When the Torah tells us the "Dream of Jacob" story about the angels ascending and descending in his dream in Beth-el, the Torah states that Jacob woke from his sleep and said: "Surely the Lord is in this place, and I was unaware of it” (Genesis 28:16). That's how I felt when I visited the Philippines recently, and I found a lot more Judaism there than I expected. When we plan our next trip to the Far East, we should also consider the special Jewish aspects of the Philippines. For a Jewish traveler the Philippines is more attractive than Thailand or Vietnam
An additional Chabad House was just opened in the island of Boracay in the Philippines. Chabad staff are planning on holding a mass Passover Seder over there, as in four other Chabad Houses throughout the Philippines. I had the privilege to be a Shaliach Mitzvah emissary to bring the matzos for the first Pesach Seder in Boracay
This is an opportunity for us to look at Judaism in the Philippines. We remember the Philippines for being the only country in Asia that voted in the UN in favor of the establishment of the State of Israel on November 29, 1947. Most of us do not know that there are other Jewish aspects to this country
During the Holocaust, the Philippines was one of the very few countries in the world to open its doors to Jews who fled Nazi Germany. The President of the Philippines at the time, Manuel Quezon, had a big heart. When he heard about our parents’ problems, he expressed empathy and made preparations to take in 100,000 Jewish refugees from Europe. He planned to settle them in the southern island of Mindanao, which at that time was sparsely populated. In his opinion, the Jewish refugees could settle the relatively desolate island, and also contribute to the development of the economy in all the Philippines
This plan was opposed by the Americans who ruled the Philippines at that time. They feared that Manila would become a transit station for immigrants to continue from it to America. President Quezon insisted, but under their pressure he compromised and reduced the quota to only 10,000 Jews in the first stage. Around 1,300 Jews who fled Germany and Austria arrived to Manila from 1938 to 1941. President Quezon even provided them with a free-of-charge his own private property in the city of Markina, in order to establish a sort of "transit camp" for them, in which they could stay for the first period. The JOINT organization in America funded the tents and clothing for the refugees in that transit camp. Many other Jewish refugees wanted to flee to the Philippines, but Japan conquered the Philippines in December 1941 and stopped the entrance of Jewish refugees. The Japanese were part of the "Axis Powers" of the Germans and the Italians
Hanuka party in Manila 1940
In Israel, the President of the Philippines is greatly appreciated. His personality and actions are commemorated in a monument established in his honor in the Holocaust Park in Rishon Letzion. In the monument we can see three huge doors, and on the marble threshold of each door there is a footprint of one of the refugees from Manila who moved to Israel. The story of the rescue of the Jews is also commemorated at the monument in the main square of Quezon City, north of Manila
The monument in Rishon Letzion
In 2013, typhoon Haiyan struck the Philippines, causing heavy damage and casualties. A rescue delegation of IDF soldiers went there to help. The commander of the delegation was Danny Pines, whose mother and grandparents were among the refugees who arrived to Manila 80 years ago. Part of the circle of gratitude to the Philippines has been closed. While we choose the Philippines as a destination for our trip, it might also be part of closing the circle
Jewish History
Jewish history in the Philippines began hundreds of years ago. During the Alhambra Decree and the deportation of the Jews in 1492, Philippines was part of the Spanish rule. When the inquisition began in Madrid, many Jews fled to the farthest place in Spain of those days, the Philippines. But they got the wrong location, the inquisitors went all the way to Manila to persecute the Jews. In documents dated from 1593, the Rodriguez brothers were mentioned for being trailed for the charges of "practicing the religion of Moses". What happened to them, and how many other Jews lived in Manila at the time, still remains a mystery. The current head Rabbi of the Philippines, Rabbi Eliyahu Azaria, thinks that they and their descendants have been exiled or assimilated over the generations
