Aberdeen says thanks to non-Jews for their help in time of crisis

Leaders of the small community feared they would not be able to raise the £10,000 required. In the event, £25,000 was contributed by local, national and international Jewish and non-Jewish donors.

“People were so generous that we wanted to thank them,” the shul’s Debby Taylor explained.

“All our visitors had a lovely time. There were even non-Jews from Dundee who had heard about the shul and wanted to see it.

“We are tired but very relieved. It’s been a lot of hard work.”

The open day was the culmination of a weekend of celebration. The Rev Malcolm Weisman led Friday night and Shabbat morning services, the latter to rededicate the building.

“It was the first time the Sifrei Torah had been in the building since the flood,” Mrs Taylor reported.

Rev Weisman knows the congregation well from his days as small communities minister.

Rabbi Robert Ash also joined the community for Shabbat.

Mrs Taylor added that “having got through the flood, we now have the headache of maintaining a B-listed building in a conservation area.

“We are stony broke. We have no central heating so we freeze.”

The financial picture would be significantly improved by finding a long-term tenant for the basement flat in the building.

Although most of its Shabbat gatherings are Orthodox, occasional services are Progressive in nature, reflecting the diversity of the 40-member congregation.