These are the Jews who supposedly have services in the independence of the Indonesian nation - word Judaism is one of the things that some Indonesians don't like. Between Jews, Israelis and Zionists are seen as equal and beaten evenly. With the impression that all people of Jewish descent are Zionist Israel. Meanwhile, the reality is that not all generations of Jews are Zionists.
This is what makes many generations of Jews in Indonesia close their proof of self to this day. Meanwhile, based on the novel Judaism in Indonesia, the independence of this nation cannot be separated from the figures of the Jewish generation.
Jews themselves are known to have entered Indonesia since the colonial era. At least traces of them have been there since 1920. They are generally traders or government employees.
And here are some of the generations of Jews who have contributed to the independence of Indonesia.
Charles Musser
This name is indeed quite well known in Indonesia, at least for historians or the virtual world. He is a workshop entrepreneur from Surabaya who supports the independence of the Republic of Indonesia. Some of the mass media had written posts about the Jewish fighters. Charles married a Javanese from Madiun City named Juju.
Johanna Petronela Mossel
Johanna is an Indo-Dutch woman of the Jewish generation. She is also the second wife of Ernest Douwes Dekker. Johanna, who is a teacher at this nationalist school, is also known as a fighter for the Indonesian nationalist movement.
Moreover, after Indonesia was declared independent Johanna always supported the Indonesian nation, and heeded the Dutch military statement at that time which branded her a traitor.
John Cohen
The next Jew who participated in the struggle for Indonesian independence was John Cohen. Cohen was a member of the Australian Communist Party who joined the Australian Army's 7th Division. They were sent to Balikpapan to fight the Japanese.
For Anthony Reid, in Australia Soldiers in the Asia Pacific in Worldwar II (1995), John Cohen was a member of the Australian Communist Party who helped distribute pamphlets from Australia. The pamphlet was printed by the pro-independence movement of Indonesia. Among other things, exiles from Digoel were brought by the Dutch army to Australia.
For Hasan Barry, in the Borneo Guerrilla Story (1962), the pamphlets were distributed by a group of Australian soldiers, so that it seemed as if the Australian army totally supported Indonesian independence. Meanwhile, the pamphlet was made by Indonesians in Australia. Australian soldiers, who were of low rank, usually treated Indonesians who had recently suffered from the Japanese occupation.
John Cohen the Jewish Communist is one of them. Together with his Australian Army comrades, Cohen made contact with pro-Republican youths of Indonesia. He also worked out weapons for them.
The active Cohen was then transferred to Makassar before November 13, 1945. He did not attend the incident in Karang Anyar, Balikpapan on November 13, 1945. There, the people of Balikpapan declared themselves part of Indonesia. Dozens of Australian soldiers became witnesses, friends, and protectors if the Dutch NICA made a problem.
Herbert Feith
Another heroic Jew to enter and help Indonesia is Herbert Feith. His family had to flee Europe, which the German army began annexing in 1939. At the University of Melbourne, Feith studied political science. After graduating, he went to Indonesia.
Feith also became a civil servant who served for the Indonesian government for a while. Feith saw how complicated and ineffective the Indonesian government bureaucracy was in the 1950s.
Daniel Lev
also like Feith is also a scholar who has an interest in Indonesia. Together with his wife, Dan, as Daniel Lev is called, arrived by Danish ship to Indonesia. They sailed near 28 days. And conduct research and then return to America. However, he often visited Indonesia and was familiar with some Indonesian intellectuals.
And has attention to legal and human rights issues in Indonesia. For Indonesian legal and human rights figures, Adnan Buyung Nasution, as well as participating in and laying down the creation of the Legal Enforcement Institution (LBH) in Indonesia. And often provides knowledge about democracy and human rights.