Scottish Council of Jewish Communities
SCoJeC is the representative body of the Jewish communities in Scotland. See www.scojec.org for more information, resources and publications. Click on the events below for full info and to book.
Bake to Remember
Thursday 25 January 2024
The Scottish Council of Jewish Communities are excited to be teaming up with the Scottish Jewish Heritage Centre to bring to you this ‘Bake to Remember’ workshop on Thursday 25th January 4pm-7pm (drop-in), to mark this year’s Holocaust Memorial Day (27th January).
Come along to our drop in workshop where you will be able to relax, meet like minded people, grab a drink and bake your own yummy challah bread in time for Shabbat. Whilst your Challah bakes, you will have an opportunity to explore the beautiful Garnethill building, including the purpose built Scottish Holocaust-era Study Centre.
Attendees must be 16+
This is a FREE event (with donations welcome). Pre-registration on the below link is required to attend the event.
Last admittance will be 6pm
Refreshments will be provided.
With thanks to Garnethill Hebrew Congregation and Interfaith Scotland
Scottish Jewish Heritage Centre
Calderwood Lodge Primary School 60th brunch
Sunday 5 November 2023
Calderwood Lodge is celebrating 60 years! We invite you to join us, along with special guests, past & present students, and the wider community - to celebrate this amazing milestone! Join us for Shacharit, Brunch & Festivities (including kids activities).
9:30am Shacharit (optional) - 10.30am brunch and festivities
Calderwood Primary School
INVITED GUESTS - Calderwood Lodge Primary School 60th brunch
Sunday 5 November 2023
Calderwood Lodge is celebrating 60 years! We invite you to join us, along with special guests, past & present students, and the wider community - to celebrate this amazing milestone! Join us for Shacharit, Brunch & Festivities (including kids activities).
9:30am Shacharit (optional) - 10.30am brunch and festivities
Calderwood Lodge Primary School
POSTPONED - An Evening of Klezmer
Sunday 22 October 2023
Join us, Scottish Council of Jewish Communities and Glasgow Jewish Representative Council, for an evening of Klezmer with Phil Alexander and Kapelye Mòr. Refreshments will be provided.
Doors open at 6:30pm for a 7pm start, prompt
Giffnock Newton Mearns Synagogue
Service of Solidarity
Thursday 12 October 2023
The Scottish Council of Jewish Communities and Glasgow Jewish Representative Council invite you to a Service of Solidarity.
Doors open at 7:30pm. The service will run 8pm-9pm.
Giffnock Newton Mearns Synagogue
Holocaust Memorial Day Event by Jewish Students in Scotland
Tuesday 24 January 2023
For the first time all of the Jewish Societies in Scotland are coming together to remember the victims and survivors of the Holocaust. We invite you to join us and show solidarity by remembering the past for a better future. A future where we all stand together united against antisemitism, hate, and discrimination. A world where 'never again’ is a reality.
Supported by the Netherlee and Clarkston Charitable Trust.
Edinburgh Hebrew Congregation Hall
Lights and Heroes: Chanukah Candle Lighting (CANCELLED)
Thursday 22 December 2022
We invite you to celebrate the Festival of Lights with us! We will learn how to make the best latkes together — followed by some light competition with a fun Chanukah Quiz! Finally, we will finish the night with a candle lighting led by the East of Scotland chaplains, Ayalah and Rabbi Eliran Shabo.
'Being Jewish in Scotland' Training Sessions - GCC
Thursday 1 September 2022
The Scottish Council of Jewish Communities (SCoJeC) and the Glasgow Jewish Representative Council invite councillors from Glasgow City Council to attend briefing sessions on getting to know the Jewish community.
The role that councillors play in local decision making is vital, and we want to make sure you have the information you need to understand the Jewish community in Scotland. Join the Scottish Council of Jewish Communities and the Glasgow Jewish Representative Council for information on antisemitism, education, marking Holocaust Memorial Day, social care and more.
Tea, coffee and a kosher lunch will be provided.
Supported by the Netherlee and Clarkston Charitable Trust.
