| Part of a series on |
| Singaporeans |
|---|
Thehistory of the Jews in Singapore dates back to the19th century. Jews are currently a significant minority population in the country.Singaporean Jews orJewish Singaporeans are citizens who areJewish, whether byculture,ethnicity, orreligion. Uniquely,Singapore is the only remaining country inSoutheast Asia to have Jews.[1]
The first wave of Jewish immigration to Singapore were Jews ofBaghdadi origin. The migration of Baghdadi trade diaspora occurred during the 18th and 19th centuries and was at its peak in 1817 due to the rule of Ottoman governorDawud Pasha of Baghdad, who persecuted Jews during his 15-year rule. The first Jews to live in Singapore were the Baghdadi traders who were trading between the then-British ports ofCalcutta and Singapore.[2] These settlers spokeArabic and after arriving in Singapore, adopted theMalay 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.[1]
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 atBoat 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); it was the gathering place for the Jewish community in Singapore.[3] The local Jewish community also had aminhag that allowed for travelling to synagogue onShabbat viarickshaw.[4]
WhenManasseh Meyer returned to Singapore in 1873, he found the synagogue in Synagogue Street in a deplorable state and set about planning a new one for the Jewish community. Jewish community leaders sold off the old synagogue to the government and bought new land for a new synagogue alongWaterloo Street, then called Church Street because of the presence of theChurch of Saint Peter and Saint Paul nearby. The Jewish community soon began moving into the surrounding areas ofDhoby Ghaut, Waterloo Street, Prinsep Street, Selegie Road and Wilkie Road. Today, several Jewish buildings still exist in the area.
Construction ofMaghain Aboth Synagogue, began soon after the community was given the land, and was completed in 1878. Awell was sunk for use as amikvah (ritual bath). Theconsecration 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 theSephardic and Ashkenazi communities over how the services should be conducted, Sir Manasseh Meyer decided to build a new synagogue,Chesed-El Synagogue, completed in 1905.
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]
By 1942, the same yearJapanese occupation of Singapore started, the Jewish population had grown to a high of 1,500. During the occupation, many Jewish settlers were taken toPOW camps located atChangi Prison and Sime Road. In the camp, the Jewish settlers were allowed to keep akosher kitchen.[6]
AfterWorld 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]
From the late 1980s, the Jewish community started growing due to increased economic development and a largeAshkenazi immigration rate to Singapore and as of 2015, the community had grown to a historic high of 10,456.[citation needed]
As of 2015, there are 10,456 Jews in Singapore. Approximately 180 descendants of the "first wave" Jews, who are mostlyOrthodox and began arriving almost 200 years ago, still exist, which the Rabbi of Singapore, Rabbi Mordechai Abergel, described as the only remaining indigenous Jews of Southeast Asia.[6]
One of the most well-known Jews in the history of Singapore wasDavid Marshall (1908–1995). He was the first chief minister of Singapore in 1955, serving for 14 months while being leader of theLabour Front. He also led the firstMerdeka Talks to London in hopes of gaining independence from the British but resigned after failing. Following his resignation, in 1957, he founded theWorkers 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]
SirManasseh 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 andChesed-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 theNational University of Singapore), to build its science building, which has become a Singaporean national monument. Britain'sKing 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 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 (1921–2000) was a Jewish stockbroker and philanthropist born in Iraq. He was the inaugural chairman of theMalayan Stock Exchange, from 1962 to 1964, and later theMalaysia 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]
Joseph Grimberg (8 April 1933 – 17 August 2017) was a prominent lawyer and former Supreme Court judge.
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]
Maghain Aboth Synagogue is a synagogue located atWaterloo 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 anational monument of Singapore.
.jpg)
Chesed-El Synagogue is a synagogue at Oxley Rise in the River Valley Planning Area, within theCentral 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.
The United Hebrew Congregation (UHC Singapore) was formed in 1993. It is Singapore's onlyReform Jewish community and the latest addition to Jewish life in Singapore's modern history.[15] In 2016 it boasted a membership of over 400 Jews and their families, served by its resident Rabbi Nathan Alfred. Despite its membership size, the UHC operates as a synagogue without walls – services and events are held at various sites around the city. As of 2014, the UHC supports a weekly Jewish Religious School. The UHC and its members are dedicated to the Reform Jewish notion ofTikkun Olam, and have been engaged in various local and global fundraising and community service efforts.[16]
TheSir 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.[17]
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 inJalan Ulu Sembawang opened, with a student capacity of 500 and facilities like a rooftop swimming pool, football field and 450 seater auditorium.[1]
History of the Jews in Asia | |
|---|---|
| Sovereign states |
|
| States with limited recognition | |
| Dependencies and other territories | |
| History | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Groups |
| ||||
| Synagogues | |||||
| Yeshivas / Schools | |||||
| Other | |||||
