Street Gangs in the Interwar Gorbals: The Jewish Experience

Abstract

Glasgow gangs have not only captured the public imagination, but also attracted considerable academic attention. However, the issue of the Jewish experience of, and involvement in, the city's gangs has barely been studied thus far. This article considers the relationship of the gangs to the Jewish community in the city's Gorbals district during the interwar period. It demonstrates the rarity of Jewish involvement in gangs in this period and discusses the extent to which the gangs were viewed as a threat to the community. In doing so, the article sheds light on inter-community relations in Glasgow between the wars.