Garnethill Synagogue
'Being Jewish in Scotland' Training Sessions - ERC/RC/IC
Wednesday 31 August 2022
The Scottish Council of Jewish Communities (SCoJeC) and the Glasgow Jewish Representative Council invite councillors from East Renfrewshire, Renfrewshire and Inverclyde Councils to attend briefing sessions on getting to know the Jewish community.
The role that councillors play in local decision making is vital, and we want to make sure you have the information you need to understand the Jewish community in Scotland. Join the Scottish Council of Jewish Communities and the Glasgow Jewish Representative Council for information on antisemitism, education, marking Holocaust Memorial Day, social care and more.
Tea, coffee and a kosher lunch will be provided.
Supported by the Netherlee and Clarkston Charitable Trust.
Giffnock Synagogue
Picnic in the Park
Sunday 29 May 2022
Join Scottish Council of Jewish Communities (SCoJeC) athe Matana Club for an outdoor afternoon of fun to celebrate Lag B’Omer, Yom Yerushalayim and Shavuot.
We’ll be working with Operation Play Outdoors to provide engaging outdoor activities, as well as special crafts, cooking sessions and more led by the Matana Club, and sessions for adults facilitated by SCoJeC. An outdooor picnic lunch will be provided.
The event will be held in Beecraigs Country Park near Linlithgow.
Beecraigs Country Park
First Minister's Questions - Edinburgh
Sunday 27 March 2022
Live gathering in Edinburgh!
Edinburgh Hebrew Congregation
First Minister's Questions - Glasgow
Sunday 27 March 2022
In person in Glasgow!
Giffnock & Newlands Hebrew Congregation
First Minister's Questions - Online
Sunday 27 March 2022
Zoom link will be circulated nearer the time for security reasons.
Jewish Students in Conversation with the First Minister
Tuesday 18 January 2022
The Scottish Council of Jewish Communities (SCoJeC) has arranged a meeting to give Jewish students in Scotland an opportunity to raise issues that matter to them with First Minister Nicola Sturgeon MSP.
This meeting will be chaired by SCoJeC’s Student Representative.
Please sign up using your University/Institution email address. Only registrations via these email addresses will be accepted.
Sign up details will be emailed a day prior to the event.
An Evening of Klezmer
Thursday 21 October 2021
Join us for an evening of Klezmer music with Gica Loening and Michael Alpert.
Hannah Frank: Glasgow Artist: talks, films and activities
A selection of signed Hannah Frank prints will pop up at various cafes and bookshops in the Govanhill area during the Govanhill International Festival 2-15 August. SCoJeC, the Scottish Council of Jewish Communities, has partnered with Fiona Frank to put on an online film and talk, and to promote the Hannah Frank Art walking tours and creative workshops taking place during the festival. All the events are free; donations are welcome. See below for full details and to book your free places.
Various, both at Govanhill and online: will be advised on booking
Does Scotland Have a Problem with Religion?
28 July, 7PM
A panel discussion with Mark Gardner (Chief Executive, Community Security Trust), Anas Sarwar MSP and Professor Duncan Morrow.
The Wolf of Baghdad - A Presentation by Carol Isaacs
Sunday 18 July 2021
In the 1940’s, over a third of Baghdad’s population was Jewish. Within a decade nearly all of Iraq’s 150,000 Jews had fled. Of those remaining, most escaped in the 1970’s or were killed. Today only three remain. The Wolf of Baghdad is a graphic memoir of a lost homeland, a wordless narrative by an author homesick for a home she has never visited.
https://myriadeditions.com/books/the-wolf-of-baghdad/
Event hosted via Zoom.
What’s Happening to the Uyghurs?
Sunday 20 June 2021
The Scottish Council of Jewish Communities (SCoJeC) and Yet Again UK are coming together to present an online discussion panel, asking the question: What’s happening to the Uyghurs? This pertinent conversation will hear presenters Rahima Mahmut and Michael Polak speak passionately on the subject and will be chaired by Olivia Marks-Woldman, OBE.
