Overseas Trip
DIALOGUE AT INDONESIAN CONFERENCE ON RELIGION AND PEACE (ICRP)
9 July 2019
Jakarta, Indonesia
CIFU organised a visit and dialogue on Muslim-Jewish relations in Jakarta on 9 July, 2019. The delegates from Singapore comprised of Rabbi Mordechai Abergel, Guat Kwee See, Mohamed Imran Mohamed Taib, Ustaz Ashraf Anwar and Dr Muhammad Ilyas. During the dialogue hosted by the Indonesian Conference on Religion and Peace (ICRP), Rabbi Morderchai shared on the history of Jewish communities in Southeast Asia. The session was chaired by one of the founders of ICRP, Father Hariyanto, SJ.
It was a rare opportunity for Muslims in attendance to meet and discuss with a rabbi. Among the audience were students who attended Hebrew classes taught by a Muslim, Ustaz Sapri Arvind Sale. Rabbi Mordechai gave answers to questions such as who is a Jew and what can be done to improve relations among Muslims and Jews. Guat Kwee See also shared on her experience in the Holy Land (Jerusalem) and how that led to her devoting herself to interfaith work after observing the Palestinian-Israeli cooperation to heal traumas from severe conflicts.
The dialogue ended with Tempo magazine’s interview with Rabbi Mordechai surrounding Jewish historical presence in Southeast Asia and peaceful co-existence as a religious minority in Singapore.
Translation of Interview by Tempo Magazine:
Rabbi Mordechai Abergel, leader of Singapore Jewish community
Government firm in keeping religious harmony
There is something different in Rabbi Mordechai Abergel’s visit to Jakarta, Monday, two weeks ago. The leader of the Jewish community in Singapore came as one of the speakers in an interfaith dialogue that was organised by the Indonesian Conference on Religion and Peace (ICRP) in its office, central Jakarta. “This is my first time participating in an interfaith discussion here,” said the 51 year old man.
Actually, Abergel has frequently visited the Jews in Jakarta and Bali. In fact, he used to travel around Surabaya, a city that was once a centre for the Jewish community in Indonesia. But this changed ever since the Beth Shalom Synagogue – built in 1948 – was demolished due to protests from several people in 2013.
Abegel shared stories about the Jewish community in Singapore. Although a minority, the Jews live in peace because the government is firm in maintaining inter-religious harmony. “If not, everybody can act as they please,” he said to Mahardika Satria Hadi from Tempo. The following are excerpts from the interview.
The Jews were in Singapore since more than 150 years ago. There were some factors that allowed the Jews to be fully integrated into Singapore society. One of them was the lack of anti-Semitism in Asia.
When they first arrived in Singapore, the Jews met with the locals who accepted their presence. Now, a large number of fourth and fifth generation of Jews in Singapore speaks English and Malay.
The Jewish people often forge close relations with their Malay Muslim neighbours. Singapore's first Chief Minister, David Marshall, in office from 1955-1956, was a Jew. He was able to achieve that position because of the Malay support.
The government manages inter-religious relations through the Maintenance of Religious Harmony Act. Singapore is the only country with such a law.
Around 2,000 people. We calculated this number from their attendance in synagogues and social functions. The Jewish community in Singapore is the only original one.
The Jewish people in Hong Kong, for example, do not have ancestral roots of more than 40 years. But the community in Singapore hailed from Iraq. Many from their ancestry are still there.
Some of the Jews in Singapore were born in Indonesia. There are those whose entire families were born in Malang or Surabaya, and then migrated to Singapore. So, they understood Indonesia from within.
TAIWAN MEDITATION TRIP
4-8 October 2019
New Taipei City, Taiwan
CIFU facilitated Singapore participants who joined an introductory programme that introduced a 4-step Zen meditation practice led by Master Hsin Tao. The programme was arranged by the Ling Jiou Mountain Buddhist Society and included a special guided tour of the Museum of World Religions, as well as a night stay at the Ling Jiou Mountain Wu Sheng Monastery.
