Irish-Jewish History: A Complex and Enduring Relationship
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Irish-Jewish History: A Complex and Enduring Relationship
- Jewish people have maintained a presence in Ireland for nearly a millennium, with the first recorded mention of Jews in the country dating back to 1079.
- Notable figures like Chaim Herzog, who later became Israel's sixth president, were born in Ireland, highlighting the community's historical ties.
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The history of Jewish people in Ireland spans almost a thousand years, with the earliest reference found in the Annals of Inisfallen, noting five Jews arriving from overseas in 1079. While the community has always been relatively small, it has made notable contributions to Irish society.
Early Jewish communities in Ireland were established by Sephardic Jews fleeing the Inquisition in Spain and Portugal in the late 15th century. Later, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, a significant wave of Ashkenazi Jews, primarily from Lithuania, settled in Ireland, with many making their homes in Dublin. By 1911, the Jewish population in Ireland reached approximately 5,000.
Jewish individuals and communities have played various roles in Irish life. During the Great Famine between 1845 and 1852, Baron Lionel Nathan de Rothschild of England established the British Relief Fund, which provided substantial private aid to the Irish people. Additionally, some historians note that a Jewish moneylender, Josce of Gloucester, financially assisted Richard de Clare (Strongbow) in his 12th-century Norman invasion of Ireland.
Despite their contributions, the Jewish community in Ireland has also faced challenges, including instances of antisemitism and the country’s refusal to grant refuge to Jewish people fleeing the Holocaust. The Jewish population in Ireland peaked in the late 1940s but has since decreased, partly due to emigration to Israel and other countries. According to the 2006 census, there were 1,930 Jews in Ireland. Today, the main Jewish community is based in Dublin, with smaller congregations in Belfast and a newer community in Munster.