The session will be held via Zoom.
David Bleiman: This Kilt of Many Colours
Sunday 6 June 2021
Register to receive a zoom link.
Sharing the Sabbath
Sunday 30 May 2021
SCoJeC is teaming up once again with Interfaith Glasgow’s Weekend Club to bring a cultural exchange between Scotland’s Jewish and Refugee communities. Join our event to take part in a Sabbath-themed quiz, engage in religious discussion, and learn more about our fellow communities.
Baking Bread Together
Sunday 11 April 2021
Join SCoJeC and Interfaith Glasgow's Weekend Club for an afternoon of cultural exchange, learning about different faiths through the art of baking bread. Use our recipes in advance to mix your dough or follow-along step by step with our bakers. We will learn how to make Challah as well as bake along to a demo from members of the Weekend Club. A real treat after Pesach! There will be time to share your own stories and traditions around baking bread in your faith and culture.
A Very American Comedy Night
Sunday 21 February 2021
Celebrate Purim 2021 with a night full of laughs! Join Chicago’s Jewish comedians Jeremy Drazner, Katharine Herskovic, Jessica Besser-Rosenberg, and Joe Medoff as they poke fun at Jewish life in contemporary America and their take on Scotland. Please note this event is suitable for adult audiences (15+).
Tu B'Shevat Along the Central Belt
Sunday 24 January 2021
SCoJeC are hosting a Tu B'Shevat event on 24th January from 10am-12:30pm in partnership with the Edinburgh and Lothians Greenspace Trust and Scottish Forestry to have tree plantings in Edinburgh and Glasgow areas, as well as bonfires and eco-seminars.
Avner Avraham on the Capture of Adolf Eichmann
Thursday 14 January 2021
The Scottish Council of Jewish Communities is taking part in Holocaust Memorial Day this year by hosting a virtual evening with former Mossad Agent, Avner Avraham. Avraham is a renowned expert on Mossad operations who famously worked to reveal and publicize the insider story of the historic capture of Eichmann.
Chanukah Quiz
Sunday 13 December 2020
Join the party this Chanukah by taking part in our virtual quiz on Jewish themes! Register to be placed on a team and see if you can win with a mix of themes including: Biblical knowledge, Jews in Film, Scottish Jewish History, and Yiddish slang. Team up with friends new and old to determine your answers. The winning team will decide which charity the pot of entrance fees goes to.
SCoJeC presents Music in the Time of Anne Frank
Sunday 8 November 2020
2020 marks the 75th anniversary of the end of the Second World War as well as the liberation of Auschwitz. The anniversary year is truly timely for this concert, bringing to life the long-lost compositions of victims and survivors of the Nazis. Featuring piano works by Daniel Belinfante and Fania Chapiro, two Dutch-Jewish composers whose lives were forever changed by the invasion.
50% of proceeds from this event will go to the much needed funds for Aberdeen's Synagogues new roof.
Harpist Sophie Rocks: Performing Bernstein to Bob Dylan
Thursday 15 October 2020
Join harpist Sophie Rocks for an evening on zoom where she'll be performing a concert centred around works by Jewish Composers - from Bernstein to Bob Dylan, there'll be something for everyone!
Open House: Farewell Fiona, hello Ruby!
Thursday 24 September 2020
Come for an informal chat with Fiona Frank as she prepares for her last week of work at SCoJeC after nine years as Projects and Outreach Manager, and meet Ruby Katz, as she takes up the reins of the role ready to start in October.
With live fiddle music from Gica Loening.
All welcome - donations gratefully accepted to help SCoJeC fund our next nine years of activities and events! Book, and make your donation
ONLINE: Zoom link will be sent after registration
The Besht Tellers (together again) - "Chasing Tales"
Sunday 6 September 2020
SCoJeC, the Scottish Council of Jewish Communities, and the Jewish Small Communities Network, present a unique one-off zoom performance of celebrated Jewish storytellers The Besht Tellers, together again for the first time for more than 25 years!
