28 October 2015

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, along with representatives of the Scottish Council of Jewish Communities (SCoJeC), Glasgow Jewish Representative Council and members of the Jewish community recently toured Garnethill Synagogue and the Scottish Jewish Archives Centre.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said:
“Garnethill Synagogue is a beautiful example of the stylistic architecture that was typical all over Europe in the 19th Century.  It is clear to see why the building is cherished by the community and remains an active place of worship. It was fascinating to hear from Rabbi Moshe Rubin about the traditions that still remain part of an Orthodox service.

“It is right that this building should be included within the top ten of historic synagogues in the UK by Jewish Heritage UK and also feature as a Glasgow City Council listed heritage building, described as the ‘Mother Synagogue of Glasgow’.

“Good archives are essential to understanding the rich history of this country. With thanks to the hard work of the curators at Scottish Jewish Archives Centre the rich social history of the Jewish community in Scotland has been preserved and recorded for the ages.

“We value and appreciate our relationship with Scotland’s Jewish communities, and welcome their contribution and input into our nation’s civic life.  The facilities at Garnethill Synagogue in Glasgow provide an excellent educational resource for everyone and help to raise awareness of the Jewish heritage in Scotland.”

FM .@nicolasturgeon visited the Garnethill Synagogue and toured the Scottish Jewish Archive Centre @SCoJeC pic.twitter.com/Y2y1bPqUxl

— First Minister (@ScotGovFM) October 26, 2015