With Scotland in the news, it’s interesting to note that the country has been home to a dynamic Jewish community for 400 years. Here are six surprising facts about Jewish life in this ancient nation.
1. Aristocratic Antecedent
One of the earliest Scottish Jews was an aristocratic convert: Lord George Gordon, the youngest son of the third Duke of Gordon. Lord Gordon befriended Jews in the English city of Birmingham, and converted to Judaism sometime in the 1780s, taking the name Yisrael bar Avraham Gordon.
In 1788, Lord Gordon was arrested on charges of defaming Marie Antoinette and sentenced to five years in Newgate Prison. There, he continued his religious observance: he hung a mezuzah on his cell door, ate and drank only kosher food and wine, prayed daily with a tallis and Tefillin, and was allowed to pray with a minyan – ten men – on Shabbat.
At the end of his sentence, the authorities brought Lord Gordon to court, where he was asked to remove his hat and swear to behave lawfully in the future. As a Jew, Lord Gordon refused to remove his head-covering. The testimony of two Orthodox Jews he brought with him to vouch for him in court was disregarded, and Lord Gordon was returned to prison, where he died the following year, age 41.
2. Ellis Island in Glasgow
Most Scottish Jews arrived in the 1890s, when Scottish shipping companies were active in transporting Jewish passengers from Eastern Europe to America. Thousands of passengers were routed through Glasgow and when they arrived, many Jewish immigrants – seeing a vibrant community and a peaceful country – decided to cut their journeys short, settling in Scotland instead of New York. Passengers who were unable to meet the rigorous health standards demanded on Ellis Island also sometimes decided to stay in Scotland, and build their new lives there.
Scotland’s Jewish community rose to the challenge of providing for the influx of Eastern European Jews. In 1908, at the peak of Jewish immigration, only 75 received state-funded statutory poor relief in all of Scotland; all other new arrivals had their needs – from housing to health, from education to food – provided by Scotland’s many Jewish charities.
3. Inventing Lox
When Jews began immigrating to Britain in large numbers in the late 1800s, they took their traditions of smoking and brining fish as a way to preserve and imbue flavor with them. British Jews soon discovered the flavorful wild salmon native to Scotland. “The quality of the fish was outstanding,” explains Aaron Forman, great-grandson of the founder of London’s oldest smokery, who still makes lox from fine Scottish salmon today.
The Jewish immigrants called their smoked salmon “lachs” from the Yiddish word for salmon, and their invention soon spread to Jewish communities around the world – as well as to Scotland itself, where smoked salmon is now considered a national dish.
4. Jewish Kilts
Scotland’s Jews now have their own tartan: the distinctive plaid patterns that represent Scottish clans. Tartan kilts are popular in Scotland, but until recently, Scottish Jews have had to borrow the tartans of other groups when they wanted to sport kilts.
That all changed when the Jewish Telegraph, a local newspaper, approached a leading kilt-maker and asked them to come up with three possible tartans to represent Scotland’s Jews. Designs had to conform not only to Scottish tradition, but also to Jewish law: that meant no mixing wool and linen fibers, which the Torah forbids. Three all-wool patterns were developed, and the Jewish Telegraph’s readers voted for the winning pattern: a blue-and-white tartan that echoes both the blue and white of Israel’s flag, and the Saltire, the national flag of Scotland.
The tartan is registered with the Scottish National Register of Tartan in the name of the Jewish Community of Scotland.
5. Kosher Haggis
Doreen Cohen is the world’s only purveyor of kosher haggis, the Scottish national dish consisting of sheep’s “pluck” (organs), mixed with onion, oatmeal, suet, spices and salt, and consumed each year on January 25 as the centerpiece in Burns Night Suppers, commemorating the Scottish poet Robert Burns.
“We do vegetarian haggis and meat haggis,” the Glasgow caterer explains. In all, each January she sells some 150 pounds of the delicacy, enabling Scotland’s Jews to honor Scotland’s national poet – all while keeping strictly kosher.
6. Dwindling numbers and Fear
Despite its proud history and vibrant community, the Jews of Scotland have felt more insecure in recent years. Many younger Jews have left; the community is now estimated at 7,000-8,000, with most Scottish Jews living in Glasgow. Only one Jewish school remains in the entire country.
For years, Scotland was proud that it was the sole European nation never to have experienced violence against its Jewish community. But this security is eroding. As anti-Israel sentiment rises across Scotland, many Scottish Jews report rising levels of anti-Semitism as well.
