Outside Indonesia’s only synagogue, Jews are frightened to reveal their faith

With antisemitism widespread, Indonesia’s few Jews are uncomfortable with anyone knowing they are Jewish.

The Shaar Hashamayim Synagogue in the  town of Tondano, in North Sulawesi, is the only place where Jews can practice their religion freely.

Indonesia’s oldest and only other synagogue, Beth Hashem in Surabaya city, was ordered to close in 2013 after conservative Muslim groups successfully lobbied the local government to tear it down. The destruction came after the synagogue was for years abandoned and left to decay with the few remaining Jews in Surabaya preferring to practise their faith in secret due to constant and widespread harassment.

Anti-Israel and anti-Jewish sentiment is rampant in the Muslim-majority country. In March Indonesia lost the under-20 World Cup because two provincial governors refused to allow the Israeli team to play in their provinces.

The handful of Jews living in the country’s capital, Jakarta, where the burning of the Israeli-flag is a common feature in virtually all pro-Palestine demonstrations, also mostly choose to keep their religious identities under wraps.

“Indonesians view the Jews in the context of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Thus, there is a strong anti-Jewish sentiment because of their stance against Israel,” says Rabbi Yaacov Baruch, 40.says.

“Only my immediate family and a few friends know that I am Jewish. The rest just assume that I’m still a Christian,” a worshiper who wishes to be identified only by his Hebrew name, says Ezra ben Abraham. says,  Baruch says the situation has improved since he opened the synagogue 20 years ago. Then books containing provocative conspiracy theories were widespread. “Nowadays, I no longer see such books. People are getting smarter because they can find the right information online,” he said.

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In Indonesia’s only synagogue, Jewish worshippers hide their faith fearing persecution, but change is afoot (Channel News Asia)

Photo: Recitation of the Book of Lamentations on Tisha B’Av in the Tondano synagogue (Yaakov Baruch)