This is a list of

Scottish people The Scots ( sco, Scots Fowk; gd, Albannaich) are an ethnic group and nation native to Scotland. Historically, they emerged in the early Middle Ages from an amalgamation of two Celtic-speaking peoples, the Picts and Gaels, who founded ...

of some Jewish background, or

Jewish people Jews ( he, יְהוּדִים, , ) or Jewish people are an ethnoreligious group and nation originating from the Israelites Israelite origins and kingdom: "The first act in the long drama of Jewish history is the age of the Israelites""Th ...

with a

Scottish Scottish usually refers to something of, from, or related to Scotland, including: *Scottish Gaelic, a Celtic Goidelic language of the Indo-European language family native to Scotland *Scottish English *Scottish national identity, the Scottish ide ...

background or connection. See

History of the Jews in Scotland The history of the Jews in Scotland goes back to at least the 17th century. It is not known when Jews first arrived in Scotland, with the earliest concrete historical references to a Jewish presence in Scotland being from the late 17th cen ...

for more information.

Academic figures and scientists

Ruth Adler Ruth Margaret Adler nee Oppenheimer (1 October 1944 – 18 February 1994) was a feminist, human rights campaigner and child welfare advocate. She was founder of Amnesty International's Scotland office as their first employee in Scotland in 1991. ...

, child welfare campaigner and human rights campaigner *

Charlotte Auerbach Charlotte "Lotte" Auerbach Royal Society, FRS Royal Society of Edinburgh, FRSE (14 May 1899 – 17 March 1994) was a German geneticist who contributed to founding the science of mutagenesis. She became well known after 1942 when she discovered w ...

, geneticist * Philip Cohen, FRS

FRSE Fellowship of the Royal Society of Edinburgh (FRSE) is an award granted to individuals that the Royal Society of Edinburgh, Scotland's national academy of science and letters, judged to be "eminently distinguished in their subject". This soci ...

professor of biochemistry, University of Dundee, winner of the

Royal Medal The Royal Medal, also known as The Queen's Medal and The King's Medal (depending on the gender of the monarch at the time of the award), is a silver-gilt medal, of which three are awarded each year by the Royal Society, two for "the most important ...

and other awards * David Daiches, writer and literary critic, professor of English, University of Sussex; father of

Jenni Calder Jenni Calder ( née Daiches) (born 1941) is a Scottish literary historian, and arts establishment figure. Edinburgh based, she has been part of the Scottish literary community for many years. Her teaching and writing cover Scottish, English a ...

Jack D. Dunitz Jack David Dunitz FRS (29 March 1923 – 12 September 2021) was a British chemist and widely known chemical crystallographer. He was Professor of Chemical Crystallography at the ETH Zurich from 1957 until his official retirement in 1990. He he ...

, chemist *

Alfred Edersheim Alfred Edersheim (7 March 1825 – 16 March 1889) was a Jewish convert to Christianity and a Biblical scholar known especially for his book ''The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah'' (1883). Early life and education Edersheim was born in V ...

, Bible scholar *

Charles Frank Charles Reser Frank (born April 17, 1947) is an American actor noted for playing Bret Maverick's cousin Ben Maverick in the 1978 TV-movie ''The New Maverick'' with James Garner and Jack Kelly, and in the short-lived 1979 television series '' ...

, maker of scientific instruments *

Ralph Glasser Ralph Glasser (3 April 1916 – 6 March 2002) was a Scottish psychologist, economist, advisor to developing countries and author of a highly praised autobiographical trilogy. Early life Glasser was born of Jewish parents in Leeds, but when he was ...

, psychologist, economist, author of ''The Gorbals Trilogy'' * Professor Sir Abraham Goldberg, Regius Professor of the Practice of Medicine, University of Glasgow * Philip Hobsbaum, academic and literary critic at Glasgow University; an influence on many Scottish writers as diverse as Aonghas MacNeacail and Jeff Torrington * A C Jacobs, poet *

Hans Kosterlitz Hans Walter Kosterlitz FRS (27 April 1903 – 26 October 1996) was a German-born British biochemist. Biography Hans Walter Kosterlitz was born on 27 April 1903 in Berlin. He was the elder son of Bernhard Kosterlitz, a physician, and Selma ...

