Who Wants to Be a Billionaire?

by Rabbi Yaakov Salomon

Someone just won $133 million. Wish it was you?

Published: July 12, 2009
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Visitor Comments: 20

(20) Dina, July 17, 2009 2:54 AM

I have what to do with it...

I would like to give 99% to charity. In fact, I would rather that the money not be mine at all, but be in a nonprofit foundation that I could manage. There are many social projects I would love to found, charities I would love to bail out, and scholarships to grant. For myself, I can easily see getting too entrenched in all that money can buy for me. I'd rather be just given an average salary, that with a budget and some common sense I could live on. But for charity purposes... I could use the whole 133 million.

(19) Andrew, July 16, 2009 2:34 AM

The Jackpot

Rabbi: When the Mega millions get that high and I am playing, I often have a one sided conversation with G-d about what I would do with the money. As I also live in NY and the taxes are high I realize that after taxes I would end up with "only" about 53 million. I say to him that 10% comes off the top to go to charity, starting with my shul and various worthy Jewish causes. I would give away another 1 to 2 million to each of my siblings, and my inlaws. With my remaining 38 million or so, I would live a bit. I would retire, and go to shul every Friday and Saturday, which is something I can't always do because I live in the secular world and they don't care that it's your Shabbat--the business has money to make and you are required to be there. I know what you are thinking--get another job-- in my field as an Optometrist you are expected to always be there on Saturday. At least I can make Friday night services. I would live my life more piously than I have been doing. So, yeah, show me the $.

(18) Anonymous, July 15, 2009 8:54 AM

college, wedding, family and charity

yes ofcourse, ill pay for the college i want to go to, put money away for a house later and for my wedding and my sons barmyswa , give some to my family and giva the rest to jjewish charity

(17) Annette, July 15, 2009 6:04 AM

it's only a tool, but a tempting one

a LOT of money or too much of it or not enough of it, we all think about it all the time, our lives revolve weekly around it grocery shopping, paying bills, restraining our spendings, kids sports, insulating our houses, renovating, vehicles breaking down, vet bills, etc.,... So... I do know what I'd do; but as a baal t'shuva far from Jewish centres my biggest challenge has been to understand the relationship with Rabbis; so one of my first goals would be (after Thanking The Almighty for chosing me to win the lottery) to move closer to a Jewish community and hook up with some Rabbis! invest the money and pray hard to be able to provide tzedakah regularly year after year the rest is 'commentary' .... we make it up as we go along in life :) and live gratefully carefull... Hashem gives, and Hashem takes as He sees fit....

(16) Deborah, July 14, 2009 11:52 PM

Are you kidding?

As I sit here trying to figure out if I have enough money for food in the next few weeks, if the physical symptoms I have are cancer or something more innocent, I have to laugh at this video. If I had millions of dollars? I would buy medical insurance for myself . I would help a homeless mentally ill relative get medical care and a bed to sleep in. And I wouldn't worry if I will lose my home and end up on the street at 55

(15) Marsha, July 14, 2009 11:39 PM

Yes, I too would like to win.

The question isn't so much about what to do with the money. There are many acceptable possibilities, such as paying off all my debts (and I have a lot of that), purchasing homes for all my children, tzedaka, et cetera. The real struggle is not allowing my lifestyle to change. I would not work two jobs, a F/T and P/T job, since physically I am finding that very taxing. However, overall I would want to maintain my current lifestyle without changing its materialistic quality. That is where the true struggle lies.

