Jewish History And Landmarks In Singapore

Magain Aboth synagogue on Waterloo Street.
Photo by Gaurav from Flickr, on Wikipedia.

When I first came to Singapore I joined the Friends of The Museum and with them took a tour of the local synagogues. We saw the synagogue on Waterloo Street, the mikvah (ritual bath) and the shop selling kosher food.




Later I joined a book group which studied all the minority groups and I did a presentation on the Jews of Singapore.

At a public dinner for a woman's association attached to one of the expat clubs I found myself sitting next to the widow of the late David Marshall, Singapore's first Chief Minister. I read a book about him and how we won nearly all his court cases defending people accused of murder. A friend of mine in Singapore who was a lawyer told me that David Marshall had won all his law cases for murder. I asked Mrs Marshall if it was true. She said yes, and no. Some cases he won were lost on appeal. other he lost were won on appeal.

Wikipedia said he won 99 out of 100 cases. And that because of this, the esteemed Lee Kwan Yew, who was in favour of the death penalty, and abolished the jury service in 1969.

The David Marshall trial story I remember is that of a little girl who 'hid' the baby she was babysitting in a well. As I remember or mis-remember this vivid story, he showed in court that she did not understand the concept of death being permanent, unlike sleep. She was hoping that when the baby was found safe and sound she would be rewarded for finding the baby, rewarded with an egg. She had seen the family eating eggs regularly, (every day?) but never had a chance to eat an egg.

I have followed his story with interest. Since the only picture Wikipedia can provide shows
David with a pipe in his mouth, I am not surprised to learn that he died of lung cancer.

This bust of David Marshall in in SMU, Singapore Management University.

Singapore Landmarks

Note that the six point star, known to Jews as the star of David, is also used as the Seal of Solomon by Muslims. The six point star is referred to in Hebrew as Magan/Magain David, star of David or Shield of David.

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Some stories say it is based on or similar to a contemporary or older star which was supposed to catch the devil or misdeeds within the points of the star. We could argue about what it represents 'until the cows come home'.

David Elias Building with stars. Photo by Liadmalone in wikipedia.

Finally, the most well known landmarks in Singapore are Marina Bay Sands 


Marina Bay Sands


and the giant multi-storey waterfall in the centre of Jewell shopping mall in Changi airport. both by architect Safdie.


Waterfall at Jewell, Changi Airport, Singapore.

• The David Marshall trials by Alex Josey( Book )
• David Marshall's political interlude by Alex Josey( Book )

https://www.amazon.com/David-Marshall-Trials-Alex-Jossey/dp/9812616217

A sensation of independence : a political biography of David Marshall by Heng Chee Chan( Book )

Marshall of Singapore : a biography by Kevin Tan( )

Letters from Mao's China by David Marshall( Book )

• Letters from Mao’s China. (1996). (By David Marshall) Singapore: Singapore Heritage Society.(Call no.: RSING 951.05 MAR)
• Singapore’s struggle for nationhood 1945–59. (1971). Singapore: University Education Press. (Call no.: RSEA 959. 57024 MAR-[HIS])
• Edwards, N., & Keys, P. (1988). 
• Singapore: A guide to buildings, streets, places. Singapore: Times Books International, p. 261. (Call no.: RSING 915.957 EDW-[TRA])2. Bieder, J. (2007). 
• The Jews of Singapore. Singapore: Suntree Media, p. 53. (Call no.: RSING 959.57004924 BIE-[HIS])
• Eze Nathan’s The History of Jews in Singapore 1830-1945

Articles

Wikipedia David Marshall
infopedia.nl.sg
remembersingaporewordpress.com
singaporejews.com
http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/infopedia/articles/SIP_283_2005-01-13.html
https://expatliving.sg/touring-singapores-jewish-cultural-and-historical-contribution/

About the Author

Angela Lansbury