In 2012, a delegation of Jewish students warned Edinburgh University that campus anti-Zionism had created a “toxic” atmosphere, leading a number of Jewish students to quit their degrees or transfer elsewhere. Scottish trade unions have been in the forefront of the boycott, divest and sanction group, calling for cutting ties with the Jewish state. In 2013, the Church of Scotland issued a blistering report denying the legitimacy of Zionism and the right of Israel to exist as a Jewish state.
During the recent war in Gaza, anti-Zionist sentiment hit new highs, with local governments in Fife and Glasgow flying Palestinian flags above official buildings. In August 2014, the Scottish Council of Jewish Communities called on national bodies to recognize growing levels of anti-Semitism in the country. “The level of anxiety is unprecedented” said the leader of the Glasgow Jewish Representative Council.
(28) Ruven Golan, February 13, 2021 4:41 PM
Jews are safe only in Israel
Jews can never trust the goyim
(27) David, February 5, 2021 1:18 PM
Anti semitism
As a Scot I can say that many here equate Judaism with Israel's treatment of the Palestinians. I have Jewish friends who are equally disgusted by the violence and lack of respect for Palestinian lives. I think there would less anti semitism if there was a solution that gave Palestine statehood and respected the right of Israel to exist in safety. Images of IDF members shooting children throwing stones does not endear the Israeli state to the rest of the world.
(26) Geri Gabriel Dawson, November 24, 2019 5:56 PM
Jews have been in Scotland for Thousands of Years
I tend to disagree! My father and our family escaped from Scotland before world war two. We lived in the north, near Stirling Castle. Jews were involved in the past in the sale and distribution of STIRLING SILVER around the world. He and our family were afraid of the NAZIS invading England. Eventually my father fought for Canada as a Medic until the end. But he and my grandfather swore that we Jews were in Scotland since Roman times. I did not believe him; I did not care. But then I saw a book published called WHEN SCOTLAND WAS JEWISH that confirmed all his tales. According to his account, it was the Jews who supplied the Romans when they had legions in what was then called Britannia. This was two thousand years ago. When HADRIAN declared war on the Jews and destroyed Jerusalem, all the Jews escaped north into Scotland to escape. Hadrian could not conquer the Scottish so he built a wall to keep them out that you can see to this very day. Living among the Scottish, we Jews could freely blend among the Scottish Clans. In fact, recent DNA research shows Jewish blood is among the Scottish even today. Read the book. It is an eye opener. The antisemitism and hatred towards the Jews of Scotland today comes from the English and our enemies sent to take over universities and spread Jewish hate. The Christians of Scotland did not hate we Jews. But our Islamic enemies do. We must not run away. We must fight!
Michael Tobias, February 1, 2021 10:59 AM
That book is nonsense
Please ignore everything in that book. It has been debunked.
(25) Fancykats, October 30, 2019 12:06 PM
Jewish people in Scotland
So sad that a country like Scotland has seemingly turned it's back to its Jewish residents. I'd love an update of this article, and to know if I should feel safe visiting this beautiful country.
(24) Scotsman, May 17, 2019 12:03 PM
Scots are friendly and welcoming.
I have lived in Scotland all my life and can say that Scots are not antisemitic. 'Anti-Zionism' has only come up once, unexpectedly - I was repairing a fridge for a Muslim man, originally from Afghanistan, who told me 'the Muslim brothers are ready to wipe Israel off the map. now that Pakistan has gone nuclear.' That man brought his ideas with him to this country, he did not learn them from Scots and it is very disappointing that some of the people we have welcomed to Scotland may now make others concerned about what is happening here.
To be honest, a Jewish person is infinitely more likely to be attacked by an antisemite in Israel.
(23) Deborah Goemans, November 17, 2018 2:35 PM
Five Jewish men in kilts
My grandfather Marcus (Mark) Davies was one of five brothers who fought on the front line in WWI. They were Jewish boys born in Glasgow serving in the Light Highland Regiment. One brother, Samuel, was killed. There was a photo published of the five of them wearing kilts. Do you have any idea how we could trace this photograph? Thank you!
(22) Anonymous, October 6, 2018 10:07 PM
Jews worldwide must make a massive effort to make aliya to Israel, German Jews dismay take it seriously until too late Jews must abandon xenophobic anti semitic nations and get to Israel for their own safety and prosperance and geoqth.
(21) Lisa Williams, January 3, 2018 10:49 PM
ancestral listings of Jewish families that resided in Scotland?
i wanted to know if there are any ancestral Jewish records of families who resided in Scotland in the late 1800's - 1900's?
thank you.
