Glasgow Jewish Institute
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Glasgow Jewish Institute - 95 South Portland Street, Glasgow.
Programme for the opening of the Glasgow Jewish Institute in June 1935 in with Isaac Wolfson in South Portland Street, Glasgow.
- The Jewish Institute was the main social centre of the Gorbals Jewish community. It developed out of earlier organisations, such as the Glasgow Jewish Young Men's Association, founded in 1900. In 1935, the Institute took over the former MacNicol Memorial Church, next to the synagogue, at 93-95 South Portland Street. This became a fully equipped social, cultural and recreational centre, with a membership of 2,000 in its heyday.
- The 1936 rules and constitution give the objects of the Institute as 'to establish and maintain a centre for social amenities between members of the Jewish Community in Glasgow, to provide healthy recreation by means of lectures, debates, concerts, athletics etc [and] to assist Jewish Religious and Cultural Bodies and also Charitable Organisations'. According to a brochure from 1953, the amenities included a bar, billiards, bridge club, chess club, dramatic club with its own theatre, entertainment, Ladies's Section, literary society and table tennis.
- With the decline of the Jewish Gorbals, the Institute closed c1970 and reopened briefly in Pollokshields, then Giffnock, but it was never able to replicate its former success.[1]
Timeline
1935 - Opening the Jewish Institute
Isaac Wolfson was in Glasgow to open the new premises Glasgow Jewish Institute in South Portland Street on 23 June 1935.
1937 - JNF meeting
Barnett Janner 'inaugurated the local campaign for Sefer Hayeled (Children's Goldne book) at a meeting held under the auspices of the Glasgow Commission of the Jewish National Fund in the Jewish Institute on Sunday afternoon. Mr A Links, Chairman of the local Commission, presided.[2]
1947 - Jewish Year Book
- Jewish Institute, 95, South Portland St., C.5. H.P.—Sir Maurice Bloch, J.P. P.-G. Spilg. T.—J. Mandel. H. Sec.-B. Casson.[3]
1947 - Irgun cell operating?
In August 1947, MI5's Scottish officer reported on 'Jewish Activity in Scotland' noting that an Irgun Zvei Leumi cell appeared to be using the Glasgow Jewish Institute as a base of operations.[4] The cell was allegedly led by Sidney Chazan at an address in Braemar Street, Langside, Glasgow.
- This man is studying at the Anderson College, Glasgow. He is of mixed Polish and Jewish extraction. His father is an ex Rabbi. Chazan is suspected of being a member of the Revision Movement, and is a prominent member of Habbanim [Sp], the Jewish young people's movement. He has in his possession numerous copies of the "Jewish Struggle", "Palestine Information", and many violent anti-British pamphlets. Chazan is a regular attender and prominent member of the Jewish Institute in Glasgow. [5]
1950
- Jewish Institute, 95, South Portland St., C.5. H.P.—Sir Maurice Bloch, J.P. P.-B. Green. T.—S. G. Bloom. H. Sec.-B. Casson.[6]
1966
- Jewish Institute, 95, South Portland St., C.5. H. Sec.-E. Shinwell.[7]
People
Notes
- ↑ https://yourscottisharchives.com/catalogues/24411122-6ec2-36bd-9183-da70465bc2df
- ↑ Jewish Chronicle,30 april 1937, p. 34.
- ↑ The Jewish Year Book, 1947.
- ↑ 14 August 1947
- ↑ Subject: Jewish Activity in Scotland. 14 August 1947, Secret. Addressed to the War Office. copy to Scottish command, Security Section. signed D E Wright, Major, GS., for Lieutenant-General, Commanding in Chief, Scottish Command.
- ↑ The Jewish Year Book, 1950.
- ↑ The Jewish Year Book, 1966. p. 121.
- ↑ https://www.scotsman.com/news/people/obituary-ida-schuster-legendary-scottish-actress-and-worlds-oldest-podcaster-2863781