Records of Dundee Hebrew Congregation

Scope and Content
The collection includes early items, such as rules of the Congregation and Burial Society records, and some original photographs. The two biggest sections are later papers and minutes of the Congregation at COM/DUN/0002 and presscuttings and historical notes at COM/DUN/0009.
Administrative / Biographical History
The first Jews in Dundee were German textile merchants from the 1840s onwards, but there was no organised Jewish community until about 1878, when the first synagogue was opened in Murraygate. By 1911, there were around 95 Jews in the city. In 1920, the synagogue was moved to 15 Meadow Street. The premises, which accomodated 70-100 people, were gifted by Sir Maurice Bloch. The 1921 census indicates over 110 Jews.
By 1970, this had fallen to 30-40. The synagogue was demolished in 1973 because of the redevelopment of that area of the city centre, and the city council paid for the erection of a new building in St Mary's Place, opened in 1978, which served the community until its closure in 2019. The community is now called Tayside & Fife Jewish Community and centered in St. Andrews.
Access Information
Open

Scope and Content