Anonymous, February 1, 2021 11:01 AM
Jews in Scotland
There is a lot of data on the Jews in Scotland. Contact me and/or the Scottish Jewish Archives Centre
(20) Don Cull, December 25, 2016 7:42 PM
Haggart / Burton geneology
I have recently looked up my scottish heritage and found that my mother's coat of arms has a prominent 6 pointed star. Could anyone please direct me to where I can find the meaning of this?
Geri Gabriel Dawson, November 24, 2019 6:25 PM
The MAGEN DAVID: Star or Shield
There is a great amount of confusion about this subject. Some call the symbol a star but others call it a shield, because it was the symbol used by the House of David in ancient Israel. To my family, it symbolizes the TWO MESSIAHS that are written about in the Tanakh, Messiah Ben David and Messiah Ben Yoseph. Tehillim (psalms) 85:10-11 says: Steadfast love and faithfulness meet;
righteousness and peace kiss each other. Faithfulness springs up from the ground, and righteousness looks down from the sky. The two triangles on top of each other symbolize HASHEM (sky) and the HOUSE OF DAVID (earth) uniting as one entity (echad - kiss) to destroy all evil on the earth. That is why it is a MAGEN (shield) DAVID and not a star. This unity is has PROTECTED King David and all his family from evil since HASHEM created an everlasting covenant with David thousands of years ago. It is symbolic of the Davidic BRIT OLAM that is eternal; and can never be broken. Does that explain what the symbol means? SHALOM
(19) Anonymous, November 29, 2016 10:44 AM
Scotland is not anti-semitic
I am of Jewish heritage, Scottish and Irish heritage. The Scots are left of centre post christian society. They are a welcoming warm hospitable people. Yes where they see inhumanity they speak. In Israel there are many Jews and non- Jews secular and religious who are against violence. Are they too anti-semitic?? Of course not. That which is political is not always hatred against a group, verbalisations of outrage against violence is not anti- any group. To be pro- one group does not make one anti another group. To generalise that Israelis or Jews are hateful is wrong to generalise Palestinians are terrorists is wrong and to generalise that Scots are anti-semitic is wrong. There were verbalisations from Jewish community in Scotland in the press about fear if Scotland took independence from UK. Brexit has proven bigotry hatred violence even fascism is alive and well in England with dramatic increase of racial violence, while Scotland has 0 % increase. Malcolm Rifkind Scottish Jewish unionist conservative protested and walked out of government when Scots got devolution. I fear that his ilk taints a certain perception and political persuasion. Scotland never had banned Jews and never had pogroms. We all deserve understanding.
(18) Dinah, July 5, 2016 6:40 PM
Bringng my family to Scotland in 2017
We are a Jewish family who loves to travel. Scotland is next on our list for 2017. Can I get some "must sees" from anyone out there? Would also love to attend a service at a shul.
Thanks in advance!
Aine O'Neill, November 27, 2016 9:44 PM
info
Visit Glasgow which has always had a vibrant Jewish community, there is a wonderful kosher restaurant run by Rebbetzin Jacobs on the south side of Glasgow in Giffnock, A must visit is to visit Garnethill Hebrew shul the oldest in Glasgow, a beautiful building. Contact Rabbi Mendel Jacobs at Chabad, his mum runs the restaurant I mentioned, Chabad are very welcoming especially for visitors.
(17) Jack White, December 21, 2015 9:22 AM
Many Eastern European Jews were sold tickets for USA,and were put on boats headed for Glasgow, by cheating Travel firms in Germany. They thought they were in the >Golden Medina"
(16) Devorah, November 29, 2015 6:48 PM
Scottish Jews
Delightful article. I never heard of a Jewish kilt. I have Scottish Ancestry on my Fathers side. The Scottish name determines the color/plaid of the kilt. O know we are Highlanders but nothing more Never knew of Scottish Luk, Salmon. I loved reading the comments of all the participants. Specifically, the History and personal stories. Fell hard for Tommy. L'chaim. :)
Mikhal, October 19, 2016 1:10 PM
Not only by the name
Many people do wear the tartan of their father, which matches their name but not always. Fixed family surnames are a recent invention worldwide, and more so for Gaels. When they were imposed many people took the name of the laird whose land they lived on as a legal surname, so there is no guarantee that is your actual family anyway. I grew up with the tradition of wearing the mother's tartan, not the fathers.
Leo Hochhauser, October 17, 2020 12:07 AM
Clan Davidson
The Clans of the Scottish Highlands, a pictorial documentation of 1845, reissued in 1980, shows a clan with a scriptural name, the Davidsons, "the offspring of David" (Dhaibhidh in Gaelic). The main color of their plaid is green and black.
