“I need to find ways to be okay with the way I look and feel right now. Relegating happiness to the end of the process only breeds despair”
This may be an unpopular opinion, but I feel like one of the drivers of the gashmiyus obsession Elisheva Appel criticizes is the events run by many of our mosdos. There’s a jaw-dropping amount of unnecessary luxury at a “standard” dinner. While they do have a responsibility to their mosad to raise a lot of money, they help drive this feeling that luxury is the standard.
If someone makes the argument that “people make fancy simchahs, why aren’t they to blame?” the answer I have is that we emulate our leaders, and what they do influences our actions.
I’m asking all frum institutions, tzedakah organizations, and schools to start scaling back. Inflation is hitting everyone hard, so please use this as an opportunity to cut back on the gashmiyus. If someone wants to see a conveyor belt of sushi, let them get one for their own simchah. Don’t be responsible for raising the bar.
R.T.
For Elisheva Appel to point an accusatory finger at the companies of Ali and Shein for raising the standard of materialism in our community is senseless. They’re providing a great service to families who are looking to buy apparel, jewelry, and gift items for a fraction of the cost. Earrings for granddaughters, new Yom Tov dresses are available if you don’t mind waiting through the delivery process.
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