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Glasgow: Hopes are high despite declining population

We find a community trying to adapt to diminishing members

September 24, 2015 10:36
Blues: The Maccabi summer scheme group

ByBarry Toberman, Barry Toberman

6 min read

Cosgrove Care, supporting those with learning disability and mental health issues, is one of a variety of organisations providing welfare, social and cultural activities for the Glasgow Jewish community.

But only around 30 of its 120 clients are Jewish. "We suffer from a reduced community," admits the charity's treasurer, Paul Shafar. "We could not operate just serving Jewish clients."

The Cosgrove offices are on the same site as the Maccabi building, where a refurbished lounge for teenagers stands largely unused and the hire of facilities such as its impressive sports hall by non-Jewish groups is crucial to its survival. "Without non-Jewish use or hire, we couldn't keep going," says operations manager Sue Faber.

According to the 2011 Scottish Census, the Glasgow Jewish population has shrunk to around 3,500 from its 1960s' heyday of more than 17,000. Jewish representative council president Paul Morron thinks the true figure exceeds 4,000, given that not all Census respondents acknowledged their religion and that there are many Israelis working or studying there.