Jewish immigrants in Scotland

1870

• After 1870s that Jewish migration reached significant levels.

• Estimated 300 Jews in Glasgow in 1883.• Number increased between 1881 and 1939

due to persecution of the Jews in eastern Europe.

• Fleeing anti Semitic approaches by the Russians and Nazi Germany.

Settlement

• Many Jewish did not want to settle in Scotland and used it as an area to stay before crossing to USA.

• First Jews came from Germany and Holland.• Later they came from Russia, Lithuania,

Estonia and Latvia. (Map in booklet.)

The Gorbals

• 1891. 2,000 Jews in Glasgow.• 1901, 7,000.• 1914, 10,000.• Majority lived in the Gorbals, making up 90 per

cent of the Jewish community.• Gorbals attracted Jews for several reasons; cheap

accommodation, close to railways and shipping of Clyde.

• Became religion, culture, charity and education area for Jews.

Gorbals

• Two synagogues• Talmud Torah school for religious education.• Zionist Reading Room. • 1879-Garnethill synagogue.• Talmud Torah was main provider of Jewish

education.• 1899 it had 400 pupils.• 1908 it had changed from Yiddish to English.

Moving

• Eventually the Jews moved from the Gorbals to richer suburbs in Govanhill, Battlefield and Shawlands.

• Jewish institute, Jewish Board of Guardians, synagogues, Jewish bakers, butchers and grocery stores remained in the Gorbals.

Jewish communities

• Jewish community supported each other.• Organisations created to help the Jews who

lived in poverty. • Organisations were successful and despite

Jewish immigrants living in poverty, there were few in poorhouses.

Self Help

• Jewish friendly societies in Glasgow and Edinburgh.

• Aid such as English Language classes.• Glasgow Hebrew Benevolent Loan Society

founded in 1888. • Jewish refugee shelters set up in 1897.

(Provide accommodation for newcomers.

Divides

• New arrivals were poor.• Eastern European arrivals spoke little or no

English. • Tension between two groups.

1) Describe2) Compare3) How fully

Jewish Employment

• Films, ‘Fiddler on the Roof’ portrayed Jews from the East as poor peasant farmers.

• Most came from towns and cities and were highly skilled.

• Huge role in cigarette trade. • Best businesses were Jewish owned; Frutins in

theatre and entertainments. • Peddling to mining communities.

Medical Profession

• 1920s, many Jews entered this profession.• Three dozen Jewish medical students. • Legal profession, Louis Ashenheim and Asher

Asher in Glasgow

Jewish Shops

• Many Jewish retailers.• Clydesdale Supply Co cycle and Abraham

Links. • Abraham Links leading figure in Jewish

community. • No real desire to compete with the Irish and

Lithuanians for menial work. • Some degree of problems for gaining

employment.

Jews and Politics

• Heavily involved in politics. • Active in the ILP (Independent Labour Party)

and Socialist Labour Party. • Bolshevik revolution inspired new groups. • Labour party received massive support. • Aided Jewish refugees from Germany and

boycotted German goods.

Jewish politicians

• Michael Simons • Leading member of Garthill community and

director of a major fruit importing business. • Elected as Bailie in 1880s and it is believed that

he helped the Jewish community.• Emmanuel Shinwell (Manny)• Clydesiders, government minister and later

became Baron Shinwell in 1970. • Elected ILP MP for Linlithgow, and held office

under Clement Attlee.

Anti Semitism

• Very little in Scotland bar the exception at school.

• Dr William Kenefick, ‘less prejudice against Jews as a by product’.

• 1920s, assimilation..• Yiddish dying. 1928, only the Jewish Echo

remained and was published in English. • British Union of Fascists in 1930s very anti-

Jewish.

Anti Semitism

• Alec Bernestein sources state…...

Before WW1

• Landlords unwilling to let accommodation to Jewish families and that Jewish housing conditions were better than those of their neighbours.

• Jews criticised for violating the Christian Sabbath.

How useful question. How fully page 73.

How far question.