Giffnock Synagogue
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Giffnock and Newlands Synagogue, located at 222 Fenwick Road in the outlying Glasgow area of Giffnock is the largest Jewish religious congregation in Scotland. The synagogue also features a religious day school for both children and teenagers.
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[edit] Spiritual leadership
The congregation is led by Rabbi Moshe Rubin who originally hails from the United States having joined the community in 1990, first serving as their Cantor. He was asked to take over the pulpit upon the retirement of the previous Rabbi (Rabbi Philip Greenberg) approximately seven years ago.
[edit] Brief History and Community
Founded in 1934 approximately, the synagogue stood at May Terrace in Giffnock until about 1970, previously Maybank Road. In 1971 the current complex was erected on Maryville Avenue. Giffnock Synagogue is described as a "provincial synagogue". As a member of the United Synagogue organization of Great Britain, it is under the aegis of the Chief Rabbi. It is the largest Jewish community in Scotland. Services are conducted in the Ashkenazi Orthodox ritual.
[edit] Membership
- 1938 - 350 seatholders (Jewish Year Book 1939)
- 1950 - 400 seatholders (Jewish Year Book 1951)
- 1953 - 550 seatholders (Jewish Year Book 1954)
- 1957 - 750 seatholders (Jewish Year Book 1958)
- 2007 - 700 seatholders (approximation)
[edit] See also
- History of the Jews in Scotland
- Synagogues
- Synagogue architecture
- Judaism
- Modern Orthodox Judaism
- Ashkenazi Jews
[edit] External links
- The Virtual Jewish History Tour - Scotland
- Jewish Encyclopedia on Scotland
- Scottish Jewish Archives Centre
[edit] References
- This article incorporates text from the 1901–1906 Jewish Encyclopedia, a publication now in the public domain.
