Reply To: Brand Names�Wasting Money

“Live and let live.” Has no place in Judaism and is not part of the mesorah of klal yisroel.

Sam2: “Daniel: Show me where Mesilas Yesharim says it’s your business how others spend their money.”

I showed you one out of many sources below, now can you show me a source in support of your argument that I should not be concerned when klal yisroel spends vasts amount of money on luxry goods?

Mesilas Yesharim: “…He will then come to despise them and to realize that he should take from the world only that which is essential to him, as I have written above. But just as thinking upon this truth leads to the acquisition of the trait of Separation, so does ignoring it hinder such acquisition, as does courting the company of those who pursue honor and multiply vanity. For when one regards their elegance and dignity, it is impossible that his lust will not be awakened to desire these things. And even if he will not permit his evil inclination to conquer him, he will, in any event, not escape the battle and its dangers. This is the intent of Solomon’s statement (Ecclesiastes 7:2), “It is better to go to the house of mourning than to the house of feasting.” “Separation and protecting themselves from being led into vanities by those of their neighbors.”

We see from here that R” Luzzato is concerned not only with himself staying away from luxry goods, but for all of klal yisroel: as am I.