Edinburgh council chiefs back £6m culture centre
THE LORD Provost of Edinburgh and its city council leader have pledged their personal support for a proposed £6 million Jewish cultural centre.
A meeting at Edinburgh City Chambers on Tuesday was attended by more than 100 people from across the local Jewish spectrum, many unaffiliated to the city’s Orthodox and Liberal synagogues.
They were shown concept plans for the centre, incorporating a kosher restaurant and bar, performance and study areas and space potentially to accommodate both the Edinburgh Hebrew Congregation and the Liberal Sukkat Shalom community.
The Lord Provost, Frank Ross, said that although Edinburgh was a hugely successful city, in “uncertain times, it is important to develop and maintain our friendships and to defend what is important to our continuing success”.
He was drawn to the project by its leaders’ wish to create “a place of mutual learning and understanding”.
His sentiments were echoed by the council leader, Adam McVey.
Mr Ross told the JC afterwards: “I am committed to doing all I can as Lord Provost to continue to proudly promote, celebrate and facilitate Edinburgh as a place for religious freedom”.
The project is being fronted by Edinburgh Jewish Dialogue, which has coordinated meetings and events to consider options for the future of Jewish life in the city — which dates back 200 years.
Although Census figures and anecdotal evidence point to a Jewish population as high as 2,000, fewer than 300 people, including children, belong to the two shuls.
EJD is chaired by Adrian Harris, who reflects the non-affiliated majority, many of whom have been energised by the cultural centre proposal.
Mr Harris — former chief executive of Edinburgh music venue The Queen’s Hall — was delighted by the turnout and positive atmosphere at Tuesday’s meeting.
“We got a lot of questions about location and, inevitably, about the money. The next step is to identify a name donor, who will make such a huge difference.
“We’ve started investigating people from the Scottish Jewish diaspora who might want to contribute. I feel optimistic the council will come forward with sites we will be interested in.”
Location has been a bone of contention with some Edinburgh Hebrew Congregation leaders arguing for the centre to be on EHC’s own premises.
“Our position is that it is an option we are willing to consider,” Mr Harris said. “But there are several areas where the site is problematic, particularly on location.
“For it to be successful, it has to have wider appeal — and nearer the centre of town.
“One of the driving forces has been making Jewish culture accessible to the city. It would be a touring location for events such as Jewish Book Week and the Jewish Film Festival.”
Professor Joe Goldblatt, one of the EJD founders, believes “that because we have so few Jews, the centre must be outward facing”.
His most optimistic scenario would be for the site and name donor to be identified within the next year and the centre to be operational for late 2021.