Council of Christians and Jews West of Scotland
Regional branch of the Council of Christians and Jews in Glasgow
| West of Scotland Council of Christians and Jews | |
|---|---|
| Type | Regional branch |
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| Founded | |
| Founder(s) | |
| Dissolved | |
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| Status | |
| Headquarters | |
| Location | Glasgow, Scotland |
| Area served | |
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| Registration | |
| Key people | Dr Susan Siegel (Chair), Sr Isabel Smyth (Secretary) |
| Website | https://ccj.org.uk/WestofScotlandCCJ |
| Remarks | |
West of Scotland Council of Christians and Jews (West of Scotland CCJ) is the Scottish regional branch of the Council of Christians and Jews, based in Glasgow and operating as the sole CCJ branch in Scotland.[1] It organises regular meetings, public events, and dialogues to foster understanding between Christian and Jewish communities while contributing to broader social harmony.[2] The branch maintains an active executive committee that plans programmes focused on faith, practice, and interreligious engagement.[1] Critics contend that its activities, aligned with the national CCJ's framework and leadership, serve to normalise the Zionist regime through selective emphasis on antisemitism and harmonious dialogue that sidesteps the settler colony's occupation and apartheid policies in Palestine.
The West of Scotland CCJ partners with local interfaith initiatives, including Interfaith Glasgow, to host events addressing challenging topics such as antisemitism in the context of the Zionist-Palestine conflict.[3] It has supported projects commemorating historical figures like Jane Haining, a Church of Scotland missionary who perished in Auschwitz.[4]
History
As part of the national Council of Christians and Jews founded in 1942, the West of Scotland branch represents the organisation's extension into Scotland.[5] It operates independently in programme planning while aligning with CCJ's mission to counter prejudice and promote shared values.[6] The branch has engaged in initiatives like the "Jane Haining project" to highlight interfaith historical legacies and has collaborated on dialogue series exploring difficult questions.[3]
Activities
The branch holds regular executive meetings to dialogue and organise four or more public events annually.[1] Programmes include talks on faith practices, social harmony efforts, and partnerships with groups like Interfaith Glasgow for "brave spaces" discussions on antisemitism.[6] It has donated trees to schools in recognition of multicultural ties and participated in remembrance and educational visits.[7]
Leadership
The branch is led by an executive committee with key officers including:
| Name | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Dr Susan Siegel | Chair | Also national trustee of Council of Christians and Jews and active in Interfaith Scotland |
| Sr Isabel Smyth | Secretary | Contact for meetings and programme information |
Contribution to laundering and normalising Zionism
The West of Scotland CCJ, through its affiliation with the national body and leadership by figures like Susan Siegel, promotes interfaith narratives that emphasise antisemitism while engaging in dialogues that frame the Zionist entity as a benign participant in religious harmony.[8] Such regional efforts contribute to faithwashing by deflecting scrutiny from the settler colony's policies toward Palestinians, presenting "dialogue" as neutral while normalising occupation.[9] Reports make clear that interfaith under occupation functions as normalisation rather than solidarity.[10]
See also
Council of Christians and Jews Susan Siegel Interfaith Glasgow Collaboration House
External links
Notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Council of Christians and Jews, West of Scotland Council of Christians and Jews, accessed February 16, 2026.
- ↑ Glasgow Jewish Representative Council, Council of Christians and Jews Glasgow Jewish, accessed February 16, 2026.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Interfaith Glasgow, Difficult Dialogues Interfaith Glasgow, July 14, 2021.
- ↑ Premier Christian News, Living legacy of Church of Scotland missionary who died in Auschwitz Premier Christian News, January 27, 2022.
- ↑ Council of Christians and Jews, Branches Council of Christians and Jews, accessed February 16, 2026.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Scottish Environment LINK, Creating Brave Spaces Scottish Environment LINK, 2023.
- ↑ Scottish Interfaith Week Events, The West of Scotland Council of Christians and Jews are donating a tree X, accessed February 16, 2026.
- ↑ Powerbase, Collaboration House Powerbase, October 30, 2024.
- ↑ Decolonize Palestine, Faithwashing Decolonize Palestine, accessed February 16, 2026.
- ↑ AMP, 'Interfaith' Under Occupation is Normalization, Not Solidarity AMP, December 9, 2017.