, professor of pharmacology, University of Aberdeen *

Stefan Reif Stefan Clive Reif (born 21 January 1944) is professor emeritus at the University of Cambridge. He was born in Edinburgh. He has a PhD from University College London and a Doctor of Literature from Cambridge. Education Stefan Reif graduated ...

, emeritus professor of medieval Hebrew studies, University of Cambridge and director of the Taylor-Schechter Genizah Research Unit *

John Michael Robson John is a common English name and surname: * John (given name) * John (surname) John may also refer to: New Testament Works * Gospel of John, a title often shortened to John * First Epistle of John, often shortened to 1 John * Second ...

, geneticist, University of Edinburgh *

George Sassoon George Thornycroft Sassoon (30 October 1936 – 8 March 2006) was a British scientist, electronic engineer, linguist, translator and author. Early life Sassoon was the only child of the poet Siegfried Sassoon and Hester Sassoon (née Gatty), and ...

, electronics engineer, translator and author; son of

Siegfried Sassoon Siegfried Loraine Sassoon (8 September 1886 – 1 September 1967) was an English war poet, writer, and soldier. Decorated for bravery on the Western Front, he became one of the leading poets of the First World War. His poetry both describ ...

, buried on Mull, where he spent much of his childhood * Leonard Schapiro, historian *

Avivah Gottlieb Zornberg Avivah Gottlieb Zornberg (born March 1944) is a Scottish contemporary Torah scholar and author. Biography She was born in London, England, grew up in Glasgow, Scotland, and moved to Israel in 1969, where she currently resides in Jerusalem. Zor ...

, contemporary Torah scholar and author

Arts, literature and music

Chaim Bermant Chaim Icyk Bermant (26 February 192920 January 1998) was a British-based journalist, and author. Born in Braslav, Belarus, he spent much of his childhood in Barovke, Latvia, and Scotland. He was educated at Queen's Park Secondary School in Gla ...

, author *

, literary figure and daughter of David Daiches * Ivor Cutler, poet, songwriter and humourist *

Hannah Frank Hannah Frank (23 August 1908 – 18 December 2008) was an artist and sculptor from Glasgow, Scotland. She was known for her art nouveau monochrome drawings until she decided to concentrate on sculpture in 1952. Background and education Frank's ...

, sculptor, studied under Benno Schotz *

Muriel Gray Muriel Janet Gray FRSE (born 30 August 1958) is a Scottish author, broadcaster and journalist. She came to public notice as an interviewer on Channel 4's alternative pop-show ''The Tube'', and then appeared as a regular presenter on BBC radio ...

, author, ''The Tube'' presenter * Howie B, DJ, musician and producer * Jeremy Isaacs, broadcaster * David Knopfler, member of

Dire Straits Dire Straits were a British rock band formed in London in 1977 by Mark Knopfler (lead vocals and lead guitar), David Knopfler (rhythm guitar and backing vocals), John Illsley (bass guitar and backing vocals) and Pick Withers (drums and percuss ...

* Mark Knopfler, co-founder (with brother David), lead vocalist, and lead guitarist for the band

* Peter Kravitz, literary critic, editor of the compilation ''Contemporary Scottish Fiction'' *

Daniel Lobell Daniel Lobell is a Los Angeles-based American stand-up comedian, podcaster, and comic-book writer best known for his podcast ''Modern Day Philosophers.'' Comedian Marc Maron credits him with creating the first podcast focused on stand-up comedy, ...

, stand-up comedian and podcaster * Macdonald brothers, grandsons of the Hungarian-born English filmmaker

Emeric Pressburger Emeric Pressburger (born Imre József Pressburger; 5 December 19025 February 1988) was a Hungarian-British screenwriter, film director, and producer. He is best known for his series of film collaborations with Michael Powell, in a collaborat ...

