SNP leaders visit Glasgow shul for a tour and talks
THE SNP’S Westminster leader and deputy leader visited Glasgow’s Giffnock Synagogue to meet Scottish Jewish representatives.
Ian Blackford and Kirsten Oswald visited the shul at the request of Ms Oswald, whose East Renfrewhire constituency contains Scotland’s biggest Jewish community.
The MPs were given a tour of the synagogue by its assistant rabbi and Jewish student chaplain, Aharon Lemberger.
Scottish Council of Jewish Communities’ treasurer Philip Mendelsohn explained the history and significance of the shul’s painted glass windows — the work of architectural glass artist John K Clark. The windows were commissioned in the early 1990s for Queen’s Park Synagogue but were moved to Giffnock when Queen’s Park closed.
The MPs then discussed matters of concern to the Jewish community with SCoJeC’s Ephraim Borowski and Glasgow Jewish Representative Council president Paul Edlin.
They were also told of efforts to engage with the local Muslim community, for example by presenting joint school assemblies. Offering her support, Ms Oswald said she wanted to help facilitate dialogue.
She described the visit as “constructive and very welcome. It was particularly helpful to touch on the important work which GJRC and SCoJeC do in our communities.”
Mr Blackford said: “The Jewish community is a vitally important part of Scottish life and I look forward to our continued engagement going forward.
“We recognise the fears of the Jewish community over antisemitism and we are clear that one instance of antisemitism is one too many. We want Scotland’s Jewish community to feel safe.”
We recognise the fears of the Jewish community on antisemitism’