Zevi Golombok

Zevi Golombok/Zvi Hershel Golombok (born 1880, died 1954) Married Rosa Golombok (nee Teitelmann) in 1907 in Edinburgh.

Around 1900, the Golombok family arrived in Glasgow from Birzai, Lithuania and brothers Israel and Zevi soon set up their own printing business in the Gorbals. Their first foray into Jewish newspaper publishing seems to have been the Yiddish-language Glasgow Jewish Evening Times, priced at a halfpenny and launched in August 1914. The paper was: ‘Printed and published by Brothers Golombok,’ at 119 Govan (later Ballater) Street (which became The City Press). Next came the Glasgow Jewish Weekly Times, then the monthly Die Glasgow Yiddishe Shtimme (Jewish Voice) in 1921-1922. By 1928, less people in Glasgow were able to read Yiddish and Israel and Zevi Golombok published the Jewish Echo in English from 1928 onwards. Zevi was the first editor, succeeded in 1950 by his son, Dr Ezra Golombok. The Jewish Echo was published weekly 1928-1992. When it ceased publication, Dr Ezra Golombok gifted a complete set of the back issues to SJAC, as well as the photographic library (1960s-1990s).

A JTA death notice reported on 13 October 1954:

Zvi Golombok, founder and editor of the Glasgow Jewish Echo and pioneer Zionist leader in Glasgow, died here today at the age of 74. Mr. Golombok came to Scotland from Lithuania 50 years ago and was associated with the Zionist movement from its earliest days, helping to found the Zionist organization in Glasgow. Before World I he attempted to run a daily newspaper for Jews in Scotland and in 1918 published for a time a Yiddish weekly, “Die Yiddishe Stimme.” in January 1928 he launched the weekly Jewish Echo, which proved an immediate success, and which recently expanded its service with the publication of a special edition for Northeastern England.

Timeline

• 1912 - A general meeting of the Glasgow B'nei Zion was held in the Beth Hasepher Hall last Sunday, when Mr. Z. Golombok presided in plao]ce of Mr. J. Bernottin, resigned. The balance-sheet was adopted. The Chairman regretted the inactivities of the Society during the past few mouths, and appealed to the meeting to assist in reorganising the Society. Their position in Glasgow could, he said, be greatly improved, and their membership increased, and a special effort in this direction would be made at once. The following were elected : Messrs. A. Haase, President; Z. Golombok and B. Shenkin, Vice-Presidents; A. Links Treasurer; P. L. Halpern, Hon. Secretary; H. Furst, National Food Commissioner ; and L. Haase, Share Club Convenor.

See also

• Golombok family

Affiliations

• Glasgow Grove in the Balfour Forest