Gerber family
Scottish Jewish family known for business, philanthropy, and Zionist activities in Glasgow
The Gerber family is a prominent Scottish Jewish family based primarily in Glasgow, noted for their contributions to business, Jewish communal life, and Zionist causes.
History
The Gerber family, of Eastern European Jewish origin, settled in Glasgow in the early 20th century, fleeing persecution. They initially resided in the Gorbals district, a hub for Jewish immigrants.[1]
Business activities
The family established Gerber Bros, a successful wholesale warehouse and commercial enterprise, particularly noted as wholesale jewellers. Hymie Gerber and uncles ran the business.[1]
In 1968, family members founded the accounting firm Gerber, Landa & Gee in Glasgow, which has supported local charities and initiatives for over 50 years.[2]
Cyril Gerber (1916–2012) expanded into the arts sector, founding the Compass Gallery in 1969 and Cyril Gerber Fine Art, influencing Scotland's visual arts scene. He was awarded an OBE for his contributions.[3]
Jewish communal and Zionist roles
The family has played significant roles in Glasgow's Jewish community and Zionist movement.
Barnet Gerber (1880–1947) served as financial treasurer for the Michael Simons Lodge (Order Achei Brith) operating from the Herzl Zionist Institute.[4]
B. Gerber was an officer in the early Glasgow Zionist Association, involved in fundraising operations helping establish dedicated Zionist communal spaces.[5]
Through marriage, the family connected to the Woolfson family. Clara Gerber (Woolfson) linked the families. Her son Edward "Eddie" Woolfson served as President of the Glasgow Zionist Organisation (1953–1959) and President of the Glasgow Jewish Representative Council (1958–1961).[5]
Dr. Harry Gerber and family donated to Jewish welfare, including gardens at Arklet Housing in memory of his wife Lily Gerber.[6]
Ken Gerber has served as Chairman of Giffnock and Newlands Hebrew Congregation, Scotland's largest Jewish congregation, and is a legal expert and author.[7]
Pat Gerber (1934–2006) was a noted author and journalist contributing to Scottish cultural life.[8]
Family members have supported Jewish Care Scotland, the Jewish National Fund, and groups like Glasgow Friends of Israel.
Notable members
- Cyril Gerber (1916–2012), OBE, gallery owner.
- Ken Gerber, solicitor and community leader.
- Pat Gerber (1934–2006), author.
Family Tree
- Pauline Sheer (nee Gerber);
- Hannah Rosen (nee Gerber);
- Clara Woolfson (nee Gerber) (b 1878, Riga, Latvia, d 1945) - married Philip Woolfson (born January 15, 1879 - died: November 08, 1948 (69)) in Kelvin in 1897;[10]
- Joseph J Woolfson (born 1898, Gorbals, died 1987, Eastwood and Mearns, mothers' maiden name: Gerber)
- Edward Woolfson (May 20, 1903 - June 05, 1982 (79), Glasgow, Martha Street)
- Ethel Woolfson 1901 - 1982
- Hyman Woolfson 1900 - 1983
- Matilda Woolfson 1905 - 1963
- Solomon Woolfson 1907 - 1991
- Arnold Woolfson 1911 - 1991
- Lewis Woolfson 1910 - 1993
- Eva Woolfson 1914 - 2001
- Sylvia Woolfson 1923 - 2004
- Barnet Gerber(1880 - 1947)[11];
- Rebecca Lazarus (nee Gerber); (Birthdate: 1881, Birthplace: Schaulen/Schavli, Riga, Latvia, Death: July 31, 1964 (82-83), Glasgow, Scotland), married Isaac Lazarus (Birthdate: October 15, 1880, Birthplace: Vilna, Vilnius city municipality, Provincia de Vilna, Lithuania, Death: October 24, 1956 (76) Glasgow) in 1902 in the Gorbals.[12]
- Nathan Lewis Gerber (1885-1962)
- Hyman Gerber Birthdate: August 05, 1889, Birthplace: Schaulen/Schavli, Riga, Latvia, Death: April 15, 1976 (86) Glasgow) married Rosa Gerber (nee Goldstein/Goldstone)
