Scotland Virtual Jewish History Tour
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Scotland, a country on the northern part of Britain, has a Jewish community that may date as far as back as the late seventeenth century.
Early History
16th-18th Century
Modern Community
Glasgow Synagogues
Relations with Israel post-October 7
Unlike the Jews of England, the Jews of Scotland have enjoyed an uninterrupted history since there seem to have been no Jews in Scotland prior to 1290, when the Jews were expelled from England. Individual Jews did, however, have interests in Scotland without actually settling there, as shown by an official regulation passed in 1180 by the Bishop of Glasgow forbidding churchmen to, “ledge their benefices for money borrowed from Jews.”
Although there are records of applications by individual Jews for rights of trade and residence in Edinburgh as early as 1691, and there is reason to believe that a short-lived congregation was established there in 1780, the first organized Jewish community in Scotland, that of Edinburgh, was not established until 1816. Although there are records of applications by individual Jews for rights of trade and residence in Edinburgh as early as 1691, and there is reason to believe that a short-lived congregation was established there in 1780, the first organized Jewish community in Scotland, that of Edinburgh, was not established until 1816. It was followed shortly thereafter by that of Glasgow.
A few Jewish students and professors attended and taught at Edinburgh University. One Jew, David Brown, was permitted to live and trade in the city. The first Jewish graduate from Glasgow University in 1787, Levi Myers, graduated without having to take a religious oath. Not having to swear this oath attracted many Jewish students to Scotland, since all English universities required such an oath to be said at graduation.
Glasgow only had some 20,000 inhabitants in 1740, but increased in population to about 84,000 within sixty years. With this population growth Glasgow also developed international commercial relations, in which Jews played an important part. As Glasgow grew, so did the number of Jews, with the first reference to an actual Jewish settler in Glasgow in 1812.
Eleven years later there were enough Jews in Glasgow to open a synagogue in a first floor apartment. The Jewish community, however, continued growing and in the late nineteenth the Garnet Hill Synagogue was built.
The mass immigration from Eastern Europe in the late 19th and early 20th centuries brought many Jewish settlers to Glasgow, but comparatively few to Edinburgh.
In 1918, Dr. Salis Daiches became minister of the Edinburgh Hebrew Congregation. During the course of his ministry, which lasted 27 years until his death, he had a profound effect on the Jewish community. He united the community into a single cohesive unit and at the same time acted as spokesman for the Jews in Scotland during the troubled inter-war years. The Synagogue in Salisbury Road, built in 1932 to accommodate 2000 people, is a tribute to his leadership and vision. On Dr Daiches’ death in 1945, the community appointed Rabbi Dr Isaac Cohen, who subsequently became Chief Rabbi of Eire.
 Garnet Hill Synagogue |
Today, there are two synagogues in Edinburgh, Reform and Orthodox, and the Edinburgh University has a Jewish society. In Glasgow there are six synagogues, including Reform, Orthodox, liberal, and Lubavitch synagogues. There are also two mikvahs in Scotland, one in Glasgow and one in Edinburgh. There is also a Scottish Council of Jewish Communities, and a range of Jewish institutions, especially in Glasgow.
Of the 15,000 Jews living in Scotland in 1971, all but some 220 resided in Glasgow (13,400) and Edinburgh (1,400). The remainder were distributed in Dundee (84), Ayr (68), Aberdeen (40), and Inverness (12). In the mid-1990s the Jewish population of Glasgow dropped to approximately 6,700 and that of Edinburgh to approximately 500. According to the 2011 data, 5,887 Jews live in Scotland, making up less than 1% of the overall Scottish population. Approximately 4,224 declared Jews by religion in Glasgow, 763 in Edinburgh, 30 in Aberdeen, and 22 in Dundee.
Overall, Jews have experienced great tolerance, acceptance, friendliness, and generosity from fellow non-Jewish Scots. Jackson Carlaw, Interim Leader of the Scottish Conservatives, expressed concern, however, at the beginning of 2019 about growing anti-Semitism throughout Europe, including Scotland:
1. Chabad Minyan Known as Shul in the Park holds services on Shabbat mornings, Friday evenings, Monday morning and evening and Wednesday mornings. For times of services please send an email.
It meets at the Burnfield Care Home, Burnfield Rd Giffnock. Five minutes walk from the Giffnock police station. Rabbi: Rabbi Mendel Jacobs. Tel: +44 (0)141 638 6116
2. Giffnock Synagogue, 222 Fenwick Rd Giffnock where you will always find a minyan for all services. Rabbi Rubin Tel.+44 (0)141 577 8251
3. Netherlee and Clarkston Syn, Clarkston Rd, corner Randolph Dve.
Rabbi Refuel Bokov. Tel: 0141 637 0863.