The unofficial historian of the community is Mr. Lee Blumenthal, a former American, wearing a Kippah, and a member of the community management, who arrived to Manila many years ago and is a textile businessman. Lee Blumenthal is proud to have been personally acquainted with Mr. Frieder, the Jewish friend of President Quezon, who persuaded him to save the Jewish refugees According to Mr. Blumenthal, over the past 500 years, more Jews have reached the "end of the world" in the Philippines. Some came for business, some fled persecution and pogroms, and some just seek adventures. They arrived sporadically and unrelated to each other, so they did not get organized. At the beginning of the last century more than 1,000 Jews gathered in Manila, they used to organize a Minyan in private homes and rented halls. In 1922 the first synagogue was established in Manila, called Emile Temple, named after the president of the community, Emil Bachrach
In November 1944, the Japanese took over Emile Temple and used it as their arsenal warehouse. When they felt that they were about to lose the battle against the Americans, they set the synagogue on fire. On November 9, 1945, Jewish soldiers in the American army in Manila held a ceremony in memory of the Kristallnacht in Germany. The ceremony took place in the ruins of the synagogue. When they saw the ruin and desolation of the only synagogue in Manila, they decided to collect money and renovate the building themselves
American soldiers held Holucaust ceremony inside Emile Temple 1945
During World War II, around 70 of the Manila Jews were killed. At the entrance to the Jewish cemetery there is a tombstone with their names in memory of those who perished. We can also see tombstones with a Star of David, in the American army cemetery, where Jewish soldiers are buried
After World War II, most of the Jews left Manila. Most of them moved to Australia, and some immigrated to Israel or to the United States
In 1974, the organizational frameworks of the Jewish community were re-established. At the time, most of the Jews moved from Manila to the neighboring town of Makati. The community decided to build a new synagogue in Makati. Today Makati is a large district within Manila city. The major donors were the families of Simon and Malka, who demanded that the prayers will be in the Sephardic tradition style. One member of the Malka family is now the president of the community, and I was privileged to meet his brother in the synagogue. The Malka family is one of the very few Jewish families which have been living in Manila for three generations already. The new synagogue is named "Beit Ya'akov" after the philanthropist Ya’akov Safra. The event room is named the Bachrach Hall, after Emil Bachrach, who financed the first old synagogue in Manila
Recently, people began calling it "The President's Synagogue," since the Philippines President, Rodrigo Duterte, went there to pray on Rosh Hashana 2018. By the way, the President's wife and children are Jewish
President Rodrigo Duterte in Beit Yaakov Synagogue. 2018
How many Jewish people live in the Philippines today? It depends who you ask. The Philippines Ambassador to Israel, Nathaniel Imperial, tells me 700, Rabbi Yossi Levy of Chabad Manila says 2,000, and Rabbi Azaria says 4,000
Judaism Today
In contrast to ordinary Jewish communities we see around the world, in the Philippines there are almost no second and third generation Jews. Apart from about twenty families, all the Jews are considered "temporary". Either they came for traveling or for work for two or five years, then they will return to their country. Few of them opened a business there and stay for more than ten years
Young Israelis also come here to work. About 500 of them are high-tech employees of Israeli and international companies. There is also a group of about 300 young people who work as venders of Dead Sea products, among them are quite a few Bretslav Hassidim and Bnei Akiva yeshiva graduates
Manila Judaism is more like a "train station", rather than an ordinary Jewish community. This community does not have roots in this place and there are no well-known rabbis and history there. Many Israeli travellers have been discovering the Philippines in recent years, and are looking for Kosher food and prayer services, at least on Saturdays
The awesome ceiling of Beit Yaakov synagogue
I was glad to find out that we -Orthodox Jews- can "feel at home" even in the Philippines. There are two synagogues in the capital, Manila, both in the prestigious Makati district. Soon another synagogue will be opened in the city center. The population of people coming to pray varies; the old synagogue "Beit Yaakov" belongs to the main community, and most of the members are adults and well-established residents. At the Chabad House, it’s mostly ‘visitors’, young Israelis and travelers who are coming to pray and learn some Torah. Both synagogues have kitchens that we can order catering services in advance from them, as well as kosher food products, some of these products are imported from Israel
Beit Yaakov synagogue
