Hebrew Synagogue

About Hebrew Synagogue

Hebrew Synagogue is a Scotland-based non-profit that operates Beth Israel Synagogue and Levana Bakery, and serves as an advisory body on religious practice consulted by public and private agencies. Fully funded by Mayside Partners Limited, we carry no fundraising burden and focus on service, learning, and community life. The Synagogue functions as a בית מדרש (beit midrash, house of study) for adults and families, offering classes in תורה (Torah), tradition, ethics, history, and practical skills, delivered in person and online. HS Kosher is our wholesale and retail kosher-food operation, supplying fresh and frozen products and upholding the highest standards of כשרות (kashrut – kosher law). The Adult Education Learning Centre includes our Master of Global Ethics and Leadership (MGEL), a fully online, secular and inclusive programme open to all. Grant:One is our streamlined funding programme that supports innovative, impact-driven initiatives benefiting individuals, families, and communities. We affirm that dividing Judaism into “Orthodox, Conservative, and Reform” is an artificial construct—All Jews share one תורה. There are more-observant Jews and less-observant Jews, but we are one people.

Yeshivat Beth Israel

Rooted in the heart of the Hebrew Synagogue, Yeshivat Beth Israel continues the sacred mission of Torah learning and spiritual growth for all generations. It stands as a beacon of faith, study, and devotion — uniting the community under the eternal banner of Israel and guiding each student toward deeper understanding of G-D’s word.

Shomrim Scotland

Shomrim Scotland is operated by Hebrew Synagogue. Our focus is the protection and safeguarding of the Jewish Community throughout Scotland. We work to strengthen communal security through education, the implementation of best-practice security procedures at synagogues and other Jewish communal properties, and through active community engagement.

Our services are offered entirely free of charge. We believe that the safety and wellbeing of the Jewish Community is a shared responsibility, and we welcome participation from members of the Community across Scotland.

Shomrim Scotland seeks committed volunteers who can assist in three key areas:

• Education – helping to raise awareness and understanding of security measures within the Community.
• Watch and Report – providing a visible presence, identifying potential risks, and reporting suspicious activity.
• Incident Response – being alert and prepared to act swiftly and appropriately in the event of any threat or, G-D forbid, acts of violence against Jewish individuals or institutions anywhere in Scotland.

Shomrim Scotland works in partnership with communal organisations and security professionals to ensure that synagogues, schools, and community centres remain safe and welcoming spaces for all. By volunteering your time and skills, you can make a meaningful contribution to the protection of the Jewish future in Scotland.

For more information or to volunteer with Shomrim Scotland, please contact Hebrew Synagogue or email admin@shomrim.scot

Magen Kehilati

Magen Kehilati is operated by Hebrew Synagogue. Our purpose is to strengthen the Jewish Community by providing support, safety, and practical assistance to individuals and families experiencing crisis, vulnerability, or immediate need. While Shomrim Scotland focuses on community security and incident response, Magen Kehilati focuses on community welfare, protection, and care.

Magen Kehilati focuses on three core responsibilities:

• Crisis Support – offering practical help for members of the Community during emergencies, whether personal, financial, medical, or domestic.
• Welfare and Assistance – checking in on vulnerable members, coordinating volunteer support, and ensuring that no member of our Community is left alone or unsupported.
• Safety and Safeguarding – providing guidance, monitoring welfare concerns, and stepping in when someone may be at risk or in need of protection.

Magen Kehilati works in partnership with synagogues, schools, families, and other communal organisations to ensure that care, dignity, and protection remain at the centre of Jewish life. Our aim is to provide the reassurance that the Community looks after its own, that no need goes unnoticed, and that every person is valued.

All services are provided free of charge. We welcome volunteers and participation from members of the Community who are willing to assist in safeguarding and strengthening Jewish life.

For more information or to volunteer with Magen Kehilati, please contact Hebrew Synagogue or email support@magenkehilati.org

Learn

Learning at Hebrew Synagogue is not an accessory to Jewish life; it is its heart. The Torah commands “ושננתם לבניך (veshinantam levanekha – you shall teach them to your children)” in דברים (Devarim) 6:7, and enjoins us to “והגית בו יומם ולילה (vehagita bo yomam valayla – meditate upon it day and night)” in יהושע (Yehoshua) 1:8. These verses make education a daily covenantal duty for every Jew—across generations, abilities, and stages of life. Learning is how we remember who we are, refine our middot (מידות/middot – character traits), and transmit our mission. The Holy Zohar teaches that “תורה והקב״ה וישראל חד הוא (Torah veHaKadosh Baruch Hu veYisrael chad hu – Torah, the Holy One, and Israel are one),” which means study is not only information; it is connection. Tanya explains that when a person understands a Torah idea, his mind and G-D’s wisdom become uniquely united (Likutei Amarim, ch. 5). Through sustained לימוד תורה (limud Torah – study of Torah), we draw Divine light into the mind and into the world, strengthening אמונה (emunah – faith) and תשובה (teshuvah – return) in practical life. Our Learn programme follows these foundations: text-centred, rigorous, and accessible. Classes and chavruta (חברותא/chevruta – paired study) are offered for all levels, in person and online, with clear pathways from basics to advanced sources. We teach Hebrew without vowels, prioritise primary texts, and emphasise application—how Torah thinking shapes work, family, community, and the way we speak and act. This is why we learn: to know G-D’s will, to refine the soul, and to pass an unbroken heritage forward with clarity and love.

