Since $40,000 is about 2/3 of my NET (AFTER taxes) salary for a single year, I don’t put much stock in $40,000 watches, and I can’t begin to think of the things that someone who could afford to buy such a watch would be thinking. However, bashing the rich (someone who could afford a $40,000 watch, etc.,), or companies whose products are marketed to the rich, is not a Jewish mida. It’s a mida of classical Christianity and of some in American political circles. I’ve said before, and say again, check the Igeres HaRamban, and what he has to say as to how we “commonfolk” have to think of the rich. We have no right to be jealous, or to begrudge them their wealth. Are we also jealous of their nisyanos in everyday life? I’ve seen some very wealthy Jews, and the heartaches and burdens they often have to carry with them. And I often think of them a bit, and conclude, “Thank G-d for MY problems.”
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