There are 12 million residents in Manila, but there is no kosher restaurant except for Chabad house. Although there is "Benny Falafel" in the main mall, but I was told that it is not kosher. Even without these, we can get by in Manila. The most common ingredient in Philippine meals is rice. We can also buy steamed rice in the street stalls, which is kosher (but not cooked rice, because we do not know what was cooked in the pot before that, and what sauces was added). All the bread and bread-rolls in the Philippines are not kosher, because they put pork fat on the baking trays. However, there is a kosher solution: we can buy special “Sri Lanka pita” at Chabad house. Apparently the wife of the Sri Lankan emissary has developed a recipe for baking pita bread that can be kept fresh for a long time. (After tasting it I'm calling it "Pita Morgana"). They bake these special pitas in the kitchen of Manila’s Chabad House and sell it in packages that can last fresh for a whole 2 week
Every Thursday afternoon a "food market" takes place in the hall adjacent to the Beit Yaakov synagogue. They sell mainly canned goods and bottles of wine from Israel, and lots of sweets and Bisli and Bamba. The food market also contains plenty of food products manufactured in the Philippines, under the supervision of the kashrut supervisors on behalf of food importers to Israel and the US. We can buy meat and poultry in abundance and cheaply because the chief Rabbi, Eliyahu Azariah, is also a Shochet (slaughterer) i
Chief Rabbi, Eliyahu Azariah
Rabbi Eliyahu Azaria says they are about to open a kosher restaurant soon. Probably due to the success of the restaurant in the Manila Chabad House. They have two large kitchens (dairy and meat) and are equipped with the best tools and appliances. These kitchens are used mainly for the preparation of Shabbat Kiddush in the synagogue after the Mussaf prayer service. In addition, catering services are being prepared for advance orders. The largest customer is the Israeli tourism company FlyEast, since they take out groups of workers' committees for trips in the Philippines. Their representative in the city is Yoav Golan. Even an independent travellers in small groups can order food there for their trip days
In the Beit Yaakov Synagogue there is a Minyan prayer every morning in the style of the Jews of Aleppo in Syria. The Chief Rabbi of the Philippines is Rabbi Eliyahu Azaria, a graduate of the Strauss-Amiel Institute in Gush Etzion, who arrived here 15 years ago. On Saturdays, about 100 people from all over the city come to pray here, and sometimes Israeli tourists also. There is a kindergarten in the community building, and soon a Jewish school will be opened. There are plenty of Torah classes for adults there. Two days before I visited, they held a "Siyum" party for masechet Rosh Hashanah. Another group is studying masechet Baba Kama. 120 people arrived to the synagogue last week, for the reading of the Megillah and the Purim party
Among the regular members of the Beit Yaakov synagogue are also…gentiles. Before I went to Manila, I heard criticism of this mixed community, which allows non-Jews to participate in prayers. It seems strange from a distance from Israel. Apparently there are quite a few mixed marriages in Manila: Israelis and Australian Jews who arrived here as bachelors, have settled down in the city and married local non-Jewish women. They bring them and their children to the prayers services and to the holiday parties of the community. The Rabbi welcomes them all with love. "We have an open attitude, anyone coming is welcomed. Even if she doesn't want to convert to Judaism now, maybe we will make her and the children want to join the Jewish people in the future, following the father of the family". i
For the non-Jews in the community, Rabbi Azaria established an Ulpan Giyur (conversion course) under the supervision and approval of Rabbi Shlomo Katzin from Jerusalem. During the year they learn religious lessons from the Rabbi and his wife, according to the requirements of the Chief Rabbinate in Israel. After passing the final exams, the community brings in from Israel a special Beit Din that examines the students and converts them. The head of the Rabbinical court who arrived here last year was Rabbi Yaakov Peretz of the "Midrash Sepfaradim" Yeshiva, which is adjacent to the Porat Yosef Yeshiva in the Old City of Jerusalem. His Beit Din converted about 20 members of the community
If we want to pray and eat on Shabbat in the Jewish community, it is recommended to book a hotel room within a short walking distance. Rabbi Azaria recommends the hotels ‘Picasso Suits’ and the ‘Citadines’ hotel
It is worth knowing that the synagogue is under strict guard by the local police, and the security guards will let us in only with a passport. No passport – no entry! On Saturdays when we are not allowed to carry, the community representative stands next to the security guards and allows entry to someone who appears to be a Shomer-Sabbath, even if he does not have a passport