4. Newton Mearns Synagogue, Larchfield Ave. Newton Mearns.
Rabbi Pinchas Hackenbrock. Tel. +44 (0)141 639 4000
5. Langside Synagogue, Niddrie Rd. Glasgow G41 two minutes walk from the Ewington Hotel Tel. +44 (0)141 423 1152.
6. Garnet Hill Synagogue, Garnet Hill St, off Sauchiehall St in the Glasgow City Centre near Charing Cross area. This Shul only has a minyan on Shabbat morning starting at 10.00am. Rev Aaron Soudry Tel. +44 (0)141 639 7730.
7. Glasgow New Synagogue/Or Hadash
The idea of creating a Reform Jewish community in Scotland was born in 1931. Always existing near to the heart of the Jewish community in Glasgow, the Glasgow New Synagogue/Or Hadash building has moved as the Jewish population moved. Recently renovated to accommodate the growing need for more classroom space, the modern, elegant building has attracted great admiration for its lovely space and clean lines. It now finds an excellent home in the extreme south of Glasgow, Newton Mearns.
Or Hadash is the only Reform Jewish community in Scotland, drawing its members mainly from the Glasgow area but with members from the Edinburgh area and as far afield as Aberdeen and Kirkcudbright. Or Hadash is the second oldest synagogue in Glasgow.
Relations with Israel post-October 7
On November 21, 2023, the First Minister of Scotland, Humza Yousaf, whose in-laws were trapped in Gaza during the early stages of the conflict, sent a letter to the UK Government, expressing concern over the worsening humanitarian situation in Gaza. The letter condemned the Hamas attacks of October 7, called for the immediate release of hostages, and urged for an immediate ceasefire to stop the escalating violence. The First Minister criticized the UK Government's support for Israel, emphasizing that this stance increases the UK's moral responsibility to use its influence to halt the violence. Additionally, the letter raised alarm over Israel's warnings for Palestinians to evacuate, suggesting it could be part of a broader expulsion of Palestinians. The First Minister called on the UK to recognize Palestine within the 1967 borders and to demonstrate international leadership by advocating for a ceasefire and pursuing a lasting political solution.
On January 27, 2024, Scotland paused its funding to UNRWA due to allegations that several UNRWA staff members were involved in the October 7 terror attack by Hamas in Israel. A Scottish government spokesperson confirmed that they have requested updates from UNRWA as the investigation progresses and stated that there are no plans to resume funding at this time. The spokesperson emphasized the seriousness of the allegations, especially given the ongoing need for life-saving aid in Gaza.
On August 19, 2024, a Scottish National Party (SNP) lawmaker, John Mason, was stripped of the party whip after he stated that Israel is not committing genocide in Gaza. This suspension effectively removes him from the SNP, which has been highly critical of Israel's 10-month war against Hamas. Mason's remarks, made after a meeting between Scotland’s External Affairs Secretary, Angus Robertson, and Israel’s Deputy Ambassador, Daniela Grudsky, sparked significant controversy within the party. He argued that if Israel intended genocide, the death toll would be much higher. The SNP condemned his comments, stating that dismissing the deaths of over 40,000 Palestinians is unacceptable. Despite his suspension, Mason defended his stance, emphasizing the need for peace talks and arguing that Israel has not committed genocide, contrasting this with the stated intentions of Iran and Hamas against Israel.
On the same day, the Scottish government declared that it would halt all meetings with Israeli officials until there was significant progress toward a peace deal. This announcement, made by Scotland's External Affairs Secretary, followed criticism he received within his party for a prior meeting with Israel's Deputy Ambassador. Robertson apologized for the meeting, clarifying that it was not intended to legitimize Israel's actions in Gaza. He stated that the Scottish government would not engage in further meetings with Israeli officials until real progress is made toward peace, humanitarian assistance is unhindered, and Israel fully cooperates with international investigations into alleged genocide and war crimes.
Original article by Jacqueline Shields
Sources: Encyclopaedia Judaica. © 2008 The Gale Group. All Rights Reserved;
“An Introduction to the Edinburgh Jewish Community”;
“Analysis of Ethnicity in the 2001 Census-Summary Report”;
Fleishman, Kurt. “The Gorbals and the Jews of Glasgow”;
Jackson Carlaw, “Scotland's Jews are entitled to feel safe and valued,” The Herald, (January 5, 2019).
“Gaza and Israel: First Minister letter to UK Government,” Scottish Government, (November 21, 2023).
“Scotland announces suspension of funding to UNRWA, calls allegations ‘concerning’,” Times of Israel, (January 27, 2024).
“SNP lawmaker stripped of party whip after saying Israel not committing genocide,” JNS, (August 19, 2024).
“Scottish government says it will cease holding any meetings with Israeli officials,” Times of Israel, (August 19, 2024).
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