NEW YORK — Rav Avrohom Schorr wrote a letter to his congregation, strongly urging them to avoid excessive and lavish gatherings, as well as other harmful behavior which has become far too commonplace in the frum world.
In his sharply-worded letter, Rav Schorr, Rabbi of Khal Nezer Gedalyahu in Brooklyn,
spoke out against the unprecedented behavior during Shabbos Nachamu which “breaches barriers” of necessity. He said that foremost are expenses surrounding excessive and lavish Kiddushes on Shabbos, at a time when prices are soaring and people are struggling to earn money. He added that people are surviving due to debts from “plastic” (credit cards).
He went on to decry excessive drinking of hard liquor until people are no longer in the proper frame of mind. He also mentioned the behavior of the younger generation who have abandoned any notion of Derech Eretz for their parents.
Rabbi Schorr strongly urged people to cease and restrain themselves from these behaviors, and went on to discuss “Toameha” seudas on Friday afternoon, which are excessive and not remotely considered a seudas mitzvah. He added they can lead to sins, and cause Shabbos desecration and the desecration of “Kedushas Yisrael” (the sanctity of the Jewish People).
He concluded by saying that people should not protest against others in these matters, rather we should look within ourselves and not participate in these events and behaviors, either on Erev Shabbos, Shabbos, or Motzei Shabbos.
As reported by VINnews