Anger over Scotland's 'double-decker' burials

The Scottish Council of Jewish Communities (SCoJeC) has said it "strongly objects" to proposals to allow the re-use of graves.

The Scottish Government is expected to back the deepening of burial sites, effectively giving the go-ahead to "double-deck" graves.

It is due to announce its plans next month following a lengthy consultation into solving the increasing difficulty of securing burial space.

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Glasgow shul closing after rabbi quits

Netherlee, Clarkston and Queens Park Synagogue in Glasgow is to close after 70 years.

The move, expected for some time, is being finalised following the resignation of Rabbi Raphael Bokow after six years with the 250-member congregation. An EGM next month will determine both the closure date and the future of the synagogue building.

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Glasgow Jewish leaders' space for discussion

In Glasgow it's just known as "The Blog" and is the scourge of the Jewish establishment because of anonymous contributors' frank and sometimes sarcastic criticism of community leaders.

But now the blog's hosts, the Glasgow Jewish Educational Forum, have extended an olive branch to representative council president Eddie Isaacs - an offer of 500 unedited words and a discussion space on the council's Community Futures project.

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Glasgow planning for Jewish future

A community planning expert has addressed a Glasgow meeting on the way forward for local Jewry.

Jerusalem-based Simon Caplan produced a 1995 report on the community's future and was also behind major Jewish planning initiatives in Herts, Brighton and Liverpool.

At Monday's Community Futures meeting, organised by Glasgow Jewish Representative Council, he stressed the importance of using modern communication methods to create a supportive structure.

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Glasgow artist's works are museum pieces

Works by the late Glasgow Jewish artist, Hannah Frank, have been added to the collection of Glasgow Museums.

The museums have acquired two black-and-white drawings and a set of six mounted woodcuts, which will go an temporary display at the end of August.

Fiona Frank, the artist's niece, was "really pleased that Hannah's home city art gallery has chosen to honour her in this way.

"My aunt, who died in December 2008 aged 100, would have been delighted."

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Lawyer makes his case for Glasgow Jewish leadership

Lawyer Eddie Isaacs is making a strong case for the Glasgow Jewish Representative Council under his presidency. "Without meaning to sound arrogant, I've got a lot to bring to the table."

Mr Isaacs, who took charge this week, is Glasgow born and bred. He has filled a variety of communal roles, which he says has prepared him for the challenges ahead, the biggest being the rep council's Community Futures Project.

This got off to a rocky start in January with a row over invitations to the preliminary meeting, an unwelcome distraction Mr Isaacs shrugs off as a misunderstanding.

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Scottish Jewish groups row over racism

A row is raging between two key communal organisations over the level of antisemitism in Scotland.

In a letter to the JC, Glasgow Jewish Educational Forum's Michael Samuel, Jeremy Stein and Tony Tankel expressed concern "at the repeated attempts of the Scottish Council of Jewish Communities to exaggerate the threat of antisemitism, which will only cause harm to the interests of Jews living in Scotland".

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