With the costs of making a wedding continuing to rise, the Satmar community of Williamsburg has launched a campaign to persuade chassidim to cut wedding costs. Their first target: Costly “Chosson Menorahs.”
With the costs of making a wedding continuing to rise, the Satmar community of Williamsburg has launched a campaign to persuade chassidim to cut wedding costs.
Throughout the past few weeks, shuls in the Williamsburg area have been plastered with posters encouraging community members not to give in to the social pressure demanding they spend thousands of dollars. As Chanuka nears, the recent focus was on the ‘custom’ of giving a chosson an expensive menorah.
One of the posters query if perhaps the chosson did not fulfill the mitzvah of hadlakas neiros until now, and urgently needs a silver menorah to finally fulfill his obligation. Others ridicule those who take loans or beg from friends and family to meet this social obligation.
Previous posters addressed the expensive streimelach purchased, the costly watches gifted, and the unnecessary desserts served by weddings. The campaign is a part of many chassuna takanos established throughout the years by many kehilos, especially in Satmar.
At one point in time, there were those who approached the Rebbe with a suggestion to make “takanos” in Lubavitch. The Rebbe’s response will be published in the next few days iy”H.
