History of the Jews in Singapore

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Jews have a long history in Singapore, dating back to the 19th century, and are currently a significant minority population in the country.

History

Colonial era

The first wave of Jewish immigration to Singapore were Jews of

Calcutta and Singapore.[1] These settlers spoke Arabic and after arriving in Singapore, adopted the Malay language, then the main language used in Singapore. Approximately 180 descendants of these Jews still exist, which the Rabbi of Singapore, Rabbi Mordechai Abergel, described as the only remaining indigenous Jews of Asia.[2]

In 1841, three Jews, Joseph Dwek Cohen, Nassim Joseph Ezra and Ezra Ezekiel were given a land lease to build a synagogue in a small shop house at Boat Quay. The synagogue was the inspiration of the name of Synagogue Street.[3]

Synagogue Street was in the first Jewish quarter in Singapore, bordered by Wilkie Road, Mount Sophia Road, Bras Basah Road and Middle Road, which the Jewish called "mahallah" (meaning ‘place’ in Arabic), and was the gathering place for the Jewish community in Singapore.[3] The local Jewish community also had a minhag that allowed for travelling to synagogue on Shabbat via rickshaw.[4]

When

Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul nearby. The Jewish community soon began moving into the surrounding areas of Dhoby Ghaut, Waterloo Street
, Prinsep Street, Selegie Road and Wilkie Road. Today, several Jewish buildings still exist in the area.

Construction of

consecration
service was held on 4 April 1878 and conducted by either Lucunas or I.J. Hayeem or both men. In 1924, extensions were made to the building.

Over the years, as Jewish immigration to Singapore increased, the Maghain Aboth Synagogue began to become overcrowded during services. Because of friction between the

Sephardic and Ashkenazi communities over how the services should be carried out, Sir Manasseh Meyer decided to build a new synagogue which was completed in 1905, the Chesed-El Synagogue
.

By 1931, the population had grown to 832, according to a census record that the 832 Jews and larger number of Arab residents were the largest house property owners in the city.[5]

Japanese occupation

By 1942, the same year

POW camps located at Changi Prison and Sime Road. In the camp, the Jewish settlers were allowed to keep a kosher kitchen.[6]

Post-war

After World War II ended, there was an exodus of Jews to Israel and Western countries such as Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States. As a result, the community dropped to approximately 450 in 1968,[7] even falling as low as 180 sometime in the 1960s.[6]

Recent history

From the late 1980s, the Jewish community started growing due to increased economic development and a large

Ashkenazi immigration rate to Singapore and as of 2015, the community had grown to a historic high of 10,456.[citation needed
]

Demographics

As of 2015, there are 10,456 Jews in Singapore, many of whom are recent

orthodox, still exist, which the Rabbi of Singapore, Rabbi Mordechai Abergel, described as the only remaining indigenous Jews of Southeast Asia.[6]

Notable people

David Marshall

One of the most well-known Jews in the history of Singapore was

Workers Party of Singapore
, which is currently Singapore's second largest political party.

In his later life, he served as Singapore's ambassador to France, Switzerland, Spain, and Portugal. He died in 1995 of lung cancer.[8]

Sir Manasseh Meyer

Sir Manasseh Meyer (1843–1930) was a British businessman and philanthropist who was a benefactor to the Jewish community in Singapore. He was the Jewish community's most generous benefactor, being responsible for the setting up of its two synagogues — Maghain Aboth Synagogue and Chesed-El Synagogue. Chesed-El was built for the use of his family and others.

Together with three other wealthy Jews, Meyer bought a large piece of land in Moulmein Road for $5,407.12 for the Jewish Cemetery. Meyer also bought the adjoining piece of land for $8,681.40 and, after reserving a plot for himself and his second wife, Rebecca, presented it to the community. His wife Rebecca died in 1915.

In 1928, he donated $150,000 to the University of Malaya in Singapore (now the

King George V knighted him in 1929 after he donated $20,000 to the British military effort in World War I. Meyer Road in Singapore is named after him.[9]

Frank Benjamin

Frank Benjamin is a merchant who founded retailing company F J Benjamin in 1959. In 1975, he opened Singapore's first single-brand store, Lanvin, in the Grand Hyatt hotel.[9]

Jacob Ballas

Jacob Ballas (1921–2000) was a Jewish stockbroker and philanthropist born in Iraq. He was the inaugural chairman of the

