Rabbi Moses Hidary hosts classes every Monday night at 8:00 PM at West Deal Shul.

In this class, Rabbi Hidary continues the fourth chapter of Shaar HaBitachon in Chovot HaLevavot, focusing on how a wise person correctly handles the pursuit of wealth. The three positive traits of the maskil are explored: pursuing income only through permissible means, recognizing that some of his money is designated for others, and thanking Hashem for the opportunity to provide rather than seeking praise from beneficiaries. A central theme is that a person with true bitachon feels more secure in what Hashem will provide in the future than in the money already sitting in his bank account, since wealth can disappear in an instant. The class then transitions to a powerful section on people who chase money purely for status and honor, and Chovot HaLevavot explains that the flattery shown to wealthy people is ultimately self-serving, not genuine. Rabbi Hidary closes with a practical discussion on giving charity wisely, budgeting for collectors, and a reflection on whether our purchases are driven by function or by a deeper, unexamined need for social validation.

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(0:00) Intro & Recap of Shaar Habitachon

(1:24) The Wise Person: 3 Correct Approaches

(2:48) Money Belongs to Others Too

(5:05) Thanking Hashem for Giving

(7:01) More Confident in Future Than Present

(10:06) Why We Crave Security in Savings

(13:10) The Tur: Money Is a Deposit

(15:16) Zuz — Money Is Meant to Move

(16:15) New Section: Chasing Money for Status

(21:32) Charity Strategy: Budget & Penny Stocks

(28:32) Keeping Up With the Joneses

(31:28) Why We Honor the Wealthy

(33:58) Who Truly Deserves Honor

(35:40) Status vs. Function: What Do We Buy?

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