Come and Explore!
Based in the beautiful Category A listed Garnethill Synagogue, the Centre welcomes primary and secondary pupils from all backgrounds. Our visits support learning on Judaism, the history of Jewish immigration to Scotland, and the Holocaust and Second World War period. We help pupils to understand Scotland’s Jewish heritage, and demonstrate its place in Scottish history and culture.
Book Visit
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Travel Subsidy
Resources
Primary Schools
Synagogue Discovery
Step inside Scotland’s oldest purpose-built synagogue for an unforgettable journey into Jewish life. Try on religious dress, explore sacred spaces and symbols, discover the Torah’s importance, investigate Jewish food laws in the kosher kitchen, and experience how Jewish beliefs and values are brought to life through festivals, Shabbat, and community practice!
Refugee Stories
Find out about the real-life experiences of a refugee from Nazi Europe who found a safe haven in Scotland. Using replica documents, photographs and personal testimonies from the Scottish Jewish Archives Centre uncover their life under the Nazi regime, escape to Scotland, and the challenges of starting over.
Secondary Schools
Synagogue Discovery
Step inside Scotland’s oldest purpose-built synagogue for an unforgettable journey into Jewish life. Try on religious dress, explore sacred spaces and symbols, discover the Torah’s importance, investigate Jewish food laws in the kosher kitchen, and experience how Jewish beliefs and values are brought to life through festivals, Shabbat, and community practice!
Refugee Stories
Find out about the real-life experiences of a refugee from Nazi Europe who found a safe haven in Scotland. Using replica documents, photographs and personal testimonies from the Scottish Jewish Archives Centre, students uncover stories of life under the Nazi regime, escape to Scotland, and the challenges of starting over.
Immigrant Experience: A Life in the Gorbals
Explore where Scotland’s Jews came from, their reasons for migration and what they did here. Includes a visit to the Synagogue followed by an interactive learning kit based on primary source material and video testimonies from two second-generation immigrants.
Elevate your Visit
We have a couple more options for secondary level if you wish to extend your visit. These give a more detailed telling of the holocaust period as well as increasing pupils research capabilities by using archival databases to discover Scotland’s refugee histories.
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Plan your school visit
Visits cost £50 per class and last up to two hours. Some options have restrictions on numbers due to space constraints – these details are included in the full school menu. Please contact us if you have any questions about class size or what the best options would be for your pupils. Travel subsidies are available to help support a visit.
Non-school groups are also very welcome to visit the Synagogue, please contact the Heritage Centre by email or phone 0141 332 4151 to discuss what we can offer.
FAQs
Is there bus parking?
No, there is on-street parking suitable for cars only. The area around the Centre has a number of steep hills and one-way streets which can be challenging for coaches. We recommend the group are either dropped off on Sauchiehall Street at the bottom of Garnet Street and walk up the hill, or are dropped off on Hill Street at the entrance to the Synagogue and walk round the corner to the Garnet Street entrance. If you are planning to travel by private bus, please note that we are located within Glasgow’s Low Emission Zone.
Is there a dress code?
No, there is no dress code for school visits. However, in the winter months it can be cold in the synagogue so we would advise that pupils bring jackets just in case.
Can we leave bags and coats securely?
We only have one school group in the building at a time, and the building is not open to the public, so you will be able to safely leave bags and coats in the room the group will use when they come into the building.
Can we eat lunch on site?
As kosher food rules are in operation in the building, unfortunately we cannot offer a place for pupils to eat their own lunches. We do advise that pupils (particularly primary) have a snack in the short break in the session so we can provide information about kosher-appropriate food that can be brought. We can also advise on nearby locations where pupils can eat lunch and for older pupils who can go independently for lunch, there are a number of options nearby.
Can we take photographs?
Yes, you are welcome to take photographs during your visit. It is also helpful for us if we are able to sometimes take photos to record visits as this can be used for our funders – we provide forms for this and do not take any photographs without express permission.
Do you have a risk assessment?
Yes, you can download our SJHC Visit Risk Assessment
How do I access the travel subsidies?
The Scottish Government Heritage Travel Subsidy for Schools is available for all Scottish state schools, administered by Historic Environment Scotland. It is applicable for multiple visits from a school and require the completion of a simple form. The travel subsidy covers 75% of transport costs (up to a maximum of £350) and special schools and units can apply for 100% of travel costs (up to a maximum of £350). More information and the form is available here.
Is the building accessible?
Wheelchair access is possible in all areas of the building. We have a wheelchair-accessible bathroom on the lower ground floor and a chairlift between the ground and lower ground floor. Please let us know if you will have any wheelchair users on a visit so that we can ensure the best way for your group to enter.
What information can we use in the classroom before and after a visit?
We have pre and post visit resources to download on our Resources page.
