I am delighted to have another article in the Newcastle Herald today – again it is centre page under their editorial….and again they did me the courtesy of publishing it without editing it down….I am grateful to the Lord for these opportunities….carpe diem!
Here is the full text –
The cinema was packed. The usual noises of people eating crisps and slurping juice could be heard as the film started. And then slowly but surely the place became quiet – deadly quiet. As we left the cinema no one send a word. I think most of us were in shock because of what we had seen. The film was Schindler’s List – a film that I have watched many times since – to remind me of man’s inhumanity to man…or to put it more bluntly, of humanities inhumanity towards the most persecuted group in history – the Jews.
When I came to Australia, I was so proud of its history of being the most welcoming country (outside of Israel) to the Jewish people. Here was a place they could come, thrive and be safe. No more. Two years of increasing antisemitism came to a head last Sunday when 15 people were killed on Bondi beach just because they were Jewish.
I am not Jewish. But my whole life is based on what we have received from the Jewish people. I read the Hebrew psalms every day – and we sing them on Sunday. We continually pray for the peace of Israel. So, I have spent the week in shock and in mourning. But that is nothing to pain and distress the Jews of the Hunter Valley (between 500-1,000) have felt.
I spoke to Rabbi Yossi Rodal, a friend of the murdered Rabbi, and the leader of the Newcastle synagogue, and offered him whatever support we could. He said that everyone in his congregation knew someone who was affected. He was not surprised that this had happened as in recent years the Jewish community has been feeling more vulnerable. Horror, grief and anger are the predominant emotions. But also, gratitude for the support of the wider community, as we evidenced by the hundreds who attended the Menorah lighting at the Newcastle synagogue on Wednesday evening. I was there – standing with the multitude outside. Hearing the Kaddish (the Jewish prayer praising God in the midst of mourning) was one of the most haunting and beautiful things I have ever heard.
Here is my recording of the Kaddish (from outside)…
Then I spoke to a Jewish friend who has somewhat ironically just started attending Scots Kirk. After church on Sunday evening, she was with her new friends from the church in a hostelry on Beaumont St. When the news came through on her phone she was stunned – although it was also something she had expected. “What struck me most was how unsurprised I felt that it happened on such a sacred day.” She has been enormously grateful for old bosses and friends who have reached out. “Violent terror attacks on Jewish people are always deeply, personally upsetting. But the antagonistic, politicised, dehumanising commentary on the internet rock me further, permitting no time to mourn or process as human beings should be allowed.” My friend feels safe in Newcastle, but would be reluctant to walk around in clothing that identified her as a Jew.
I deeply empathise with this. Attacks on Jews and antisemitic dog whistles on social and news media are everywhere we look, perpetuated politically by the left and right wing, and socially by algorithmically supported cultural figures.
It has also shocked me as a ‘person of faith’ how empty and unwelcome I find the meaningless meme so often uttered by politicians – ‘our thoughts and prayers are with you’. This from people who often don’t pray and who I suspect, if they thought a bit more, might realise that it is actions that are needed, not Hallmark cliches. Tightening gun laws, dealing with hate speech, are good ideas…. but they don’t change human hearts.
This is a defining moment for Australia. How we respond will tell us who we really are. I take some hope from the response of Ahemd al-Ahmed, the Muslim who bravely tackled one of the gunmen. I take hope from the hundreds of people who stood in silence and solidarity with the Jewish mourners outside the Newcastle synagogue. I take hope from the dignified and deep response of the Jewish people themselves. But most of all I take hope from the Jew who came into the world to cause ‘great joy for all the people’. For many of us this Christmas celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ will be especially poignant. He is the Light in a world that desperately needs some enlightenment.
David Robertson
Minister, Scots Kirk, Hamilton.
19th Dec 2025
Beaumont Street Blues – Article in the Newcastle Herald
Nicola’s Lessons from Auschwitz
A beautiful letter . I belong to Calvary Chapel here in California . Saved during the Jesus movement with Chuck Smith.. We so love the people of Israel , the children of
Abraham.
I too remember the theatre experience of watching Schindlers List. This swelling of antisemitism is ominous . The end time prophecies speak of it but I thought I would not see it like this in my lifetime.
