SENIOR Glasgow community rabbi Moshe Rubin is joining the chaplaincy team for next year’s Commonwealth Games and will be the main religious point of contact for Jewish competitors.
“I’ll be available 24/7 during the Games and my number will be there for people to phone,” he said. “It will be like my little community.
“It is a great feeling to be part of this historic event for Glasgow and to meet people from different countries who have put in a tremendous amount of training and effort.”
Rabbi Rubin — whose name was put forward by Glasgow Jewish Representative Council — has also been advising on the necessary facilities for Jewish athletes.
Glasgow 2014 legacy manager Gael Logan said it was normal for international chaplains to be brought in for events such as the Games. “But we’re flipping that on its head by getting local chaplains, who we hope can engage athletes with the local community.
“We are still in the procurement stage but one of our top five objectives is to satisfy all dietary requirements, including kosher food. We will also allow volunteers to wear religious dress and if they can’t work a certain day they will be able to come to us after the schedules go out and we’ll sort that out. We have a fully inclusive approach.”
The rep council will run a cultural programme for the Games and president Paul Morron said it would offer “a great opportunity to project our community to a huge number of Jewish people from across the world. We have encouraged Jewish businesses and volunteers to get involved with the Games and make the most of this opportunity.”
