Page 11 - Kol Bogrei Habonim - February 14
P. 11
SCOTS WHA HAE
at the launch of “Jewish Glasgow – an Illustrated
History” at Beit Hatfusot, November 2013
YIGAL LEVINE
“Hoo are you?" began with an introduction by Stephen Kliner,
"I'm fine, who are you?” followed by a power point presentation by
"I'm Yigal". Kenneth Collins which helped convince any
C evening they had all been sold. Neerav Patel the
doubters to buy the book – and at the end of the
onversations like this could be heard in
the corridors of Beit Hatfusot – the
Chargé d'Affaires at the British Embassy, in the
Museum of the Diaspora in the Tel Aviv
University campus in late November. When some absence of the Ambassador, brought greetings
from the Embassy and immediately won the
150 Scots gather together, the conversation is audience over by talking about his Scottish born
lively even if my wife didn't understand much, mentor in the Foreign Office
and words like 'Geneens', 'Rabbi Gottleib', 'the
Bayit at 6 Sinclair Drive' and 'haven't seen you When leafing through a book like this it is an
since the last Burns Supper' dominated and filled automatic reaction to a) assume there is no chance
the air. In fact it rather reminded of a big you are in it b) then wonder if there is a small
Habonim get-together and all that was missing chance you might be and c) finally to get out the
was a Mifkad. magnifying glass and to examine each photograph
in great detail. The good news is that yes I do
The reason for this shindig was the Israeli launch appear in a photograph and the even better news is
of the book “Jewish Glasgow – an Illustrated that since I am in a Purim fancy dress costume no-
History'. To quote the authors – “this lavishly one will recognize me. Although nostalgia is not
illustrated book presents a lively, informative and what it used to be, the page three in this instance
entertaining picture of Glasgow’s Jews over the is a photograph of the Tudor Cinema which will
past two centuries. This is the colourful story of a bring back many happy memories of the back row
colourful community - an exciting new coffee in the stalls and will doubtless remind us all of
table pictorial history”. In this instance they are what else we left behind: deep fried Mars bars, Irn
absolutely right and great credit is due to the Brew, the Govan ferry and the windy terraces of
authors, Kenneth Collins, Harvey Kaplan and Hampden Park.
Stephen Kliner, all of whom are to be
congratulated for their efforts in producing an It was an evening enjoyed by all and a book I
excellent book which is published by the Scottish would strongly recommend to all my fellow Scots
Jewish Archive Centre based in Glasgow and to borrow or steal.
interestingly was printed in Israel. The evening
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