- Joseph Woolf Gerber (b 1914)[13] )
- Cyril Gerber/Israel Gerber Born: November 4,1917; Died: August 28, 2012.[14] 'His mother, Rosa Goldstein, was born in England of Polish parents and his father, Hymie Gerber, was from Latvia. In Glasgow, his father and uncles together established Gerber Bros, a warehouse business.'[15] Married Jessie Elizabeth Gerber (nee Humphreys) in 1945 in Cathcart.[16]Married Patricia Mary Anne Gerber (nee Morris) in 1980.[17]
- Gillian Carol Gerber (b January 1949). Married Samuel Aaron Steinschreiber in 1970 in Eastwood and Mearns.[18]
- Abigail Eliza Stein (b January 1977)
- Joanne Rose Stein (b September 1980)
- Gillian Carol Gerber (b January 1949). Married Samuel Aaron Steinschreiber in 1970 in Eastwood and Mearns.[18]
- Helena Gerber (b 1920[19]
- Abraham Gerber/Aubrey Gerber (b 1922 [20])
| Name | Birth and death year |
|---|---|
| Abram Leyzer Gerber | 1846 - ???? |
| Barnet Gerber | 1880 - 1947 |
| Chane Gerber | 1878 - 1935 |
| Clara Gerber | 1877 - 1945 |
| Clarice Gerber | 1903 - ???? |
| Clarice Gerber | 1908 - ???? |
| Girsha Leyb Gerber | 1852 - ???? |
| Hymie Gerber | 1889 - 1976 |
| Isadore Gerber (Itzi | 1913 - 1967 |
| Itsyk Gerber | 1854 - ???? |
| Jankel Gerber | 1856 - ???? |
| Joe Woolf Gerber | 1914 - 2000 |
| Leslie Gerber | 1930 - 2008 |
| Leyzer Gerber | 1851 - ???? |
| Natie Lewis Gerber | 1885 - 1962 |
| Paulina Gerber | 1872 - 1957 |
| Polly Gerber | 1905 - 1994 |
| Rebecca Gerber | 1883 - 1964 |
| Rebecca Gerber | 1886 - ???? |
| Samuel Joseph Gerber | 1908 - 1981 |
| Shlioma Gerber | 1820 - ???? |
| Sora Dvera Gerber | 1849 - ???? |
| Stira Leah Gerber | 1856 - ???? |
| Yosef Wolf Gerber | 1842 - 1891 |
Companies
See also
Notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Cyril Gerber obituary, Obituary: Cyril Gerber OBE The Scotsman, 5 September 2012.
- ↑ Gerber Landa & Gee, About Gerber Landa & Gee website, accessed July 2026.
- ↑ Cyril Gerber obituary, Art world mourns death of leading gallery owner The Herald, 29 August 2012.
- ↑ Community records and Jewish welfare histories in Glasgow.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 G. Schaffer, Zionism, Aliyah, and the Jews of Glasgow Shofar, 2019.
- ↑ Arklet Housing history, A History of Arklet Housing Association Hanover Scotland, 2022.
- ↑ Community reports, Jewish Telegraph, Glasgow Jewish community records.
- ↑ Pat Gerber obituary, Pat Gerber obituary The Herald, 14 September 2006.
- ↑
- A. Goldberg, Albert Rd. Xhill
- F. Nettler, Maxwell Drive, Pollokshields
- H. Shulman, 24 Queen's Drive, Crosshill
- F. Feinstone, Royal Terr., S.2
- D. August, So. Portland St.
- A. Haase, Cumberland St. C.5
- Mr and Mrs. Frier, 48 Court-hill Avenue, Cathcart .
- I. Rosenzveig, 13 Bruce Rd.
- B. Shenkin, 25 Moray Street
- E. Isaacs, 4 Abbotsford P.
- J. Goldinger, 48 Bellwood St
- Mrs R. Goldinger, Bellwood St
- B. Gerber, 16 Queen's Dr.
- Mr. Black, 2 Maxwell Drive
- Mr. Sragowitz, 184 Oxford St
- Harry Furst, 327 Victoria Rd.
- S. Winestone, Battlefield Rd.
- J. Karter, 206 Sauchiehall St.
- Z. Golombok, 8, Florida Ave.
- Mr. Freedman, 3 Apsley Place
- P. Moorov, 11 Second Avenue
- R. Blumenthal, 64 Springfield Road, London
- B. Jacobs, 15 Holyrood Cres.
- L. Wolfson, 113 Kenmure St.
- A. Wolfson, 61 Glencairn Dr.
- H. Gerber, 2 St. John's Road
- Mrs. Tytz, 27 Apsley Place
- Mrs. J. Wolfson, 44 Grant St.
- Mr. Lazarus, Carmichael Pl.
- Mrs. Teitlemann, Qu. Mary Av
- Mr. Rosefield, 96 Bowman St.
- Mr Greenstein, Kingsb'ns Dr
- I. Mail, 1056 Aitkenhead Rd.
- B. Lazarus, 27 Glencairn Dr.
