SINGAPORE

1 Museum mannequin:

At Sentosa's historical museum I saw life-size models of founders of Singapore including a Jewish character, Menassah, who built a synagogue next to his home. Not far to walk to services!

2 Synagogue buildings:

See the exterior. Plan a visit at a suitable time to see the interiors.

Synagogue street no longer has a synagogue.

Nearby you will see two synagogues marked on maps and both are historic and interesting to visit. You could go to a service or call at the shop to buy kosher food.

A lively programme of events is held which visiting Jews can join, at a price for festival meals, occasionally sponsored Sabbath meals which are free though you can make a donation earlier or later (no money handled on Sabbath), as well as film shows of historic and sometimes hilarious old comedy films with Jewish themes. If you are an expat in Singapore you could attend a service and get on their mailing list. Women sit upstairs.

3 David Elias Building:

The David Elias Building is decorated with six-pointed stars.

The plaque at the top of the corner of the building says it dates back to 1928. It’s on a corner one block north of Singapore Art Museum where Middle Road meets Selegie Road. It’s near the oldest of the two synagogues, the Sephardi or Spanish style synagogue built for people descended from those who left Spain (Sepharad) after the Inquisition.

4 Changi Prison Museum's Jewish chapel

Changi Prison museum shows the make-shift synagogue used when Singapore's Jews were interned by the Japanese during WWII. Every now and then Singapore's historical museum has a display on religions and you'll read accounts of this time.

5 David Marshall Portraits

His portrait is in one synagogue and in the community hall.

Outside the city the Jewish cemetery (closed on Saturday) has the grave of David Marshall. With security so tight nowadays, you may have to make special arrangements to see it.

I met his charming widow who is not Jewish at a British Association dinner. He was a lawyer before becoming a diplomat for Singapore in France in his later days, and you would enjoy reading the book about his trials.