Popular Chasidic Rabbi Urges Followers to Eliminate Wedding Invitations

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BROOKLYN (VINnews/Sandy Eller) – A charismatic Chasidic rabbi who has amassed a following of thousands within the Breslover community has declared war on wedding invitations, describing them as an unnecessary expense that have outlived their intended purpose.

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Rabbi Yoel Roth, head of Mosdos Heichal Hakodesh Breslev in Williamsburg, is well known for his daily doses of inspiration, most of which are delivered in Yiddish and span topics including the weekly Torah portion, daily life and encouragement.

A video clip circulated today on WhatsApp by the Breslev Center features Rabbi Roth giving a lighthearted explanation of how, in generations past, pre-wedding printed communication was necessary because family members often lived miles away from each other.

But in today’s day and age where with the touch of a single button you can send a mass communication to all your guests, wedding invitations are superfluous, said Rabbi Roth.

“Really, we should be sending our invitations by horse and buggy because we can’t deviate from the traditions of 150 years ago, because its only right,” said Rabbi Roth with a smile. “You daven with them in the same beis medrash. And you see them every day. But when it comes to a wedding, you have to mail them an invitation…”

Rabbi Roth, who has previously lambasted lavish lifestyles and has a built a reputation over the years for speaking out about the insanity of peer pressure instead of utilizing common sense, also noted that wedding invitations are considered mandatory because no one wants to deviate from social norms.

His tongue in cheek suggestion a new trend that might soon evolve, with Judaica stores selling leather bottles to hold invitations, was met with laughter from his audience.

Also on Rabbi Roth’s list of wedding expenses to be eliminated are elaborate bavarfens, or aufrufs, with what should be a relatively minor event turning into a $10,000 to $15,000 expense, once the many components are tallied up.

“And why do people do this?” asked Rabbi Roth. “Because everyone else does.”

Rabbi Roth also noted that items like wedding invitations and expansive bavarfens have left relatives taking up collections to cover the cost of the simcha, with people feeling compelled to extend themselves beyond their meets in order to meet societal standards.

Rabbi Roth is the grandson of the well known Rabbi Yechezkel Roth, who passed away in March of 2021.

Many of his videos are on the Breslev Center’s YouTube channel, which has amassed 2,535,171 views since it launched nearly 22 years ago


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51 Comments
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Judith
Judith
1 year ago

One click would be an email . Is he proposing that people use internet ?

Jay
Jay
1 year ago

Cost of invitations are a joke compared to the cost of just one sheva bruches or a bavarfen meal…. or just not buying a new dress for every single sheva brachus…

I also think invitations are silly but there are 50 other expenses that are more costly and simpler do without

Lastly, I never knew VIN has any affiliation with Breslov… I mean the way the article was written….

Alta Bubby
Alta Bubby
1 year ago

That is probably the LEAST of the expenses!
What about playing good old pre recorded Simcha music?
Why a big band?
Why big expensive meals?
Why not a inexpensive smorgasbord, saves a TON of money!!!!!!

The_Truth
The_Truth
1 year ago

So just a simple text message:
“I am making a wedding on this date, that hall, let me know if you can make it. Tnx”

mom x 3 BH
mom x 3 BH
1 year ago

OMG!! Not a bottle!! a “Baatel” A fancy bag like a purse to hold the invitations!

ah yid
ah yid
1 year ago

Just today I had this argument with a co-worker I car pool with. He was talking to his wife about the invitations for his son’s wedding. They need return cards and stamps. I told him I hear invitations but why do you have to spend money on stamps for return cards. Who needs it? In the last couple of years I noticed a trend. Family and close friends come for the chupa until after the first dance. Everyone else comes to say mazel tov at simchas chossson vkallah so why are you sending out who knows how many unnecessary invitations and return cards. Another trend I which would stop is the vachnacht which has become like a mini chasuna.

Kvetch
Kvetch
1 year ago

I’m hosting an event with speakers on this very topic. Invitations have already been mailed out but I can still get one to you in time if you let me know.

Been here and there
Been here and there
1 year ago

Rabbi Yoel Roth definitely on the right path re his values and ideas for a more sensible lifestyle, al pi Torah. Yes, where should all this money come from to pay for the lavish and outrageous conspicuous consumption only for keeping up with the next one? Families with bly’h large numbers of children cannot afford it and often can’t deal with social pressures often coming from their own children, who don’t have the empa thy or maturity to resist the pressures for all this nonsense. So, kol hakovod to him for his initiati ves and courage to push for changes in this most sensible and helpful (for the klal) dire

A yid
A yid
1 year ago

This might be ONE suggestion correct with…..

Yankel der ganif
Yankel der ganif
1 year ago

Was his grandfather a Breslover?

NYorker
NYorker
1 year ago

Not everybody that you want to invite you see in shul nor is everybody on your phone contacts that you can invite with a text. It cost just as much to print 10 invitations than 1000. For a few dollars you can print a simple invitation. Yes it does not have to be fancy or costly. just a simple invitation and שאוין.

Shlomo
Shlomo
1 year ago

It’s very poshut. a nice invitation creates the correct chashivus for the event. Of course weddings need invitations! Thinks about it!

just saying
just saying
1 year ago

isn’t the halacha, hazmanah milsa hee?

lol

AyidWithaHeart
AyidWithaHeart
1 year ago

I agree with Rabbi Roth about expensive simches ,but lets not forget that there is a majority in Klal Yisroel who use simple flip phones without getting caught up with the Whatsapp Bal Duver. Invitations is an expensive cost and very hard work till you get your list and mailing up to date but definitely outweighs the cost of having the Tumene phones which was forbidden by all Gedole Hador .

Trh
Trh
1 year ago

Strong!!!
every one should learn from this.

Dr. Alex Morales
Dr. Alex Morales
1 year ago

just make a couple of phone calls and leave an announcement in shul. make the wedding in the backyard like during COVID, and give all the money you were going to spend to the kallah.

Sol L
Sol L
1 year ago

Another PR stunt. Let him focus on the expensesenve roof top party’s and the outrageous party’s every מוצאי שבת in the country. He’s done some good stuff but not everything he says is קודש קודשים

anonymous
anonymous
1 year ago

…and we should stop paying for Mechiras Chometz, Siddur Kidushin, etc , etc….then Rabbonim can recommend how we should economize.

ben
ben
1 year ago

Also Rabbi Roth FOLLOWERS, are making there wedding in the last few years in Breslover shul, with 0 cost.

TorahJew
TorahJew
1 year ago

He eliminated weddings in a decent hall in general. Only with plastic dishes that by the chupah there wasnt a plate to break. No jokes.

Iyar5
Iyar5
1 year ago

Well if the money saved on not having hard-copy invitations is instead ploughed into paying the Schadchan[it] what is Halachically owed to them, then this is such an incredibly excellent idea.

Charles B Hall
Charles B Hall
1 year ago

See, Orthodox Jews can and do change religious practices! 😉