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Indonesia
The Jews of Indonesia, today numbering less than a few hundred in a country of 128 million, are the
last remnants of a community of several thousand which lived in the area before
World War II. A Dutch colony since the 17th century, Jewish merchants had a role
in the early commercial development of the "spice islands" which became
Indonesia. A large number of Jews arrived in the area in the mid-1800s from
Holland and by the outbreak of World War I, 2,000 Jews of Dutch and Iraqi origin
lived in the area. European refugees swelled the Jewish population to 3,000 by
1945.
When the Japanese invaded the islands in 1942, Jews and other non-Asians
were confined to internment camps. The Indonesians proclaimed independence upon
Japan's surrender in 1945, but the nationalists fought Dutch authorities until
Indonesian autonomy was achieved in 1949. The dawn of independence brought the
beginning of large-scale Jewish emigration as President Sukarno evicted Dutch
residents of the newly-formed nation. Disappointed with Sukarno's political and
economic policies, the Indonesian Jewish community quickly dwindled.
One synagogue, vaguely classical building at 9 Jalan Kayoon, undistinguished
from its neighbors except for a small sign which says simply "Synagogue." The
interior is equally plain, with its few rows of benches and whitewashed,
unadorned walls. Only the simple wooden Torah ark proclaims a Jewish presence.
During services, the community uses World War II-era, government-issue, U.S.
army prayer books.
Synagogue of Surabaya, Indonesia
Another synagogue is in Surabaya. This synagogue was established
by the local Jews in 1939. It is the only synagogue in use today in Indonesia. The one-storey rectangular building has a wooden entrance door
on the west-side, a wooden bimah decorated with stars of David on the east-side
and in front of it, a wooden carved Ark. Regular windows are fixed in the outer
walls of the building. The whole synagogue structure is very small and modest.
It is maintained by a few Jewish families.
The Indonesian word for temple is pura. However, when the Jews of Surabaya
refer to their synagogue they use the word greja (church) perhaps to distinguish
themselves from the ancient Javanese Hindus and Buddhists whose ruined temples
are scattered across the island.
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