Displays of wealth as a religious leader

[davidsonj73]

I want to become a rabbi and then move to another city. I wear many expensive clothes now but am wondering: if I display too much wealth, will members of my synagogue give less to the synagogue because they think, I don't need any more of there money? I own dozens of expensive neck ties, how many of them should I wear to my synagogue when I am a rabbi? (I don't want to appear as wealthy as I am)

 

[sharkfinale]

Yeah. I would say rabbi wearing expensive clothing will impact how much people will contribute.

You probably have to get new wardrobe depending on how flashy your current clothes are.

 

[taiyuu_otoko]

some of the dudes who preach prosperity gospel wear thousand dollar sneakers.

 

[davidsonj73]

Yeah. I would say rabbi wearing expensive clothing will impact how much people will contribute. You probably have to get new wardrobe depending on how flashy your current clothes are.

That seems reasonable. Thanks for the reply!

 

[Bible_Belt]

No man may serve two masters.

 

[corrector]

No man may serve two masters.

Exactly, it's the First Commandment.

 

[BaronOfHair]

I want to become a rabbi and then move to another city

-Are you actually Jewish?

-If not, are you in the process of converting?

-Not long ago, you expressed ambitions to become a male stripper. What prompted you to switch career choices this rapidly and dramatically?

 

[davidsonj73]

-Are you actually Jewish?

-If not, are you in the process of converting?

-Not long ago, you expressed ambitions to become a male stripper. What prompted you to switch career choices this rapidly and dramatically?

Yes, I'm Jewish. I'm all about making money pretty much however as long as it's legal, but I think it would be cool to serve a Jewish community. I plan on moving to a city with a larger Jewish community in the future. I'm a Reform Jew, and we tend to be MUCH more liberal with our interpretation of the Torah, and basically choose which commandments we want to follow. Orthodox and Conservative Jews would find my lifestyle appaling!

 

[BackInTheGame78]

Are you sure you don't need to go get checked out to make sure you are all there?

One second you want advice on how to pick up 18 year old women and the next you want to become a rabbi. Like do you choose the most diametrically opposed ideas possible and then post them in succession here?

That's kinda what it seems like most times.

I mean are your next few posts going to be that you want to start a PETA chapter in your town but the next post after is asking for advice on where to go to become a matador?

 

[AmsterdamAssassin]

Orthodox and Conservative Jews would find my lifestyle appaling!

Trust me, not many people wouldn't.

 

[davidsonj73]

Are you sure you don't need to go get checked out to make sure you are all there?

One second you want advice on how to pick up 18 year old women and the next you want to become a rabbi. Like do you choose the most diametrically opposed ideas possible and then post them in succession here?

That's kinda what it seems like most times.

I mean are your next few posts going to be that you want to start a PETA chapter in your town but the next post after is asking for advice on where to go to become a matador?

I have been evaluated by a psychiatrist, this past year in fact. My family thinks I act strange, so they had me visit a psychiatrist. I was cleared by the psychiatrist. I understand that I seem strange to most people, but that doesn't necessarily indicate mental illness.

 

[BackInTheGame78]

I have been evaluated by a psychiatrist, this past year in fact. My family thinks I act strange, so they had me visit a psychiatrist. I was cleared by the psychiatrist. I understand that I seem strange to most people, but that doesn't necessarily indicate mental illness.

You need to understand that sometimes certain choices you make necessitate that you don't get to make other choices. That doesn't seem to register with you.

 

[AmsterdamAssassin]

I have been evaluated by a psychiatrist, this past year in fact. My family thinks I act strange, so they had me visit a psychiatrist. I was cleared by the psychiatrist. I understand that I seem strange to most people, but that doesn't necessarily indicate mental illness.

 

[eli77]

your doing it for the money?

 

[corrector]

Yes, I'm Jewish. I'm all about making money pretty much however as long as it's legal, but I think it would be cool to serve a Jewish community. I plan on moving to a city with a larger Jewish community in the future. I'm a Reform Jew, and we tend to be MUCH more liberal with our interpretation of the Torah, and basically choose which commandments we want to follow. Orthodox and Conservative Jews would find my lifestyle appaling!

You dont have the right attitude or mindset to be a rabbi. If you have any respect at all, for your religion, I would drop that idea and get some mentoring so your lifestyle and values are in alignment with your religion. Otherwise, I am not Jewish, but it does not sound like a right fit for you.

 

[zekko]

You dont have the right attitude or mindset to be a rabbi. If you have any respect at all, for your religion, I would drop that idea and get some mentoring so your lifestyle and values are in alignment with your religion. Otherwise, I am not Jewish, but it does not sound like a right fit for you.

Doesn't most of the stuff about taking poverty vows and such come from the New Testament (Christianity)? In the Old Testament, the message is that if you are true to God, he will reward you with prosperity. Look at the Old Testament patriarchs, most of them were very wealthy.

 

[corrector]

Doesn't most of the stuff about taking poverty vows and such come from the New Testament (Christianity)? In the Old Testament, the message is that if you are true to God, he will reward you with prosperity. Look at the Old Testament patriarchs, most of them were very wealthy.

I was not referring to the wealth aspect. But the sleeping around aspect. Esp,.sleeping around with the congregants, etc.... Also saying something like that is cool as a reason for doing it sounds shallow. It lacks seriousness.

 

[Solomon]

You dont have the right attitude or mindset to be a rabbi. If you have any respect at all, for your religion, I would drop that idea and get some mentoring so your lifestyle and values are in alignment with your religion. Otherwise, I am not Jewish, but it does not sound like a right fit for you.

Don't feed the troll, you have to understand this the highlight of a trolls day

 

[Bible_Belt]

Doesn't most of the stuff about taking poverty vows and such come from the New Testament (Christianity)? In the Old Testament, the message is that if you are true to God, he will reward you with prosperity. Look at the Old Testament patriarchs, most of them were very wealthy.

Moses, who was a broke middle aged slave, commanded debts to be forgiven every seven years. He also told farmers to only pass over their fields once during harvest, and anything they missed was to be left for the poor.

And the story of the golden calf illustrates the concept of wealth that long ago being the ability to make a fancy statue to worship. Monotheism was a novel concept at the time, most households made their own household gods and shrine. If you were rich, you could afford golden statues, which, as the story goes, made God very angry.

 

[zekko]

Moses, who was a broke middle aged slave, commanded debts to be forgiven every seven years. He also told farmers to only pass over their fields once during harvest, and anything they missed was to be left for the poor.

I did say most, not all.