Hedonism, Materialism, and Conspicuous Consumption: What Is Orthodoxy's Upper Limit? With Rabbi Jeremy Wieder (171)

In Episode 99, entitled "The Orthodox Community's Obsession with Materialism," Scott spoke with Rabbi Jeremy Wieder about lavish weddings, luxurious vacations, over-the-top camp programs, and more. But unfortunately, the topic wasn't exhausted; the problem is still here, and there are many other issues that need to be addressed. Among these are whether materialism per se is a violation of Torah, or only if that consumption is conspicuous; in what ways hedonism is inimical to spiritual growth and Torah values; if the problem is the amount we spend, or a general emphasis on lifestyle and possessions; how the high price of yeshiva tuition contributes to the problem; the issue of unethical and illegal business schemes infiltrating many Orthodox communities (and perhaps being ignored); the lessons we failed to learn from Covid; why speaking about materialism matters even if it doesn't seem that anything is changing; and much more.

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