History of the Jews in Singapore
Encyclopedia
The first Jews to settle in Singapore
were of Bagdadi origin, mainly from India
, who migrated to Singapore soon after Sir Stamford Raffles established Singapore as a trading post in 1819.
A couple of decades after the Sultan of Johor
in 1824 sold the 200 mi2 area to England
, the Jewish community was large enough to build a synagogue
seating 40 persons on what is still known as "Synagogue Street."
There were over 1,500 Jewish inhabitants by 1939. Many were interned by the Japanese during World War II
, and a number subsequently emigrated to Australia
, England, the United States
, and Israel
. As a result, the community numbered approximately 450 in 1968. In 2005, the number reached 300, but due to a large Ashkenazi immigration rate to Singapore in recent years, the population is now between 800 and 1000 and comprises mostly foreign Ashkenazi Jews.
. He was born in 1908 and is known for being the first chief minister of Singapore in 1955 lasting for 14 months. He also led the first Merdeka Talks to London
in hope for gaining independence from the British. In his later life, he served as Singapore's ambassador to France
, Switzerland
, Spain
, and Portugal
. He died in 1995 of lung cancer
.
in response to finding the original synagogue in Synagogue Street in poor condition. 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 Ashenazi 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
. Both synagogues still stand today and have been gazetted as national monuments by the Singapore Government
. The Maghain Aboth Synagogue is open throughout the year while Chesed El conducts Monday morning services and operates throughout the High Holidays.
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
were of Bagdadi origin, mainly from India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, who migrated to Singapore soon after Sir Stamford Raffles established Singapore as a trading post in 1819.
A couple of decades after the Sultan of Johor
Johor
Johor is a Malaysian state, located in the southern portion of Peninsular Malaysia. It is one of the most developed states in Malaysia. The state capital city and royal city of Johor is Johor Bahru, formerly known as Tanjung Puteri...
in 1824 sold the 200 mi2 area to England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, the Jewish community was large enough to build a synagogue
Synagogue
A synagogue is a Jewish house of prayer. This use of the Greek term synagogue originates in the Septuagint where it sometimes translates the Hebrew word for assembly, kahal...
seating 40 persons on what is still known as "Synagogue Street."
Demographics
The 1931 census records that the 832 Jews and larger number of Arab residents were the largest house property owners in the city.There were over 1,500 Jewish inhabitants by 1939. Many were interned by the Japanese during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, and a number subsequently emigrated to Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, England, the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, and Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
. As a result, the community numbered approximately 450 in 1968. In 2005, the number reached 300, but due to a large Ashkenazi immigration rate to Singapore in recent years, the population is now between 800 and 1000 and comprises mostly foreign Ashkenazi Jews.
David Marshall
Probably the most well-known Jew in the history of Singapore is David MarshallDavid Saul Marshall
David Saul Marshall was the leader of the Singapore Labour Front and became the first Chief Minister of Singapore in 1955....
. He was born in 1908 and is known for being the first chief minister of Singapore in 1955 lasting for 14 months. He also led the first Merdeka Talks to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
in hope for gaining independence from the British. In his later life, he served as Singapore's ambassador to France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, and Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
. He died in 1995 of lung cancer
Lung cancer
Lung cancer is a disease characterized by uncontrolled cell growth in tissues of the lung. If left untreated, this growth can spread beyond the lung in a process called metastasis into nearby tissue and, eventually, into other parts of the body. Most cancers that start in lung, known as primary...
.
Sir Manasseh Meyer and Synagogues
An interesting and influential figure at the turn of the twentieth century was Sir Manasseh Meyer. An extremely wealthy Jew, probably the wealthiest in the Far East at the time, Sir Manasseh Meyer founded the Maghain Aboth SynagogueMaghain Aboth Synagogue
The Maghain Aboth Synagogue is a synagogue in Singapore. It is located at Waterloo Street in the Rochor Planning Area, within the Central Area in Singapore's central business district....
in response to finding the original synagogue in Synagogue Street in poor condition. 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 Ashenazi 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
Chesed-El Synagogue
The Chesed-El Synagogue is a synagogue in Singapore. It is located at Oxley Rise in the River Valley Planning Area, within the Central Area in Singapore's central business district.The synagogue was constructed in 1905...
. Both synagogues still stand today and have been gazetted as national monuments by the Singapore Government
Government of Singapore
The Government of Singapore is defined by the Constitution of the Republic of Singapore to mean the Executive branch of government, which is made up of the President and the Cabinet of Singapore. Although the President acts in his personal discretion in the exercise of certain functions as a check...
. The Maghain Aboth Synagogue is open throughout the year while Chesed El conducts Monday morning services and operates throughout the High Holidays.