Giffnock Newton Mearns Synagogue
Orthodox synagogue in Giffnock, East Renfrewshire, formed by the merger of the Giffnock and Newton Mearns congregations (OSCR SC049806)
| Giffnock Newton Mearns Synagogue
| |
|---|---|
| Type | Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SCIO) |
| Founded | 9 December 2019 |
| Registration ID | SC049806 (Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator) |
| Status | Active |
| Headquarters | 222 Fenwick Rd, Glasgow, G46 6UE[1] |
| Area served | East Renfrewshire |
| Services | Daily services, religious education and social activities for an Orthodox congregation |
| Registration | Scotland (OSCR) |
| Website | www.giffnockshul.co.uk |
Giffnock Newton Mearns Synagogue (GNMS, "Giffnock Shul") is an Orthodox synagogue at 222 Fenwick Road, Giffnock. It was formed when Giffnock and Newlands Hebrew Congregation and Newton Mearns Hebrew Congregation merged; members of the Giffnock congregation voted for the merger on 8 March 2021.[2] The congregations' buildings went to a separate charity, Eastwood Jewish Community Centres, which shares three trustees with the synagogue.[2][3]
Members' contributions and Gift Aid fund most of the synagogue's costs. In 2024-25 its income was £451,236, including £260,586 in members' contributions, £18,900 from a telephone mast and £26,008 in grants.[2] One of the grants, £14,000 (restricted), came from the Glasgow Jewish Community Trust.[4] The synagogue complex has housed offices for JNF KKL Scotland and other communal bodies,[5] and in 2025 its management committee included Jeff Vulkan,[6] who chairs the KKL Trust.[7]
- Giffnock Shul is the largest Shul in Scotland with a membership of around 800 members. We also have a Banqueting Suite which can host functions up to 230 people and a Reception Hall which can accommodate up to 100. Both of these are available for hire for private functions, social events, organisational meetings and public forums.
- The complex also houses a suite of rooms on the upper level used by various organisations including the JCC, JIA, Glasgow Jewish Representative Council, SCoJeC, Queens Park Charitable Trust, JNF KKL Scotland and others. The basement houses the Beth Medraish in which daily services take place and the Communal Mikveh. There is also a restaurant run by Glasgow Lubavitch (opening times vary) and a flat which is currently used by the Chaplaincy Board.[5]
- Registered Charity Number: SC049806.[1]
- Registered Address: 222 Fenwick Rd, Glasgow, G46 6UE
- Regulatory Type: Standard
- Object: The principal Object of the charity shall be to contribute to public benefit by arranging Jewish worship and religious ceremonies and enabling persons of the Jewish faith to participate in them. It shall also, both on its own behalf and in collaboration with others, promote religious harmony and good relations between the Jewish Community and other religious, ethnic and racial groups, promote the participation of the Jewish community in civic life, and contribute to the education of the general public about the Jewish religion and the Jewish community. It shall have the power to undertake any lawful activity that is intended to further these Objects or any of the charitable purposes prescribed in statute or regulations, in particular, but not limited to, the advancement of education, religion, community development, heritage and culture, recreation, the promotion of equality, diversity, and religious or racial harmony, and other analogous purposes.
