Special: Simcha Factory: The Magic of OnlySimchas.com

The question is - how did we ever endure beforehand? Were we always on top of the most recent news in the community? Did it matter that we could go months before seeing photos of a new grandchild in Israel, or learning of a classmate’s engagement in Australia? Nowadays, even a three day yom tov can leave an enthusiast of the site feeling like he or she is out of the loop. It’s all part of the magic of OnlySimchas.com.

OnlySimchas.com is a photo sharing and browsing website for the international Jewish community. Often, it’s an overseas relative who will turn to the site to experience the joy of a new baby to the family. Sometimes, a new couple will return to their own photo gallery just to relive the special moments of their wedding day. But more often OnlySimchas.com has become a destination for Jewish people throughout the world searching for wholesome happy news.

How did the site begin? The legend, as retold by the site’s three founders begins with Dov Katz running a website development company in college. While attending Yossi Markovitz’s engagement party in February of 2000, he took photos with his brand new Sony Mavica and posted them on the web so Yossi’s sister in Israel could view them. Within a few days, other couples were asking Dov to add their images as well. Dr. Doron Katz, who is Dov’s brother-in-law, immediately knew this concept had huge potential in the early stages of the internet. Immediately, the three young entrepreneurs began developing the site’s technology and business operation.

The magic stems from many sources. Since all the content is user uploaded, the site is updated real-time with happenings from around the world. The staff monitors all pictures for suitability and refreshes the homepage at least once a day. The site offers listings of simcha vendors, advertisements for the latest products, and classified posting for real estate, jobs and local events.

Today, the site serves over 20 million pages per month, has over 40,000 posted Simchas, and caters to an international audience from Brooklyn to Bnai Brak, from Antwerp to Sao Paulo and everywhere in between. The trio has transformed a novel idea into a tremendous tool that draws recognition and accolade for its resources and ingenuity.

By now, everyone has a personal OnlySimchas story to tell. Last year, a newlywed couple was honeymooning in London when they accidentally left their wedding proofs in a taxi cab. The resourceful cabbie was able to identify them by “googling” the name of the photographer and celebrant on the internet. Sure enough, the results of the search led him to OnlySimchas.com. With the help of the founding team the proof were returned safely to their very grateful owners. Among their most well-known celebrants was Ari Fleischer, White House press secretary.

Along with their successes, the founders have focused on giving back the community. Among their many projects, the site has raised over $100,000 for charities that include Magen David Adom, the One Family Fund, Zichron Menachem, and Bonai Olam.

The team is currently working on many exciting new endeavors including a press portal and a matchmaking section, appropriately named FutureSimchas.com. So when you need a lift, visit www.onlysimchas.com and bring the magic into your home.