(14) ruth housman, July 14, 2009 10:50 PM

winning THE LOTTERY

I actually played this particular time. I have been playing on and off in Marshfield, mostly taking an automated pick at the General Store. I have a long list on my computer which I call my Tzedakah list and if I win, I fully expect to give the money away and to enjoy disbursing it, or hiring someone to do this. In fact, a long time ago I sat next to a very sweet young man at a Daniel Pearl memorial here in Newton and heard him talk so wisely about philantrhopy that I said to myself, That's My Man. I actually know where he works and how to reach him it this happened. Such is LIFE. You know, I feel deeply that I already won the Lottery because I am so happy with my life and the things that bring great sadness are the illnesses in my extended family but for those things, money is not the answer but LOVE goes a long way. I trust in God. I didn't write this story. I expect whoever wins the lottery is meant to win and whether they enjoy the money or not, it's always a learning curve. I think we get thrown all sorts of learning curves in life and that the lesson has to do with tikkun olam, compassion and love, and an inward turning, to the realization of the great gift of LOVE itself in bringing us all here.

(13) Ja'akov Markus, July 14, 2009 10:11 PM

The money is from Hashem!

Everything you posses, is given to you by Hashem. This includes also the lotery money (you were given and did not earn yourself). So what do you expect Hashem want you to do with the money? No doubt only GOOD (things) for oher people/teh world (tikoen olam).

(12) elmer waymer, July 14, 2009 9:42 PM

If I win that much money I would donate 10% to the poor, widows, orphans and those people in need.

(11) Andy, July 14, 2009 8:39 PM

the dream of a big win keeps people buying tickets

most folks get pleasure just buying the tickets and fantasizing about a big win. As studdies show most winners can't handle it and often their lives are worse as a result. fortunately most lose and just get the pleasure of playing. i hate the idea that my tax dollars go to ad agencies to come up with campaigns to get more people to buy lottery tickets. Just my pet peeve. ps i don't know if that kind of money would be good for me but i'd embrace the challenge if given the oppt'y

(10) Awraham Itschak Leiben, July 14, 2009 1:55 PM

Yes i would like to win!

Yes for sure, i would like to win. Most of this money would go to different foundations to help people and institutions with this money, we that is my wife and me, we do not have to have that much money, but for tsedakka YES please.

(9) Yisroel Pollack, July 14, 2009 1:53 PM

Jackson, A Case in Point

Michael Jackson proves the point that money and fame don’t make the man. He had plenty of both, and he was an obnoxious abomination.

(8) Anonymous, July 14, 2009 3:26 AM

help our day school!

Would I WANT to win $133million dollars?,No,but if I had this tremendous windfall,, I know exactly what I would do. I would immediately give several million dollars to my community's day school and allow them to get out of debt. Then, I would give many hundreds $ to finds for kallot, funds for brides-there are lots of kids out there who want to get married, have found the right person, and need some cash to make a simple wedding. I would help repair and build mikvaot in my comunity and give money to the poor for shabbos andYom tov. I would give the money to my husband to invest in our children's education, and spread around to do the kinds of good work we have not been able to do with out big cash. But the best would be to figure out how to do all of these good deeds without a building being named or a ceremony. There are hundreds of ongoing projects in every community that are already going on which need an infusion of cash. Give the money to noble, wise men and women who are leaders in our community and have good sense to know where to invest it. What a pleasure! I would rent office space for a jewish book lending library...that would be the luxury spending . I'm sure that many of us would be very generous. I'd be interested in hearing about other people's favorite tzedakahs that would get all this iimaginary money. Oh, and the community pool with separate hours for women and men. I think its all spent.

(7) Dvirah, July 13, 2009 2:18 PM

Ambivilent

I think personally that too much money is not healthy and a very heavy responsibility, so while I wouldn't seek to win so much, if I did, I would use it to fund some of the hundreds of social, environmental and charitable schemes I have been devising for years but can't put into practice!