(15) nancy cohen-koan, June 23, 2015 3:33 AM
wonderful screenplay Jewish mogul moves to Scotland
Almost had a deal to have it made... adorable film, anyone know investors..was on its way to Joan Rivers to play female mogul when she died suddenly..roles mostly for Scottish or English character actors.
(14) Taryn Crosbie, September 23, 2014 5:43 PM
Growing reform community in Edinburgh Scotland
I moved to Edinburgh from New York City and joined the lovely diverse reform Jewish community here at Sukkat Shalom Edinburgh. I participate in activities monthly and am raising my daughter amongst the community. I don't think our Jewish community is diminishing although I can see why a student who encountered anti-semitism may want to leave. As a settled Jew in Edinburgh, I wish the authorities would be more mindful of us before committing to show such support for people who have openly expressed wanting to see us extinct. We are Scottish and we respect all people. If you research the authority figures who are expressing /allowing the anti-semitism to happen, the reasons why are right before your eyes. If you hear them when they speak, it is easy to understand that they are trying to bring issues anti-semitism and hatred to Scotland from the land of their decent. It is really just that simple. There is no reason for Scotland to inherit these issues the anti-semites bring here when they settle here. They should leave that behind in the land from whence they came and start to assimilate into Scottish day to day culture.
(13) susan, September 20, 2014 1:58 AM
scottush Jews
Go way back....13 families were killed, But one of my ancesters survived
Aine, February 2, 2021 6:20 PM
!3 families killed by who ? Jews were never killed in Scotland by anybody they were killed in York in England a whole village of 150 were wiped out in the 12C, even today it is a subject that brings much pain to the present day Jews living in Yorkshire.
(12) efgoldman, September 19, 2014 10:00 AM
family history
That's just how it happened in my family. My great-grandfather was on the boat to America from Eastern Europe and when it stopped in Scotland, he stayed there. My grandmother was born in Inverness and the family lived there for a few years before moving to London (and from there to Israel in 1917).
(11) Yvette, September 18, 2014 9:33 PM
I'm Jewish and proudly wear the Clan Leslie, but I wouldn't mind a kilt and sash in the Jewish tartan too!
(10) Sarah Vorchheimer, September 18, 2014 3:54 PM
Is there a more ancient Jewish history in Scotland as well?
בס"ד
I thought that, possibly, the history might go back further. I know that the Scots did not expel the Jews. However, just around the time (Tishah b'Av 1290) Edward I of England expelled the Jews from England (and, presumably Wales) Scotland unfortunately lost the heiress to the throne - Margaret, maid of Norway, who drowned at sea, but yet a child, when crossing from Norway to Scotland to take up the throne of Scotland around 29th September 1290, after which King Edward of England acted as arbitrator between the 13 contenders for the now vacant throne of Scotland (thus avoiding a possibly very bloody war - don't believe "Braveheart" - a great film, but not accurate history). Edward I was bad, however, and wrong to force the abdication in 1296 of King John Balliol, whom he had pronounced king, in 1292, after which, for 12 years, Edward attempted to impose his rule upon Scotland - hence Sir William Wallace's struggle, as depicted in "Braveheart" - and the emergence of Robert the Bruce as the next King of Scotland from 1306-1329. Did Edward I of England expel any Jews from Scotland during these Interregnums?
Did you know that the Kings of Scotland (and, through them, England) as well as of ancient Wales and Ireland claimed, via a common ancestress, descent from King David of Israel?
Anonymous, November 24, 2019 6:56 PM
King David family in BRITANNIA?
As I said in my previous message, there is much evidence that the myths of the prophet Jeremiah taking some of the royal family of King David into the ancient lands of the BRITISH are true. King Solomon had 1000 wives. It is very likely that some of them escaped to Britannia from Rome. I do not speak for those who are Christians in a group called "British Israel", nor have I ever associated with them. I am Jewish. I just say that there are many mysteries that cannot be logically explained. For example, why is the DAVIDIC HARP a symbol in Ireland? Where did they get it? Why is one of the greatest festival in Scotland called HAG MANEI, when the word HAG is Hebrew? It makes no sense! So all you can say is the HEBREWS clearly were there, in the ancient lands of BRITANNIA. But they kept silent, and acted very discreet before the Christians who were all around them. But both England and Ireland were conquered by the ROMAN armies under the command of HADRIAN, who destroyed our people, and started much of the antisemitism we see today. Only in Scotland were our people truly free to live with no fear. But today we might need to fight to keep the peace. The only place left for Jews to run to now is Israel. SHALOM
Iain, March 5, 2020 2:47 PM
Crowdie
The cream cheese you are seeking is called Crowdie which is a traditional Highland cheese with a slight citrus taste beautifully suited to combine with smoked salmon. My mum who came from the West Highlands made it weekly and gave it her patients when they were sick. I would not be the least surprised that Lox derived from the inventiveness of the Jews. After all, they also brought fish and chips to London in the 1800’s.
