Interfaith Dialogue with Jewish Communities in Indonesia

Written By Nazhath Faheema

With Benjamin Meijer Verbrugge and his congregants United Jewish Indonesian Community,

With Yaakov Baruch, Rabbi of the Sha'ar Hashamayim Synagogue, Rabbi of the Sha'ar Hashamayim Synagogue, located in Tondano, Minahasa Regency, North Sulawesi.

I had the privilege of meeting Indonesians who identify themselves as Jewish. Among them, some have converted to Judaism, while others can trace their ancestry back to Ashkenazi Dutch Jews from the Dutch East Indies during the 19th century.

Benjamin Meijer Verbrugge leads the United Indonesian Jewish Community (UIJC) as its Rabbi. The UIJC estimates roughly 200 active practitioners of the Jewish faith within Indonesia. This organization was established to bring together the Jewish population in the country. Yaakov Baruch is the Rabbi of the Sha'ar Hashamayim Synagogue, located in Tondano, Minahasa Regency, North Sulawesi.

During our discussions, we delved into the challenges these individuals face in practising their faith in Indonesia, a country with a Muslim-majority population where Judaism lacks recognition. Some members also shared their unfortunate experiences of encountering anti-Semitic and anti-Israel sentiments in the nation. I expressed my empathy for their predicament, particularly in not having the same religious facilities as those afforded to citizens of the six officially recognized religions in Indonesia.

We critically discussed whether interreligious activities help their cause of being recognised. Some are hopeful of change, while others are sceptical about interfaith dialogue's effect on their situation.

The Jewish community in Indonesia is tiny and not well-documented. The community is not officially recognized or widely known within the country. Due to its small size and the lack of visibility, specific details about individual members or societies might be challenging. For safety reasons, some choose to remain hidden.

I am grateful to brothers Benjamin Meijer Verbrugge and Yaakov Baruch for allowing me to learn about their Jewish identities.

Nazhath Faheema

Nazhath Faheema, a Singaporean Muslim of Indian descent, actively promotes interfaith dialogue. She holds a full-time position at an NGO where she focuses on organizing interfaith charity events. Additionally, she plays an active role in community development, particularly in developing youth leadership to foster social harmony.

Furthermore, Nazhath serves as an external lecturer at ESSEC Asia Pacific in Singapore. She teaches students from Europe and Asia regions on "Race & Religion in Singapore" and "Islam in Singapore."

Nazhath earned her Master of Science in Asian Studies from the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore. She also holds a certificate in the Comparative Study of Religions in Plural Societies. Her research interests span various areas, including youth interfaith movements in Southeast Asia, Jewish-Muslim relations, interactions between Muslim-majority states and Israel, and interreligious dialogue in diplomacy.

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