Although it may not be intentional, it seems that our Jewish media are subliminally encouraging a lifestyle that many can’t afford
D
id you see the article a few weeks ago about takanah weddings? I’m sure you also sensed a great deal of irony in the discussion of the huge financial burden that most families experience when making weddings.
I’d guess the majority of those who read this piece did so with mixed feelings: On the one hand, agreement that our weddings and much of our lifestyles in general are beyond the pale, and on the other, healthy skepticism whether anything concrete will change anytime soon.
I think if we analyze why many of us might have responded to the article with that eye-rolling emoji if we could’ve, we might find that it’s because of the fact that in the very same publication that is attempting to be a springboard for a communal conversation about this very real issue, and that presented these really innovative and out-of-the-box ideas to bring down the cost of chasunahs, we can also find ample ways and ideas to spend tens of thousands of dollars on an upsheren, sheva brachos, or “tablescape.”
The irony is just too glaring.
I doubt I’m alone in finding great hypocrisy in the same publication advocating and presenting ideas on how to make our weddings more affordable, and also giving us step-by-step guides on all the tablescapes, themes, props, decor, photography that we should consider for our next upsheren. I mean, who wants to watch a sticky-faced, traumatized three-year-old get his first haircut with just plain old pizza and fries?
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