FIRST MINISTER JOHN SWINNEY MEETS COMMUNITY
29 November, 2024
First Minister John Swinney attended a meeting of community members, organised by the Scottish Council of Jewish Communities and the Glasgow Jewish Representative Council on Thursday, 14 November, 2024′
Members of the Jewish Community from all around Scotland were given the chance to put their questions to the First Minister from a live audience of more than 60 people in Giffnock, a link to another live audience of 20 in Edinburgh, and Jewish students in Aberdeen, and 77 devices signed in on Zoom, many with more than one participant, including ex-pats in Canada, Israel, and the United States.
SCoJeC Chair, Nicola Livingston, welcomed the First Minister and thanked him for his efforts to promote good relations between Scotland’s faith communities. GJRC President and SCoJeC Vice-Chair Timothy Lovat opened the meeting by inviting the First Minister to make some introductory remarks. Mr Swinney recalled how the diversity of Scotland’s people had been a key element of the ceremonial opening of the Scottish Parliament presided over by the late Winnie Ewing twenty-five years ago, and noted how different religious faiths had played a role in the recent anniversary events. He said he recognised the close connection between the Jewish community and Israel, and therefore acknowledged the pain members of the community feel because of the situation there. He described the situation in the Middle East as “unconscionable” and added that it could only be resolved by a two-state solution.
Full report here.
THE 2024 ANNUAL AJEX REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY MARCH, WREATH-LAYING CEREMONY AND MEMORIAL SERVICE
15 November, 2024
The annual Glasgow Association of Jewish Ex-Servicemen and Women Remembrance Sunday commemorations took place on Sunday, 10 November, 2024
The AJEX event, organised by Glasgow Jewish Representative Council administrator Stacey Devlin and trustee Evy Yedd, was led by local brigade commander Monty Cowen who, together with GJRC Immediate Past President Councillor Paul Edlin, laid wreaths at the Newton Mearns war memorial. Those marching with the AJEX contingent included Scotland’s senior minister Rabbi Moshe Rubin. The standard bearers were Graham Wilson and Carolyn Dover.
At the shul service afterwards, in Giffnock Newton Mearns Shul, Rabbi Rubin gave the Memorial Address to an audience that included East Renfrewshire Provost Mary Montague and Renfrewshire Deputy Lieutenant Philip Rodney.
GJRC trustee Dr Susan Siegel read out the lists of Glasgow Jewry killed in action, as well as Canadian and Polish servicemen who died in active service and are buried in Glenduffhill Cemetery. Rabbi Rubin recited El Mole Rachamim, Monty Cowen recited Kaddish and SCoJeC treasurer Philip Mendelsohn gave the oration. Bugler Robin Thompson played the last post and reveille.
Paul Edlin, Monty Cowen, Provost Montague and Philip Rodney all spoke at the kiddush afterwards.
GRJC PRESIDENT LAYS WREATH AT GLASGOW CENOTAPH
15 November, 2024
Glasgow Jewish Representative Council President, who was accompanied by Colin Grant, laid a wreath at the Glasgow Cenotaph on Remembrance Sunday, on behalf of the community.
REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY
27 October, 2024
The Community – of all ages – is urged to attend the Annual Remembrance Sunday Association of Jewish Ex-Servicemen and Women Annual March, Wreath-Laying Ceremony and Memorial Service which take place on Sunday, 10 November, 2024 – gathering at 10.15 at Fairweather Hall, Newton Mearns. The wreath-laying ceremony will take place at the War Memorial on Ayr Road. A Memorial Service will take place at approximately 12pm, followed by a Kiddush.
All ex-service personnel, along with their families and members of the Jewish community, young and old, will be warmly welcomed.
Anyone intending to attend the service is requested to contact the Glasgow Jewish Representative Council office on 0141 577 8250 or via [email protected], for further details.
GLASGOW JEWISH REPRESENTATIVE COUNCIL POSITION ON ISRAEL
10 October, 2024
In light of recent events and experience over the last year, it’s important for the Rep Council to be clear as to where we, as an organisation representing the Jewish community of Glasgow and the West of Scotland, stand regarding Israel:
Our community has long been and continues to be strongly Zionist, in the sense of being supportive of the right to Jewish self-determination in our ancestral homeland. Israel is integral to the Jewish identity of the overwhelming majority of Jews in the UK, and attachment to the land of Israel is inherent in Jewish belief and practice.
Reflecting this, the Glasgow Jewish Representative Council in turn is committed to:
- Supporting and defending the maintenance of Israel as a pluralist Jewish and democratic state;
- Recognising the right and obligation of Israel’s government to ensure security for and to protect the rights and freedoms of its population, including Israel’s inherent right to self-defence against armed attack;
- Promoting lasting peace in the Middle East, including an end to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict via a negotiated and mutually agreed two-state solution, with a secure Israel existing alongside a viable Palestinian State, and
- Combatting so-called “anti-Zionist” discrimination against the Jewish right of self-determination.
