On Sunday 11th April, SCoJeC's governing Council approved the basis of a ground-breaking agreement with the Board of Deputies that will enable SCoJeC to employ its first paid Chief Executive in the 22 years since it was established. SCoJeC was founded in 1999 when Scotland's Jewish communities came together in response to Devolution to provide the Jewish Community of Scotland with a single democratically accountable voice in dealings with the Scottish Parliament, National and Local Government, other communities, and  statutory and official bodies.

Throughout that time, Ephraim Borowski has served as Director of SCoJeC in a voluntary capacity, but he has for some time expressed a wish to retire. This new arrangement will enable SCoJeC to recruit a paid Chief Executive to lead the organisation going forward. Under the agreement the Board of Deputies will contribute up to half of the salary costs for the new Chief Executive during the first 18 months, and will also support the Scottish Jewish Community with wider staff resources from their own highly-regarded team. While the fine details are yet to be finalised, the leadership of both organisations are optimistic about the initiative.

Members of Council also expressed appreciation of the support of the Jewish Leadership Council, which for the past five years has funded a Scottish Public Affairs Manager to advise and assist both SCoJeC and the Glasgow Jewish Representative Council, and said that they look forward to further discussions with all parties to enable this arrangement to continue.

"I would like to pay tribute to Ephraim Borowski for his outstanding service to the organisation over some two decades. I am delighted that we have come to this agreement with the Board of Deputies which will enable us to recruit our first paid CEO and work with the Board of Deputies to enable SCoJeC to increase its support to the Jewish Communities of Scotland. Over the coming years, Scotland is going to be at a critical juncture and we are very pleased to be able to step-up our work at this crucial time, together with the Board of Deputies and in partnership with the Glasgow Jewish Rep Council, and the Jewish Leadership Council."

"Over the last few years, the Board of Deputies has dramatically increased its commitment to supporting regional communities across the country. Last year, we appointed our first Regional Manager, Sara Radivan, to support Jewish Communities around the country. In view of the increasing relevance to the politics of Scotland, to all parts of the UK Jewish Community, this was an obvious next step and we look forward to working closely with SCoJeC and the Scottish Jewish Community to enhance provision for Scottish Jews that will have a positive knock-on effect for Jews across the UK."