David Samuel Links

David Samuel Links (R) with close colleague Stanley Lovatt, both fanatical Zionists.(𝗗𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗱 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗹𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗝𝗲𝘄𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗜𝘀𝗿𝗮𝗲𝗹 Jewish Telegraph, 13.06.2025)

A rare shot of David Samuel Links one of the leading Zionist activists in Scotland.

JNF KKL Scotland committee members and helpers. Back from left, Guy Cowan, Josh Cowan, Charles Barnett and David Osdin; front from left, Simon Haniford, chairman David Links, Laurence Haniford, Colin Cowan, Sam Groundland and president Stanley Lovatt, Jewish Telegraph, 22 November 2018

Jewish Chronicle 8 July 2011

David Samuel Links (born 4 July 1946, died June 2025) is a Scottish businessman and Zionist activist, belonging to a longstanding Zionist family. His role as a director of the Scottish branch of the Jewish National Fund replays the role played by his grandfather Abraham Links who set up the first Glasgow office of the JNF, which became known as The Glasgow Zionist Centre.

Abraham Links 'came from Galicia to Glasgow in the 1880s as a young child. He established a drapery business in 1907 which proved to be most successful. The company moved in due course into a large new building in Wilson Street. Abraham was a committed and generous Zionist, active in the Jewish National Fund and other Zionist organisations.'

Participants in the Scottish JNF conference, from Left: JNF KKL Scotland secretary Elaine Vulkan, Carolyn Phillips or Dublin JNF Commission, JNF KKL Scotland secretary Giulia Fry, JNF KKL Scotland trustee Delia Berkley, JNF KKL Scotland treasurer Charles Barnett, Moira Gilbert of JNF KKL Jerusalem, JNF KKL Scotland chairman David Links, JNF KKL Scotland president Stanley Lovatt and Yonatan Galon, CEO of JNF UK

Abraham Links: 'was involved in setting up the first Glasgow office of the Jewish National Fund in Dixon Street in 1935, building on the success of the JNF's Glasgow Committee which had been founded in 1901 to raise funds to buy land in Palestine for the creation of a Jewish homeland. Links also supported Hebrew language teaching for Jewish children and the establishment of a Zionist-oriented Jewish day school in the Gorbals. The first step was the creation in 1911 of the Hebrew Higher Grade School at 124 South Portland Street, which offered after-school classes for children and evening classes for adults.

Family background and upward mobility

Maurice Benzion Links' two sons David Samuel Links and Brian Israel Links were born in Pollok, Glasgow in 1946 and 1950 respectively. By the time that the family patriarch Abraham Links (the grandfather of David and Brian) died in 1953 he was living in Newton Mearns, the affluent suburb now synonymous with Glasgow's Jews. Nathan Links their great uncle lived until the age of 92 and died in 1978.

David Links and his wife Adalaine moved into a short street in the Glasgow G46 postal code in Giffnock in 2002. The house was sold on 25 February 2010 for £683,777. In the ensuing years a number of other houses in the street were bought by a series of wealthy Glasgow Zionists from the Lewis, Berkley and Grabiner families.

The Links then moved to a new property in Thornliebank also in the G46 postal code. on 25 February 2010 the property was bought for £410,000. In that month the average price of house in Glasgow was £107,849. The house was then gifted to David and Adalaine Links in 2016.

Affiliations

Charity trustee/Lobby group

• 2004 - Newton Mearns Synagogue - Chairman.
• 2007 - present The KKL (Scotland) Charitable Trust - Trustee, Chairman.
• 2020 - Referred to as Glasgow Zionist Organisation incorporating Glasgow Israel Committee - Jewish Community Centre, 222 Fenwick Road, Glasgow G46 6UE Tel: 0141 577 8222. 'Glasgow Israel Committee is a non-political Zionist Education Committee providing meetings with Speakers on Zionist topics. It also organises the Yom Ha’atzmaut Celebration for the entire Community. It promotes Israel in the Glasgow Jewish Community and provides back up for the shlichim.' Co-Chairmen : David Links and Sue Faber | Treasurer; David Links. Secretary: Sue Faber. Links name was not listed in this position in 2021.

