I don't see what the fuss is about.

As was determined in two previous threads, Scottish Jews have been wearing the Gordon tartan as an identification of being Jewish for at least five to seven decades----according to the photographic proof---and perhaps as long as a century.

Although "official" tartans are said to be so by virtue of authorization of the governing person (in the case of clans) or body (in the cases of states, counties, religious denominations, etc.), this did not happen here, despite the website's claims. It is mentioned that a Scots-born rabbi living in Scotland initiated the design. (I had never heard of him before, not that that means very much, though the most two respected rabbis in Scotland are said to be a father and his daughter, the Zornbergs.) Of course, there is no official Jewish governing body. How could there be? What or who would presume to act as such?

It is entirely appropriate, I suppose, that it doesn't mix linen with wool, but has anyone ever heard of a linen-wool blend tartan kilt? Or a linen-wool blend non-tartan kilt? Or a linen kilt?

So, this is simply a fashion tartan designed by a gentile, basing as its authenticity its registration as Jewish with a non-Jewish body, the STA, that is being sold to Jews as Jewish.

Far be it from me to dissuade anyone from spending his money foolishly, needlessly or inappropriately, but to my mind vox populi vox d_i, the voice of the people is the voice of G_D, and the Jewish people of Scotland have spoken consistently and for longer than most reading this have been alive. For a variety of reasons that I won't repeat here again, they have chosen for themselves the Gordon tartan as the one that they wear to identify themselves as Jewish. Jews' taking the name Gordon goes back much further, to at least the early nineteeth century when the Tsarist government began requiring Jews to use surnames, and likely further than that, to the late eighteenth century.

And according to Arlen's rabbi, the custom of Scots Jews (or would it be Jewish Scots?) wearing the Gordon tartan is still alive and well.

If you are interested in pursuing this, it has been fairly thoroughly discussed in two earlier threads that you could find here on X Marks by searching for Jewish tartan. If you want more info, I can direct you to a Jewish genealogical mailing list's archives that also contain threads on the subject.