Glasgow B'nei Zion

A branch of Chovevi Zion the first or proto Zionist society in Glasgow.

Kenneth Collins writes:

Despite Nathaniel Jacobs' public anti-Zionist sentiments Glasgow Jewry's commitment to the Zionist movement and its ideals was solid and the only opposition could be found in certain circles at Garnethill, led by the Heilbronn family. Although the Glasgow Bnei Zion had been somewhat eclipsed during the war years the leadership in the Zionist movement in Glasgow passed to a new organisation the Jewish National Movement Committee which had been founded in January 1915. The flagging of the Bnei Zion prompted the Zionist friendly society, the Order of Ancient Maccabeans, to convene a conference in Glasgow presided over by Abraham Links and to wnich Dr. Fox from Liverpool was invited to strengthen the organisation of Zionist activity in the city.

The Jewish National Movement Committee took a major initiative in May 1916 when it decided to rent the former building of the Hutchesons' Girls Grammar School which had moved to larger premises nearby in Kingarth Street. The former school building in Elgin Street, at the southern edge of the Gorbals, had been considered by other Jewish organisations such as the Talmud Torah but it seemed at the time to be outwith their financial ability. The building, renamed the Jewish National Institute and rented for the annual sum of £170, contained a full range of classrooms and meeting rooms as well as a hall and library facilities. It was therefore ideal for use by the Zionist organisations and gave them the opportunity of setting up their own literary section and Bet Sepher, or Hebrew language school.

Timeline

• 1905 - GLASGOW.--The annual meeting of the Glasgow B'nei Zion took place recently. The retiring president, Mr. I. Bernstein, who presided, commented upon the success achieved by the society in opening a Zionist hall in Glasgow. The following were elected: President, Mr. I. Bernstein; vicepresidents, Rev. J. Bogdanski and Mr. A. H. Abramowitz; treasurer, Mr. I. Lazarus; secretary, Mr. J. Mandelstam; financial secretary, Mr. H. Golombok; joint National Fund treasurers, Mr. H. Handelman and Rev. J. Bokdasski; trustees, Messrs. B. Gerber and I. Horwitz; auditors, Messrs. M. Be...

• 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 place 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.

• 1931 - DEATH OF MR. SOLOMON RUBIN. The Jewish community of Glasgow has sustained a great loss by the premature death of Mr. Solomon Rubin, of 87 Millbrae Road, Langside. The deccased, who died on Monday morning, at the age of 52, was a well-known Baal Habayis, an observant Jew and a prominent member of the Queen’s Park Hebrew Congregation. He was a liberal subscriber to all charity funds and an ardent supporter of the Zionist Organisation, of which he was a member since the early days of the now defunct Glasgow B’nei Zion. Mr. Rubin was a Kosher butcher by trade and immediately his death had been notified to Mr. B. Goldberg, the Convener of the Chessed shel Emes, the latter summoned an informal meeting of the Glasgow Kosher butchers, and they unanimously passed a vote of sympathy with the wife and family of the deceased. They also decided to send two cabs and to attend the funeral personally. There was a large attendance at the cemetery including the three local Rabbonim.

• 1940 - Zionist Victims of Nazi Bombing MR. PERCY P. BAKER Glasgow Zionist circles and the community in general were shocked at the tragic death of Mr Percy P. Baker, of London, who was killed, with his wife and son, during a Nazi air attack on the metropolis. Mr Baker, who settled in London some time before the Great War, was one of the leading Zionists in this country. He and his late brother, Mr Harry Baker, were very active Zionist workers in the younger days of 'the movement, They rendered invaluable services to the late Dr Herzl on his visits to England. Mr Percy Baker was a prominent figure at the Zionist Congresses, at which he often acted as English secretary. He was vice-president and member of the council of the English Zionist Federation and was sctive in every branch of the Zionist Organisation. Before he settled in London Mr Baker lived in Glasgow for a number of years, and was the leading figure of the local Zionists. He and his brother Harry were the founders of the Glasgow B’nei Zion, the forerunner of the present Glasgow Zionist Organisation. Even when he left the city he was in constant contact with his Zionist colleagues in Glasgow whom he often represented at Zionist congresses and at the conferences of the English Zionist Federation. He also addressed several public meetings in Glasgow, His memory will be cherished by a large number of Zionist colleagues and friends.

People

Harry Baker, Percy Baker, Isaac Lazarus - founders.