DIALOGUE AT INDONESIAN CONFERENCE ON RELIGION AND PEACE (ICRP)
9 July 2019
Jakarta, Indonesia
CIFU organised a visit and dialogue on Muslim-Jewish relations in Jakarta on 9 July, 2019. The delegates from Singapore comprised of Rabbi Mordechai Abergel, Guat Kwee See, Mohamed Imran Mohamed Taib, Ustaz Ashraf Anwar and Dr Muhammad Ilyas. During the dialogue hosted by the Indonesian Conference on Religion and Peace (ICRP), Rabbi Morderchai shared on the history of Jewish communities in Southeast Asia. The session was chaired by one of the founders of ICRP, Father Hariyanto, SJ.
It was a rare opportunity for Muslims in attendance to meet and discuss with a rabbi. Among the audience were students who attended Hebrew classes taught by a Muslim, Ustaz Sapri Arvind Sale. Rabbi Mordechai gave answers to questions such as who is a Jew and what can be done to improve relations among Muslims and Jews. Guat Kwee See also shared on her experience in the Holy Land (Jerusalem) and how that led to her devoting herself to interfaith work after observing the Palestinian-Israeli cooperation to heal traumas from severe conflicts.
The dialogue ended with Tempo magazine’s interview with Rabbi Mordechai surrounding Jewish historical presence in Southeast Asia and peaceful co-existence as a religious minority in Singapore.
Translation of Interview by Tempo Magazine:
Rabbi Mordechai Abergel, leader of Singapore Jewish community
Government firm in keeping religious harmony
There is something different in Rabbi Mordechai Abergel’s visit to Jakarta, Monday, two weeks ago. The leader of the Jewish community in Singapore came as one of the speakers in an interfaith dialogue that was organised by the Indonesian Conference on Religion and Peace (ICRP) in its office, central Jakarta. “This is my first time participating in an interfaith discussion here,” said the 51 year old man.
Actually, Abergel has frequently visited the Jews in Jakarta and Bali. In fact, he used to travel around Surabaya, a city that was once a centre for the Jewish community in Indonesia. But this changed ever since the Beth Shalom Synagogue – built in 1948 – was demolished due to protests from several people in 2013.
Abegel shared stories about the Jewish community in Singapore. Although a minority, the Jews live in peace because the government is firm in maintaining inter-religious harmony. “If not, everybody can act as they please,” he said to Mahardika Satria Hadi from Tempo. The following are excerpts from the interview.
The Jews were in Singapore since more than 150 years ago. There were some factors that allowed the Jews to be fully integrated into Singapore society. One of them was the lack of anti-Semitism in Asia.
When they first arrived in Singapore, the Jews met with the locals who accepted their presence. Now, a large number of fourth and fifth generation of Jews in Singapore speaks English and Malay.
The Jewish people often forge close relations with their Malay Muslim neighbours. Singapore's first Chief Minister, David Marshall, in office from 1955-1956, was a Jew. He was able to achieve that position because of the Malay support.
The government manages inter-religious relations through the Maintenance of Religious Harmony Act. Singapore is the only country with such a law.
Around 2,000 people. We calculated this number from their attendance in synagogues and social functions. The Jewish community in Singapore is the only original one.
The Jewish people in Hong Kong, for example, do not have ancestral roots of more than 40 years. But the community in Singapore hailed from Iraq. Many from their ancestry are still there.
Some of the Jews in Singapore were born in Indonesia. There are those whose entire families were born in Malang or Surabaya, and then migrated to Singapore. So, they understood Indonesia from within.
TAIWAN MEDITATION TRIP
4-8 October 2019
New Taipei City, Taiwan
CIFU facilitated Singapore participants who joined an introductory programme that introduced a 4-step Zen meditation practice led by Master Hsin Tao. The programme was arranged by the Ling Jiou Mountain Buddhist Society and included a special guided tour of the Museum of World Religions, as well as a night stay at the Ling Jiou Mountain Wu Sheng Monastery.