ROSH HASHANAH GREETINGS
02 October, 2024
The President, Trustees and Staff of the Glasgow Jewish Representative Council wish the Community a Happy, Healthy and Sweet New Year and pray for the return of the hostages and a lasting peace for Israel and its neighbours.
SCREENING OF SURVIVING OCTOBER 7: WE WILL DANCE AGAIN
27 September, 2924
The BBC Storyville documentary about the Nova Music Festival was shown to an audience of 200 people in Glasgow on Wednesday, 25 September. The screening was organised by the Glasgow Jewish Representative Council, Scottish Council of Jewish Communities and Magen David Adom UK. After the film was shown, GJRC Vice-President and SCoJeC chairman Nicola Livingston chaired a Q & A session with the film’s director Yariv Mozer.
BBC STORYVILLE TO SHOW Surviving October 7th: We Will Dance Again DOCUMENTARY ON NOVA FESTIVAL MASSACRE
15 September, 2024
VICTIMS OF OCTOBER 7 MASSACRE AT NOVA MUSIC FESTIVAL TO BE HONOURED IN NEW BBC STORYVILLE DOCUMENTARY
BBC Storyville has commissioned Surviving October 7th: We Will Dance Again – a powerful film providing a harrowing glimpse into the assault on partygoers at the Nova Music Festival – one of the sites in Israel, attacked by Hamas on October 7th 2023. The 90-minute documentary will air on BBC Two and iPlayer on Thursday 26 September at 9pm.
The human cost of the violence in Israel that day, and the war that has followed in Gaza has been catastrophic. This film focuses on events at the Nova Music Festival, with a minute-by-minute account showing how a music festival filled with young, peace-loving, partygoers just wanting to celebrate life, love and music, turned into a massacre.
Beginning on the evening of Friday 6 October, thousands of partygoers, Israelis and other foreign nationals, started to gather for the music festival in the Negev Desert, in the south of Israel. At 6.30am on Saturday 7 October, with the party approaching its climax, at sunrise, some thought the rockets that started appearing overhead were fireworks. Partygoers ran, they hid under stages, a fridge, in toilets, bushes, cars and a skip full of rubbish. The film features recollections and videos from the six or more hours that those who survived spent in hiding or trying to escape.
View full press release here.
BOD PRESIDENT PHIL ROSENBERG VISITS SCOTLAND
05 September, 2024
Board of Deputies of British Jews President Phil Rosenberg made his first visit to Scotland in his new role, last weekend.
Among the places he visited were Garnethill Synagogue and the Scottish Jewish Archives Centre and Scottish Jewish Heritage Centre; the Jewish Community Centre, Giffnock, Giffnock Newton Mearns Synagogue; Calderwood Lodge Jewish Primary School; and the Edinburgh Hebrew Congregation community centre.
Along with Glasgow Jewish Representative Council President Timothy Lovat, GJRC Vice-President and SCoJeC Chairman Nicola Livingston, SCoJeC Director Ephraim Borowski and Scotland’s senior minister Rabbi Moshe Rubin, the BOD President met with Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar MSP and East Renfrewshire MP Blair McDougall. They discussed antisemitism, peace and security in Israel and the Middle East and community cohesion in Scotland and the UK.
Phil Rosenberg also met with University Jewish Chaplaincy Scotland and Edinburgh organisations, EHC, Sukkat Shalom, Edinburgh JSoc and the Edinburgh Jewish Cultural Centre.
Phil Rosenberg commented: “I’ve had a wonderful weekend visiting communities in Glasgow and Edinburgh. Friday and Shabbat was with the mighty Glasgow Jewish community.
“Edinburgh is one of my favourite cities, so it was a delight to address the SCoJeC AGM before the joint meeting of community organisations there.
“A big thank you to SCoJeC director Ephraim Borowski for organising such a great visit.”
Timothy Lovat said: “It was a pleasure hosting Phil for the weekend. He spoke with many people from across the communities in Scotland and was very well received. Phil brings a host of new ideas to the BOD and we are all looking forward to working with him and the BOD, for the benefit of all of the Jewish people in Scotland.”
GLASGOW JEWISH REPRESENTATIVE COUNCIL AGM 2024 – REPORT
08 August, 2024
We held our AGM on Sunday morning, 4 August, 2024, in the Giffnock Newton Mearns Synagogue reception.
In his report, President Timothy Lovat said: “Initially after 7 October, we had a huge amount of support from across the faiths. Between our Vice-President Nicola Livingston and me, we took part in numerous TV and radio interviews. We got positive rather than negative feedback from them.
We held our AGM on Sunday morning, 4 August, 2024, in the Giffnock Newton Mearns Synagogue reception.
In his report, President Timothy Lovat said: “Initially after 7 October, we had a huge amount of support from across the faiths. Between our Vice-President Nicola Livingston and me, we took part in numerous TV and radio interviews. We got positive rather than negative feedback from them.
