Edinburgh Hebrew Congregation (EHC) SCIO
Orthodox synagogue congregation in Edinburgh, registered as a Scottish charitable incorporated organisation (SC016924)
| Edinburgh Hebrew Congregation (EHC) SCIO
| |
|---|---|
| Logo | 
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| Type | Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SCIO) |
| Registration ID | SC016924 (Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator); CS000595 (Companies House) |
| Status | Active |
| Headquarters | 4 Salisbury Road, Edinburgh EH16 5AB |
| Location | Edinburgh |
| Area served | City of Edinburgh |
| Services | Advancement of religion |
| Registration | Scotland (OSCR) |
| Key people | Matthew Shaps (Chair); Hilary Rifkind (Vice Chair); Hannah Baker (Honorary Treasurer); David Rose (Minister) |
| Website | www.ehcong.com |
Edinburgh Hebrew Congregation (EHC) SCIO is the Orthodox synagogue congregation in Edinburgh, registered as a Scottish charity, number SC016924. The Scottish Charity Register lists it as a charity from 1 January 1902 and records that it became a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation on 7 May 2014, its previous form being an unincorporated association. The register gives its address as 4 Salisbury Road, Edinburgh EH16 5AB, its staff as three, and describes it as "a vibrant orthodox community, recognised by the Chief Rabbi", which has "contributed to the life of Scotland's historic capital city for over 200 years".[1] Companies House lists it as a Scottish charitable incorporated organisation with number CS000595.[2] Its 2025 accounts give the principal address as Synagogue Chambers, 4a Salisbury Road, Edinburgh EH16 5AB.[3]
Its purposes on the register begin "To provide a place of worship for Jewish people in the manner of the Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the Commonwealth", and include religious instruction, information about kashrut, Jewish education and interfaith links, and "relief for those in need, in accordance with Judaism".[1] The 2025 trustees' report says the last purpose was added on 23 June 2024.[3]
Activities in 2025
According to the trustees' report for 2025:[3]
- The First Minister of Scotland visited the synagogue on the day of the attack on a synagogue in Manchester on Yom Kippur, to offer condolences and solidarity.
- A new CCTV system was funded by the Community Security Trust, which also gave grants for guarding, and other security works were grant-aided by the Nuremberg Trust. Matthew Shaps continued as Security Officer.
- The Jewish Council of Scotland was launched in January 2025, succeeding the Scottish Council of Jewish Communities, with the EHC Chair serving on its Executive.
- A weekly vigil for the Israeli hostages continued outside the Scottish Parliament during First Minister's Questions. The report names Avinatan Or as "the hostage adopted by EHC", released on 13 October 2025.
- Rabbi David Rose is described as joint Chair of the Edinburgh Council of Christians and Jews, which he "was instrumental in setting up in 2025". The Edinburgh branch of the Council of Christians and Jews was launched at a Jewish-Christian Shabbat dinner on 28 February 2025.
- Tours of the synagogue were conducted by David Grant, with John Danzig also leading several.
Trustees
The register and the 2025 accounts give different lists of trustees.
| Name |
|---|
| David Grant |
| Hilary Rifkind |
| David Meyer |
| Matthew Shaps |
| Peter Bennett |
| Jonathan Adler |
| Hannah Baker |
| Jonathan Danzig |
| Susanna Kelpie |
| Avery Meiksin |
Source: the register.[1]
| Name | Office or dates |
|---|---|
| Matthew Shaps | Chair |
| Hilary Rifkind | Vice Chair |
| Hannah Baker | Honorary Treasurer |
| Peter Bennett | |
| Alice Goodman | |
| Suzie Kelpie | Appointed 25 June 2025 |
| Carol Levstein | Warden |
| Avery Meiksin | |
| Molly Seckl | |
| Raymond Taylor | Appointed 25 June 2025 |
| Jon Cooper | Resigned 25 June 2025 |
| Sam Gaus | Resigned 25 June 2025 |
| Sara Nerberg | Resigned 25 June 2025 |
| Arnold Rifkind | Warden; resigned 25 June 2025 |
| Joyce Sperber | Resigned 25 June 2025 |
| Lawrence Taylor | Warden; resigned 25 June 2025 |
Source: the 2025 accounts, which also list the Minister, Rabbi David Rose, and the Honorary Vice Presidents John Danzig, Hilary Rifkind and Raymond Taylor.[3] The accounts were examined by A.J.B. Scholes Ltd, 8 Walker Street, Edinburgh EH3 7LA.[3]
Finances
The 2025 statement of financial activities shows total income of £174,616 (2024: £130,685) and total expenditure of £164,269 (2024: £137,736). Net assets were £728,511 at 31 December 2025.[3]
| Financial year ended | Income | Expenditure |
|---|---|---|
| 31 December 2021 | £79,505 | £92,085 |
| 31 December 2022 | £100,451 | £120,777 |
| 31 December 2023 | £124,502 | £131,713 |
| 31 December 2024 | £130,685 | £137,736 |
| 31 December 2025 | £174,616 | £164,269 |
See also
- Jewish charities in Scotland
- Second Henry Joseph Levitt Scholarship
- Edinburgh Jewish Cultural Centre SCIO
- Sukkat Shalom Edinburgh Liberal Jewish Community (SCIO)
- Jewish Council of Scotland
External links
Notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator, Edinburgh Hebrew Congregation (EHC) SCIO (SC016924) Scottish Charity Register, accessed 30 October 2026. Contains information from the Scottish Charity Register supplied by the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator and licensed under the Open Government Licence v.3.0.
- ↑ Companies House, EDINBURGH HEBREW CONGREGATION (EHC) SCIO (CS000595) Find and update company information, accessed 30 October 2026.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 Edinburgh Hebrew Congregation (EHC) SCIO, Trustees' report and financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2025, published on the Scottish Charity Register by the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator, accessed 30 October 2026.