Jews in Glasgow

Introduction

This section will explain and analysis  Jewish immigrants' social experience in Glasgow by covering Jewish education, religion, and culture life/societies. Starting with education, there were two major educational systems that Jews relied on, Talmud Torah (Jewish school) and local Scottish schools.^[1] Religiously, the Talmud Torah always remained the main educator of the Jewish religion and language in Glasgow. Socially, there were many societies such as drama, and literary.^[2] and in addition to these, there were societies targeting the youth such as the ‘Jewish Lads’ Brigade’.^[3] Women were also involved in their community, educationally, religiously, and socially, by being part of societies such as the 'Glaswegian Workers' Circle'.^[4]   

Education

Jewish education, a significant aspect of Jewish immigrants’ social experience in Glasgow, which started as two to three hours, once a week around 1875 becoming an established school by 1911^[5]. In 1895, the Talmud Torah, or Jewish school, played the role of an educational organization at Clyde Terrace.^[6] Jewish education was in addition to state education at its beginnings; however, after becoming a recognised school, some parents sent their children to it only.  The Glasgow Hebrew Talmud Torah was one of a few associations which gave religious lessons to Jewish youth in Glasgow and was different from other religious schools as it welcomed young women in later years.^[7] By 1899 classes moved to the Gorbals Public School as more room was needed to accommodate students.^[8] They leased a room from Glasgow Corporation for £16.80 a year however, it was only accessible after school hours;^[9] Talmud Torah classes were also held in synagogues during weekends and holidays.^[10] As a result of World War One and wartime lighting limitations, in 1916 the number of student attending had dropped, classes were smaller with only 250 students attending classes when previously there were 450 and the Talmud Torah relocated to Abbotsford School.^[11] 

[pic 1]

Jewish pupils at Gorbals Public School, c 1917.

Many parents sent their children to Jewish based schools yet, others chose not to, as parents thought teachers were not fluent in English in the Talmud Torah.^[12] Many were Jewish immigrants from Russia, Lithuania, Estonia, and Latvia where English was not their first language,^[13] as a result, many parents chose the send their children to local schools such as Abbotsford Public School, Gorbals Public School, and Adelphi Terrace Public School where they were taught in English by native English speakers.^[14] In 1916, they were 1,600 youths studying at these schools,  1,000 of those students were Jewish meaning that over 60% of students at these schools were Jewish.^[15] Jewish student were influential in the Gorbals Public School to the point classes were cancelled on Jewish holidays.^[16] However, despite the challenges facing the Talmud Torah, it still remained the main educator of the Jewish religion and language in Glasgow.

[pic 2]

A photograph of girls at Abbotsford Public School learning to iron, 1916.

On the other hand, most immigrant Jewish women were not able to study at university, as a result of financial and cultural reasons.^[17] Young girls had access to education to around the age of 14, however, to receive further education they had to rely on adult education courses provided free of charge for women in the afternoon by the Glasgow Jewish Student Society. From the age of 15 they were excluded from religious education ^[18]. The Glasgow City Council, Libraries Information, and Learning has documented a photo of young women including Jewish girls at Abbotsford Public School being taught how to iron in 1916.^[19] This classroom’s facilities included sinks around the walls, in addition each student had access to an iron. Domestic science was part of the curriculum for all girls of primary school age when this photograph was taken.^[20] Although most Jewish women finished their education at 14, there are suggestions from oral testimony showing examples of women who continued their education.^[21] Mrs. Simons joined a commercial college after finishing school becoming a legal secretary; another example is Mrs. Levy who graduated university and when talking of her father stated, ‘he was a highly intelligent man, but he didn’t want me to go to university in case I looked down on him’^[22] These examples are rare and Jewish women were often supported by their mothers in opposition to their fathers yet there are rare examples such as Selina Marin, who was enrolled at the University of Edinburgh in 1910 and was supported by her husband, who was her source of educational ‘motivation.^[23]

Religion

There exists little evidence of any strong opposition from the Scots towards the religious activities and practices of the Jewish community.^[24] The Jews had no problem understanding that Scotland was mainly a Christian nation with a strong history of Christianity deeply rooted in its origin and culture.^[25] Still, the Jews established and maintained their own religious identity,^[26]  insisting on their voice to those who misinterpreted Jewish sources.^[27] This was done by having one on one discussions with non-Jews in the street, invitations to the synagogues, etc, in order to spread the religious faith^[28].

[pic 3]

Jewish cemetery, Necropolis 

Since burial and death have a religious significant in Jewish beliefs, burial plots were a major challenge for Jewish immigrants and before the 1900s, there were only 50 plots to cope with the many child and infant deaths resulting from poverty.^[29] Affording a burial plot was a challenge for many Jews for financial reasons,^[30] however, the Jews created the Glasgow Hebrew Burial Society in 1908^[31]  to guarantee that Jewish Burials in Glasgow occurred with the religious necessities that followed the tradition of Orthodox Judaism; guaranteeing its accessibility to all in need.^[32] It was a non-profit social organization with very few requirements to become a member and any Orthodox Jewish individual was able to apply.^[33] Candidates were only required to pay an entrance fee in addition to money collected weekly from its member^[34] and in exchange, the Glasgow Hebrew Burial Society promised to cover the full funeral cost of the individual.^[35]