Q&A: Modesty and Simplicity
Modesty and Simplicity
Question
Hello Rabbi,
There was a heated discussion in our yeshiva about rabbis who travel in luxury cars. Some people defended those rabbis and said that this attracts people to come hear them, and that these cars are comfortable, and maybe his father bought it for him, and all kinds of other strange arguments. My opinion was that despite all these claims, they are not enough to make the matter moral, and in my view it is a lowly thing for a person who is supposed to symbolize simplicity to show up with the very opposite of that. I wanted to hear your opinion on the matter.
Thank you.
Answer
It is hard to give a clear answer. It is indeed preferable to conduct oneself simply, but each person has his own considerations. Clearly, all this is only if the thing is done at his own expense (and he is wealthy).