Giffnock Newton Mearns Synagogue

Giffnock Newton Mearns Synagogue
The interior of the synagogue
Religion
AffiliationOrthodox Judaism
RiteNusach Ashkenaz
Ecclesiastical or organisational statusSynagogue
LeadershipRabbi Moshe Rubin
StatusActive
Notable artworkStained glass windows by John K. Clark
Location
Location222 Fenwick Road, Giffnock, East Renfrewshire, Glasgow, Scotland G46 6UE
CountryUnited Kingdom
Giffnock Newton Mearns Synagogue is located in Scotland
Giffnock Newton Mearns Synagogue
Location of the synagogue in Scotland
Geographic coordinates55°48′14″N 4°17′42″W / 55.804°N 4.295°W / 55.804; -4.295
Architecture
Date established2021 (merged congregation)
  • 1930s (Giffnock)
  • 1954 (Newton Mearns)
Completed1968
Website
giffnockshul.co.uk

The Giffnock Newton Mearns Synagogue, commonly known as Giffnock Shul, is an Orthodox Jewish congregation and synagogue, located at 222 Fenwick Road in Giffnock, East Renfrewshire, on the south side of Glasgow, Scotland, in the United Kingdom. The synagogue is the largest in Scotland[1] and also features a religious day school for both children and teenagers.

The congregation was formed through a 2021 merger of the Giffnock Synagogue and the Newton Mearns Synagogue, to form a congregation with 850 members. The final service held in the former Newtown Mearns Synagogue, at 14 Larchfield Court, was conducted in January 2023.[2] The new congregation worships in the Ashkenazi rite.

History

The Giffnock Newlands Hebrew Congregation was founded in the early 1930s, meeting initially in the Girl Guides Hall and later in the Giffnock Police Court House, until the first synagogue, in May Terrace, was established in 1938. This building was expanded in the 1950s and used until a new expanded synagogue, on Maryville Avenue, was completed in 1968.[3]

The Newton Mearns & District Hebrew Congregation was founded in 1954 and worshipped initially at Berkeley, Edgehill and then Beech Avenue, Newton Mearns, before completing the Newton Mearns Synagogue at 14 Larchfield Court in 1977.[4][5]

Giffnock Shul is a provincial synagogue and, as an affiliate member of the United Synagogue organization of United Kingdom, the congregation is under the aegis of the Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations.[6]

Spiritual leadership

The congregation is led by Rabbi Moshe Rubin who hails from the United States and joined the community in 1990, first serving as their cantor. He was asked to take over the pulpit in 1999, after the retirement of the Rabbi Philip Greenberg, who retired in 1998. Giffnock's cantor from 1964 to 1990 (then emeritus cantor) was Rev Ernest Levy OBE (d. August 2009). The cantor for the high holy days since 2008 has been Mr. Russell Grossman, of London.

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)

See also

References

  1. ^ "Synagogue membership in the UK" (PDF). Institute for Jewish Policy Research. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 July 2011. Retrieved 20 December 2012.
  2. ^ "Parliamentarians say farewell to Glasgow shul ahead of final service on Sunday". Jewish News. 17 January 2023. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  3. ^ Gurevitz, Laura (2023). "Shul history". Giffnock Shul. Retrieved 17 April 2024.[self-published source?]
  4. ^ "Newton Mearns Synagogue". Jewish Communities and Records - UK. JewishGen and the Jewish Genealogical Society of Great Britain. 10 September 2016. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
  5. ^ "Newton Mearns Hebrew Congregation - Photograph of unveiling plaque for laying of Foundation Stone for rebuilding of the synagogue. Featuring Isidore Walton, Rev Jack Grant, Harry Mandelson, Arnold Berkley, Rev Jeffrey Cohen". Scottish Jewish Archives Centre. 1977. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
  6. ^ "Giffnock & Newlands Synagogue". Jewish Communities and Records - UK. JewishGen and the Jewish Genealogical Society of Great Britain. 10 September 2016. Retrieved 17 April 2024.