The New Jewish Museum of Singapore opened December 2021

Maghain Aboth Synagogue, Singapore. The name means shield of our fathers.  Notice the six point star at the top of the building and the Hebrew writing which you read from right to left. The Russian and almost identical Bulgarian Cyrillic alphabets were designed by the two Greek orthodox priests who were brothers, one called Cyril. Their Cyrillic alphabets turned the letters around so you could write from left to write. Now you know why some Russian and Cyrillic letters seem to be back to front. That was how writing the alphabet started. 

The museum is in Waterloo Street, near two MRT stations. The nearest is Bras Basah CC2. 

One block away is Ben Coolen MRT railway station on the Downtown line, DT21. Print the street map, or at the ticket office before leaving the station, ask for the Singapore Art Museum.

 Entry to the Jewish Museum is free, but you must book. On the booking form you have to give your name and NRIC (national identity card) number.

The Museum is in the Jacob Ballas building, next door to the Maghain Aboth synagogue, completed 1878, and diagonally opposite the Singapore Art Museum.

The centre also has a kosher food shop. Check the opening hours.

Famous Jewish Singaporeans include 

1 Jacob Ballas, who was the donor for the building. first chairman of the Malayan Stock exchange, later the Malaysia and Singapore stock exchange.

2 Lawyer Harry Elias - set up the criminal legal aid system

3 Surgeon Yahya Cohen

Sir Manasseh Meyer

4 Sir Manasseh Meyer who built the second synagogue Chesed-el, next to his house. It opened in 1905. It has white marble floors, has a white interior, and white exterior, contrasting with green trees.

The synagogue on Waterloo street contains a Mikveh, Jewish ritual bath for women, used complete submersion after the end of menstruation before resuming marital relations with the husband. I saw this on a guided tour organized by either Friends of the Museum or the Women's Association of the British club or the American club or the Australian club. I was active in all of these, and writers groups and British Council meetings, in my early days in Singapore, before joining Toastmasters International.

Wiki reveals:

Together with three other wealthy Jews, Meyer bought a large piece of land in Moulmein Road for $5,407.12 for the Jewish Cemetery. Meyer also bought the adjoining piece of land for $8,681.40 and, after reserving a plot for himself and his second wife, Rebecca, presented it to the community. His wife Rebecca died in 1915.

the lawyer

5 David Marshall, first chief minister of Singapore.

David Marshall born 1908, studied law in the UK.

Fascinating book about the David Marshall trials. He saved a little girl from being hanged.

I met his widow at a lunch. I asked her if it was true that he had won every case. Not exactly, she told me. 'Some he won, but lost on appeal. Some he lost, but won on appeal.'

Whilst visiting the Jewish Museum, see the Singapore Art Museum.

Jewish Museum

24 Waterloo Street,

Singapore 187968

Opening times

Open Sunday to 

Thursday 10-6

Friday morning 12-1

Closed on Saturday and Jewish festivals.

Email

jewsofsingapore@jwb.org.sg

Chesed-El synagogue, Oxley Rise, Singapore

Useful Websites

https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/first-jewish-museum-in-singapore-opens-in-waterloo-street

https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/politics/singapore-jewish-community-has-deep-roots-stretching-back-to-1819

https://singaporejews.com/museum/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Singaporean_Jews

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maghain_Aboth_Synagogue

https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/singapore-virtual-jewish-history-tour

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manasseh_Meyer

Inter Religious Organization, founded 1949

https://iro.sg/judaism/

ART MUSEUM

https://www.facebook.com/singaporeartmuseum

https://www.singaporeartmuseum.sg/art-events/exhibitions/the-explorer-project

Singapore Art Museum

Jan 14 2022 a new branch will open in the Tanjong Pagar Distripark.

Getting there

Bencoolen on the downtown Line. 

SBS Transit - 1800 287 2727.

About the Author of this blog, Author Angela Lansbury

BIOGRAPHY

Angela Lansbury B A Hons ACG ALB PM5 EH5 DL5 VC5 
The Author of several books, including: Etiquette For Every Occasion. Wedding Speeches & Toasts. How to be the Best Man. Quick Quotations. Who Said What When.

Blogs travelwithangelalansbury.blogspot.com

dressofthedayangela.blogspot.com

translateforfun.blogspot.com

Braddell Heights Advanced Toastmasters Speakers Club Vice President Public Relations (VPPR), Previous President

Join BHA 1st Wednesday 7pm and 3rd Saturday 2 pm Singapore time 

Vice President Public Relations (VP PR) of Tampines Changkat Advanced;

Secretary of weekly online Singapore International Dynamic Toastmasters Speakers’ Club;

Member and past president of Harrovians toastmasters club, UK; Past member of HOD Toastmasters, London. Past member in Singapore of: Toastmasters Club of Singapore (TCS); Tiarel; and Senja Cashew.

More details from Toastmasters International find a club.

Regular attendee at annual Swanwick Writers’ School, England.

Regular attendee at annual Writers’ Holiday, Wales.

Contributor to poetry readings, and after tea courses on: Speaking On Radio To Promote Books; and Plots And Character.

Winner of many club and area speaking contests in the UK and Singapore.

Language advisor to Empire Toastmasters club in Indonesia.

Language and speech workshops in Singapore.

Speaker on radio and TV in England, Scotland, the USA, and Australia.

Compiler of a school course on public speaking for teachers to prepare pupils for school open days with attending ceremonies before government ministers, Singapore.

Former member of Harrow Writers’ Circle, London, and two writing groups in Singapore.

Angela is on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Twitter. She would be delighted to link up with new friends.

I  also have a blog on comic poems.

 Please share links to your favourite posts. 

Artwork on MRT station Bencoolen and along Waterloo Street

One of my favourites.

I passed it on Bencoolen MRT underground railway station in Singapore, just around the corner from the Singapore Art Museum. I went down the escalator because I was in a hurry to get to my destination but the escalator was short, so I thought, it will only take a minute to go up again and take one photo. I took five photos.

The Plaque
Then, as I took the escalator down a second time, I noticed the plaque to the right of the artwork, presumably like those I had seen on other stations, describing the work and the author.
You are not short of viewing art in this area. One giant artwork in front of the Art Museum, shops which resemble art galleries, and then this mural on the underground.

I thought, never mind about the description of the author. I can probably find that on the internet in a section on Singapore stations.

Private art galleries (shops) are along the street where you find Bencoolen station entrance. 

Artists on a mural in the underground MRT station Bencoolen in Singapore. Photo by Angela Lansbury.  Copyright.

I checked the lta (Land transport authority) for the title of the artwork. It is called Tracing Memories. Looking at my photo again, I notice the reflections from the spotlights behind me are intrusive. On the other hand the spotlights above each figure are very effective in drawing your attention and giving importance to each person. 

I assumed that the figures are all one person. But her outfit is different colours, red, blue, yellow, red again, blue again.

Comparing my version with the one on the lta website, I note that their photographer has taken the Mural from the right and close up. That way you can get the nearest figure larger, the others receding into the distance. I backed away until I could get in the whole camera using a simple smartphone.

Useful Website

https://www.lta.gov.sg/content/ltaweb/en/public-transport/mrt-and-lrt-trains/art-and-architecture/art-in-transit/gallery/dtl.html

visitsingapore.com

singaporeair.com

Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker.