Post on 25-Feb-2016
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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.