Creation
- The members of Giffnock and Newlands Hebrew Congregation (GNHC) agreed by vote on the 8th March 2021 to merge with Newton Mearns Hebrew Congregation (NMHC) to from a new Congregation for the Glasgow and East Renfrewshire Jewish Community under the provisional name of “Glasgow Southside Hebrew Congregation (GSHC)”. The name was subsequently changed to Giffnock Newton Mearns Synagogue. Title to the property of both GNHC and NMHC was transferred on 20th October 2022 to a new SCIO, Eastwood Jewish Community Centres (SCIO N0 048957), the members, other assets, and liabilities of GNHC and NMHC were transferred to Giffnock Newton Mearns Synagogue on the 1st September 2022.[8]
Details of charity's operations
- Charity Status: Active
- Last Updated: 28 Feb 2025
- Constitutional Form: SCIO (Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation)
- Constitutional Form Date: 09 Dec 2019
- Geographical Spread: Wider, but within one local authority area
- Main Operating Location: East Renfrewshire
- Purposes: "the advancement of education","the advancement of religion","the advancement of citizenship or community development","the advancement of the arts, heritage, culture or science","the provision of recreational facilities, or the organisation of recreational activities, with the object of improving the conditions of life for the persons for whom the facilities or activities are primarily intended","the promotion of religious or racial harmony","the promotion of equality and diversity"
- Beneficiaries: "No specific group, or for the benefit of the community"
- Types of activity undertaken: "It carries out activities or services itself"
- Notes: INCORP - You have advised us that Giffnock & Newlands Hebrew Congregation (SC016029) intends to wind up and transfer the assets and liabilities to Giffnock Newton Mearns Synagogue (SC049806) Previous charity name Giffnock Synagogue from 09 December 2019 to 11 June 2021. Previous name Glasgow Southside Synagogue from 12 June to 10 September 2021
People
- Ed Faber - Parnass, circa 2024.[9]
- Rabbi Moshe M. Rubin
Management Team - circa 2025
Chair – Michael Goodman Vice Chair – Howard Beach Hon. Secretary – Ephraim Borowski Hon. Treasurer – Brian Fox Parnass (Senior Warden) – Ed Faber Gabbai (Junior Warden) – Rotation of member volunteers Building Convenor – Warren Karpf Events – Michelle Wilson IT / Online – Daniel Frank Immediate Past Chair – Jeffrey Jesner Committee Janine Beach Michelle Wilson Roger Mitchell Derek Livingston Jason Fisher Steohen Gordon Pamela Livingston David Katz Lenny Wilson Jeff Vulkan Daniel Frank Gary Cohen Eddie Talbot Ken Gerber Marcell Horvath[10]
June 2022
Elected: Chairman, Jeffrey Jesner; vice-chairman, Alan Livingstone; secretary, Ephraim Borowski; treasurer, Brian Fox; parnass, Michael Goodman; and building convenor Howard Beach. Council: Janine Beach, Jason Fisher, Daniel Frank, Ken Gerber, Warren Karpf, David Katz, Derek Livingston, Pamela Livingston, Malcolm Livingstone, Roger Mitchell, Raymond Strang, Leonard Wilson and Evy Yedd. [11]
Founders of Giffnock Shul
S Abramson | B L Banks | S Barclay | S Barnett | J Benson | L Benson | P Berger | B R Cates | L Cohen | A Collins | D Coorsh | Mrs F Coorsh | S Coorsh | P Coutts | W Dunitz | D Elston | L Ferrar | A Gelfer | J Gelfer | J Goldberg | A Goobler | H Gordon | J Gordon | S Gould | S Grace | A Granet | H Harris | B Hylander | J Hylander | J H Kapper | N Katz | R S Khan | J Krevitsky | M Lee | J Levitt | E Levitus | M Levitus | J Lewis | W Marco | C Markson | Mrs. J Markson | J Markson | S Meadow | J Mendelson | E Naftalin | H Ness | B Nettler | H N Norton | H Rimmer | R Seigle | S Shur | D Silver | H Silver | W Silver | M Silverstein | M Silverstone | C Stein | R Terley | B Vertis.[5]
Ministers
• 1934 – 1945 | Rev J Vainstein • 1946 – 1964 | Rabbi A L Rubinstein • 1965 – 1967 | Rabbi Dr S Herman • 1968 – 1971 | Rabbi J Rosen • 1971 – 1975 | Rabbi D Miller • 1975 – 1982 | Rev A Gamzu (Acting Minister) • 1982 – 1998 | Rabbi P Greenberg • 1999 – Now | Rabbi M Rubin (Assistant Minister 1994-1998) [5]
Cantors
• 1959 – 1963 | Rev P. Copperman • 1964 – 1990 | Rev E. Levy[5]
Honorary Life Presidents
Monty Cowan | Dr Bernard Groden | Malcolm Livingstone | Dr Kenneth Collins | Ephraim Borowski | Raymond Strang[5]
Registration and history
- Founded: Registered charity 9 December 2019 (as Giffnock Synagogue)[1]
- Income and expenditure: Income £451,236; expenditure £457,531 (year ending 31 August 2025)[1]
The SCIO registered on 9 December 2019 as "Giffnock Synagogue". It became "Glasgow Southside Synagogue" from 12 June to 10 September 2021, and then Giffnock Newton Mearns Synagogue. Its constitution was amended on 13 July 2022.[13][2] The two old congregations were Giffnock & Newlands Hebrew Congregation (SC016029, registered 23 July 1943) and Newton Mearns Hebrew Congregation (SC009979, registered 13 July 1955). Both were removed from the register on 6 March 2025 ("Charity has been wound up/dissolved").[13] Companies House lists the synagogue as a Scottish charitable incorporated organisation, CS004354, with no officers shown.[14]
The 2025 accounts say: "Title to the property of both GNHC and NMHC was transferred on 20th October 2022 to a new SCIO, Eastwood Jewish Community Centres (SCIO NO. 048957), the members, other assets, and liabilities of Giffnock and Newlands Hebrew Congregation were transferred to Giffnock Newton Mearns Synagogue on 1st September 2022".[2]
The Glasgow Jewish Community Trust agreed in 2015 to lend Newton Mearns Hebrew Congregation up to £250,000 and advanced £200,000 between 2015 and 2020. The loan is interest-free, "now held by Eastwood Jewish Community Centres", and "repayable when the Synagogue sells the site at Larchfield Court, Glasgow".[4]
Finances
| Year ending | Income (£) | Expenditure (£) | Annual return received |
|---|---|---|---|
| 31 August 2022 | 0 | 0 | 15 May 2023 |
| 31 August 2023 | 435,370 | 487,006 | 29 May 2024 |
| 31 August 2024 | 487,477 | 443,577 | 27 May 2025 |
| 31 August 2025 | 451,236 | 457,531 | 19 May 2026 |
| Item | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Members' contributions | 260,586 | 295,803 | 247,473 |
| Gift Aid recoverable | 51,198 | 53,084 | 49,196 |
| Other donations income | 12,985 | 18,186 | 15,299 |
| Telephone mast | 18,900 | 18,900 | 59,000 |
| Functions and lunches | 16,484 | 21,860 | 16,153 |
| Rental income | 17,350 | 12,200 | 14,550 |
| Other activities (adverts, recharges, religious articles, other) | 45,743 | 49,496 | 19,410 |
| Grants | 26,008 | 16,857 | 13,094 |
| Interest and dividends | 1,982 | 1,091 | 1,195 |
| Total income | 451,236 | 487,477 | 435,370 |
| Personnel costs | 193,480 | 191,687 | 265,668 |
| Establishment costs | 110,722 | 113,982 | 116,454 |
| Administration costs | 149,789 | 134,488 | 101,584 |
| Independent examination | 3,540 | 3,420 | 3,300 |
| Total expenditure | 457,531 | 443,577 | 487,006 |
The accounts do not say who gave the grants.[2] In 2025 the synagogue employed an average of six people (2024: eight), and no employee received more than £60,000. Funds at 31 August 2025 were £224,521 (2024: £230,816). The reserves policy is to keep "at least six months operating costs".[2] The independent examiner is Colin G Macdonald CA, Macdonald Associates, 14 Agamemnon Street, Clydebank, Glasgow, G81 4DY (fee £3,540), who also examines Eastwood Jewish Community Centres.[2]
Trustees, 2025-2026
| Name | Role (2025 accounts) | Other OSCR trusteeships (shortlist charities) |
|---|---|---|
| Michael Goodman | Chairman | Eastwood Jewish Community Centres (chairman)[3] |
| Howard Beach | Vice-chairman | Glasgow Jewish Community Trust; Jewish Care Scotland[16][17] |
| Ephraim Borowski | Secretary | Eastwood Jewish Community Centres (Hon Secretary)[3] |
| Brian Fox | Treasurer | Eastwood Jewish Community Centres (Hon Treasurer); Glasgow Maccabi; Jewish Care Scotland[3][17] |
| E Faber | Parness (senior warden) | |
| J Beach | Appointed 25 May 2025 | |
| B Winston | Appointed 25 May 2025 | |
| Alexander Berkley | Not named in the 2025 accounts; on the OSCR register | |
| W Karpf | Building convener, resigned 22 May 2025 | Chairman of Eastwood Jewish Community Centres until 25 May 2025 |
