Rabbonim, morei horo'oh heads of tzedokoh and
chessed organizations and public figures from around
the country were on hand at an impressive event to mark the
founding of Tevunah - Guidance for Family Budgeting.
The aim of the organization is to raise awareness among young
families regarding how to keep the household budget balanced
and functioning smoothly. The organization, which has been in
the planning stages for several months, formulated its
programs and operations through consultations with the
rabbinical committee set up to guide it, including HaRav
Binyomin Wosner, HaRav Yisroel Rosenberg and HaRav Mas'ud Ben
Shimon, who say the organization will train professionals to
hold lectures and workshops for engaged couples and newlyweds
on how to run the household budget and live within their
limits.
The Nesius is led by public figures with vast experience in
this area, such as Rabbi Mordechai Karelitz, former health
minister Rabbi Nissim Dahan and Netanya Deputy Mayor Rabbi
Shimon Sherr. The organization is headed by R' Moshe Porush
and R' Shlomo Goldstein.
In the opening speech at the event, HaRav Binyomin Wosner
discussed the importance of addressing the root of the
problem in light of the numerous figures he has come across
as a member of various tzedokoh committees. "Many
people wind up going into debt because they lack minimal
experience in budgeting and do not know how to manage their
moves in light of the many temptations before them, and this
turns them into debtors and their lives revolve around
various gemachim. The accumulated experience of
various tzedokoh committees shows indirect expenses
and the losses through fines, phone calls, taxis, valuable
time, etc. incurred by debtors fettered to gemachim
accounts for 10 percent (!) of the principal of the loan,"
revealed HaRav Wosner.
The gathering was emceed by Yated Ne'eman columnist
Rabbi Aryeh Zissman, who gave a vivid description of the
process the young couple goes through immediately after their
wedding, gradually developing a dependence on loans and
gemachim.
HaRav Simcha Cohen spoke of the need to seize the opportunity
brought about by an awareness in various circles of the need
to substantially reduce wedding costs and raise awareness of
preventative measures before marriage to keep young couples
from falling into debt.
