The Scottish Council of Jewish Communities (SCoJeC) will have its first paid chief executive in its 22-year history following an agreement with the Board of Deputies to professionalise representation for Scottish Jewry.

During those 22 years, Ephraim Borowski has served as the organisation’s director in a voluntary capacity. He has recently expressed a desire to retire and SCoJeC’s chair and vice-chair, Alan Kay and Mark Taylor, had launched a fundraising drive to allow for the recruitment of a paid professional to lead it. Mr Borowski is expected to retire by the time of the AGM in June. Under the agreement reached on Sunday, the Board will contribute up to half the salary costs for the new chief executive and will also support Scottish Jewry with wider staff resources from its own team.

Mr Kay said that in coming years, “Scotland is going to be at a critical juncture and we are very pleased to be able to step-up our work at this crucial time, together with the Board of Deputies and in partnership with the Glasgow Jewish Rep Council and the JLC.”

He paid tribute to Mr Borowski for “his outstanding service to the organisation over some two decades”.

Board president Marie van der Zyl pointed out that “over the last few years, the Board has dramatically increased its commitment to supporting regional communities. Last year, we appointed our first regional manager, Sara Radivan, to support Jewish communities around the country

“In view of the increasing relevance of the politics of Scotland to all parts of the UK Jewish community, this was an obvious next step and we look forward to working closely with SCoJeC and the Scottish Jewish community to enhance provision for Scottish Jews that will have a positive knock-on effect for Jews across the UK.”