SCoJeC and Board of Deputies in ‘ground-breaking’ agreement to enhance provision for Scottish Jews

The Scottish Council of Jewish Communities (SCoJeC) and the Board of Deputies of British Jews (BoD) have the basis of an agreement (an MOU) to professionalise representation for the Scottish Jewish Community.

On Sunday 11th April 2021, SCoJeC agreed a ground-breaking MOU with the BoD that will give SCoJeC its first paid CEO in the 22 years since its formation.

During that time, Ephraim Borowski has served as the organisation’s director in a voluntary capacity. Over recent months, Mr Borowski had expressed his desire to retire, and SCoJeC’s Chair, Alan Kay, and Vice Chair, Mark Taylor, had embarked on a fundraising drive to enable recruitment for a paid professional to lead the organisation when Mr Borowski retires by the time of the next AGM, in June.

Under the new agreement, the BoD will contribute up to half of the salary costs for the new Chief Executive, and will also support the Scottish Jewish Community with wider staff resources from the BoD’s own highly-regarded team. While some details are yet to be finalised, the leadership of both organisations are upbeat about the future.

Alan Kay, Chair of the SCoJeC, said:

“I would like to pay tribute to Ephraim Borowski for his outstanding service to the organisation over some two decades. I am delighted that we have come to this agreement with the BoD which will enable us to recruit our first paid CEO and work with the Board of Deputies to enable SCoJeC to increase its support to the Jewish Communities of Scotland. Over the coming years, Scotland is going to be at a critical juncture and we are very pleased to be able to step-up our work at this crucial time, together with the Board of Deputies and in partnership with the Glasgow Jewish Rep Council and the JLC.”

Marie van der Zyl, President of the BoD, said:

“Over the last few years, the Board of Deputies has dramatically increased its commitment to supporting regional communities across the country. Last year, we appointed our first Regional Manager, Sara Radivan, to support Jewish Communities around the country. In view of the increasing relevance to the politics of Scotland, to all parts of the UK Jewish Community, this was an obvious next step and we look forward to working closely with SCoJeC and the Scottish Jewish Community to enhance provision for Scottish Jews that will have a positive knock-on effect for Jews across the UK.”

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