Cost £10 (full price) £8 (reduced price) and with a heavily discounted price of £1 for anyone whose income has been reduced through COVID19 or who otherwise might not be able to cover the full cost.
Mark Mann: Celebrity and Advertising Photographer
Sunday 9 August 2020
A fundraising event for the Scottish Jewish Archives Centre
We are delighted to welcome as our first Speaker MARK MANN, a celebrity and advertising photographer from Glasgow . He has shot countless celebrities including Robert Redford, Michael Douglas, Iggy Pop, Jack Black, Stevie Wonder, Bradley Cooper,and Bill Clinton. Mark has just completed a yearlong project for Esquire Magazine, “The Life of Man”. This event is in partnership with ScoJeC, the Scottish Council of Jewish Communities.
A Scottish Rainbow Klezmer Kabaret for Lag B'Omer
Tuesday 12 May 2020
SCoJeC is delighted to say that we will be hosting a Scottish Rainbow Klezmer Kabaret over Zoom on Tuesday 12th May, at 7 for 7.30 p.m., for the 'Rainbow Festival' of Lag B'Omer.
ONLINE
Author Talks: Nathan Abrams, Ethel Hofman and J David Simons
See separate email for log on details
SCoJeC is delighted to host a series of three Author Talks to help to raise money for the Aberdeen Synagogue Roof Appeal. The events are free but we welcome donations. An anonymous donor has offered to match all donations to the roof repair appeal – so your donation will be doubly appreciated and doubly useful.
ONLINE
"Virtual" Yiddish Open Mic
Sunday 26 April 2020
SCoJeC is delighted to say that Vivi Lachs and colleagues from the London based 'Yiddish Open Mic' will be working with us to host a virtual "Yiddish Open Mic comes to Scotland" cabaret-concert on Sunday 26th April at 7.30 p.m. (UK time) ALSO GOING OUT LIVE ON YOUTUBE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AXUehggOFY0
ONLINE
Arran. Klezmer /Yiddish Song House Concert (FULL/WAITLIST)
Tuesday 17 March 2020
"Waiting for the Nightingale": a Klezmer and Yiddish song spring house concert featuring Michael Alpert, award winning Klezmer musician and Yiddish singer, in a new trio playing with Klezmer fiddler Craig Judelman and Yiddish singer Sasha Lurje.
Tuesday 17th March, 7.30 p.m. Arran, Whiting Bay - venue advised on booking. Book early to ensure you get a place! All welcome - free, donations welcome, suggested amount £10/£5.
Venue to be advised on booking
Glasgow - Klezmer & Yiddish Song Spring Concert - CANCELLED
Sunday 15 March 2020
"Waiting for the Nightingale": a Klezmer and Yiddish song spring concert featuring Michael Alpert, award winning Klezmer musician and Yiddish singer, in a new trio playing with Klezmer fiddler Craig Judelman and Yiddish singer Sasha Lurje.
SCoJeC is very sorry to say that the decision has been taken to CANCEL this event in the wake of the coronavirus health emergency. We will be writing to everyone who has booked with further information.
Tchai Ovna
Edinburgh: Yiddish Song workshop with Sasha Lurje
Sunday 15 March 2020
A Yiddish song workshop at the EHC Jewish Community Centre with internationally acclaimed Yiddish singer and Yiddish song teacher Sasha Lurje.
EHC Community Centre
Edinburgh - Klezmer & Yiddish Song Spring Concert
Saturday 14 March 2020
"Waiting for the Nightingale": a Klezmer and Yiddish song spring concert featuring Michael Alpert, award winning Klezmer musician and Yiddish singer, in a new trio playing with Klezmer fiddler Craig Judelman and Yiddish singer Sasha Lurje.
EHC Community Centre
St Andrews: Klezmer and Yiddish Song Spring Concert
Thursday 12 March 2020
"Waiting for the Nightingale": a Klezmer and Yiddish song spring concert featuring Michael Alpert, award winning Klezmer musician and Yiddish singer, in a new trio playing with Klezmer fiddler Craig Judelman and Yiddish singer Sasha Lurje.
