Christmas is a Jewish holiday... or at least it should be!

If Christmas isn’t exactly a Jewish holiday, maybe it ought to be.

Maybe some of us Jews aren’t able to celebrate Christmas because we see it as a Jesus holiday.

Christmas, after all, celebrates the birth of the greatest Jew who ever lived.

Some of us Jews join in the mistletoe and merriment and enjoy the idea that people from every race on earth sing praise to the God of Israel, because of Jesus.

Some people even love their neighbours because of Jesus.

Did you know that all the writers of the New Testament were Jews?

Did you know that all the teachings of the New Testament like love, peace and caring are Jewish ideas and ideals?

Giving presents is a very Jewish thing to do.

In fact, God gave His people the very best present, His only begotten son, that you might have real joy.

We don’t know exactly what date he was born, but 25 December is as good as any day to celebrate his birth.

If you knew what we know, that Jesus really is the Jewish messiah, then you would agree that Christmas should be a Jewish holiday. 

Want to read more? How about the real story of a real Orthodox Jew who came to believe in Jesus and now leads the Jews for Jesus in Sydney? Click the link here and fill out the coupon today (Limit one per person) and we will send this booklet to you free.

Phone: 1.800.MESSIAH. (1.800.637.742)

Big Things Australia

I'm a sucker for touristy things. I enjoyed going to Sherwood Forest and was disappointed that the kiosk for sales was so limited. Nottingham t-shirts, or one that said, "I AM Robin Hood" would have been fun to buy. The whole area with the castle and the caves... I enjoyed visiting there in 1982. But more stuff, that's what I wanted then.

When I went to Singapore the first time (now it's old hat), the merlion and the statue of children jumping into the river were worthy of the visit and of course, all the photos from all the angles possible. And the old colonial buildings captured my attention and the rolls of film we used to purchase and develop as well.

In 1998, my family and I moved to Australia, and even though my wife and I had visited in 1995 and I had returned a few other times to consider the big international move, it wasn't until I was driving in various areas around the eastern part of the country that I found Big Things. And stopped and took photos. I'm a sucker for touristy things.

What's a "Big Thing" in Australia? David Clark is a Sydney-sider who lives in Sydney's southwest and is an author of sports items. He wrote a book in 2004 about the iconic scene-busting statues (of sorts) which abound in the Australian landscape. Noel McKenna has also joined in the documentation. His mapping and videos help add to your understanding of the locations and the icons.

Others focus on WA or NT, and of course, the tourist-loving Queensland government knows a good (big) thing when they see it. They made maps and signs to help you get there.

I started a Flickr album of the sites I'd seen including the Big Ned Kelly and the Big Strawberry, the Big Guitar and the Big Merino. Then I thought, someone should start a tour agency that helps international visitors go visit the Big Things in Australia. I've mentioned it to others, but nobody has seen fit to embrace my idea. Make it a bus tour, let people get out and buy the tchotchkes in the kiosk or attendant shop, and take their photos. Some do that with the Taj Mahal. Why not the Big Banana or the Big Pineapple? Seems a no-brainer to me!

Maybe you want to take the David Clark book and the Noel McKenna maps and make this happen...what do you think? The tourists who love their photos and their checklist... this might just be an entrepreneur's dream. 

Here are some of my shots:

If you take my idea and create a Big Things Australia tour, will you let me know? I'll promote your venture well. It will give me a (big) sense of satisfaction. And you will earn (big) hugs and profits.

New Blog???

For those who are wondering about the 'new' Bob Mendelsohn blog, let me explain. 

For years I have been writing in blog form since 2005 using Blogger. All those posts are here on this site, in the historical listing to the right. 

When our Jews for Jesus Australia website changed looks and contents in October 2019, we decided to separate out the blog from our ongoing 'articles' section. Rather than list all our writings, we selected choice ones for the readers. That left those who want a seek-and-find storehouse, like blogger, outside the JFJ Australia feature and thus frustrated (or would frustrate) folks. 

Solution? Use Blogger as we have done and simply change the authorship and the name of the Blog from JFJ Oz to Bob Mendelsohn. It's been my bailiwick for 15 years.. might as well keep it as such. Who knows, maybe I'll change the name to Messianic Australia or Bob's Blog or ...you never know. Until then, it's just my name. And my thoughts. 

Anything you have read on this blog is strictly the opinion of the individual author and those who comment also speak on their own.