“We’ve met with many faith, political and local leaders and it has been an unprecedented strain on Nicola and me and the Representative Council.
“We ran counselling sessions for people in the community struggling to cope since 7 October, and with the rise in antisemitism. If needed, we will look at running more.”
The President spoke of attending several Holocaust Memorial Day events and being heartened to see so many non-Jewish people getting involved in Holocaust remembrance.
This year’s Yom Hashoah event had been excellent and it was very good that it was hosted by Glasgow Reform Synagogue.
Mr Lovat expressed his disappointment that both Renfrewshire Council and Glasgow City Council had taken the decision to fly the Palestinian flag.
The President thanked the Glasgow Community Trust and the Netherlee and Clarkston Charitable Trust for their continuing support.
On the restructuring of GJRC and the Scottish Council of Jewish Communities into one organisation, Mr Lovat reported that there had been lots of meetings. The implementation committee had now drafted a constitution, which would be taken to the next meeting and there were just small steps remaining to be taken.
View the rest of the report here.
HUSTINGS FOR EAST RENFREWSHIRE CONSTITUENCY
2 July, 2024
Glasgow Jewish Representative Council and the Scottish Council of Jewish Communities held a Hustings, attended by around 80 people, for the East Renfrewshire constituency on Monday night, in Giffnock Newton Mearns Synagogue.
Blair McDougall, Scottish Labour, Kirsten Oswald, SNP and Sandesh Gulhane, Scottish Conservative, were the three candidates present who had accepted the invitation. The event was chaired by GJRC President Timothy Lovat and Nina Groden acted as timekeeper for the candidates.
Among the topics raised, were antisemitism, the war in Israel and the banning of arms to Israel, the NHS, social care in the community and what led the candidates to become politicians.
FIRST MINISTER JOHN SWINNEY HOLDS FIRST MEETING WITH COMMUNITY LEADERS
15 May, 2024
New First Minister John Swinney met with community leaders at St Andrew’s House, Edinburgh on 15 May, a week after taking office. The meeting, requested by him, was attended by GJRC President Timothy Lovat, SCoJeC Chair Nicola Livingston and Director Ephraim Borowski and Edinburgh JSoc Chair Elie Glaser.
Mr Swinney opened the meeting by expressing his revulsion at the horrific atrocities perpetrated by Hamas and others in southern Israel on 7 October and acknowledging the profoundly unsettling effect this and subsequent events have had on Jewish people living in Scotland.
Nicola Livingston (who is also GJRC Vice-President) responded by telling the First Minister that there is a palpable level of fear in the community, the vast majority of whom have family or friends in Israel and so are directly affected by what happens there, and the intensity of their anxiety has been rising. Whereas in the past, levels of stress spiked following terrorist attacks but then gradually returned to previous levels, since the 2014 Gaza war that had not been the case, so that the effect of each successive incident is cumulative.
Full report here.
YOM HASHOAH 2024 – REPORT
13 May, 2024
Our annual Yom Hashoah commemoration, held on Monday, 6 June, in the Giffnock Newton Mearns Synagogue hall, attracted a large audience.
The guest speaker was the Association of Jewish Refugees Chief Executive Michael Newman OBE. He began by talking about the attack on Israel by Hamas on 7 0ctober, 2023, describing it as ‘barbaric’ and ‘chilling’.
Michael Newman said: “It resonates deeply with us in the Jewish and Holocaust refugee communities for its intent – the killing of Jews for being Jews.”
While the focus was on the Holocaust and subsequent genocides, it was a time to remember all the men, women and children savagely murdered on 7 October as well as all the hostages still held captive in Gaza.
Michael Newman noted: “As we’ve seen in the months since last October and most vividly in the past two weeks, the attacks have revealed a further manifestation of Holocaust distortion by linking the actions of Israel to those of the Nazis. Offensive comparisons within chants and slogans and the labelling of Israel as a pariah state, alongside the weaponisation of the definition of genocide, aims to further delegitimise the world’s only Jewish country.”
A wave of unbridled antisemitism had been unleashed by Hamas’s attacks and Israel’s response. Hatred of Jews was now being verbalised without shame, highlighted by what was happening in universities, where there was a climate of fear.
The AJR CEO told the audience how the organisation had started in 1941 and about some of its current initiatives, including the creation of an online UK Holocaust Map, which helps communities and visitors learn about local connections to the Holocaust, Jewish refugees and British responses to Nazism. The Map is designed to complement existing education resources and programmes.
AJR would welcome new first, second and third generation members.
——————————————————————————-
When the Glasgow Jewish Representative Council (GJRC) was formed in 1914, it was to represent the Jewish community in Glasgow and the surrounding areas.
The Council helps to ensure cordial relations between the Jewish community and other civic and religious groups and sends delegates to a variety of faith and other forums and committees.
The Glasgow Jewish Representative Council, which is democratically elected, hosts a forum for religious, welfare, cultural, social, educational and youth organisations. It liaises with these bodies to ensure the effective running of the community.
