Scottish Jewish Heritage Centre

Looking for a job in Heritage? We are recruiting for a Learning & Admin Assistant to help deliver our schools visit programme and support our public tours. Find out more here: https://sjhc.org.uk/news/job-op-learning-admin-assistant/

Job Opportunity: Learning & Admin Assistant - Scottish Jewish Heritage Centre The Scottish Jewish Heritage Centre (SJHC) is seeking a part-time Learning & Admin Assistant to join our small team. The successful candidate will play a crucial role in facilitating school visits and in supporting our public tours programme.

One of the joys in life is seeing how what we do makes an impact on those who visit.
We received a huge stack of hand written letters from a primary school who came on a visit last week. The kids drew us pictures and wrote about their favourite parts of the visit.
It was rewarding on the day to hear them say they loved the visit and found it interesting but this has added so much more joy.
Our volunteers and us love taking the school groups around and seeing them engage and learn. Knowing that we made an impact only makes the day even better.

Book now for a free event on the 18th June with Scottish Jewish Archives Centre- the Garnethill Refugee Trail Guided Walk. For info and to book: https://sjhc.org.uk/event-news/refugee-week-scotland-2024/

Some of our staff and board members went to visit the not that long ago. It was a spectacular visit and tour!
Getting to see how similar the communities in Manchester and Glasgow were and how things have evolved in both, as well as in the rest of England and Scotland, was remarkable and rewarding.
The Manchester Jewish Museum also had a recent refit and the site is spectacular and so worth a visit!

During the month of June, Glasgow celebrates Rufugee Week! A time where we can learn about the communities that make Glasgow the wonderful and vibrat city that it is.
Historically, there have always been a wide range of voices and peoples that have come to Scotland and here at the SJHC, we are holding two events to celebrate!
Sunday June 16th: Challah & History! https://www.trybooking.com/uk/events/landing/60234?
Tuesday June 18th: Garnethill Walking Tour https://www.trybooking.com/uk/events/landing/59888?

Come join us and learn about how Scotland became home to many Jewish refugees over the years and how the community is now. We can make some challah, learn about the archives and so much more!

We are very lucky to have a Torah out for visitors to see. This particular one has been damaged and no longer able to be used in services.
Normally it would have to be buried but we were given permission to keep it out on display so visitors could see inside.
This Torah is thought to be over 300 years old! Which means it was old even when Garnethill was built. Did you know that it takes, on average, a year to write out the Torah? It is done by hand and there are specific rules as to how it’s done.
These beautiful scrolls are very precious and not something one would usually own at home. Instead it is placed in the Ark at a synagogue.

There are many different Torah at Garnethill and around the world but each contains the exact same words inside. Come by and visit to learn more about the Torah, synagogues, and Scottish Jewery!

One of our hidden gems! This beautiful window is actually hidden upstairs in one of our rooms that isn’t viewed on our public tours. That doesn’t take away its beauty though.
Easily one of my favourite parts of Garnethill Synagogue. There are many beautiful little spots around. We would love to have you come spot some yourself.

What a beautiful spring day in Glasgow!
Come see our beautiful historic synagogue, the heritage centre and our archives on one of our public tours. We hold tours on Tuesday mornings and Thursday afternoons and occasional Sundays.
Book on our website!

Are you a teacher or a heritage/museum professional with education experience? You might be interested in this opportunity to join a new Education Advisory group for the Scottish Jewish Heritage Centre.

Details here: https://sjhc.org.uk/news/new-education-group/

The SJHC is saddened to hear of the passing of Henry Wuga, a beloved figure in Glasgow's Jewish community and a dedicated Holocaust educator.
https://sjhc.org.uk/news/remembering-henry-wuga/

𝗘𝘅𝗵𝗶𝗯𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗵𝗶𝗱𝗱𝗲𝗻 𝗵𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗱𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀

23.02.2023

The Scottish Jewish Heritage Centre in Glasgow is showcasing the hidden history of Jewish communities in Dundee, Greenock, Inverness, Ayr, Falkirk and Dunfermline.
The new exhibition opened this week and an official launch event will take place on Thursday.
When Jewish immigrants began to settle in Scotland during the 1800s, the first small communities were formed in Edinburgh and Glasgow.
Immigration increased towards the end of the century as Jews left Russia and neighbouring countries due to the collapse of the Russian empire, anti-Jewish laws and pogroms.
Other Scottish communities then developed in Dundee (1878), Greenock (1894), Inverness (1894), Ayr (1902), Falkirk (1905) and Dunfermline (1908).
The new exhibition uses material from the collections of the Scottish Jewish Archives Centre to tell some of the stories from towns which formerly had a synagogue, but now retain few traces of their Jewish population.
These include Ayr’s kosher guesthouses; the Greenock boy who became a world-famous violinist and conductor; and the family-run furniture shop in Falkirk that has been trading for more than a century.
Although these towns no longer have formal Jewish communities, Jewish people continue to live across Scotland.
In addition to the synagogues in Glasgow and Edinburgh, there are still small communities in Aberdeen, and Tayside & Fife (now meeting in St Andrews).
They, and others across the country, are represented and supported by the Scottish Council of Jewish Communities.
The exhibition can be seen by booking a guided tour of the Scottish Jewish Heritage Centre.
The tours include the prayer hall of Garnethill Synagogue as well as displays about the history of the Jewish community in Scotland, the Holocaust period and Jewish migration to Scotland.
Heritage Centre manager Kerry Patterson said: “The new exhibition allows us to shine a light on stories from towns where there is now little trace of a Jewish population beyond a graveyard or a building formerly used as a synagogue.
“I know that it will be of interest to school groups and other visitors from the featured towns and we hope that people will come and find out about their home towns.”
Funding for the exhibition was provided by the Netherlee & Clarkston Charitable Trust.

Join us on the 31st January for a special guided tour of the Archives with Scottish Jewish Archives Centre and Goethe-Institut Glasgow as part of their "Remembering the Kindertransports" event series.

On the following day, head over to Goethe-Institut for an unmissable screening of the 1996 documentary "My Knees Were Jumping: Remembering the Kindertransports" and conversation with filmmaker Melissa Hacker.

Book your FREE tickets for the archive tour here:
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/remembering-the-kindertransports-guided-archive-tour-tickets-795950157347?aff=oddtdtcreator

Book your FREE tickets for the film screening here:
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/remembering-the-kindertransports-tickets-795296341767?aff=oddtdtcreator

Remembering the Kindertransports - guided archive tour Join us for a special event and discover the history of the Kindertransport children in Scotland.

Join us for a Challah bake to commemorate Holocaust Memorial Day 2024. Pre-register for this free event here: https://www.trybooking.com/uk/events/landing/52621

Happy New Year from the SJHC! Guided tours of our beautiful historic synagogue are now open for booking in 2024, with extra Sunday dates available. Book now!

Guided Tours - Scottish Jewish Heritage Centre Join one of our guided tours, to find out about aspects of Jewish religious practice and way of life, and how the Jewish community have contributed to Scotland over the last 200 years.

We are looking for a Learning & Admin Assistant to join our team! This is a part-time role - full details are available on our website:
https://sjhc.org.uk/news/job-opportunity-learning-admin-assistant/

Did you know that we now offer tours on Sundays, and gift vouchers that can be used for tours?
Book now for our next Sunday tour, on the 10th December. Gift vouchers are available to buy on our website: https://sjhc.org.uk/product/guided-tours/

The next speaker announcement for our Holocaust Memorial Day 2024 event is Eleanor Livingston, whose father came to Scotland as a refugee from Austria in 1939. Click below to find out more and to book tickets for your class:
https://sjhc.org.uk/news/hmd2024/

We are delighted to announce that the first confirmed speaker for our Holocaust Memorial Day 2024 event is Susan Hodgins, daughter of Kindertransport refugee Dorrith Sim. Click here to find out more: https://sjhc.org.uk/news/hmd2024/

We will be hosting a special event in the lead up to Holocaust Memorial Day 2024, where secondary school pupils will have the chance to hear second generation survivors sharing their stories. Find out more and book a place for your students here:

Holocaust Memorial Day Event 2024 - Scottish Jewish Heritage Centre The Scottish Jewish Heritage Centre is excited to announce that we will be hosting a special event for secondary school pupils in January 2024, in the lead up to Holocaust Memorial Day. The theme for Holocaust Memorial Day 2024 is “Fragility of Freedom”, which you can find out more about here.

𝗦𝗵𝘂𝗹 𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗶𝘁 𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝘄𝗲𝗱𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗱𝗼𝗰𝘂𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 (𝟬𝟴.𝟬𝟵.𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯)

