Singapore
Information
CJC Vice Presidents: Ben Benjamin, Nash Benjamin, Victor Sassoon
Community Organisation: Jewish Welfare Board of Singapore
Website: https://singaporejews.com/
Demography
There are approximately 2,500 Jewish expatriates living in Singapore, from Australia, Belgium, Israel, Morocco, New Zealand, South Africa, the USA and the United Kingdom. The community, predominantly Sephardi Orthodox, is vibrant and thriving.
History
Jews have lived in Singapore for about 150 years, first settling in 1824 when Singapore came under British rule.
Baghdadi Jews arrived in the mid 1800s, the most well known being the Sassoon family.
By 1840, the community was large enough to need a synagogue which was built on Synagogue Street. This was quickly outgrown and in 1878 the Maghain Aboth Synagogue was inaugurated. The oldest synagogue in East Asia, it contains Torah scrolls from Baghdad in silver cases.
In 1905, a second synagogue, Chesed El, was built with a community centre by Manasseh Meyer. He originally employed minyan men to ensure there was a regular minyan.
During WW2, many of the 5,000 Jewish residents of Singapore were interned under Japanese occupation. They were forced to wear armbands and medallions with the word 'Jew' written on them. Men were forced into labour.
After the war, many emigrated to Australia, Israel, the USA and the United Kingdom.
In the 1960s, trade between Singapore and Israel increased, bringing wealth and more influence to the Jewish community.
In 1968, an official trade agreement was signed between the 2 countries.
The Genizah Project is a catalogue of religious texts and books dating back to the 1st generation of Jews in Singapore. There are over 700 prayer, poetry, halachah and kabbalah books housed in the Jews of Singapore Museum, the earliest from 1883.
Books from the Genizah Project
Public Life
In 1955, David Marshall became the first Chief Minister of Singapore and Dr Yahya Cohen was the Surgeon General.
Community Life
The Maghain Aboth Synagogue runs services 3 times a day.
The Chesed El synagogue runs a Monday shacharit service and services on all the High Holidays.
The Chief Rabbi of Singapore is Rabbi Mordechai Abergel. Rabbi Netanel Rivni is the Youth Leader.
There is also a Progressive Ashkenazi congregation which holds a Friday night Shabbat service once a month. They do not have a synagogue.
The Jacob Ballas Jewish Community Centre runs regular community events. It houses 2 mikvot: one for men and one for women; a kosher restaurant and supermarket; a slaughter room for shechita; a function hall; a Cheder for children, and an adult education programme teaching Torah, Hebrew, history and culture studies.
Singapore has a Jewish care home for the elderly and offers a Chevra Kadisha service.
The Maghain Aboth Synagogue
The Chesed El Synagogue
Kashrut
Singapore has a kosher supermarket and restaurant, both located in the community centre.
Education
Singapore has a Jewish nursery for pre-school and the Sir Manasseh Meyer International School, up to the age of 16.
Youth
There are a number of youth groups and a yeshivah youth programme, although no yeshivah in Singapore.
Media
L'Chaim is the Orthodox community monthly Jewish newsletter, whilst The Singapore Shofar is the Progressive monthly.
Affiliations
Commonwealth Jewish Council
World Jewish Congress