GIVING BACK or seeking business opportunities . It was only when the Philippines was taken over by the US at the end of that century , however , that Jews could publicly practice their religion , and more Jewish professionals arrived for a better life . During the 1900s , the Manila community grew and prospered , and community structures – a shul , community centre and cemetery – were erected .
The period in history that stood out for me was during the latter part of the 1930s , when the small community acknowledged it could help to save the lives of Jews experiencing the rise of Nazism and persecution in Europe . At this time , the Philippines was being led by its first president , Manuel Quezon , a true hero of the Jewish people . The story starts with the Frieder brothers , American Jewish businessmen who had settled in the Philippines . At the start of the Holocaust , they devised a plan to save as many European Jews as possible .
As influential men in Manila , they played poker with President Quezon and a group of high-ranking Americans , including the US high commissioner , Paul McNutt , and Colonel Dwight Eisenhower ( who would later become president of the US ). The Frieders shared their plan with Quezon , McNutt and Eisenhower , and Quezon made a decision to open the country ’ s doors to Jewish refugees .
Despite resistance from his own countrymen , who believed the arrival of a number of Jews would be a threat to the Philippines , Quezon stood firm , earmarking his country as a safe-haven for Jews .
Quezon granted at least 10 000 visas for Jewish relocations from Europe , and was preparing to donate a significant part of his own land and a piece of the island of Mindanao for Jewish resettlement . However , with the Nazis closing European borders and Japan invading the Philippines , only around 1 300 Jews escaped Austria and Germany to arrive on Filipino shores to start a new life .
Quezon ’ s open-door policy saved these Jews from almost certain death in Europe , and he was sometimes referred to as the “ Filipino Schindler ”, as he risked so much to save so many . The Mishnah in Sanhedrin : “ And whoever saves a life , it is considered as if he saved an entire world ” rings so loudly so often in history . Quezon ’ s courageous decision saved generations of Jews to come .
The Manila community has since seen its fair share of ups and downs . In 1982 , a number of Syrian Jews helped to fund the building of the new shul in Makati , where many community members now live . Twentyfive years later , the beautiful shul complex houses a nursery school , mikvah and library , and hosts a regular minyan . Every Shabbat , the close-knit community sits down to eat together , led by the committed Rabbi Eliyahu and Rabbanit Miriam Azaria .
In recent times , the Philippines and Israel have shared a close , co-operative relationship , and I met many people who had only positive things to say about Israel and the Jewish people . We were also told that Filipinos take pride in the fact that the Philippines ’ “ yes ” vote to the Partition Plan was the final vote required to officially declare the establishment of the State of Israel . Unfortunately , Quezon did not live to see the end of the war or that day .
Decades after his heroic yet rather unknown act , Quezon was honoured in Israel , well after his death , for his role in saving Jewish lives . In a ceremony in Rishon Lezion in 2009 , the Open Doors Monument was dedicated to him and the Filipino people . Among other tributes , the film : “ An Open Door : Jewish Rescue in the Philippines ” was produced to share this incredible story with the world . At the ceremony , Quezon ’ s grandson , Manuel Quezon III , encouraged young Filipinos to emulate his grandfather ’ s “ compassion towards those in need ”, and emphasised the “ importance of a people ’ s right to asylum in a democracy ”. These words are particularly pertinent for the world today , and a stark reminder of every foreign land that we arrived in , where we were welcomed or even just accepted .
When Quezon dedicated part of his private property in Manila to Jewish refugees , he exclaimed , “ It is my hope and indeed my expectation that the people of the Philippines will have , in the future , every reason to be glad that when the time of need came , their country was willing to extend a welcome hand .” How meaningful these words are , as Jewish organisations such as the JDC help and give back to the country that held out its hand to our most vulnerable more than 75 years before Typhoon Yolanda struck .
When meeting with government officials who thanked the JDC for helping , Danny Pins , who led the JDC assessment team , said it was not only about helping a country in need . For Danny , the JDC ’ s involvement was also a way to repay a debt to the Philippines for saving his family . In 1938 , Danny ’ s grandparents and mother were among the 1 300 Jews whose lives were saved by Quezon and the Filipino people . Today , Danny lives in Israel with his family . ■
For more information on the JDC ’ s work , and opportunities to get involved : www . jdc . org
Information on the Manila Jewish community can be found at : www . jewishphilippines . net
34