Corporate director

• A. Links & Company, Limited

Company name	Company number	Company status	Correspondence address	Role	Position	Appointed on or before	Resigned on	Nationality	Country of residence	Occupation
The KKL (Scotland) Charitable Trust	(SC316740)	Active	8 Deaconsview, Mearns Grove, Glasgow, Scotland, G46 7UW	Role Active	Director	16 February 2007		British	Scotland	Company Director
The KKL (Scotland) Charitable Trust	(SC316740)	Active	8 Deaconsview, Mearns Grove, Glasgow, Scotland, G46 7UW	Role Active	Secretary	16 February 2007		British
Reardons New City Limited	(SC216986)	Active	3 Dava Street, Glasgow, G51 2JA	Role Active	Director	1 April 2005		British	Scotland	Company Director
Teninarow Limited	(SC179020)	Active	3 Dava Street, Glasgow, Scotland, G51 2JA	Role Active	Director	31 July 2004		British	Scotland	Co Director
Picturelinks Limited	(SC176887)	Dissolved	8 Deaconsview, Thornliebank, Glasgow, G46 7UW	Role	Director	26 June 1997		British	Scotland	Company Director
A. Links & Company, Limited	(SC020757)	Active	3 Dava Street, Glasgow, Scotland, G51 2JA	Role Active	Secretary	31 December 1988		British
A. Links & Company, Limited	(SC020757)	Active	3 Dava Street, Glasgow, Scotland, G51 2JA	Role Active	Director	31 December 1988		British	Scotland	Company Director
Hutcheson Finance Company Limited	(SC057881)	Dissolved	3 Dava Street, Glasgow, Scotland, G51 2JA	Role	Secretary	30 December 1988		British
Hutcheson Finance Company Limited	(SC057881)	Dissolved	3 Dava Street, Glasgow, Scotland, G51 2JA	Role	Director	30 December 1988		British	Scotland	Company Director
Robert Gordon & Company (Glasgow) Limited	(SC023067)	Dissolved	3 Dava Street, Glasgow, Scotland, G51 2JA	Role	Director	30 December 1988		British	Scotland	Company Director
Robert Gordon & Company (Glasgow) Limited	(SC023067)	Dissolved	3 Dava Street, Glasgow, Scotland, G51 2JA	Role	Secretary	30 December 1988		British
James Murray & Sons (Scotland) Limited	(SC020256)	Dissolved	3 Dava Street, Glasgow, Scotland, G51 2JA	Role	Secretary	30 December 1988		British
James Murray & Sons (Scotland) Limited	(SC020256)	Dissolved	3 Dava Street, Glasgow, Scotland, G51 2JA	Role	Director	30 December 1988		British	Scotland	Company Director
Reardons New City Limited	(SC216986)	Active	Dungavel, Methven Road, Giffnock, Glasgow, G46 6TG	Role Resigned	Director	19 March 2001	7 December 2002	British	Scotland	Co.Director
Teninarow Limited	(SC179020)	Active	Dungavel, Methven Road, Giffnock, Glasgow, G46 6TG	Role Resigned	Director	24 September 1997	20 November 2000	British	Scotland	Company Director
The Nithsdale (Kirkintilloch) Property Co., Ltd.	(SC032216)	Dissolved	Dungavel, Methven Road, Giffnock, Glasgow, G46 6TG	Role Resigned	Director	30 December 1988	6 December 1993	British	Scotland	Company Director

Family

• Brian Israel Links | Melanie Sara Links

See also

• Michael Links

Resources

Obituary

Tributes have been paid to David Links, who died last week in Mallorca after taking ill on the flight there. David was a steadfast worker for the community on so many different fronts, including Newton Mearns Synagogue, JNF KKL Scotland, JIA, the Glasgow Israel Committee, the Board of Shechita, the Glasgow Hebrew Burial Society and Bonnyton Golf Club. He taught at the Talmud Torah. David was steeped in a love of Israel from childhood and was chairman of JNF KKL Scotland at the time of his death.

Honorary Consul for Israel in Scotland and JNF KKL Scotland president Stanley Lovatt said: “It is with a heavy heart that I write these words in tribute to my dear friend David, who I have had the pleasure of knowing and working with for such a long time. “His passing leaves a huge void not only for me, but in the hearts of all who were privileged to know and work alongside him for many dozens of years, fundraising for Israel through JNF KKL Scotland. “We were good friends before his father Maurice encouraged me to form Younger JNF in Glasgow in the 1960s and since then we shared a passion and commitment to a cause so very close to our hearts. “From the earliest days of working together for JNF KKL Scotland, I saw someone of unique dedication, integrity and strength of character. “Often a driving force behind our numerous events, ‘Ginger Fixit’, as he was affectionately known by his close friends, will be sadly missed and always fondly remembered.”

A long-time Glasgow Hebrew Burial Society committee member, David did so much to improve the appearance of Glenduffhill Cemetery. Former GHBS chairman Professor Alan Shenkin said: “David played a number of key roles within Glasgow Hebrew Burial Society. “These commenced as a willing and regular helper in the Chevra Kadisha. He joined the executive of GHBS in 2013, where his wise counsel was always helpful in coping with the complex management of the cemetery at Glenduffhill. “However, his input reached new levels when it was agreed in 2017 to commence a major project to restore the condition of the cemetery, which had fallen badly into disrepair. “He had the idea to bring colour to the drab cemetery by growing flowers, shrubs and trees. “Initially, he persuaded the Auld Acquaintances group of former Glasgow residents to fund a garden at the front of the cemetery. This has proved to be a great success, with seating and careful planting to generate a restful contemplative atmosphere. “Services are now often carried out in this area when the weather permits. “He moved on to design flower beds attached to the walls of the cemetery buildings and then raised beds at the foot of rows of graves. These are now also being added at the top of the rows. And a recent project has been to commence an avenue of trees along one of the main paths. “Not only did David design these gardens, but he ordered and collected all the plants and trees and ensured they were planted appropriately. “The gardens at Glenduffhill have transformed the visual appearance of the cemetery and will be one of his long-lasting legacies.”

David was a past chairman and life president of Newton Mearns Synagogue. In Giffnock Newton Mearns Synagogue on Shabbat, Rabbi Moshe Rubin paid tribute. He spoke of him having done so much for Newton Mearns Synagogue, Israel and the community. David wasn’t in favour of the closure of Newton Mearns Shul, rather than Giffnock, following the merger but when the decision was made, he threw himself fully behind the new GNMS congregation. He spoke of how David regularly attended the minyanim, even though he was very ill. Rabbi Rubin dedicated his recital of the the prayer for the State of Israel in Hebrew last Shabbat to David’s memory. Adele Conn, who worked with him on the Glasgow Israel Committee and other organisations, said: “I thought very highly of David. He did an amazing amount of work across so many organisations, always with a smile. He will be hugely missed by the community.”

David is survived by his wife Adalaine, daughters Victoria Oster and Abi Brazil, brother Brian and four grandchildren.