** Andrew Macdonald, producer, ''

Trainspotting Trainspotting may refer to: * Trainspotting (hobby), an amateur interest in railways/railroads * ''Trainspotting'' (novel), a 1993 novel by Irvine Welsh ** ''Trainspotting'' (film), a 1996 film based on the novel *** ''Trainspotting'' (soundtr ...

'' ** Kevin Macdonald, director, ''

Touching the Void Touching the Void may refer to: * ''Touching the Void'' (''book''), a 1988 book by Joe Simpson ** ''Touching the Void'' (film), a 2003 film based on the book ** ''Touching the Void'' (play), a 2018 play based on the book {{Disambiguation ...

'' *

Miriam Margolyes Miriam ( he, מִרְיָם ''Mīryām'', lit. 'Rebellion') is described in the Hebrew Bible as the daughter of Amram and Jochebed, and the older sister of Moses and Aaron. She was a prophetess and first appears in the Book of Exodus. The Tora ...

, actor, ''Harry Potter'' *

Isi Metzstein Isi Israel Metzstein Order of the British Empire, OBE (7 July 1928 – 10 January 2012) was a German-born architect who worked at Gillespie, Kidd & Coia and taught at the Glasgow School of Art. He became known for his postwar architectural desig ...

, modernist architect *

Saul Metzstein Saul Metzstein (born 30 December 1970) is a Scottish film director. He won the British Academy Scotland New Talent Award for best director in 2002 for ''Late Night Shopping''. Metzstein is the son of Isi Metzstein, the renowned modernist arch ...

, filmmaker, director of ''

Late Night Shopping ''Late Night Shopping'' is a 2001 comedy film funded by FilmFour Productions, centering on a group of friends who all work the graveyard shifts. Plot Sean, Vincent, Jody and Lenny work graveyard shifts in various soul-killing jobs (the hos ...

'' * Rebecca Pidgeon, actor, singer and songwriter (grew up in Edinburgh) *

B. Marcus Priteca Benjamin Marcus Priteca (23 December 1889 – 1 October 1971) was a Scottish architect. He is best known for designing theatres for Alexander Pantages. Early life Benjamin Marcus Priteca was born into a Jewish family in Glasgow on 23 December 1 ...

, Seattle architect * Jack Ronder, author, dramatist, playwright * Hugo Rifkind, journalist * Benno Schotz, sculptor * Shulman brothers (

Simon Dupree and the Big Sound Simon Dupree and the Big Sound were a British psychedelic band formed in 1966 by brothers Derek (vocals), Phil (vocals, saxophone, trumpet), and Ray Shulman (guitar, violin, trumpet, vocals); also known for their later prog rock band, Gentle Gian ...

; Gentle Giant), rock musicians (born in Glasgow) **

Derek Shulman Derek Victor Shulman (born 11 February 1947) is a Scottish musician and singer, multi-instrumentalist, and record executive. From 1970 to 1980, he was lead vocalist for the band Gentle Giant. Career Born in the Gorbals, Glasgow, Scotland, Shul ...

, multi-instrumentalist and songwriter **

Phil Shulman Philip Arthur Shulman (born 27 August 1937, The Gorbals, Glasgow, Scotland), is a Scottish musician who was a member of the progressive rock group Gentle Giant from 1970 to 1973 and performed on their albums ''Gentle Giant'', ''Acquiring the Taste' ...

, multi-instrumentalist and songwriter **

Ray Shulman Raymond Shulman (born 8 December 1949) is a Scottish musician, and the youngest of three brothers in progressive rock band Gentle Giant. Shulman was born in Portsmouth. His father was a trumpet player in a jazz band, and that was the first inst ...

