Rabbi Lieder's  Blog

Ancient Wisdom Applied in the Modern World E4/2026 If you have 30 seconds…. Nearly 2,000 years ago, Rabbi Matya ben Charash taught: “Be the first to greet every person.” — Ethics of Our Fathers(Pirkei Avot) 4:15 Today, psychologists explain that even brief, friendly encounters can lift our mood and help us feel less alone. Someone beside you in the lift? A neighbour passing on your walk? Smile. Say hello. Wish them a good day. A few words can communicate: “I see you. You m

Ancient Wisdom Applied in the Modern World E3/2026 If you have 30 seconds…. The Invisible Battle: Why We Need to Ask, "What Might I Not Know?" We have all heard the famous advice: "Before you judge someone, walk a mile in their shoes." Someone once added a clever punchline to this: "Then, when you've walked a mile in their shoes, you're a mile away—and they have no shoes!" It is a funny joke, but it points to a serious reality: We usually judge people within seconds, long bef

(A wellbeing resource supported by the Bondi Recovery Taskforce) E2/2026 If you have 30 seconds…. What Ben Zoma Teaches (100 CE) In Ethics of the Fathers (Chapter 4, Mishnah 1), Ben Zoma asks: Who is truly strong? One might think it is the person who conquers a city or controls others. But Ben Zoma answers: “Who is strong? One who overpowers his inclinations... one who rules his spirit is greater than one who captures a city. ”This teaching shows that real strength is interna