Thursday 12th March, 7.30 p.m. at the Hotel du Vin, 40 The Scores, St Andrews, KY16 9AS .
£10 (£8 for students/low waged).
(We regret this venue does not have full disabled access - please enquire for details).
Hotel du Vin
early Tu B'Shvat gathering in Inverness
Tuesday 28 January 2020
Early Tu B'Shvat gathering in Inverness-shire
Hosted by regular Canadian visitors to the area Richard and Barbara Ossias, we'll be planting trees for Tu B'Shvat (Jewish New Year for Trees), sharing a kosher buffet, and thinking about the previous night's Holocaust Memorial event held in Inverness.
All welcome. Free (but donations appreciated to help defray expenses).
Beauly, 15 miles from Inverness. We can arrange to share lifts from Beauly Station ,or from Inverness.
Richard and Barbara's home, address provided on booking
EARLY BURNS (AFTERNOON) SUPPER + STORY OF THE KOSHER HAGGIS
Thursday 16 January 2020
Mark Cohen of Marks Deli exports his kosher haggis around the world, and he’s likely to be in Texas in the week of Burns Night. So he's agreed to host an afternoon for SCoJeC the previous week, when he’ll tell us about his adventures taking his special haggis to far-flung places, and then will serve a three course Burns (afternoon) Supper, complete with the Address to the Haggis.
This event is sponsored by BEMIS as part of the Winter Festivals programm.
Thursday 16th January, 2 p.m. to 5pm
Marks Deli
Chanukah Party in Inverness
Monday 23 December 2019
Chanukah party in Inverness. Monday 23 December, 4-6.30 p.m. Shimca Centre, 1 Ardconnel Terrace, Inverness IV2 3AQ
Games, retelling of the Chanukah story, Seasonal Food.
And a chance to talk about your experience of being Jewish in Scotland and contribute to SCoJeC's new national enquiry.
All welcome. Free (but donations appreciated to help defray expenses).
SHIMCA Centre
Early Chanukah Party in Linlithgow
Sunday 15 December 2019
Early Chanukah party in Linlithgow, Sunday 15th December, 2 - 4.30 p.m.
BOOKINGS HAVE NOW CLOSED BUT THERE ARE STILL SOME PLACES AVAILABLE - please contact Joanne, events@scojec.org or tel 07779 206522 to book.
Lowport Centre, 1 Blackness Rd, Linlithgow EH49 7HZ, United Kingdom
Art, Israeli Dancing, and Food!
All welcome. Free (but donations appreciated to help defray expenses).
Low Port Centre
Yiddish Song Concert and Klezmer ceilidh
Saturday 23 November 2019
A concert featuring the Yiddish Song Project with Stephanie Brickman and Phil Alexander; and Michael Alpert, award winning Klezmer musician and Yiddish singer, with Edinburgh fiddle player Gica Loening, followed by a Klezmer Ceilidh with band Kleyne Klezmer. £10 (£8 concessions) in advance, £12 (£10 concessions) on the door.
Presented by SCoJeC, the Scottish Council of Jewish Communities, in partnership with Kleznorth.
EHC Community Centre
House Recital/Talk on Arran: Music in the time of Anne Frank
Thursday 12 September 2019
Arran Jewish Cultural Association, in partnership with SCoJeC and the Jewish Music Institute, presents: a House Recital and Talk on Arran: Music in the Time of Anne Frank - featuring Deborah Nemko, pianist and professor of music at New England Conservatory, playing rediscovered works by Holocaust composers, from classical to jazz
Light refreshments 7 p.m. Recital 8 p.m.
Lamlash, Isle of Arran: venue will be advised on booking
Whittingehame Walk
Sunday 1 September 2019
Join us on Sunday 1 September 2019, when East Lothian Countryside Ranger, Richard English, will be leading a short walk in the Whittingehame area. As part of the walk , Michael Brander, great-nephew of Lord Arthur James Balfour will show us around the Whittingehame Estate, Balfour’s childhood home and there’ll be a chance to see the Whittingehame Yew, one of Scotland’s Heritage Trees.
