I write to you with great admiration and respect, aware of the many ways in which you have supported and sustained our kehilla with generosity, leadership, and vision. Your dedication to Klal Yisroel — in Torah, chesed, and communal growth — has built institutions, supported families, and shaped the future of generations.
Recently, a remarkable initiative was launched in Lakewood: two new wedding halls, Ateres Blima and Ateres Esther, were established to directly address the crushing financial burden so many families face when marrying off children. These halls offer an elegant, all-inclusive simcha package — hall, catering, music, photography, flowers, and more — for just $13,000. The vision is not simply affordability, but a shift in expectations, a reset that prioritizes simcha, dignity, and achrayus over pressure and excess.
The results speak for themselves. Seventy-five weddings have already been booked. The halls are beautiful, efficient, and designed with the community in mind. More than that — they represent hope. They say to a struggling family: “You can make a chasunah without debt. You can celebrate without shame.”
And here is the question we must now ask:
If such a project is possible in Lakewood — and if it is being led, funded, and driven by gevirim from Brooklyn — why can’t we build the same in Brooklyn itself?
Why should Brooklyn families continue to face overwhelming simcha costs, while the very solution being praised in Lakewood remains out of reach for us here? The need is no less urgent in Brooklyn. The numbers are no less staggering. The impact would be just as powerful — and perhaps even more so, given the size and diversity of our neighborhoods.
The community respectfully urges our community leaders and donors to come together and bring this vision to life in Brooklyn. We already have the model. We already have the people. What we need now is the will.
Let us be the generation that changed the trajectory — that made weddings manageable, beautiful, and filled with real simcha. Let us act with foresight, with compassion, and with responsibility.
With heartfelt hope,
Y.R.B.
The views expressed in this letter are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of YWN. Have an opinion you would like to share? Send it to us for review.
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14 Responses
Sorry Mr. Litvak
Williamsburg has 2 such halls for over 10 years
Plus many such halls for smaller simchas.
In fact Lakewood copied Williamsburg
Just to name a few
Padres Tzvi – Wedding
Pardes Feige -Wedding
Binyan Rispler- Wedding
Satmar Wythe 4 halls
Satmar Vyoel Moshe 3 halls
Bris Ruchel. 2 Halls
Satmar Harrison
It is. It’s called Ateres Matel Leah. Where the Manhattan Beach Jewish Center used to be… But not quite 13k.
Thanks for the excellent advice but in Brooklyn we’ve had the vision, the model, the will, and indeed the foresight to beat Lakewood at implementing this. Ateres Matel Leah hall has been open for over 2 years – see the article on Yeshiva World News here https://www.theyeshivaworld.com/news/promotions/2181275/the-new-ateres-matel-leah-hall-the-manhattan-beach-jewish-center-in-brooklyn.html or visit their website directly at ateresmatelleah.com. Indeed Brooklyn families have had the ability for the last 2 years to make beautiful, affordable weddings without the overwhelming costs. Perhaps the author’s ignorance to this gem of a resource means we are not publicizing it enough!
No one is ignorant, but you can have 3 such hall totally booked!!!! One hall cannot handle to need.
Plus- it is not 13,000 for hakol bakol!!!
Very simple.
Its called real estate. The cost of real estate is significantly higher in Brooklyn than that of Lakewood. The same project would cost over 10 times more in Brooklyn just for the land. Furthermore, due to NYC regulations the actual construction would cost significantly more.
Were you aware that the same family of Brooklyn Gevirim who were behind this project in Lakewood had already done a similar project in the old Manhattan Beach Jewish center?
Or were you so eager to bash that you didn’t take the time to look in to it?
Honestly, I get it that you might not have been aware of it, but why did YWN publish your letter, knowing this?
Does anybody read these things before they are published?
I did a Google search. It said that Ateres Matel Leah wedding package is $23,000. I couldn’t find information for the number of people for $23,000. The hall can accommodate up to 650 people
The new Lakewood Hall for $13,000 is for 250 people. Add $500 to upgrade the food.
One needs to call them to verify the information. Below are contact numbers.
Ateres Matel Leah Hall
Phone: 718.831.2018
Email: [email protected]
Ateres Ester Hall (Lakewood NJ)
Phone: (732) 952-1200
Keren Menachem in BP is a great option
If only weddings can be overhauled overall. Ka”h we live in a period of time where, if you’re in the age bracket, you may have 3-5 weddings to attend each week. It puts enormous burden on our lives, our day to day schedules and the life at home. Children need parents to parent them – not baby sitters. If we could come up with some idea to curtail the styles of weddings: the dressing up of the families of the בעלי שמחה to the need for guests to spend so much precious time going to, looking for parking, and the time spent at Simcha, a big relief will have developed. If people can be יוצא ונכנס instead of staying and eating, everyone will benefit.
P.S. Ateres Matil Leah is far out for many. The savings there is not that significant also. The price is reasonable but still, not that great to make one feel the ends justify the means.
The Schron family is an unending chesed operation.
It’s a good start but let’s not kid ourselves just the night of the vort can be Over 10 grand. You have to pay the shadchen, buy jewelry, pay for the hall and for the girl often buy a new dress. Then depending on when you get married there is a list of gifts you have to give. In the litvishe circles you have to promise support ( that should be the next discussion) and if your chasidish you need 2 shtrimals one has to be another 10 grand. Finally we have the auf ruf, Sheva brochos. Make up ladies and who knows what I left out. So It’s a start but more needs to be done.
Wow. Someone makes a comment -and the disagree-ers and enlighteners make nasty and snide remarks.
What’s with you.
Right or wrong – where’s the mentch.
And if BP is 23k and Lakewood is 13k where the comparison.
And yes there is a lot of work re the vort and all the (painful) trappings. – but first compliment this before complaining.
Let’s go back to the good ole days.
Hearing stories growing up about the 1950’s where the Rebbe performed the wedding in his living room and the Rebbetzin catered the Sheva Brachos in the dining room.