Anonymous, February 2, 2021 6:32 PM
No Jews were ever expelled from Scotland they were expelled for 400 years from England when Edward of England signed the edict banning them. Some fled to Scotland, Poland and a few to Ireland. Scotland and Poland signed an agreement guaranteeing never to harm Jews and guaranteeing them rights to settle there , unfortunately many years later Poland became deeply antisemitic.
(9) Anonymous, September 17, 2014 1:30 PM
I Love It
I've always loved Scotland. What a kilt!
(8) DAS1951, September 17, 2014 10:38 AM
I never knew lox was invented in Scotland
I never knew lox was invented in Scotland and so recently, but it makes sense.
But who added the cream cheese and bagel? New Yorkers?
In our central-London shul we have held formal Burns suppers every two years with single-malt Scotch and a (thankfully!) vegetarian haggis. And yes, with piper (from a local army barracks) and recitation of Burns's doggerel (as well as Jewish adaptations thereof).
You have to know that Burns night is celebrated far more outside Scotland than in, and that includes the USA.
(7) Amber, September 17, 2014 6:55 AM
Shame on those who attack Israel and it's right to exist
What I have already written says it all.
(6) Anonymous, September 16, 2014 6:34 PM
Pass the lox, please, but spare me the haggis.
'Nuff said.
(5) geoff bercovich, September 16, 2014 5:26 PM
tragic loss
Kibbutz Amiad and the Berman Family suffered a tragic loss last year. Tommy Berman (Prof. Berman) died in an accident while visiting the Galapagos Isles.
Tommy was born in Czechoslovakia and escaped the Holocaust on a 'Kinder Transport' to the U.K. where he was adopted by a Scottish family and he grew up in Scotland.
He had a happy childhood and grew up to become an academic and professor of Limnology. While studying in the States he met and married Debbie and they later settled in Kibbutz Amiad in the Galilee.
Tommy never forgot his Scottish connections. Twice every year he would wear a kilt, on Burn's night and Purim.
Much beloved and greatly missed by the community and his family.
Geoff Bercovich, Kibbutz Amiad. 2014.
(4) Anonymous, September 16, 2014 3:22 PM
Do you think Scottish boys got in trouble at school if their kilts weren't below the knee?
Anonymous, October 31, 2019 5:19 PM
I don't know, but...
I'm pretty sure that ALL man dresses/kilts (Sorry! I'm kidding about the "man dresses" bit!...I'm an Aussie!;-P)...are worn above the knees!...But I could be wrong!...But more importantly, I once heard the answer to the age old question,..."Is anytthing worn under the kilt!?"...The clever answer was "No,...it's ALL in perfect working order!!" ;-P lol
(3) Yehudith Shraga, September 16, 2014 10:47 AM
Days before Scotland votes in a referendum on independence from Great Britain
Alex Salmond tells BBC that Muslims aren’t responsible for IS, just as Scottish Jews weren’t responsible for Israeli policies this summer
http://www.timesofisrael.com/scottish-independence-leader-appears-to-equate-israel-islamic-state/#ixzz3DTSMtOBm
(2) Lisa, September 14, 2014 10:36 PM
Scottish......Still not Jewish
I guess The Bay City Rollers who hail from Endinburgh are still not Jewish?!!! Great article tho!
(1) Kathy Lipkin, September 14, 2014 6:17 PM
Enjoyed Shabbat in Edinburgh
My husband and I attended Shabbat services in Edinburgh in the early 1990s during Sukkot. The congregants were very friendly, and invited us to attend services the next day, which we did. It took some getting used to to hear Hebrew prayers chanted with a thick Scottish brogue!
It is very upsetting to hear about the rising antisemitism in Scotland - thanks for the enlightening article on a Jewish community that usually doesn't get much international attention.
Anonymous, February 2, 2021 6:37 PM
The antisemitism is minimal in Scotland n comparison to England and it is so sad in a country that was so welcoming to Jews. Idiots like Mick Napier etc. of the Scottish Palestine Committee are responsible for all the antisemitism that has reared its ugly head, they are stupid drek fighting for a non existent tountry and people.