Malaysia and Singapore Stock Exchange from 1964 to 1967, growing the paid-up capital of the bourses from about $870 million to $2 billion.[9][10] Unmarried, his estate was said to be worth more than S$100 million and was divided between charities in Singapore and Israel.[10] His philanthropy in Singapore is marked by the Jacob Ballas Centre.[11]

Harry Elias

Harry Elias (4 May 1937 – 26 August 2020) was the founder of the law firm Harry Elias Partnership LLP and one of Singapore's top lawyers.[6] In 1985, he set up the Criminal Legal Aid Scheme, in which lawyers defend for free those poor and accused of non-capital crimes. As of 2015, the scheme has grown to serve up to 6,000 people annually.[9][12]

Jewish community institutions

Maghain Aboth Synagogue

Maghain Aboth Synagogue

Maghain Aboth Synagogue is a synagogue located at Waterloo Street in the Rochor Planning Area, within the Central Area in Singapore's central business district. The synagogue was constructed by 1878 and is the oldest Jewish synagogue in Southeast Asia.[13]

The synagogue is open throughout the year and is the primary synagogue of the Jewish community in Singapore, and is where many Jewish events and celebrations like Yom Kippur take place.[14]

On 27 February 1998, the synagogue was gazetted as a national monument of Singapore.

Chesed-el Synagogue

Chesed-El Synagogue is a synagogue at Oxley Rise in the River Valley Planning Area, within the Central Area of Singapore. Named Chesed-El, which means "Grace of God", the synagogue was completed in 1905 and is the second synagogue in Singapore.

The Chesed-El Synagogue was gazetted as a national monument on 18 December 1998.

United Hebrew Congregation

The United Hebrew Congregation (UHC Singapore) was formed in 1993. It is Singapore's only

Tikkun Olam
, and have been engaged in various local and global fundraising and community service efforts. [16]

Sir Manasseh Meyer International School (SMMIS)

The Sir Manasseh Meyer International School (SMMIS) is Singapore's only Jewish international school, for students aged 18 months to 16 years. Admitting students of all nationalities and faiths, students choose to follow Jewish Education in Hebrew or World Religions in English.

The school was founded in 1996 by Mrs Simcha Abergel as a nursery for young children, named "Ganenu Learning Centre". The school was later renamed to its current name in 2008, while on its 170 student capacity campus in Belvedere Close, off Tanglin Road.

In 2016, the school's new SGD$40 million campus in Jalan Ulu Sembawang opened, with a student capacity of 500 and facilities like a rooftop swimming pool, football field and 450 seater auditorium.

See also

References

  1. ^ "Origins of the Baghdadi Trade Diaspora genealogy project". geni_family_tree.
  2. ^ "'Crown jewel' of Jewish community to open early next year". The Straits Times. 8 October 2015.
  3. ^ a b "7 things you didn't know about Jews in Singapore". mothership.sg.
  4. The Museum of the Jewish People at Beit Hatfutsot
    . Retrieved 25 June 2018.
  5. ISBN 0-8108-5347-7
    ; 279 pages. pp. 118–119
  6. ^ a b c d "Harry Elias on his early years in a prisoner-of-war camp and how his Malay maid may have saved his life". The Straits Times. 8 October 2015.
  7. ISBN 0-8108-5347-7
    ; 279 pages. pp. 118–119
  8. ISBN 0-7146-5576-7
    ; 478 pages, pp. 191–192
  9. ^ a b c d "Jewish contributions to Singapore". The Straits Times. 8 October 2015.
  10. ^ a b Sathisan, Dinesh; Chua, Sharen (5 August 2016). "Jacob Ballas". Infopedia. National Library Board. Retrieved 6 November 2021.
  11. ^ "A synagogue on Church Street". The Long and Winding Road. WordPress. 21 November 2012. Retrieved 6 November 2021.
  12. ^ "Enhanced Criminal Legal Aid Scheme to benefit up to 6,000 people yearly – Channel NewsAsia". Channel NewsAsia. Archived from the original on 29 July 2015.
  13. ^ "Maghain Aboth Synagogue | Infopedia". eresources.nlb.gov.sg. Retrieved 14 July 2022.
  14. ^ "In Pictures: A month to remember for Jewish community in Singapore". The Straits Times. 8 October 2015.
  15. ^ "Singapore: Culture & Community". Reform Judaism (Spring 2013): 39–40, 44. Retrieved 24 March 2017.
  16. ^ "Singapore Community Unites to Support and Strengthen French Jews". wupj.org. The World Union for Progressive Judaism. Archived from the original on 28 March 2017. Retrieved 24 March 2017.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Judaism in Singapore.
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