GLASGOW JEWISH CEMETERY RESTORATION PROJECT
OUR JEWISH CEMETERIES - PRESERVING THEIR PAST, SAFEGUARDING THEIR FUTURE

As a community, we have a deep emotional connection with our Cemeteries. More than that, we know there is a need to care for them continuously, if the memories of our loved ones are to be perpetuated with the love and respect they deserve. All who have visited Glenduffhill and Riddrie Cemeteries in recent years agree that they need urgent, extensive repair, and accordingly, we are now about to begin a major refurbishment project. Below, we set out our plans, and ask for your help, without which they cannot succeed.

What Do We Plan To Do?

The project is in two parts:

GLENDUFFHILL CEMETERY
Glenduffhill was opened in 1933, and is now the main active Cemetery for the Orthodox Glasgow Jewish Community with almost 8000 graves. Many paths and graves are now in a very poor condition. (e.g. photos 1 & 2). There simply have not been the funds available to maintain them properly. We plan to repair paths and kerbstones of lairs, and to reposition tilting, unstable or fallen headstones to a near horizontal position.

Over the past two years, the GHBS has created some new paths, and upgraded the Tahara area and Prayer Hall at a cost of £90,000, (e.g. photo 5), but there is a pressing need for work on a much larger scale.

Photos 1 & 2 - Some examples of paths and lairs at Glenduffhill Cemetery

RIDDRIE CEMETERY

Riddrie Cemetery opened in 1905 under the auspices of South Portland Street Synagogue and was taken over by GHBS in the early 1970s, when the Synagogue closed and the Cemetery neared full capacity. As a result of disuse, this Cemetery has suffered badly from lack of maintenance and vandalism. (e.g. photos 3 & 4) We want to reposition unstable or fallen headstones to a near horizontal position and repair kerbs. The grounds at Riddrie are under the control of Land and Environmental Services at Glasgow City Council, who are strong supporters of this project, and they have indicated their willingness to improve and sustain the overall landscaping condition of the area.

Photos 3 & 4 - Some examples of graves and stones at Riddrie Cemetery

Once these Cemeteries have been brought back to an acceptable standard, they will be maintained by the staff of the GHBS. This is therefore a one-off project.

What Is The Cost?

Andrew Syme Associates, the Consulting Surveyors who developed the plans and coordinated the recent successful projects at the Jewish Cemeteries at Sandymount and Glasgow Necropolis, have prepared a specification of proposed works, and provided an estimate of the costs involved. Whilst the total for all work identified is in excess of £1million (about 90% at Glenduffhill and 10% at Riddrie), much of the work could be performed if we raise a large 6 figure sum. We will prioritise the work to be done based upon the success of this appeal, and upon whether individual donors specify which aspect of the work they wish to support.

How Will We Raise The Funds?

We plan to raise funds from four sources:

i) The Community
The vast majority of the Glasgow Jewish community have a link to at least one of these Cemeteries through the grave of someone in their families. With the cooperation and assistance of the Queen’s Park Charitable Trust which runs the Cathcart Cemetery, we are therefore launching a community-wide appeal, which we hope will be met with widespread and generous support.

ii) The Glasgow Jewish Diaspora
Most émigrés from Glasgow retain a strong family connection, and we believe many of them will want to contribute. We intend to reach them through the press, our website, Synagogues throughout the world, and not least through the good offices of their families still in Glasgow. A more complete version of this pamphlet, with photographs and short videos of some areas of the Cemeteries, and with examples of some areas we have already renovated, is available on our website...

www.glasgowhebrewburialsociety.org

This can be accessed openly from anywhere in the world. An excellent search facility on the website also allows sight of tombstones of family members, and related information.

iii) Charitable Trusts
We hope and believe that appropriate charitable trusts will understand the importance of this project and wish to help us.

iv) Wider Funding
Similarly, we hope to attract the support of various funding organisations in Glasgow, Scotland and further afield, who will be sympathetic to our aims.

How Will The Project Be Managed?
A Steering Committee has been established, including representatives from the GHBS and Cathcart Hebrew Burial Society, together with Stanley Coorsh who led the Sandymount Project. This group will direct the work of identifying potential sources of funding, and a further group who will act as a fundraising committee. Funds raised will be managed and independently audited in a separate account as part of the Charitable Account of the GHBS.

How Can You Help Us?
This project can only succeed if it is backed by our community, collectively and individually, both within Glasgow and further afield. You can help us principally by making as generous a contribution as you can, and enlisting the support of those of your extended family who, although they may no longer live in Glasgow, you believe would want to support us. We hope that you will recognise that given the scale of the work to be done, this is no ordinary appeal, and therefore we hope many of you will donate substantially more than you normally would to appeal letters. Those donating over £5000 will be recognised, if they wish, on a new donors board to be installed at Glenduffhill. All donors will be acknowledged if they wish in an Honours Book - Platinum donors donating more than £5000, Gold donors more than £1000, Silver donors more than £250, and Bronze donors less than £250. The facility will be available for individuals or organisations to donate over several years. You can also specify whether you wish your donation to be used for work at Riddrie, at Glenduffhill, or at both Cemeteries.

YOU MAY HAVE YOUR OWN IDEAS OF ASPECTS YOU WISH TO SPONSOR, OR QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS - IF SO, PLEASE CONTACT EITHER OF THE CO-CHAIRMEN AT...

appeals@glasgowhebrewburialsociety.org

Beyond that, if you know of other potential sources of funding, we would be delighted and grateful to hear of them. We will do our best to keep the community, and all donors, fully informed of progress.

How to donate.
Donations can be made in the following ways:

1. By cheque or charitable voucher payable to Glasgow Hebrew Burial Society Charitable A/C at

Glasgow Hebrew Burial Society
PO Box 7317
Giiffnock, Glasgow,G46 9DB

Please enclose your name and address, and state whether you wish to Gift Aid your donation, to enable us to reclaim income tax you have paid on it.

2. By Bank Transfer

Glasgow Hebrew Burial Society Charitable A/C
Royal Bank of Scotland
Sort Code 83 20 22
Account Number 00713097

3. By Paypal, or credit/debit card using the ‘Donate’ button on the Home Page of our website

www.glasgowhebrewburialsociety.org

Project Patrons:
Rt Hon. Lord Provost of Glasgow, Rabbi M Rubin, Paul Morron,
Malcolm Livingstone, Adam Berkley, Stanley Coorsh
Co-chairmen:
David S Links, Alan Shenkin
Members:
Max Bentley, Ephraim Borowski,
Barry Cooper, Monty Cowen,
Carolyn Dover, Richard Kaye,
David Levitus, Alan Levy, Martin Links,
Mike Links, Sam Sankar, Larry Sellyn,
Michael Simpson, Richard Sperber,
Dianna Wolfson

Photo 5 - Recent work at Glenduffhill Cemetery.