In response to a barrage of requests, Mesila’s Education Division held three financial management seminars for chassanim (engaged men) this summer, two in Bnei Brak and one in Jerusalem. About 100 men from all over Israel participated in the seminars, which were sponsored by Bank Pagi.

Participants were welcomed by rabbanim who gave their enthusiastic endorsement to the seminars. At the Jerusalem seminar, R’ Zusha Horowitz of Ramot explained that studying financial management is an integral part of the preparations for building a Jewish home. In the first Bnei Brak seminar, R’ Yosef Binyamin Wosner of Elad emphasized how many problems can be avoided if finances are managed correctly. R’ Moshe Alfa, who addressed the chassanim at the second Bnei Brak seminar, quoted the Gemara’s observation that conflict in the home results from “matters of grain” – i.e., financial issues (Bava Metzia 59a).

The seminars were led by R’ Tzvi Silver, an experienced Mesila counselor and a senior member of the Mesila Education Division. Silver skillfully conveyed the Torah’s outlook on financial management along with practical methods of achieving and maintaining financial stability. Seminar participants learned the basic principles of building a family budget and managing household income and expenditures and discussed the pros and cons of various payment options. They were also guided to understand – and withstand – modern marketing and advertising techniques aimed at making people spend more money than they really need to.

The chassanim who attended the seminars are each entitled to a free consultation with a Mesila counselor after their wedding, to help them get their homes off to a good financial start.

In addition to the seminars for chassanim, Mesila also held two workshops for bachurim in the summer camps of the Kfar Chassidim yeshiva and the Belz yeshiva in Haifa. The workshops explored attitudes towards money, analyzed the way different personality types relate to money, and equipped the bachurim with valuable tools for leading financially responsible lives.

For more information about Mesila’s Education Division or to sign up for future financial management seminars, please contact Mesila at (02) 500-0475 or e-mail info@mesila.org.