2. Jewish Immigration to Scotland 1800-1939
• To describe the reasons Jewish people came from
Europe to Scotland
• To describe their experience in Scotland
• Complete a group task collecting information
• Create my own individual notes
• Participate in an individual quiz
• Starter
• Group task
• Quiz then Consolidate/ check knowledge with teacher
• Plans for tomorrow
3. Jewish people made up only a small proportion of
immigration to Scotland in the 1800s and early
1900s, but they still had a significant impact.
Immigrants in Scotland – Jewish people
5. • Scotland attracted Jewish
immigrants because it was seen
as a safer place to live than in
other parts of Europe.
• Many Jews had been the targets
of Religious Persecution in
Russia, Eastern Europe and also
Nazi Germany.
• Many Jews wished to travel to the
USA but could not afford to do so
in one journey, so came to
Scotland to ‘stop off’ and make
money before going to America
Immigrants in Scotland – Jewish people
7. • Jewish immigrants
tended to settle where
there was already a
Jewish community -
Many lived in the
impoverished Gorbals
area of Glasgow
• Other areas of the city
with Jewish communities
included Pollokshaws
and also the West End.
Immigrants in Scotland – Jewish people
9. • Initially many Jews worked in
the tailoring industry, where
they made clothes. This often
involved long hours and also
offered low rates of pay.
• Some Jews worked as hawkers
and peddlers; this meant they
sold products in the street or
went door-to-door selling
goods as well.
• Other Jews made found work
selling tobacco in Glasgow,
especially cigarettes.
Immigrants in Scotland – Jewish people
10. • Many Jews set up their own
businesses, including shops
selling tobacco, groceries or
bakeries. They often sold
specialist products like
Kosher meat.
• Over time, this meant Jewish
immigrants became more
middle class and had the
money to go to University –
becoming lawyers and
doctors
Immigrants in Scotland – Jewish people
12. • Jewish immigrants often lived in
poor communities, notably the
Gorbals area of Glasgow
because the rent was cheap and
it was close to the city centre –
inevitably they experienced
overcrowding and poor
sanitation
• Later, many Jewish families had
the money to move to more
affluent suburbs like
Pollokshields and the West End
where housing was better
quality
Immigrants in Scotland – Jewish people
14. • it was initially difficult for Jewish
immigrants to practice their faith
- there was a lack of synagogues
or rabbis to conduct Jewish
religious services.
• Synagogues were built, mainly in
Glasgow and Edinburgh,
including the Garnethill
Synagogue in Glasgow which
was built in 1879.
• In addition burial grounds were
purchased so that Jews could be
buried in their own cemetery.
Immigrants in Scotland – Jewish people
15. • Jews also started schools for their
children. This included teaching them
about the Jewish faith, and also to
speak the Hebrew language.
• Teaching was also carried out in a
synagogue, usually on two or three
occasions each week.
• Jewish identity was also maintained in
other ways. Jews would speak Yiddish in
their communities.
• Groups to support Jews were set up,
including different Jewish newspapers,
or loan companies to help Jewish
businesses.
Immigrants in Scotland – Jewish people
17. • As the Jews were a relatively small
proportion of the Scottish population, they
faced less discrimination than some other
immigrant groups.
• Some historians have argued that anti-
Catholic views shielded Jews from anti-
Semitism.
• Most people in Scotland were Christian
(mainly Protestant) and some religious Scots
disliked Jewish people working on Sundays.
• Some Jews business owners gained a
negative reputation as a harsh ‘master’,
offering poor working conditions.
Immigrants in Scotland – Jewish people
18. Jews sometimes suffered due to
rumours and anti-immigrant feeling.
• During cholera outbreaks in the 1800s,
Jews were blamed for spreading the
disease
• Some people were suspicious of Jewish
communities because of cultural
differences – some Jewish men dressed
differently and had long beards, wore
the Kippah, many spoke Yiddish
• Some groups – such as the British
Union of Fascists in the 1930s – did
attempt to stoke anti-Jewish feelings in
Scotland.
Immigrants in Scotland – Jewish people
19. Individual Quiz – Jews in Scotland
1. Describe, in detail, one reason Jewish people
came to Scotland. (1)
2. Name the area of inner city Glasgow near the
city centre that many settled. (1)
3. Describe two Jobs Jewish immigrants did in
Scotland. (2)
4. Give three examples of key parts of the Jewish
identity in Scotland. (3)
5. Why have some historians argued that Jews in
Scotland were largely shielded by anti-
Semitism? (1)
6. Give two negative views of Jews that developed
amongst Scots. (2)
