you booked a luxurious weekend at a hotel, that’s wonderful and thank you, but let’s go buy groceries for Shabbat and cook a meal together, that would mean even more to me. “I want a fun man who doesn’t lean on his money, because he has a rich inner world. I once dated someone who worked two jobs and very long hours, so I asked him why he was pushing himself so hard. He told me, ‘I want my children to be able to take any after-school class they want.’ I found that amazing, because he wasn’t working hard for a luxury car or a big house. He was doing it for his future children, and that gave it meaning.”6 View gallery Like an open book(Photo: Zahariuk Bohdana )How do you usually meet men?