Thanks Viki….the best thing is that it was an article not a letter (letters are much shorter here and are not considered as published by the newspaper – whereas an article gives a whole lot more scope).
Love Calvary Chapel – I once taught a group of your European leaders in Austria!
As usual, you say what needs to be said.. with considerable insight and reference to the architect of the world. I am so pleased to be able to converse with you on these deeper important issues.
Thanks David, sobering days. I hope and will pray the national government in Australia will recognise what it needs to do and restore the country to be a beacon of light and a safe place for all its citizens, which is demonstrated in practice when it is a safe place for Jewish people.
Excellent response David …Joyce would have been very pleased with It !! Our love to you both this Christmas time C& H Dundee
I do not claim any deep understanding of Gaza. But it’s surely odd how Egypt allegedly spends almost one billion pounds on a new museum, yet cannot take civilians from Gaza. Are the Egyptians being merciful? It’s also odd how the holocaust memory is getting erased from the contemporary western elite.
Perhaps you should try to get some understanding of what is going on in Gaza. This lack of understanding is partly the reason for the horrific contemporary events. Would you like to uproot your family and business and relocate to another country when there is absolutely no need to? Like Israel Gaza and the West Bank were created since 1947. The people living therr have as much right to live there as people anywhere else worldwide. You are also mistaken about the Holocaust – this very much on the minds of many people in relation to what is happening in Gaza and the West Bank
Glenda – you need to stop presupposing that the only reason people disagree with you is because they are ignorant of what is happening. Maybe they disagree with you BECAUSE they know what is happening. I would suggest it is profoundly ignorant to equate what is going on in Gaza with the Holocaust.
You may find these links helpful in aiding your understanding of Gaza – https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ckgr71z0jp4o and https://www.un.org/unispal/history/ but I’d recommend you explore further.
Reverend – can I ask- if someone knows what is happening and makes a suggestion/comment such as the one made – is this reasonable?
Your comment was not reasonable – because it presupposed that you alone – or those who agree with you know the truth – and others who are making comments are ignorant. I would suggest that is not the best way to conduct a discussion.
Glenda, Glenda, Glenda! I am afraid it is you that is unaware! Unaware that you are entrenched in lies, unaware that you are deceived, unaware that you are standing against God when you think He is on your side. I feel sorry for you and can only pray and hope the Lord delivers you out of the pit you are in? This may seem harsh, but it is the truth and someone needs to speak truth to you. Some more inconvenient truths. There has NEVER been a sovereign Palestinian state EVER. There has never been a Palestinian currency a Palestinian king. Before Israel was created the Palestinians were the Jews and it was an insult to call the Arabs Palestinian. It was in the 60’s the myth of Palestinians and a Palestinian state was brought forth and the useful idiots and the deceived lapped it up. Jordan is palestine and Churchill split palestine in two. West of the Jordan for the Arabs and east for the Jews! It was in 1963 I believe the Palestinian flag was manufactured? Before 1967 the west bank was Jordanian and the Gaza was part of Egypt. It was only after Israel miraculously defeated the Arabs that this third entity-the Palestinians arose! Israel left gaza in 2005 for peace and instead the gazans democratically elected hamas and gave Israel rockets and eventually October 7th. The reason there has been no elections in the west bank is due to the fact that hamas would win there too. I have spoken before of the Biblical case for Israel and this is the strongest and most foundational point but there is also the moral and ethical case for Israel. Can you tell us about your husband again as this really justifies your position! By the way, you won’t be able to bring it as a defense when you stand before the Son of David when He sits on His throne to judge the nations and separates the sheep and the goats in response to how they treated His brothers(the Jewish people)
Guy and Reverend. Can I please check this with you both – you both agree that what is currently happening in Israel, Gaza and the West Bank is the will of God?
Thats a bit of a loaded question/accusation? I couldn’t answer it without knowing what you mean by the will of God, and what you think is happening in Gaza?
Can anyone who disagrees point out one fact that I have mentioned that is untrue?
By your own admission, Guy: ‘The reason there has been no elections in the west bank is due to *the fact* that hamas would win there too’.
