Purpose of money

“My grandfather (the Rebbe related) was a “zitzer” – a “sitter” – by the Rebbe Maharash”

[The Rebbe, parenthetically, explained the term “zitzer” as follows (I don’t think it can be found on Wikipidia): It used to be customary, that a yungerman, immediately following his chasunah, would bade his family farewell, and travel to the Rebbe, where he would proceed to spend an extended period of time devoted exclusively to sitting and learning. (This is in contrast – the Rebbe pointed out, with the custom many have today, to travel right after the chasunah on a “honeymoon” to places like Hawaii, where he will not have a minyan, or proper kosher food supplies, and is certainly not an environment in which to begin a new chapter in one’s life!). These young men were referred to as zitzers].

When the time came for him to return home, the local people gathered around him to welcome him, and to take advantage of the opportunity to hear first-hand about the practices he witnessed by the Rebbe. He described in length the conduct of the Rebbe Maharash, including his displays of wealth. The Rebbe Maharash displayed great wealth, travelling in a carriage drawn by four white horses (the equivalent of a Bentley!), and wearing two gold watches on golden chains, hanging on his waist etc.

One of the listener (apparently not blessed with excessive wisdom) questioned these displays, saying ‘Why does he have to spend money on such things, wouldn’t it be better off to give the money to tzedaka?’

My grandfather answered him sharply: ‘Petach petach [fool fool], for whom do you think that the money was created, for me, or perhaps for you, it was for tzaddikim like the Rebbe that the money was created!”

The Rebbe concluded that, in fact, this concept is the content of a maamar Chazal, that states that gold was only created for the sake of building the bais hamikdash!