Singapore opens first Jewish museum, highlighting 200 years of history

Museum highlights history of the country’s Jewish community and its impact on Singapore.

By JNS.org

The first Jewish museum in Singapore opened earlier this month, highlighting the 200-year history of the country’s Jewish community.

The Jews of Singapore Museum is located inside the Jacob Ballas Centre and next to the Maghain Aboth Synagogue, Asia’s second-largest and Southeast Asia’s oldest synagogue, reported The Straits Times.

The museum also spotlights Jewish figures who made an impact on Singapore’s history, including David Saul Marshall, Singapore’s first elected chief minister.

Others included are pioneering surgeon Yahya Cohen; former Supreme Court Judge Joseph Grimberg; and stockbroker and philanthropist Jacob Ballas, who was a well-known figure in Singapore’s Jewish community, as well as the former chairman of the Malaysia and Singapore Stock Exchange.

“They are a reminder that greatness sometimes comes in small numbers,” said Nash Benjamin, president of the Jewish Welfare Board of Singapore, which has around 300 members.

“Singapore’s Jewish community is the oldest continuing Jewish community in Southeast Asia, which has unfortunately witnessed the disappearance of various Jewish communities, leaving behind memories of what was,” he added. “In all this, Singapore is a singular exception. We can never take this for granted.”

Singapore’s Law and Home Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam was a guest of honor at the museum’s opening on Dec. 2.

Speaking at the event, he noted that Jews have made “a tremendous contribution” to Singapore over the years. “They’ve added to the richness of our history and our society, and I’m very glad that this museum showcases the history for future generations.”

According to the community’s website, 2,000 Jews currently live in Singapore

World Israel News staff contributed to this report.