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Inverness Hebrew CongregationInverness, Highland, Scotland |
Some References to the Inverness Jewish Community
Appearing in the Jewish Chronicle
Compiled by Harold
Pollins
Jewish Chronicle,
10 February 1905, page 30
“As there are about eighteen
Jewish families in Inverness, the want of a place of worship has been felt for a
long time. Mr. Merrins, late President of the Glasgow South Side Synagogue,
recently, called a meeting with the object of forming a congregation. As a
result a suitable hall in the centre of the town has been secured and last
Sunday the opening of the synagogue took place. Many Christians were present.
They all expressed their pleasure that the Jews in their midst now had a regular
meeting-place, and had become a more consolidated body than heretofore. The
synagogue was opened by Mr. I. Iseaman, who was presented with a key by Mr.
Merrins, the President. Mr. Charles J. Taub performed the consecration and
delivered a sermon. He urged on the community the necessity of unity and
self-respect. The congregation was entertained by Mr. M. Merrins. It was
resolved that the synagogue should be placed itself (sic) under the jurisdiction
of the Chief Rabbi, whose health was drunk. Mr. I Iseaman presented all the
furniture used in the synagogue.”
Jewish
Chronicle, 12 January
1906, page 45
“The
Jewish community in Inverness have just completed an arrangement with the Town
Council, by which they have acquired a piece of ground to be utilised as a
cemetery. The ground is in the town cemetery. The need of a Jewish cemetery has
been felt for a number of years, as former interments always took place in
Glasgow over two hundred miles distant. A recent death - that of a young lad of
fourteen years who had only just arrived from his home in Russia - determined
the congregation to take this step. His body was the first buried in the new
ground.”
Jewish
Chronicle, 11 November
1927, page 13
Letter from Rabbi Salis Daiches [extract]
“The reason why cities like Perth,
Inverness, Aberdeen, do not attract Jewish settlers is to be found in the
economic conditions prevailing in those cities, the lack of suitable industries,
and the distance that separates Northern Scotland from the Jewish centres in
England and the continental countries.”
Jewish Chronicle, 12 March
1923, page 32
“A meeting of the Scottish Area Committee
for Jewish Education was held at the Charing Cross Hotel [Glasgow] … The
Chairman pointed out that with the exception of small Jewish settlements of
Inverness and Aberdeen, where there were scarcely any Jewish children left to be
taught, through the removal of families to larger Jewish centres, all the
smaller congregations in Scotland were now provided with Hebrew teachers”
Jewish Chronicle, 6 May
1938, page 34
“The Congregation in Inverness has been
defunct for some years”.
Jewish Chronicle, 27 April
1962, page 12
At Inverness … there are only four Jewish families, with two children”.
Jewish Chronicle, 27 July
1973, page 8
“The Inverness community is now reduced to only six families”.
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