Experts Clash Over Best Financial Strategies for Haredi Families Preparing for Children’s Weddings
A heated and unique panel discussion titled "Wedding Gates" will take place on Thursday, August 20, 2026, at the "Tivonah for Economy" conference in Binyanei HaUma, Jerusalem. The session will focus on one of the most complex economic challenges facing Haredi families: how to financially prepare for the costly weddings of their children. Various experts from different fields, including leaders of gemachim (interest-free loan societies), capital market and real estate specialists, and community initiative representatives, will debate the best approaches to saving, investing, and planning ahead.
The panel, moderated by Israel Adleman, deputy CEO of Tivonah, and investment expert Yossi Oster, will confront difficult questions such as whether the traditional gemach model remains viable amid rising living costs, or if interest-free loans might burden families long-term. Alternative strategies like investing in the stock market and real estate will also be scrutinized for their risks, required capital, and suitability for average families.
Participants include Rabbi Chaim Eliezer Alter, CEO of the Central Gemach, Rabbi Yosef Mintzberg, initiator of the "Meshi'im" program, Rabbi Yehuda Beipus from the "Bankel" organization, Rabbi Tzvi Silver from "Shalach Lechem," real estate investment expert Avraham Aranfreund, community program representative Avraham Lapkovitz, and economic coach Shalom Pekasher from Tivonah. Lapkovitz will present a community-based model that transforms wedding expenses from a private family burden into a collective, organized effort, citing case studies of communities already implementing early preparation and shared solutions.
Pekasher will address family budgeting realities, emphasizing how much families can realistically save monthly without compromising current financial stability. The panel aims to provide attendees with a comprehensive toolkit, highlighting the advantages, disadvantages, and risks of each method, enabling families and community leaders to make informed decisions for their economic futures.
Shlomi Perush, CEO of Tivonah, stressed that the goal is not to find a single "winning model" but to expose the full range of options so families can choose the best fit. The event promises to be more than a professional debate; it is a rare opportunity to directly compare methods, ask tough questions, and seek sustainable financial solutions for one of the most significant and expensive family milestones: children’s weddings.
The conference opens at 3:00 PM, with the program starting at 4:00 PM at Binyanei HaUma in Jerusalem.