, multi-instrumentalist and songwriter *

J. David Simons J. David Simons (born 27 August 1953) is a Scottish novelist and short story writer. He was educated at Hutchesons' Boys Grammar School and graduated with a law degree from Glasgow University in 1973. He has been a partner with an Edinburgh ...

, author *

Edith Simon Edith Simon (18 May 1917 – 7 January 2003) was a German-born British artist, author, sculptor, and historian active mainly in Edinburgh. Early life Simon was born on 18 May 1917 in Charlottenburg, Berlin, the eldest daughter of Grete ...

, artist * * Robin Spark, artist *

Scottie Wilson Scottie Wilson (28 February 1891 – 1972), born Louis Freeman (birth certificate says Lewis), was a Scottish, Jewish, outsider artist known particularly for his highly detailed style. Starting his artistic career at the age of 44, his work was ...

, artist and designer, born in Glasgow * Eric Woolfson, musician and composer, founding member of

The Alan Parsons Project The Alan Parsons Project was a British rock band active between 1975 and 1990, whose core membership consisted of producer, audio engineer, musician and composer Alan Parsons and singer, songwriter and pianist Eric Woolfson. They were accompanie ...

Politicians

Myer Galpern Myer Galpern, Baron Galpern, DL (1 January 1903 – 23 September 1993) was a Scottish Labour Party politician. Biography Galpern was born Meyer Galpern in the Gorbals, the son of Morris Galpern, a cabinetmaker, and Anna Talisman. His pare ...

, Labour MP *

Harry Primrose, 6th Earl of Rosebery Albert Edward Harry Meyer Archibald Primrose, 6th Earl of Rosebery, 2nd Earl of Midlothian (8 January 1882 – 31 May 1974), styled Lord Dalmeny until 1929, was a British liberal politician who briefly served as Secretary of State for Scotland ...

Secretary of State for Scotland The secretary of state for Scotland ( gd, Rùnaire Stàite na h-Alba; sco, Secretar o State fir Scotland), also referred to as the Scottish secretary, is a Secretary of State (United Kingdom), secretary of state in the Government of the Unit ...

, elder son of

Hannah de Rothschild Hannah Primrose, Countess of Rosebery (''née'' de Rothschild; 27 July 1851 – 19 November 1890) was the daughter of Mayer Amschel de Rothschild, Baron Mayer de Rothschild and his wife Juliana (''née'' Cohen (surname), Cohen). After inh ...

* Neil Primrose, MP and soldier, younger son of

Malcolm Rifkind Sir Malcolm Leslie Rifkind (born 21 June 1946) is a British politician who served in the cabinets of Margaret Thatcher and John Major from 1986 to 1997, and most recently as chair of the Intelligence and Security Committee of Parliament from 2 ...

, Conservative MP *

Manny Shinwell Emanuel Shinwell, Baron Shinwell, (18 October 1884 – 8 May 1986) was a British politician who served as a government minister under Ramsay MacDonald and Clement Attlee. A member of the Labour Party (UK), Labour Party, he served as a Member of ...

, Labour MP

Athletes

Noam Dar Noam Dar (; born 28 July 1993) is an Israeli-Scottish professional wrestler. He is currently signed to WWE, and is a record setting two-time NXT UK Heritage Cup Champion. He also wrestles for Scottish promotion Insane Championship Wrestling (ICW ...

, professional wrestler * Gary Jacobs, Scottish, British, Commonwealth, and European (EBU) boxing champion welterweight

Business and the professions

* Hazel Cosgrove, Lady Cosgrove, first female Court of Session judge * Sir

Monty Finniston Sir Harold Montague "Monty" Finniston FRS FRSE (15 August 1912 – 2 February 1991) was a Scottish industrialist. Life He was born at 26 Aikenhead Road in Govanhill, Glasgow the son of Robert Finniston. His family were of Russian Jewish origi ...

