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Maghain Aboth Synagogue

Maghain Aboth Synagogue, the earliest synagogue in Singapore, and the oldest in Southeast Asia, is found at 24 & 26 Waterloo Street. The name of the synagogue translates to "Shield of our Fathers". It serves a small community of local Jews.

History
The original synagogue was first located in a shop at Synagogue Street, behind the old Central Police Station, in the early Jewish quarters. The land for the synagogue was given in 1841 to Joseph Dewk Cohen, Nassim Joseph Ezra and Ezra Ezekiel. It served the small population of about 30 Jews for almost 30 years. This building was demolished after World War II. Early plans to build the new synagogue on a land priced at $4,000 owned by Raffles Institution lapsed because no key leader was in Singapore to assist in fund-raising. It was only when Manasseh Meyer (b.1843 - d.1930) returned to Singapore in 1873 that a plot of land was bought from the government at Waterloo Street (then known as Church Street). The Maghain Aboth Synagogue (Shield of our Fathers) was consecrated on 4 April 1878 by Lucunas and/or I. J. Hayeem. The building had extensions added in 1924. In 1998, it was gazetted as a national monument.

Description
A wide flight of steps leads up to the entrance, marked by three wide doors. The single-storey hall faces west towards Jerusalem, with a dome covering the Ahel at the West wall. Upon entering, the main feature seen is the bema or the "pulpit", raised and located in the centre of the synagogue. Prayers by the Rabbi and readings from the Torah take centre-stage on the bema during services. Facing the bema is an alcove or Ark covered by the parochet,  a fringed curtain with detailed embroidery. Behind the parochet lie the invaluable Sepharim or the "Scrolls of the Law" which are encased in wooden containers and covered with velvet. These scrolls made from animal skins and written by hand were probably brought from Baghdad and Calcutta. These are used for the reading of the Torah where selected men would use a special finger-shaped pointer to guide them in their readings. Hanging before the Ark is the Eternal Lamp, a symbol of the light that should burn in what once was the Temple of Jerusalem. Sometimes a menorah or the "seven-branched candlestand" would be placed here as well, a symbol of the nation of Israel.

Carved wooden benches with interlaced cane backing provided seating for up to 100 men. Women were not accounted for in the earlier days but later a balcony was built to accommodate the female worshippers. Gas lighting and oil lamps provided illumination during the service. The oil lamps, which were mere wicks placed in glass bowls filled with oil, still hang suspended from steel rods today, mainly in remembrance of those who had died in the past year. Also found in the synagogue is a sunk-in well for the ritual bath or mikvah.

Morning services are held at 8:30 am while evening services were at 6:00 pm. In the early days, during the service, the congregants had the odd practice of auctioning the aliyoth or "privileges" given to certain congregants, the money being used to maintain the synagogue.

Maghain Aboth Synagogue 
24 & 26 Waterloo Street
Completed: 1878
Owners: Jewish Welfare Board
Gazetted as a national monument: 27 February 1998




Author
Bonny Tan



References 
Edwards, N., & Keys, P. (1988). Singapore: A guide to buildings, streets, places (p. 271). Singapore: Times Books International.
(Call no.: RSING 915.957 EDW)

Lee G. B. (2002). The religious monuments of Singapore: Faiths of our forefathers (pp. 102 - 105). Singapore: Landmark Books. 
(Call no.: SING 726.095957 LEE)

National Monuments of Singapore.  Retrieved February 2010, from http://app.mica.gov.sg/Data/0/PDF/1_PMB%20Monuments-2006.pdf

Nathan, E. (1986). The history of Jews in Singapore, 1830-1945 (pp. 10-13). Singapore: HERBILU Editorial & Marketing Services.
(Call no.: RSING 301.45192405957 NAT) 


Further Readings
Makepeace, W., Brooke, G. E., & Braddell, R. St. J. (Eds.). (1991). One hundred years of Singapore (Vol. 2, pp. 274-275). Singapore: Oxford University Press.
(Call no.: RSING 959.57 ONE)

Samuel, D. S. (1991). Singapore's heritage: Through places of historical interest (pp. 49-51). Singapore: Elixir Consultancy Service.
(Call no.: RSING 959.57 SAM) 

The information in this article is valid as at 1997 and correct as far as we are able to ascertain from our sources. It is not intended to be an exhaustive or complete history on the subject. Please contact the Library for further reading materials on the topic.

Subject
Architecture and Landscape>>Building Types>>Historic Buildings
Architecture and Landscape>>Building Types>>Religious Buildings
Synagogues--Singapore
Historic buildings--Singapore
Jews--Singapore
History>>Asia>>Southeast Asia>>Singapore
Arts>>Architecture>>Religious buildings
People and communities>>Social groups and communities

Librarian Recommendations
>> Chesed El Synagogue
>> Jewish Community
>> Reuben Manasseh Meyer
>> Maghaim Aboth Synagogue : exterior


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