Well Glenda, where do I start? First of all, we are discussing Israel and Gaza when the subject is a horrific antisemitic attack in Australia. But this is what antisemites do, they try to deflect away from this horrible attack and make it all about what’s going on in Israel. Rather than just sympathising with the innocent Jewish people in this attack they conduct a whataboutism and they do it every single time. So the charge of antisemitism is a just one as they never seem to get so animated or so “caring” about any other conflict or people group. Can you answer why, the Jewish people experienced crusades, inquisitions, pograms, expulsions and holocausts? All this way before there was even a thought about Israel. They are condemned for not having a state, condemned for having one. But here is my answer to your question but you won’t like it. No the will of God is generally not being done in gaza and the west bank. The will and Word of God is for Israel to possess her possessions and Israel is disobeying God by fearing the world and people like you more than they fear God! According to the Word of God, gaza is the possession of the tribe of Judah, I can give the references if needed. Israel withdrew from gaza and immediately Ariel Sharon(a hero of Israel) was struck down with a stroke and the US also suffered as hurricane katrina ravaged her coast( many didn’t see the significance) Israel then suffered rockets and terrorism, culminating in the awful and barbaric attacks of 7th October. The communities around gaza were the liberals of Israel who wanted peace and allowed the gazans in to work etc. They thought they were being liberal and good and didn’t realise they were being scoped out and info was being fed back to hamas. The music festival that was attacked, again was a liberal event and even had idols in the midst. Again people don’t connect the dots but our sovereign Lord shows us consequences to actions and times where He allows things to take place to waken us up and bring His discipline. October 7th woke Israel up but not fully and since then, there has been miracle after miracle but again you can’t see it. Israel was preparing for 80 to 100,000 casualties from the wars in Lebanon, Syria and Iran and the loss of 60 planes with pilots. None of this happened and some of the stories are of Biblical proportions but again most can’t see it. This is a battle between the God of the Bible and the god of islam but again you can’t see it. It is a spiritual battle being played out in a physical world, we do not fight against flesh and blood. There are 2 billion Muslims and 15 million Jews. Arab lands are 700 times larger than Israel. Are you really going to say this about land? And that Israel is goliath and the Arabs are David? As for Judea and Samaria(west bank) this is the heart of Israel and no the will of God is not being done as Israel should have annexed it in 1967. But the will of God will be done and through the sovereign circumstances of God, Israel WILL possess her possessions and take the land as God says. This will prove He IS God and His Word stands. Of course the world will hate as will you and will come against Israel as is prophesied in the Bible to happen. ALL nations will be gathered against her and it is then that He(Jesus) will go and fight those nations and destroy them, then His feet shall stand on the mount of olives and He shall rule over Israel and the whole world and He will not rule with grace and mercy but with a rod of iron. The church really needs to wake up and acknowledge the Word of God, His will and the church really needs to grasp the real Jesus and ditch the santa clause version she currently preaches. This is what the Bible says and it’s astonishing that so called Bible teachers don’t see it or they see it and say it’s allegorical or already happened! But we may well be the generation that sees it happening, some will awaken and change their theology to suit what is actually happening before their eyes. Others will stay entrenched in their doctrines of demons and will be condemned along with all the others who come against and curse His people and His Land. God is lifting up Israel as a banner to the nations and His church and it seems to me everyone can see this banner as the whole world is reacting to it. Your positive or negative reaction to this banner ultimately exposes your heart, whether you do truly Love Him or not and His Word. The cursing and negative reaction to this banner will ultimately land you far away from His presence and from all His blessings, it really is that simple.
Can I say Glenda, thank you for actually engaging and asking decent questions. I have said some harsh but true things and you haven’t taken them personally and responded well. I feel there is hope for you and my advice whether you take it or not, is not to listen to me or David or even yourself. Go to God sincerely, humbly and in prayer. Ask Him to speak to you and show you who He is and His heart for His people and the glory of His Word. He will show you if you really seek and ask and I feel there is a genuinely seeking heart in you? But you must be open to change and repentance as we all have to be, but a genuine open heart will receive from Him. Am praying for you