Jewish Synagogue Ordinance 1878

Section 1

This Ordinance may be cited as the Jewish Synagogue Ordinance.

Section 2

The said Joshua Raphael Joshua, Ezra Abraham Solomon, Salleh Menasseh, Menasseh Meyer, Reuben Meyer, Sassoon Aaron Gubbay, and David Aaron Gubbay as trustees of the Jewish synagogue, of Singapore, or the survivors of them or any two or more of such surviving trustees who are for the time being resident within the Colony may sell and dispose of the said piece or parcel of land comprised in and demised by the hereinbefore recited indenture of lease made between the late Government of these Settlements of the one part, and Joseph Dewk Cohen, Nassim Joseph Ezra and Ezra Ezra Ezekiel of the other part, dated the first day of September, 1841, and also all erections and buildings which have been erected, and are now standing on the said premises, with power also to execute assurances, give effectual receipts for the purchase money, and do all other acts and things for completing such sale as they or the survivors of them, or any two or more of such survivors think proper.

Section 3

(1)

The moneys to arise from such sale, after deducting the cost and expenses attending the sale or otherwise incurred in relation thereto, shall be paid to the trustees or continuing acting trustees for the time being of the said synagogue as hereinbefore mentioned for the purpose of acquiring land and erecting and building on such land as is acquired for that purpose or any part thereof a new synagogue or place of worship for the use of the members of the Jewish community in Singapore.

(2)

Such moneys shall be applied by such trustees to the purchase of such land and the building of such synagogue, and to no other purpose.

(3)

The said land and the building when erected shall be held subject to the trust set out in this Ordinance.

Section 4

The receipts for the purchase money given by the persons exercising the power of sale hereby conferred shall be sufficient discharges to the purchasers who shall not be bound to see to the application of such purchase money.

Section 5

(1)

The land so to be purchased by the said trustees for the purpose of having erected thereon a synagogue for the use of the Jewish community of Singapore shall be held by the said trustees and their successors in office as trustees for the use of the Jewish community of Singapore for the purpose of erecting and maintaining thereon a suitable synagogue or place of Divine worship according to the Jewish form.

(2)

So soon as the said piece of land ceases to be used for such purpose it shall ipso facto revert to Her Majesty.

Section 6

The conveyance to the trustees of any lands to be paid for by them out of the proceeds of the land in this Ordinance authorised to be sold shall express that the said lands are conveyed to, and are to be held by them subject to the trust and condition set out in this Ordinance.

Section 7

(1)

The said trustees may be styled the “Trustees of the Jewish Synagogue at Singapore”, and they or the remaining trustees being not less than three, may at any time appoint new trustees to take the place of such trustees as have died, or left the Colony, or declined further to act.

(2)

In the event of the number of trustees at any time falling below three the High Court on the petition of the remaining trustees, or of any of the members of the Jewish community may appoint suitable persons being members of the Jewish community residing in Singapore to be trustees under this Ordinance.

Section 8

The property of the said trust, including the land, building, fixtures, furniture and other movable property belonging to the synagogue for the purpose of Divine worship shall be held to vest in the trustees of the Jewish Synagogue at Singapore for the time being without transfer or assignment from trustees to trustees.