Kosher Money Rav Reuven Feinstein: Why Working Harder Won't Make You Rich (According to the Torah)
Feb 19, 2026
Reuven Feinstein, prominent Orthodox rabbi and rosh yeshiva, shares candid Torah wisdom. He reflects on growing up poor, money’s divine purpose, and family finances. He discusses the limits of hustle culture, the balance between effort and trust, business ethics, Shabbos spending, and how wealth should be stewarded.
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Childhood Of Nickels And Modest Weddings
- Reuven Feinstein recounts growing up with scarce money: parents provided small amounts like a nickel for candy and his mother gave $100 for his wedding hotel.
- The memory shaped his view that money must be used, not wasted, and one should live within means.
Richness Changes Stuff Not Joy
- Wealth changes only scale and storage, not the fundamental ability to enjoy life; Reuven Feinstein says richer kids had more toys but enjoyment stayed similar.
- He uses stickball with a broomstick vs. many toys to show the only major difference is space and abundance.
Avoid Lifestyle Inflation To Keep Cash Flow
- Learn to live within your means regardless of income growth; extra income often fuels bigger mortgages, cars, and tuition, keeping families paycheck to paycheck.
- Feinstein contrasts $50k and $150k earners who both run out before next paycheck due to lifestyle inflation.