Glasgow and Edinburgh are the two Scottish cities with sizeable Jewish communities. The only other Progressive Jewish Community is Glasgow Reform Synagogue. Other communities include Edinburgh Hebrew Congregation and Edinburgh Chabad.
History of Jews in Edinburgh
The first synagogue in Edinburgh, and in Scotland) was founded just over 200 years ago. A recent article about Jews in Edinburgh can be accessed here.
Jewish Walking Tour App
You can follow a walking tour of the history of Jews in Edinburgh from here, where you will also find a link to download a mobile phone app to take you round the route.
Organisations
- The Scottish Council of Jewish Communities (ScoJec) is the representative body of all the Jewish communities in Scotland. It represents the Jewish community in Scotland to government and the Scottish Parliament.
- Edinburgh Jewish Cultural Centre celebrates and shares Judaism and Jewish culture with Jews and non-Jews alike, running a variety of in-person and online events and activities throughout the year.
- The Edinburgh Jewish Literary Society (known as “the Lit” ) holds meetings of Jewish interest on Sunday evenings during the winter months and meets in the community hall of the Orthodox synagogue in Salisbury Road. Membership is open to all meetings are publicised in our weekly reminder email.
- The Association of Jewish Refugees provides social and welfare services, granting financial assistance to Jewish victims of Nazi persecution living in Great Britain. It now extends its membership to second and third generations of survivors and refugees.
- Jewish Care Scotland provides social care services for the Jewish Community in Scotland. Their professional social work team visits people in their own homes to discuss with them their needs or any social work service they may require. While they are Glasgow-based, they extend their services to Jews living anywhere in Scotland.
Food
Edinburgh no longer has either a kosher butcher or baker, but Edinburgh Hebrew Congregation maintains a directory of kosher shops and restaurants in Edinburgh and Glasgow.
For Progressive Judaism’s guidance on kashrut and ethical eating, please see this pamphlet.
The Kashrut Division of the London Beth Din (KLBD) is the leading authority on Jewish dietary laws. Their website has extensive listings of UK-based kosher shops, restaurants and other establishments.
My Jewish Learning offers a handy guide to the various kosher symbols seen on packaging in the UK and elsewhere.