E.L.:
Dear Editor, а huge thank you to Zoya Aminov for bringing up such a sensitive yet important topic: over-the-top and outrageously expensive weddings. And special thanks to Dr. Zoya Maksumova for her article "But What Will People Say?", it truly hit the mark.
It feels like every year the bar gets higher: more
extravagant flowers, louder music, fancier venues. And unfortunately, it’s not
always about joy. Families often struggle to agree on a budget, and couples
argue over the details. Sometimes, these disagreements even lead to breakups
before the wedding takes place.
And what about those who simply don’t have that kind of
money? People are pressured into taking out loans or borrowing from friends and
relatives just to meet “expectations.” But whose expectations are we talking
about? Even guests can feel the financial burden: multiple events, gifts,
outfits, it all adds up. Some even attend alone just to save money.
I completely agree with Dr. Maksumova: it’s time to stop living for what others might say and start making decisions based on what’s truly affordable. A real wedding should be about love, not debt.
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Jacob Amin:
A very good article! People will always talk, judge, and gossip — no matter how much the Torah, the prophets, and kings warned us against it. That's just human nature. So I've learned to step aside, ignore what others say (even family and relatives), and watch my own words as much as possible.
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Victoria M.:
Dr. Zoya Maksumova’s column
was a powerful reminder of the inner conflict so many of us face — the tension
between wanting to be ourselves and fearing we’ll step outside what’s
considered “acceptable.”
Her insight about how deeply rooted our fear of disapproval is really struck a
chord. We often don’t even realize how much of our life is shaped not by our
own choices, but by the worry of being judged. Dr. Maksumova managed to express
— with both clarity and compassion — that public opinion isn’t inherently
harmful, but it can often hold us back.
It felt personal and incredibly timely. Pieces like this encourage us to pause
and ask: what do I actually want for myself?
Thank you for your honesty, common sense, and respect for the reader. I hope
this conversation continues — the topic is far from exhausted.