Whittingehame Estate
Orkney Library:Five generations ofa Scottish Jewish Family
Thursday 15 August 2019
Join Fiona Frank to hear some of the stories she was told when researching her book, “Candles, Conversions and Class: five generations of a Scottish Jewish Family." - and share some of your own family stories!
All welcome. Free (but donations appreciated to help defray expenses)
Orkney Library and Archive
Shetland library talk: Ethel Hofman: Mackerel at Midnight
Tuesday 13 August 2019
Join Ethel Hofman, author of “Mackerel at Midnight: Growing up Jewish on a Remote Scottish Island’ to hear some personal family stories of her Shetland childhood.
Shetland Library
Shetland Library:Five generations ofa Scottish Jewish Family
Monday 12 August 2019
Join Fiona Frank to hear some of the stories she was told when researching her book, “Candles, Conversions and Class: five generations of a Scottish Jewish Family." - and share some of your own family stories!
All welcome. Free (but donations appreciated to help defray expenses)
One of two SCoJeC author events this week on Shetland: Ethel Hofman will be speaking about her book "Mackerel at Midnight": growing up Jewish on Shetland, Tues 13 August 7 p.m.
Shetland Library
FULL : Arran Summer House Concert with Lev Atlas
Thursday 18 July 2019
The new Arran group of the Scottish Council of Jewish Communities (SCoJeC) presents a summer house concert with Lev Atlas: Klezmer virtuoso and principal viola of the Scottish Opera Orchestra. Whiting Bay, Arran. Thursday 18 July. Buffet dinner starts at 7 p.m, followed by concert and discussion with Dr Atlas at 8 p.m.
This FREE event is open to all. Donations will be appreciated to help with costs.
Whiting Bay
Glasgow: "Come as you are" + Ceilidh (CANCELLED)
Sunday 30 June 2019
***This event is cancelled due to circumstances beyond our control. Refunds will be issued to people who have purchased tickets**.
‘Come as you are #Berlin’: a contemporary dance performance.
Followed by a Klezmer & Scottish Ceilidh.
What happens when three refugees from Syria try to find their way into the Berlin art landscape: their hopes, dreams and nightmares. From Berlin based dance company TOTAL BRUTAL.
Glasgow University Memorial Chapel
Open Dance Workshop: Contemporary, Klezmer & Israeli
Sunday 30 June 2019
A Free Open Dance Workshop, where you can have a go at Contemporary, Klezmer, and Israeli dancing. For beginners and experienced dancers alike. Presented by SCoJeC, the Scottish Council of Jewish Communities, part of Refugee Festival Scotland. We're sorry to say that the Syrian part of the programme has had to be cancelled and will be replaced by an extended contemporary dance session with Nir de Volff, international dance teacher.
Sunday 30 June 10.00. to 16.00
Glasgow University Memorial Chapel
Edinburgh:"Come as you are #Berlin' + Klezmer Ceilidh
Thursday 27 June 2019
‘Come as you are #Berlin’. Followed by a Klezmer Ceilidh.
CHANGE TO PROGRAMME - we are very sorry that the dance performance Come As You Are #Berlin has been CANCELLED due to circumstances beyond our control.
REVISED PROGRAMME. The dance performance has been replaced with a full length film screening of a recent 'Come As You Are #Berlin' performance, at 7 p.m. and by Q&A with TOTAL BRUTAL director Nir de Volff, before the Klezmer Ceilidh at 8.30 p.m.
Edinburgh Greyfriars Charteris Centre
Telling Your Family Story with Fiona Frank and Ellen Galford
Sunday 23 June 2019
Join Fiona & Ellen to hear family stories of Jewish migration over the last 100 years and share your own stories over a delicious kosher buffet. Fiona Frank’s book “Candles, Conversions and Class” follows five generations of one Scottish Jewish family. Writer Ellen Galford tells stories of her own ancestors who came from Russia to the US in the early 1900s.
All welcome. Free (but donations appreciated to help defray expenses).
Inverness SIMCHA Centre
