By
Lindy Markson
The 700 arrivals at Glasgow’s Israel at 60 party at Eastwood Park, Giffnock, received “passports” to enter a mock-up of Ben Gurion airport lounge and then an Israeli market place. Their target was to win prizes by collecting stamps for activities including making kites, jewellery and key rings and decorating a cookie.
Other popular pursuits were face painting and a quiz challenge from JLGB.
Self-defence and a magic show were other elements of a diverse programme and a particular hit with the kids was a mini-zoo with snakes, chickens, rabbits and tortoises. Queues formed for the bouncy castles.
UJIA and Enjoy — comprising representatives from Glasgow’s five Orthodox congregations — ran the youth component and UJIA’s Ben Freeman told the JC: “We worked well together. It has been a truly amazing evening.”
Adults enjoyed a celebration concert in the Eastwood Park Theatre where the star attractions were singer/comedian Daniel Cainer and Israeli singer Avivit.
A highlight of the evening was an exhibition devoted to recent Israeli breakthroughs in medicine, science and technology, produced by Dr Myer Green and Dr Walter Sneader, assisted by Dr Michael Greenhill. The exhibition will be available to schools, synagogues and other interested organisations.
A fireworks display arranged by East Renfrewshire Council rounded off the programme.
Forty protesters from the Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign demonstrated at the entrance to the park, but “caused no problems”, according to a senior Strathclyde police officer.
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