Ephraim Borowski was invested with the MBE awarded in the New Year Honours List for "services on behalf of the Jewish Community in Scotland" at a ceremony at the Palace of Holyroodhouse. The award was presented by the Queen, to the accompaniment of music played by the orchestra of the Scots Guards. Ephraim was accompanied by his wife, Margalit, (left) and, to signal his insistence that the award belongs to SCoJeC for its achievements, by the new Chair, Walter Sneader, and Public Affairs Officer, Leah Granat (below left). The day was, said Walter, "a regal occasion for Ephraim, Margalit. and for SCoJeC too." Ephraim was singled out for attention by the Queen's press office, and was interviewed by the Herald, the Scotsman, and the Press Association (below right).

"It was very humbling," said Ephraim, "to be amongst such a variety of people who were being honoured for their contributions to so many aspects of public life, and very gratifying that the Jewish Community was being recognised in this way.

"It may be a cliché, but it really was a unique experience to receive an award from the Queen in the grand setting of Holyrood Palace, although the ceremony itself was quite intimate. In fact you could even call it heimish, since perhaps the nicest moment was when an usher showed me to my seat with a "mazaltov" - it was Sir Malcolm Rifkind in his medal-bedecked uniform as an officer of the Royal Company of Archers!"