Chabad Houses
I went to visit the Chabad House in Manila, and I was amazed to see it. I was walking in this remote city, and suddenly I see a building just like 770 in Brooklyn, and just like the restoration in Kfar Chabad, not far from my moshav. I was shocked at first, probably because I did not expect it. I assume every Chabad House in the world would like to build a building like the Rebbi's house in Brooklyn. In Manila they did
It turns out that the diligent Shaliach emissary, Rabbi Yossi Levy and his wife, managed to obtain the lot as a donation. They sorted out the rest by themselves from other donations
Rabbi Yossi Levi near the unique Holy Ark
The Chabad House in Manila is similar to 770 in Brooklyn, even on the inside. Rabbi Yossi is proud of the Holy Ark and the cantor's podium in the synagogue, which were built exactly like the original at the Rebbi’s in Brooklyn. They pray there in Ashkenazi style
In the large building of the Chabad House there are a meat restaurant and a food mini-store. For the young travellers, the Chabad House also allocated separate rooms for boys and for girls. Each room contains four bunk beds, just like the Yeshiva dormitories , and there are 16 beds in total. In addition, there is a storage room as storage space for travelers who want to travel without lugging too much gear
There is room for 300 guests in the Kiddushim hall, and on Leil HaSeder (Passover eve) it is expected to be packed. On Saturdays and holidays, there are kiddushim after the prayer, in which about 150 people participate. Rabbi Levi says that the Dead Sea company managers are about to open another synagogue in the city, headed by Rabbi Tsarfati, for the 300 young Israelis who work here as venders in the malls. Volunteers from the National Service in Israel also work in the Chabad House in Manila (Address in this link).
The emissary’s pride is the Mikveh in the basement of the Chabad House. I was surprised to hear that during the week I visited Manila, five women have dipped there. I did not imagine that there were so many women in Manila who keep the family’s purity
In addition to the material abundance, there is a lot of spirituality and Torah lessons in Manila’s Chabad House. Every morning after the Shacharit prayer, a lesson is held in Tanya. On Saturdays there is also a Hassidism class after the Mussaf, and another class on the "Rebbi's talks" at the third meal. This activity gets results. Rabbi Yossi tells about young Israelis who put on Tefillin for the first time in their live, at the Chabad House in Manila. Among the young men who came to Manila to work as venders for the Dead Sea products, some have become religious thanks to their visits to the Chabad House, and today they live in Israel as full-fledged Chabad Hassidim. One of them even became a Chabad Shaliach in one of the towns in Israel
On Sundays, Rabbi Yossi gives a class to non-Jews on the subject of "The Seven Laws of the Sons of Noah". About 100 non-Jews people arrive every week for this class, including some who take a two-hour flight, and others who come on a 10-hours drive
If you want to arrive to Beit Chabad on Shabbat, you can rent a room in one of the nearby hotels: "I Motel City Gard" (expensive), or cheaper options: Artina, S. Giles and Berjaya
Rabbi Yossi Levi arrived to Manila 10 years ago from Moshav Komemiyut in Israel. After opening the Chabad House here, he lately added two more Chabad Houses in the Philippines, bringing more dedicated emissaries to the locations. In Clark – which is about two hours away from Manila, where there are many high-tech Israelis and young people. In addition, Chabad Houses have also been opened in tourist centers for young Israelis; on the island of Cebu, on El Nido beach in the Palawan Island and more recently a Chabad House was opened on the island of Boracay
The new Chabad House in Boracay
I tell him that the Philippine Tourism Ministry is making an effort to market and promote Israeli tourism to the island of Bicol. Rabbi Levi declares: "If I see that a lot of Jewish people arrive to Bicol, I will open another Chabad House there too". i
As mentioned before, when we make plans for our next trip to the Far East, and undeciding between the beaches of Thailand, Vietnam, Hong Kong or the Philippines, we should also consider the Jewish aspect of the Philippines and their President. We have a warm connection with these people, more than with other people around. This is another reason to choose the Philippines for our next vacation
It is heart-warming to discover that there is hope, even at the end of the world in the Philippine islands. As the verse from the prayer of Hallel says:
"זֶה הַיָם עַשָה ה' – מַנִילָה וְנִשְמְחָה בּו".
Translated by Neta Shermister
