The World Jewish Congress in New York reported today that in just over a decade the 2,000-member Jewish community of Indonesia has dwindled 10 less thin 200. Migration to a number of countries–Israel, Holland. Australia and other lands–is the gain cause of the decrease.
Dr. I. Schwarzbart, director of the WJC’s Organization Department, said the remnants of the Indonesian community reported that they number only 25 in Jakarta, the capital, but that there are about 150 in Surabaja. The Jakarta Community Council, reduced to two members–Harry Stern/eld who is chairman and Isaac Khazam. secretary-treasurer–is trying to merge with the Surabaja community.
While Jakarta is completely bereft of any organized Jewish religious life. Surabaja has a synagogue where services are regularly conducted by laymen. Apart from the communities in Jakarta and Surabaja, there are ten Jews in Bandung and about the same number scattered in other centers.
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