A NEW exhibition is providing an insight into the history of Greenock's Jewish community.
Hidden Histories uses material from the collections of the Scottish Jewish Archives Centre to tell the stories of six towns and cities which formerly had a synagogue but retain few traces of their Jewish population.
Run by the Scottish Jewish Heritage Centre, the exhibition features tales from Greenock, Dundee, Inverness, Ayr, Falkirk and Dunfermline.
Visitors will have the chance to learn about some of the early settlers, notable families and thriving businesses which once inhabited these areas – including a Greenock boy who became a world-famous violinist and conductor.
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Kerry Patterson, manager of the Scottish Jewish Heritage Centre, said: “The new exhibition allows us to shine a light on stories from towns where there is now little trace of a Jewish population beyond a graveyard or a building formerly used as a synagogue.
“I know that it will be of interest to school groups and other visitors from the featured towns and we hope that people will come and find out about their home towns.”
Centre director Harvey Kaplan added: “We would welcome memories and stories, documents and photographs which can add to our collections about Jewish life across Scotland.”
In August last year, Inverclyde’s Jewish community came together for service to honour the restoration of a sacred burial site.
Scotland’s most senior Rabbi Moshe Reuben led the service, paying homage to those long buried in Greenock Cemetery.
On the day, Provost Drew McKenzie and Inverclyde Council extended the hand of friendship to Glasgow-based community leader Sammy Stein, who devoted the last five years of his life fundraising to restore the Jewish section, and descendants who came from all over the country.
The Heritage Centre’s new exhibition in Glasgow was researched and developed with the help of volunteers, and was funded by Netherlee and Clarkston Charitable Trust.
It is now open and can be seen by booking a guided tour at sjhc.org.uk.
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