An American couple made a special visit to Glasgow last month.
Ron and Ellen Tinero, who were on holiday in the UK from Los Angeles, made contact with the Scottish Jewish Archives Centre and asked to visit Garnethill Synagogue.
The reason for the request was because Ron’s parents were married in the shul on May 10, 1955.
Arnold Aaron Titinero and Tzlila Melech were a young Israeli couple.
Arnold was studying naval architecture in Glasgow and he asked Tzila to travel from Tel Aviv to marry him.
The couple were married by Rev Dr I K Cosgrove and Rev Isaac Hirshow.
They continued to live in Glasgow for a couple of years before leaving for Canada where they made their new life.
During their time in Glasgow, Tzila taught Hebrew to a few of the younger children in the Jewish community and they were welcomed by several Jewish families who took the young foreign couple under their wing.
Ron and Ellen were thrilled to be able to view a record of the wedding in the Garnethill marriage register.
Ron told the SJAC: “You have done an incredible job of gathering historical memorabilia, preserving a historical record of the Jews in Glasgow.
“My parents’ story, while an insignificant moment in the life of the Garnethill Synagogue, has great meaning for me as the starting point of their life together and I was very much moved by the experience.
“Learning more about them and Glasgow in the 1950s brought so much of the history to life for me.”
SJAC director Harvey Kaplan told the Jewish Telegraph: “Although only in Glasgow for the day, Ron and his wife were excited to be able to visit Garnethill Synagogue and to see where his parents had stood under the chuppa.
“They were interested to hear about how Garnethill Hebrew Congregation is still active and how the shul is now also home of the Archives Centre as well as the Scottish Jewish Heritage Centre.”
Current Garnethill member Suzie Dover remembers that her late parents Dr Leslie and Beulah Naftalin were unterfurers at the wedding and remained lifelong friends.
SJAC has reconnected Suzie with Ron and his mother.
Now Ron wonders if anyone else in Glasgow remembers his parents and their short stay in Glasgow.
Sjac.org.uk

Join us for a special talk on the subject of Jewish Refugee History in Garnethill, as part of Glasgow Doors Open Days Festival 2023. Tickets are free, book your place from 1st September!

Glasgow Doors Open Days Festival Event: Jewish Refugee History in Garnethill - Scottish Jewish Heritage Centre Join us for a talk on the subject of Jewish refugee history in Garnethill, as part of Glasgow Doors Open Days Festival 2023! Due to Glasgow Doors Open Days taking place over Rosh Hashanah this year, we will not be opening our doors to the public as usual, but are excited to be hosting this event as....

Isaac Hirshow has recently been the subject of a BBC Radio 4 programme that explores his music and life in Glasgow. The programme was partly recorded in our own Garnethill Synagogue. Read our blog post and listen here:

sjhc.org.uk

We are now taking school visit bookings for the 2023-24 academic year. We can cater to Primary and Secondary pupils across a range of subjects. Find out more and book your visit here:

School Visit - Scottish Jewish Heritage Centre Plan your school visit We offer pupils a tailored experience to support their learning on Judaism, immigration and the Holocaust era. We have several spaces available during a visit; the historic Synagogue, the Scottish Holocaust-era Study Centre, and an operational kosher kitchen, plus displays in....

Join us in September for a free, two-day event hosted by The Wiener Holocaust Library. The fantastic programme includes the opportunity to view their pop-up exhibition "Fate Unknown: The Search for the Missing after the Holocaust" and partake in a workshop to learn about researching your own family history! To find out more and to register:

Family History Research Workshop and Exhibition with The Wiener Holocaust Library - Scottish Jewish Heritage Centre The Wiener Holocaust Library will be hosting a free, two-day programme on the 10th and 11th September 2023 at the Scottish Jewish Heritage Centre. This will include the chance to view their pop-up exhibition, Fate Unknown: The Search for the Missing after the Holocaust, as well as the opportunity to...

Tickets still available for our concert on Sunday - join us on the 18th June in the beautiful setting of Garnethill Synagogue, for a concert programme of klezmer and classical music by musicians from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. This event is hosted by Garnethill Synagogue and the Scottish Jewish Heritage Centre.
To find out more and for booking:

Concert: Klezmer & The Classics - Scottish Jewish Heritage Centre Join us in the beautiful setting of Garnethill Synagogue, for a concert programme of klezmer and classical music by musicians from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. Garnethill is a Category A listed building, opened in 1879. It has an active congregation and also houses the Scottish Jewish Herita...

Sharing Stories of Hope and Courage Interfaith Glasgow's Weekend Club & Scottish Jewish Heritage Centre invite you to a women-only event to celebrate Refugee Festival Scotland!

Join us on the 18th June in the beautiful setting of Garnethill Synagogue, for a concert programme of klezmer and classical music by musicians from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. This event is hosted by Garnethill Synagogue and the Scottish Jewish Heritage Centre.

To find out more and for booking: https://sjhc.org.uk/event/concert-klezmer-the-classics/

Join Garnethill Synagogue at a special planting, craft and fun event, which is open to all. Children in P4+ and their families will learn about one of the most important festivals in the Jewish Calendar, while getting messy and eating delicious food!

For more information or to reserve your place, email [email protected] or call 07986602154.

Please dress for the weather as it will be outside. Snacks will be provided so please do not bring food.

New blog post about the recent visit of UK Government Minister John Lamont to the Scottish jewish Heritage Centre: https://sjhc.org.uk/news/minister-visit-sjhc/

Our lovely new leaflets are now available - pick up one on site or look out for them in local leaflet racks.