Giffnock and Newlands Synagogue

Orthodox synagogue in Giffnock, Glasgow, Scotland (merged 2023)

Giffnock and Newlands Hebrew Congregation, commonly known as Giffnock Shul, was an Orthodox synagogue in Giffnock, Glasgow, serving the southern suburbs' Jewish community until its merger in 2023. Formed in the 1970s through the merger of the original Giffnock Synagogue (founded 1931) and Newlands Synagogue, it operated as one of Scotland's largest Orthodox congregations before amalgamating with Newton Mearns Synagogue to create Giffnock Newton Mearns Synagogue (GNMS). The merger process began in 2021 with member votes, and the Newton Mearns site closed in January 2023 after a farewell service, with the combined congregation retaining the Giffnock building at 222 Fenwick Road.

The congregation maintained Orthodox traditions, providing daily services, education, and social activities independent of Zionist regime networks.

History

Giffnock Synagogue was founded in 1931 to serve Jewish families moving to Glasgow's southern suburbs. Services began in temporary venues: Girl Guides Hall, Church Road (1932–1934), Giffnock Police Court House, Maybank Road (1934–1938), and May Terrace, Giffnock (1938–1968), before moving to the permanent Fenwick Road site in 1968.

Newlands Synagogue operated nearby. The two merged in the 1970s to form Giffnock and Newlands Hebrew Congregation. Membership grew significantly, reaching around 800 by the mid-2010s.

According to a 2016 report in the JC:

Glasgow’s two largest Orthodox congregations — Giffnock and Newlands and Newton Mearns — have joined forces to recruit the city’s first youth and community rabbi. The appointment of Rabbi Eliezer Wolfson, 30, has been sponsored by the Glasgow Jewish Community Trust, Tribe and the Queen’s Park Charitable Trust. Born in Liverpool, Rabbi Wolfson attended yeshivot in Gateshead and Jerusalem before studying law at Manchester University. He then returned to Israel, where he received his semicha earlier this year. He has come to Glasgow with his wife Elisheva and three children.

“It’s our job to try to make Judaism relevant and inspiring for the youth,” he said. “They should want to live in Glasgow because it should be a place that offers services and activities for them. The community is shrinking yet there is still a lot of life and tremendous potential here.”

Giffnock chairman Nigel Allon was “delighted” at Rabbi Wolfson’s appointment. “He’s a marvellous man with a marvellous education, both secular and religious.” His Newton Mearns counterpart Brian Fox was “keen to improve the religious facilities for the youth in Glasgow”.

The appointment comes as a proposed merger between the two congregations has been shelved. Mr Fox said the congregations “decided they didn’t want to go down that road at this time. People have different reasons but I think at the end of the day they wanted to retain their independence.”

In March 2021, members of Giffnock and Newlands voted overwhelmingly to merge with Newton Mearns Synagogue. The amalgamation formed Giffnock Newton Mearns Synagogue (GNMS), with the Giffnock building selected as the primary site in June 2022. The Newton Mearns site closed in January 2023 following a farewell service. The old congregation ceased independent existence upon full merger completion in 2023.

People

Founders

The founders of the original Giffnock Shul in 1931 included:

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.

Leadership

Ministers included:

• Rev. Jacob Vainstein (1934–1945)
• Rev. (later Rabbi) A. L. Rubenstein (1946–1964)
• Rabbi Dr. S. Herman (1965–1967)
• Rabbi Jeremy Rosen (1967–1971)
• Rabbi David Miller (1971–1975)
• Rev. Avrom Gamzu (1975–1982, Acting)
• Rabbi Philip Greenberg (1982–1999)
• Rabbi Moshe M. Rubin (1999–present as of merger, Assistant from 1994–1998)

Cantors:

• Rev. Phillip Copperman (1959–1963)
• Rev. Ernest Levy (1964–1990)

The final minister before merger was Rabbi Andrew Shaw.

• Ed Faber - Parnass, circa 2024.

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 Stephen Gordon Pamela Livingston David Katz Lenny Wilson Jeff Vulkan Daniel Frank Gary Cohen Eddie Talbot Ken Gerber Marcell Horvath

See also

Giffnock Newton Mearns Synagogue Newton Mearns Synagogue Lubavitch of Scotland

External links

• Giffnock Newton Mearns Synagogue (successor)