E2/2025
February 2025
By Rabbi Yaakov Lieder

If You Have 30 Seconds:
In the story of the Exodus, there’s a remarkable detail hidden within the narrative of the plagues that struck Egypt. When G-d commanded Moses to initiate the first three plagues—turning the Nile’s waters into blood, summoning the frogs, and bringing forth the lice—Moses did not perform these acts himself. Instead, his brother Aaron was instructed to raise his staff and strike the water and the earth (Exodus 7:19; 8:1, 12).
Why didn’t Moses do it himself?
The answer lies in a profound principle: Gratitude.
As an infant, Moses was saved by the waters of the Nile when his mother placed him in a basket, entrusting his survival to its currents. Years later, when fleeing Egypt, the very ground concealed the Egyptian he had struck down, offering him protection. Because Moses had once benefited from these elements, it would have been inappropriate for him to strike them—even though they were inanimate and lacked awareness.
This teaches us an enduring lesson: when we have benefited from something or someone—even long ago, even when the benefactor had no choice in the matter—we are bound by gratitude, a principle that transcends time and circumstances.
Before reacting in anger or resentment, pause and ask yourself:
· Has this person ever shown me kindness?
· Do I truly wish to harm someone who once extended a helping hand?
If You Have Another Minute:
A Real-Life Reflection
Consider Robert, a man who worked at a local diner during his university years. His manager was demanding, often setting high standards that made shifts stressful. But when Robert’s laptop broke just before a critical exam, that same manager showed unexpected kindness—lending him money to buy a new one and offering extra shifts to help him repay the debt.
Years later, Robert had climbed the corporate ladder and became a hiring manager at a prestigious firm. One day, he discovered that his company was bidding for a major contract, and one of the competing firms was led by none other than his former diner manager. The competition was fierce, and Robert found himself with access to sensitive personal information that, if shared in the right circles, could significantly undermine his former manager’s chances of securing the deal.
Robert was tempted to act on this knowledge. Just as he was about to do so, he hesitated as memories of his manager’s kindness during his university years resurfaced and he recalled the act of generosity that made a difference when he needed it most. That unexpected act that had helped him through a difficult time did not deserve to be repaid in such an underhanded way. Gratitude doesn’t mean ignoring reality or avoiding competition.
Gratitude means recognising past kindness and letting it guide us towards ethical decisions.
Robert’s choice wasn’t just about fairness; it was about honouring a debt of the heart. He realised that while success matters in business, the values we uphold in the process matter even more.
Gratitude is not just about remembering kindness—it’s about honouring it through our actions.
Living with this mindset strengthens our character, fosters trust, and brings more integrity into the world.
For more blogs go to https://www.jfc.org.au/blog
and for videos go to https://www.youtube.com/@liederrelationshipandparen7760/videos
This publication is kindly sponsored by:
Tony & Robin Mitchell
In loving memory of their parents:
Schaindel bat Yitzchak ע"ה
Yeshayahu ben Chaim ע"ה
Avraham Fischel ben Yosef ע"ה
Chana Raizl bat Azriel HaKohen ע"ה
And in honour of Shaina Miriam bas Gavriala Ruth
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