Susan Rappaport's husband died one year ago, and she never found a support group to help her through her bereavement.

"The Jewish community has nothing; they can't find enough young widows to put together a group," said the 49-year-old Basking Ridge resident. When she learned about www.Doublechai.com, she joined right away.

The Web site, launched in a trial format in August, appears to be the first Jewish site devoted to bereavement issues. At first glance, it looks like a Jewish dating service for widows and widowers. But Harold Cook, a political consultant in the Philadelphia area by day, said that is far from its purpose.

"The goal is to create a vibrant community for people who need it," he said. "We're trying to match people up with people who have had the same experiences so they can grow and take the next step on their journeys. It's not just dating but support."

Cook said the site will include weekly chats with specialists, from grief counselors to financial experts to people who can help with the issues surrounding raising children as a single parent.

"This is to serve the community," he said.

Cook said he plans to integrate Jewish Family Service organizations around the country into his page so people who don't know where to turn may find local resources.

Doublechai.com has 19 members, and so far, the site consists of their postings, usually a photo, some personal data, and a statement about themselves. Some postings read like a dating service: "I'm seeking a partner, my last love and best friend." In others, participants seem to want to share their emotions: "I miss my wife and I don't know what I'm looking for."

Cook said he is hoping to have 20,000 members within two years so that the site will pay for itself through advertising revenue; he also envisions recruiting fellows who can serve as liaisons with local communities, creating and hosting local events as well as working with regional service agencies.

Rappaport, a member of Congregation B'nai Israel in Basking Ridge who has two teenage sons, said she hasn't dated anyone since her husband's death, but is looking for someone who has been through what she has. She was not aware of Cook's larger plans but was enthusiastic about his vision.

"He's really filling a niche; I'd been looking for something like this for so long," she said, and offered her own idea: a chat forum. "I've never done it, but my kids do it and I know new mothers do it. Why not?"