(6) Breina S, July 13, 2009 4:11 AM

Running out of idea

I would be overwhelmed if I won that. At the same time, I think I would: commit to teaching in a yeshiva as opposed to a public school and look to support future husband in learning, or whatever it is they wish to do for the rest of their lives. Then, I think it's a good idea to reflect on all the outreach organizations, camps, scholarships, perhaps even shabbos tables, that I benefited from and show them my appreciation with some amount. Of course, I would pay back the school that I learned from in Jerusalem, as they kindly took me in even though I could only pay a fraction of the tuition. G-d willing if I have kids, I will be sure to pay the full yeshiva tuition. The next thing is my parents, I would like to treat them to a beach house in a location of their choice, along with whatever else they will need throughout the years. I don't know how to think broader than that. It might be too much worry to have to think about spending the rest. I only know what I would do with the first chunk, which is good, perhaps maybe I can do some of those things even without winning big.

(5) Leora B, July 13, 2009 3:54 AM

Hmmm

I read a good quote recently in a children's book by Avi, stating something along the lines of "Money can't buy happiness, it can only rent a lot of it". How true that is. Perhaps it's a "better investment" to learn to be happy with you have already, otherwise you buy into a temporary fix that gets expensive to maintain.

(4) Steve, July 13, 2009 3:18 AM

I would not

I always wanted to be rich. However, after listening to Rabbi Weinberg's 48 Ways, especially the one about about Happiness, I really feel that there is no happiness to be gained with wealth. As Reb Noah said so eloquently, "If you got used to your hands feet, eyes, and ears, you will surely get used to a yacht!". I heard this first on a tape from him a year ago, and since then I have listened to it many times until this important message was internalized. I no longer crave material wealth. Instead, each day I spend time consciously appreciating God's gifts to me.

(3) Rosen, July 12, 2009 8:52 PM

wants & needs

To differentiate our wants from our needs, would be a question of whether having won $133 million is better than working for several thousand dollars over the years. Perhaps what can also be asked is why do we want what we want and do we really need it, either tangible or intangible?

(2) Anonymous, July 12, 2009 6:00 PM

All about money

People who accuse Micheal Jackson are sick. The accusations against him were all based on MONEY. by geedy people. It is cheaper to pay these people off than pay lawyers and suffer unwanted publicity.His accusers will do anything for money. what proof do they have? NONE The media is also responsible for such chaosm they also will print anything for MONEY. Honesty self respect or respect for others does not exist anymore. May Michael rest in peace.

(1) Chavi, July 12, 2009 3:40 PM

Yes, I would

I personally don't need much to be happy. Material possessions have very little appeal to me. But I see so many charity organizations and worthy institutions that are really struggling to remain afloat. And my maried children, too, are struggling financially. If I won the lottery I would probably give away nine-tenths of it to various worthy charities, institutions, and, of course, to my kids.

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About the Author

Rabbi Yaakov Salomon

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Rabbi Yaakov Salomon, C.S.W. is a noted psychotherapist, in private practice in Brooklyn, N.Y. for over 25 years. He is a Senior Lecturer and the Creative Director of Aish Hatorah's Discovery Productions. He is also an editor and author for the Artscroll Publishing Series and a member of the Kollel of Yeshiva Torah Vodaath.

Rabbi Salomon is co-author, with Rabbi Noah Weinberg, of the best selling book "What the Angel Taught You; Seven Keys to Life Fulfillment," (Mesorah), and is also the co-producer of the highly-acclaimed film, "Inspired."

Click here to order Yaakov Salomon's new book, Salomon Says: 50 Stirring and Stimulating Stories.

In these marvelous stories -- brimming with wit, understanding, a touch of irony and a large helping of authentic Torah perspective -- we will walk with a renowned and experienced psychotherapist and popular author through the pathways of contemporary life: its crowded sidewalks, its pedestrian malls, and the occasional dead end street. This is a walk through our lives that will be fun, entertaining -- and eye-opening. In our full -- sometimes overfull -- and complex lives, Yaakov Salomon is a welcome and much-needed voice of sanity and reason.

His speaking, writing and musical talents have delighted audiences from Harvard to Broadway and everything in between. Rabbi Salomon shares his life with his wife, Temmy, and their unpredictable family.