Our Synagogue Today
(Thank you to Ehud and Nathan for parts of this article!)

The Aberdeen Jewish Community is centred around our Synagogue, a Georgian mid-terraced granite house in the city centre. It was built in the early 1800's and purchased by the community in 1945. It is now a listed building within a conservation area, and has many interesting architectural and historical features as well as Jewish ones!

But our building is much more than "just a synagogue". As well as the Sanctuary, it also houses a social space and two small flats, which are rented out to generate income for the Shul.

In recent years, our membership, although small, has varied in size; many non-members and visitors sparticipate in our community events and services. Unlike many Jewish communities in other parts of the country, our membership has actually been growing slightly in recent years and we are very much a viable and sustainable congregation! According to the last Scottish census, there are about 200 Jews in Aberdeen, with about 1/3 of those attending our events each year. We also have a thriving JSoc at the University for our many non-permanent-resident Jewish students, attending both of Aberdeen's Universities.

As our current shul was consecrated in 1945, we are celebrating our 65th anniversary in the building this year. We are always interested in seeing any old photgraphs, cine film, newspapers or other items of local history connected with the shul.

Our Services

The Aberdeen Shul is nominally an Orthodox synagogue, with the liturgy in Hebrew. The siddur in current use is the Authorised Daily Prayer Book of the British Commonwealth of Hebrew Congregations (ed. Simon Singer, ISBN 1857332555) and these may be borrowed for services. However, as we are the only Shul around for 65 miles (the next nearest Shul is in Dundee), we welcome any Jewish visitors whether they be Reform, Liberal, Conservative or anything else!

As in all Orthodox shuls, men and women are seated separately. Space does not permit us to have a balcony, but there is a dias at one end of the sanctuary for the ladies to sit "apart" from the men. Male visitors should wear a kippah (yarmulke) and these may be borrowed from the shul. Some members also wear a tallit, although this is not essential.

Our shul building may be small, and in need of many essential repairs at present; but visitors will always be assured of a warm welcome by our little community. In fact, visitors have, on many occasions, helped us make a minyan.

Our History

One of our members, Dr Nathan Abrahms, recently published a book on Jewish History entitled "Caledonian Jews" with a section about the Aberdeen community. His research suggests that there were Jews in Aberdeen as long ago as the reign of King James VI (King James I of England) but there was no "proper" Hebrew Congregation until at least the 1880's.

Until 1945, the synagogue was in a building in Marischal Street; at that point, the congregation was so large that they had outgrown the building and so they moved to our current home in Dee Street.

A Passover Seder in Aberdeen in the 1940's - credit unknown. Are you the owner of this picture? Please contact us!

How To Find Us

We are situated quite near the bottom of Dee Street, just before the junction with Dee Place.

If you are driving, please note that Dee Street is a one-way system that you enter from Union Street and exit by Dee Place. Parking around the shul is pay-and-display at almost all times apart from Sunday mornings. As well as being expensive and rigorously policed by Parking Attendants, it can also be very difficult to actually find a space. Visitors are advised to go further down the hill and park in the next zone; there are usually lots of spaces at the bottom of Crown Street (after number 141), Springbank Lane and Springbank Terrace. It is also much cheaper and you are permitted to stay for longer.

If you are coming by bus, almost any of the FirstBus services will take you to Union Street (ask the driver to let you off at the Music Hall). Dee Street is on the opposite side of Union Street from the Music Hall, with Burger King on one corner and the O2 shop on the other.

If coming by train, there is a frequent taxi service from just outside the station, which is advised if you are carrying luggage; you can also walk from the station, but there is a very large, steep flight of stairs on the way which may make accessibility difficult. Come out of the station and turn left, going up Guild Street towards Bridge Street. You will see an absolutely huge flight of granite steps leading up to Crown Terrace. Once you get there, walk down Crown Terrace and turn right as soon as you can; this will take you onto Crown Street. Cross the road and go down Academy Street (you will see Shirlaw's Motorcycles on the corner) and this will lead you into Dee Street.

About our website

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