Mr. Salito Malca Has Been Elected President of the Jewish Association of the Republic of the Philippines

The Jewish Association of the Philippines Community Center is located in the heart of Manila. Services in the Philippine congregation follow the Sephardic tradition; however, the community welcomes individuals of all backgrounds and levels of religious observance.

The Jewish presence in the Philippines dates back to the 17th century, but the official establishment of a formal Jewish community only occurred after World War I, following an influx of Jewish refugees fleeing pogroms in Russia. In 1922, the first synagogue, Temple Emil, was built in Manila. By the early 1930s, the Jewish community of Manila numbered approximately 500 members. In the 1940s, at the request of the local community, the government issued visas to over a thousand Jewish refugees from Europe. During World War II, the Philippines was under Japanese occupation, and the synagogue in Manila was destroyed during the hostilities. Following the war, many community members emigrated to Israel or the United States, significantly reducing the local population.

In 1982, the synagogue was rebuilt at a new location. It is now part of a self-contained community center that includes a kosher kitchen, a library, classrooms, a mikveh, and administrative offices. The community also owns a Jewish cemetery.

Today, the community maintains an active communal life. Members regularly gather for Shabbat meals and services, adult Torah study, children's Sunday schools, lectures for women with the Rebbetzin, as well as musical and cultural events. The community also organizes youth summer camps. The Chief Rabbi serves as a shochet, making the Philippine community the only one in Southeast Asia to maintain its own kosher meat production.

The Euro-Asian Jewish Congress congratulates the Philippine community on the election of its new President and wishes Mr. Malka every success in realizing his vision and initiatives in this new leadership role for the benefit and prosperity of the community.