, industrialist, chairman of British Steel Corporation * Esta Henry, art and antiques dealer in the 20th century * Sir Isaac Wolfson, businessman and philanthropist * Harry Woolf, Baron Woolf, barrister and judge

Religious and communal leaders

* Rabbi Salis Daiches, father of David Daiches * Rabbi

Cyril Harris Cyril Kitchener Harris (19 September 1936 – 13 September 2005) was Chief Rabbi of The Union of Orthodox Synagogues of South Africa from 1987 to 2004. Harris was born in Glasgow, Scotland. During his tenure as Chief Rabbi, he was noted for ...

, Chief Rabbi of South Africa * Rabbi

Shmuel Yitzchak Hillman Rabbi Shmuel Yitzchak Hillman (2 July 1868 – 1 June 1953) was a renowned Orthodox Judaism, Orthodox Jewish Talmudic scholar, posek and rabbi and served as a Beth din#Officers of a Beth/Beis Din, dayan of the London Beth Din. Life and work Shmue ...

* Rabbi Yaakov Benzion Mendelson * Rabbi Nancy Morris, first female rabbi in Scotland * Rabbi

Louis Isaac Rabinowitz Louis Rabinowitz (Hebrew: לואיס רבינוביץ 1984–1906) was an Orthodox rabbi, historian and philologist of the 20th century. Biography Louis Isaac Rabinowitz was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, descendant of a long lineage of Lithuani ...

* Rabbi

Naftoli Shapiro Rabbi Naftoli Shapiro (1906–1981) was an Orthodox Talmudic scholar and rosh yeshiva in Glasgow for 40 years. Born in 1906 in the town of Mir, Poland, Rabbi Shapiro studied at the prestigious Mir yeshiva from the age of twelve. He also lear ...

Show business

Rodgers and Hammerstein and Berlin and Tamiris NYWTS

* Ronni Ancona (Sephardi), comedian * Arnold Brown, comedian * Jerry Sadowitz, comedian

People of both Scottish and Jewish heritage

* Simon Cowell, presenter of ''The X Factor'' (Jewish father, Scottish mother) *

David Duchovny David William Duchovny ( ; born ) is an American actor, writer, producer, director, novelist, and singer-songwriter. He is known for portraying FBI agent Fox Mulder on the television series ''The X-Files'' (1993–2002, 2016-2018) and as write ...

, American actor, '' X-Files'' (Jewish father, Scottish mother) * Isla Fisher, Australian actress, born to Scottish parents, converted to Judaism upon marriage to Sacha Baron Cohen; has described herself as "quite observant" *

Oscar Hammerstein II Oscar Greeley Clendenning Hammerstein II (; July 12, 1895 – August 23, 1960) was an American lyricist, librettist, theatrical producer, and (usually uncredited) director in the musical theater for almost 40 years. He won eight Ton ...

, American lyricist, librettist, and theatrical producer (Jewish father, Scottish mother) *

Norman Swan Norman Swan (born Norman Swirsky in 1953) is a Scottish-born Australian physician, journalist and broadcaster. Life and career Swan was born in Scotland as Norman Swirsky. ; 1953)Datelines: Norman Swan, ''Sydney Morning Herald'', 7 November 19 ...

, Australian paediatrician known for his work as a science and medical broadcaster on

ABC ABC are the first three letters of the Latin script known as the alphabet. ABC or abc may also refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Broadcasting * American Broadcasting Company, a commercial U.S. TV broadcaster ** Disney–ABC Television ...

, born in Glasgow * Zarif, singertheguardian.co.u
New Band of the Day 448: Zarif
/ref> (Scottish father, Iranian Jewish mother) * Muriel Spark (Scottish-Jewish father, English Anglican mother)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Scottish Jews

Scotland Scotland (, ) is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Covering the northern third of the island of Great Britain, mainland Scotland has a border with England to the southeast and is otherwise surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean to the ...

Jews Jews ( he, יְהוּדִים, , ) or Jewish people are an ethnoreligious group and nation originating from the Israelites Israelite origins and kingdom: "The first act in the long drama of Jewish history is the age of the Israelites""The ...

Jews,Scottish