New Glasgow Jewish initiative brings together young adults
A dynamic new initiative, the West End Project, launched in Glasgow last week, bringing together younger Jews aged 20 to 40, their friends and partners, for a morning of learning, connection and celebration.
Designed to be aggressively inclusive, the event welcomed attendees from Progressive and Orthodox synagogues, as well as unaffiliated guests drawn in by social media.
The programme centred on the remarkable story of 16th-century Italian businesswoman and philanthropist Doña Gracia Nasi, offering participants a chance to explore lesser-known aspects of Jewish history while building new relationships across the community.
Student Rabbi Dr Jennifer Verson led the event with dedication and enthusiasm, supported by sponsorship from both the Movement for Progressive Judaism and the (local Orthodox) Netherlee and Clarkston Charitable Trust, an inspiring example of cross-denominational collaboration.
Convenor Paul Ginsberg said: “We knew we’d succeeded when we had to ask people to leave an hour after the event officially ended. They were still deep in conversation!”
The morning also produced a reusable resource for future gatherings, marking the beginning of a wider community building agenda.