Hebrew Synagogue Book Collection

The Hebrew Synagogue Book Collection is a growing library of sacred Jewish texts, published through Mayside Books, created with a single guiding purpose: to preserve, present, and transmit Torah texts faithfully, without theological distortion, paraphrase, or accommodation to external belief systems.

Our first volumes, Seder Tefillot — The Ordered Book of Jewish Prayer — and Seder Tefillot Shabbat — The Ordered Prayers for Shabbat — establish the foundation of this work. Each volume presents the traditional סדר התפלה (seder hatefillah — the ordered structure of prayer) exactly as it has been received, paired with a precise and disciplined English translation that conveys meaning without commentary, embellishment, or reinterpretation. The intent is not to modernise prayer, but to make its authentic meaning accessible while preserving its form, cadence, and integrity.

This collection is being expanded to include Seder Tefillot Moadim, presenting the prayers of the מועדים (moadim — appointed times) in their proper order and context; Tehillim, restoring the book to its place as living prayer rather than literary poetry or abstraction; and the Holy Zohar, translated with reverence for its language, structure, and spiritual depth, without academic dilution or mystical sensationalism.

These books are not produced for novelty, commentary, or study detached from practice. They are created to return sacred texts to their rightful place: as living instruments of avodah, learning, and connection to G-D. Each volume reflects a commitment to accuracy, consistency, and restraint — allowing the text itself to speak, without interference.

The Hebrew Synagogue Book Collection is intended to serve those who seek authenticity in prayer and study, continuity with our מסורה (mesorah — the received tradition), and texts that honour what has been preserved rather than reinventing what was never broken.

Grant:One

Grant:One is founded on the belief that G-D is the ultimate source of blessing and opportunity. The programme channels that principle by funding innovative, transformative endeavours that foster growth, creativity, and measurable good. Eligible individuals and organisations are invited to apply through a streamlined process that asks for a clear purpose, the amount requested, who will benefit, a timeline, and a budget. Grants prioritise projects that reflect compassion, unity, and real progress, with transparent outcomes and accountability. This opportunity is made possible through the generosity of its founder, whose commitment is to create meaningful opportunities that reflect the light of G-D in the world. Together, Grant:One aims to inspire action, strengthen communities, and move the world closer to its highest potential.

HS Kosher

HS Kosher, owned and operated by Hebrew Synagogue, supplies kosher food at both wholesale and retail. We offer an extensive range of fresh and frozen products for retailers, restaurants, and households—including fresh produce, meat, dairy, baked goods, ready meals, and speciality items. We uphold the highest standards of כשרות (kashrut – kosher law), ensuring every product carries recognised certification with clear traceability. Our knowledgeable team provides personalised support—product recommendations, special orders, menu planning, and guidance on kosher requirements—alongside convenient delivery to keep orders fresh and on time. Whether you’re stocking shelves, building a kosher menu, or provisioning your home, HS Kosher delivers quality, reliability, and ease.

In addition, our rabbinic team provides kosher certification (hechsher) for both products and food-service operations, including site inspections, process review, labelling guidance, and ongoing supervision to recognised standards.

Levana Bakery

Levana Bakery, operated by Hebrew Synagogue, is a true scratch bakery—every item is made on-site and can be tailored to your requirements. Our daily range includes challah, breads, pitta, cakes, Danish pastries, biscuits/cookies, knish, and bourekas, with everything baked fresh and strictly kosher from bagels to babka. We also specialise in made-to-order kosher cakes for weddings, graduations, birthdays, anniversaries, bar and bat mitzvahs, and other celebrations, finished to your brief with options for flavours, fillings, and decoration.

Levana Bakery serves three channels: corporate-owned shops, wholesale supply to retailers and hospitality, and licensed partners operating under the Levana name. We prioritise consistent quality, clear kosher supervision, and reliable fulfilment. Ingredient and allergen information is available on request; collection is standard and local delivery can be arranged by agreement. For custom work, please share your ideas and timeline and we’ll confirm design and lead time.

Mayside Centre

Mayside Centre is an educational, cultural, and retreat unit of Hebrew Synagogue, created as a safe and welcoming space for families, learning, and renewal. The Centre supports Torah study, ethical reflection, and meaningful rest, providing an environment where individuals and families can step away from daily pressures to reconnect with learning, community, and personal wellbeing.

Alongside structured programmes and study opportunities, Mayside Centre offers a setting focused on calm, security, and thoughtful engagement, encouraging both spiritual growth and relaxation. The Centre operates as part of Hebrew Synagogue’s wider mission, with funding and strategic support provided by Mayside Partners Limited. For more information visit https://maysidecentre.com.

Adult Education

The Master of Global Ethics and Leadership (MGEL) from Hebrew Synagogue is an adult-education programme for people who want to create measurable impact in their communities and beyond. Delivered fully online, it gives working adults the flexibility to study around work and family, engaging with high-quality materials from home and at their own pace.

The programme is secular and inclusive—no requirement to be Jewish to enrol. It blends timeless ethical principles with contemporary leadership practice, offering an education that is both academically rigorous and practically relevant. Participants develop the tools to address complex global challenges with clarity, compassion, and conviction, strengthening their leadership while deepening their understanding of ethical frameworks in a rapidly changing world.