- P. Cohen, 28 Abbotsford P1.
- Mr. Brunsky, 184 Oxford St.
- D. Balkin, So. Portland St.
- Mr. Lewis, 33 Apsley Place
- Mr. Epstein, 48 Kinmont Av.
- Mr. Hope Stone, Montague St.
- N. Louvish, Thornecliffe Gdns.
- Mr. Freed, 21 Rutherglen Rd.
- Mr. Silver, 54 McKinlay St.
- I. Sieve, 8 St. Andrews Dr.
- I. Harris, 39 Regent Pk. Sq.
- M. Lubarsky, 39 Titwood Rd.
- C. Greenblat, Abbotsford Pl.
- M. Ramomsky, S. Portland St
- M. Jacob, So. Portland St.
- Mrs. Silver, 54 Mekinlay St.
- J. B. Epstein, Kinmount Av.
- L. Cram, 14 Apsley Place
- B. Rosenbloom, 41 Kose St.
- J. Mellick, 23 Apsley Place
- Mr. Kitchener, Nicholson St.
- Dr. M. Naftalin, Albert Rd.
- I. Woolfson, 44 Grant Street
- Mrs. S. Morris, 264 Bath St.
- S. Mizel, 106 S. Portland St.
- B. Michaelson, Battlefield Rd.
- Laimon Lattving, 165 Main St
- M. Michaelson, 40 Daisy St.
- Rev. Pogalovitz, 98 Norfolk St
- Mr. Isaacs, 120 College St.
- Percy Shenkin, 25 Moray Pl.
- W. Livingstone, Blythes'd Dr
- Mr. Shaffer, 45 Apsley Place
- P. Karter, 206 Sauchiehall St.
- N. H. Caplan, 2 Millbrae Cr.
- A. J. Levine, Mitchell St., C.1
- Mrs. F. Gold, Nicholson St.
- T. Lucatz, 116 Boyd Street
- W. Golombok, Kingswood Dr
- Mrs. Winthrope, Albert Rd
- L. Priestman, 13 Florida Dr.
- L. Haase, 150 Holland Street
- A. Turetsky, 208 Albion Street
- M. Greenbaum, Carnarvon St
- Mrs Bernstein, Battlefield Rd
- N. Gerber, 104 Queen's Dr.
- I. Shulman, Dundrennan Rd.
- S. Shụr, 119 Tantallon Rd.
- M. Steen, 95 Bowman Street
- I. Michaelson, Overdale St.
- Mrs. A. Cohen, 8 Braemar St
- M. Cutler, 68 Abbotsford Pl.
- Mrs. Edelman, 33 Warwick St
- Mrs. Yonace, 93 Norfolk St.
- R. Gabrilovitz, Hospital St.
- W. Haase, 279 Eglinton Street
- Mrs. Boyarski, 36 Warwick St
- B. M. Levine, 134 Saltmarket
- Mrs. Edward Jacobs, Pitt St.
- I. Woolfson, 41 Camphill Av.
- N. Mann, 73 Abbotsford PI.
- H. Davidson, 8 Maitland Av.
- Mr. Jacobs, 24 Govan Street
- M. Mauner, 43 Daisy Street
- I. Cremer, 84 Govanhill Dr.
- Mr. Gordon, 140 Trongate
- M. Turetsky, Abbotsford Pl.
- ↑ WOOLFSON PHILIP GREBER CLERA 1897 644 / 9 / 352 Kelvin
- ↑ https://www.geni.com/people/Barnet-Gerber/6000000007143863295
- ↑ GERBER REBECCA LAZARUS ISAAC 1902 644 / 12 / 53 Gorbals
- ↑ GERBER JOSEPH WOOLF GOLDSTONE M 1914 633 / B / 676 Cathcart (Lanark)
- ↑ https://www.heraldscotland.com/opinion/13071275.cyril-gerber/
- ↑ https://www.scotsman.com/news/obituaries/obituary-cyril-gerber-obe-gallery-owner-whose-contribution-to-visual-art-in-scotland-was-unique-and-enduring-1609486
- ↑ Gerber Cyril Humphreys Jessie Elizabet 1945 644 / 19 / 438 Cathcart (Glasgow)
- ↑ https://archive.ph/KpcmC
- ↑ Gerber Gillian Carol Steinschreiber Samuel Aaron 1970 562 / 363 Eastwood and Mearns
- ↑ GERBER HELENA Goldstone F 1920 633 / B / 861 Cathcart (Lanark)
- ↑ GERBER ABRAHAM Goldstone M 1922 644 / 18 / 516 Pollokshields