Israel and Zionist links
- JNF KKL Scotland: the synagogue's website said its upper floor is "used by various organisations including the JCC, JIA, Glasgow Jewish Representative Council, SCoJeC, Queens Park Charitable Trust, JNF KKL Scotland and others".[5] The KKL (Scotland) Charitable Trust gives 222 Fenwick Road as its registered address and sent £1,680,000 to Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael in 2024-25.[13][7]
- Committee: the 2025 management committee included Jeff Vulkan, chairman of the KKL (Scotland) Charitable Trust.[6][7] David Links, the KKL Trust's chairman until his death on 4 June 2025, was an honorary life president of the synagogue and of Newton Mearns Hebrew Congregation.[7][6][18]
- Funding links: vice-chairman Howard Beach is a trustee of the Glasgow Jewish Community Trust, which gave the synagogue £14,000 in 2025 and whose £200,000 loan now sits with Eastwood Jewish Community Centres.[16][4]
Income & Expenditure
Resources
https://www.oscr.org.uk/about-charities/search-the-register/charity-details?number=SC049806
See also
- Newton Mearns Hebrew Congregation
- Glasgow Jewish Community Trust
- The KKL (Scotland) Charitable Trust
- Address: 222 Fenwick Road, Glasgow, G46 6UE
- Eastwood Jewish Community Centres
Notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator, Giffnock Newton Mearns Synagogue (SC049806) Scottish Charity Register, accessed 20 October 2026.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 2.9 Giffnock Newton Mearns Synagogue, Trustees' Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31st August 2025, via Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator, accessed 20 October 2026.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator, Eastwood Jewish Community Centres (SC048957) Scottish Charity Register, accessed 20 October 2026.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Glasgow Jewish Community Trust, Report of the Trustees and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2025, via Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator, accessed 20 October 2026.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 Giffnock Newton Mearns Synagogue, About us giffnockshul.co.uk, archived 21 March 2025.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Giffnock Newton Mearns Synagogue, Management giffnockshul.co.uk, archived 17 June 2025.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 The KKL (Scotland) Charitable Trust, Trustees' report and financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2026 (PDF, filed with OSCR), retrieved 20 October 2026.
- ↑ Giffnock Newton Mearns Synagogue, Trustees' Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31st August 2023 (redacted) (PDF), via Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator, archived 25 January 2025, accessed 21 October 2026.
- ↑ Glasgow Jewish - Representative Council Glasgow Jewish (jewishglasgow.org), accessed 21 October 2026.
- ↑ https://www.giffnockshul.co.uk/about-us/management/
- ↑ https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10159318759502832&id=73371052831&set=a.10150360181797832
- ↑ https://www.giffnockshul.co.uk/about-us/management/
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator, Scottish Charity Register download (current register, 14 October 2026, and former charities, 20 October 2026), accessed 20 October 2026.
- ↑ Companies House, GIFFNOCK NEWTON MEARNS SYNAGOGUE (CS004354), accessed 20 October 2026.
- ↑ Giffnock Newton Mearns Synagogue, Trustees' Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31st August 2024 (redacted copy), via Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator, accessed 20 October 2026.
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator, Glasgow Jewish Community Trust (SC013684) Scottish Charity Register, accessed 20 October 2026.
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator, Jewish Care Scotland (SC005267) Scottish Charity Register, accessed 20 October 2026.
- ↑ Newton Mearns Hebrew Congregation, About NMHC nmhc.org.uk, archived 14 March 2016.