David Werdiger

thinker; writer; Jew

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Mar 13, 2025, 6:20 AM

Purim: Deja vu all over again

Mark Twain said that “History doesn't repeat itself, but it often rhymes”. The "vibe shift" that the Jewish world has experienced since the October 7th attacks is a modern repeat of Purim in many ways. Purim is about revealing that...

Jan 12, 2024, 5:31 PM

Jewish Philanthropy: Buildings vs chairs

The old jokes about the Jewish spacecraft that was unable to take-off because it was weighed down by donor plaques, and the university auditorium named after the famous Jewish writer who wrote "a cheque" say a lot about how...

Oct 13, 2023, 9:04 AM

In this war, cognitive biases win

Support for Hamas from various groups has astounded many people: "Can't you finally realise what they are? Call them terrorists? " On social media, it has prompted a meta-war (i.e. a war about a war) as well as satire....

Sep 20, 2023, 11:51 AM

Bina 2.0: Why AI Won’t Replace Us

The latest iteration of AI – specifically OpenAI’s ChatGPT product – has created an explosion of global proportions, with the fastest take-up of any online product ever (a million users signed in just five days). Users can engage with...

Jul 21, 2023, 11:01 AM

Legacy Interrupted

On this day (3 Av) 80 years ago, my late father and most of his family were deported to Auschwitz. My father and one brother were 'selected' for slave labour, while my grandmother and her three younger children were...

Mar 13, 2023, 7:39 AM

Why the Twelve Tribes?

Why did the Jewish people need to consist of twelve tribes? They started as one family, with a common ancestor - our forefather Jacob. As they grew from a large family to an emerging people during the Egyptian exile,...

Jan 25, 2022, 5:27 AM

Gemara and Gut Health

Back when I was a student, we viewed Aggadah - the non-legalistic, stories within the Talmud - as the 'easy' part of study. Rather than being bogged down by complex and nuanced logic arguments, we would skim through those...

Sep 17, 2021, 11:42 AM

Australian Jews vs. Jewish Australians

The Jewish social media mob who highlight the infractions of fellow Jews are playing a risky game of in-group politics. The recent public scandals in our local Jewish community in Melbourne Australia - an engagement party and minyanim in breach...

May 28, 2021, 8:35 AM

Fear and Distress in Gaza

The latest round of conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza has, unsurprisingly, been as polarising as ever. If one sympathises with Israel, then one cannot support the Palestinians, and vice-versa. But does it have to be like that?...

May 23, 2021, 7:08 AM

Hamas Announces Charidy Campaign (satire)

NOTE: The following is satire. In the wake of the recent conflict with Israel, Hamas have announced a bold rebuilding campaign, funded using the innovative non-profit fundraising platform Charidy. In this exclusive interview, which has been edited for space and...

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About Me

David is a public speaker and author, an experienced technology entrepreneur, strategic thinker and advisor, family office principal, philanthropist and not-for-profit innovator. Based in Melbourne Australia, David consults on high net worth family and business issues helping people establish succession plans, overcome family conflict, and find better work/life balance. He is an adjunct industry fellow at Swinburne University, with a focus on entrepreneurship. David incorporates his diverse background into his thinking and speaking, which cuts across succession planning, wealth transition, legacy, Jewish identity and continuity. He is passionate about leadership, good governance, and sports. David is married with five children.

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