Scotland’s Jewish Community Stands Against Hate
The Jewish community in Scotland is tiny. Various counts, probably depending on how the question is posed, put the number between three and five thousand. They are scattered everywhere, from the Borders to the Islands, but the biggest community is found on the southside of Glasgow. On Sunday, hundreds of them and their allies gathered outside the Kelvingrove Museum to hold a vigil. A memorial for those who lost their lives on the 7th October, and a cry for the freedom of those still held in the bowels of Gaza. Unfortunately, their peaceful grief raised the ire of a small but loud group of “Pro-Palestinians” who clearly felt that any expression of grief, or basic humanity, from Jews was beyond the pale.
From the very first speaker, Sammy Stein of Glasgow Friends of Israel, those opposed to the recognition of Jewish pain attempted to drown out the calls for peace, unity, release of the hostages and peace for all, Israeli and Palestinian.
The juxtaposition of the two groups was stark and jarring.
As Labour MP Blair Macdougall said of October 7th; “It was a pogrom in our age, it was the mass slaughter of Jews, not in a historical moment, but in our time” the mob screamed “Viva Viva Palestina”. Laura Cowan, brother of Bernard Cowan who was murdered on October 7th, fierce in her dignity as she declared “I am proud to be British, Scottish and Jewish!” spoke above the screams as she told us about her brother, about his life, and the life he had left to live. They called her a swine, and gleefully sang “ciao bella ciao bella ciao ciao ciao” as she memorialised the brother she adored. An elderly lady in the crowd broke down, and was held up by those around her.
As each speaker continued without pause the small crowd became louder and more hysterical, the insults and blood libels more shocking. Conservative MSP Jackson Carlaw spoke of his love for the Jewish community of Glasgow. He told us, beaming with pride, that his daughter was soon to marry into that community, creating a new family with the son of his childhood Jewish neighbour. “That is how you build a community” he said over the din. “That is how you build PEACE”.
A man with a megaphone, his voice cracking with hatred, shrieked “They rape gentile women to raise the morale of their soldiers”.
The Jewish community of Scotland would not be intimidated.
Rabbi Moshe Rubin, Scotland’s senior Rabbi, led the crowd in prayer, and their voices, their cry for shalom, for peace, sang out above the cries of hate. The Rabbi’s voice thundered as he spoke of the yahrzeit candle for those lost on October 7th. He told the crowd that we would all stand in the light of that candle. That its light would expel the darkness of hatred and usher in a better world, and peace for all. Singer Anna-Fay Jacksons stunning renditions of “Bring Him Home” from les Miserable and Eden Golans “October Rain” soared, beautiful, bell clear and strong.
Amidst the ever more repetitive screaming of “reptiles” “baby killers” and “genocidal w*nkers”, Elisheva Abramson, the outgoing Israel Scotland Affairs officer, gave a stirring speech. “I am not a victim and neither are you” she declared, indomitable. “I am the living legacy of every empire who fell for daring to try and make my ancestors victims” They tried to drown her out by playing music on loudspeakers but failed miserably. “Am Yisrael blazes in residence as the Ner Tamid among the nations, and someday you will learn it is folly to try to turn us to ash. It burns in me as it burns in my children and in the neshama of every Jew. Do not mistake our tears for weakness. We cry out in remembrance of who we are”.
Finally, voice shaking, but loud and clear none the less, Elisheva’s 13 year old son Ronen took the stage. This young man, who recently had his Bar Mitzvah in Jerusalem, epitomised the message of the day. When he raised his voice in Am Yisrael Chai, he was an image reflecting everyone in that small community. The power of dignity and strength in the face of evil. Living proof that there is no bravery in bullying, that true courage is quiet. True strength doesn’t need to take anything from anyone, doesn’t need to steal anyone’s voice, does not need to strip anyone of their humanity. Finally, as the assembled crowd sang Hatikvah, The Hope, together as one, it was abundantly clear that there could be no moral confusion here. The Jews of Scotland stood alone against hate on Sunday, and they prevailed.