Letter: 500-2,000 and beyond

I was recently in a silver store. A woman came in with her daughter and asked what people usually spend for a chassan becher. The lady behind the counter said, “Everyone is different. It can go from chamesh mei’os to alfayim and beyond.”

I stood there lost in thought. How did we come to this? And this is only one item that is bought before a chasuna. I do not need to list for this readership all the other expenses that come into play when planning a wedding.

We are doing ourselves in. Yes, we are doing it to ourselves. Not just for a wedding. But also for the basic needs of life – our clothing, our food, our household items, etc. And do I need to detail our luxurious “needs”?

It was not too long ago that my grandmother, a”h, while in Uzbekistan during the war, had to steal a pail from under a cow (and felt very bad for the cow) because she and the others in the barracks did not have any receptacle to hold food in. And while she was doing that, my other relatives in concentration camps were lucky to have one tin spoon to call their own. And they were most grateful even for just that. Baruch Hashem, today we are blessed with so much more than this. Hashem has been good to us.

Please think about this very carefully. Did Hashem give us our money to spend as we are sometimes spending it? Is money perhaps the “other god” we are not supposed to worship?

There are so many aniyim among Klal Yisrael. Tzedaka tatzil mi’maves. Not only does tzedaka save us, but it also saves the poor from a living death. “All that glitters is not gold.” Close your eyes and think about what is the true “gold” that Klal Yisrael should treasure. You know the answer, I am sure. I respectfully request that comments be closed for this letter because the last thing I want to do is generate machlokes.

This content, and any other content on TLS, may not be republished or reproduced without prior permission from TLS. Copying or reproducing our content is both against the law and against Halacha. To inquire about using our content, including videos or photos, email us at general@thelakewoodscoop.com.

Stay up to date with our news alerts by following us on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

**Click here to join over 20,000 receiving our Whatsapp Status updates!**

**Click here to join the official TLS WhatsApp Community!**

Got a news tip? Email us at newstips@thelakewoodscoop.com, Text 415-857-2667, or WhatsApp 609-661-8668.

11 COMMENTS

  1. One thousand percent right!!! Those that have, and can, dig in the people without backbone!! And most of society has no backbone. My mm was $1.10 a piece, food and packaging. Most would probably turn their noses up. WHO CARES????? Stay within your budget! You’ll be the happiest and noone will remember what you gave an hour after you left!! What’s up with impressing everyone??

  2. While your point is noted- but to compare your grandmother from Uzbekistan is a bit of a stretch.

    If HaShem has granted someone with wealth, it’s for them to enjoy. Yes, one should use discretion not to go overboard (a challenge in its own right)

    But if you’re going to compare everything we have today with your grandmother… you’ll find yourself out of touch.

  3. Well….I am not sure we really need to act as if we are in the Concentration Camps. BH we are not today. However, yes, things are way over the top. A Yid does not just spend money because they have it. Just see the next post about a full musical band in the house for a birthday party to understand that we have all gone way overboard!!
    The standards keep being raised and it is crazy. Read the news about anti Semitism getting closer to home to see how comfortable we should be showing off and flaunting these days.

  4. It is not my type to comment, but isn’t it interesting that one day everyone is saying “mi keamcha yisrael” because of all the generosity & the next we complain about their spending habits? B”h some have been blessed with wealth, they give a ton of tzedaka & want to buy their kids nice stuff… Just look at your own plate!!

  5. you were in a silver store!! What did you expect? Next time see the prices in the used clothing store, and you will write a letter praising this generation .

  6. This really has nothing to do with the topic, other that its about silver, and an expensive peice.

    I went in to a silver store and asked the women to show me the nicest flower Vaz, I wanted to by my wife a gift.

    The lady was showing peices in the 2000 dollar range, and I couldn’t make up my mind.

    And B”H money was not the issue.

    Then she turns to me and said, forget the silver, go to CVS and buy your wife a nice card, that will go a lot further.

    And guess what, she was very right.

  7. People are spending way over their budget-on expensive unnecessary pleasures that are gone in a few days-and then wanna know why their in Dept.

    Lets all wake ourselves up to reality and stop living in denial. If you can’t afford something or it will make you too tight in budget. Them hold your desires in for the sake of a healthy life.

    live with this one line and get the gift of happiness 24/7

    “GET WHAT YOU NEED NOT WHAT YOU WANT”

    Once you start living within your means with only getting necessities Hashem will bless you to start seeing yourself even putting money away towards a family Simcha or another nice thing

  8. You can tell a person by his cup. (Kup). Kay-Li say, “An expensive cup is worthless unless there is wine inside and (opinions and judgements) is goodness”. Read between the lines. (A person is a vessel, the book has a cover, etc.)

Comments are closed.