A previously unknown act of kindness by the Jewish community in New York sending relief for the Irish Famine has been uncovered.
President of Ireland Mary McAleese, while visiting New York next week, will attend a ceremony at the Congregation Shearith Israel to mark the generosity of the New York Jewish community to the people of Ireland during the Great Hunger.
While people in Ireland were dying by the day because the potato crop failed in 1846, a Jewish reverend in New York reached out to his community and raised a substantial sum of money to help the Irish. The money raised was in the $1,000 range, close to $82,000 in today’s money.
A newspaper report around the time stated that New York had contributed as much as $80,000 in total, and claimed that this was "about the same sum that has been contributed at home from all the wealthy classes of Ireland to the Central Relief Committee for all Ireland."
Reverend Jacques Judah Lyons held a meeting in his synagogue in Crosby Street on March 8, 1847, to gather financial support to help raise funds for Irish Famine relief.
Rabbi Hayyim Angel of the Congregation Shearith Israel located at West 70th Street told the Irish Voice on Tuesday that Lyons applied the teachings of the Torah when he reached out and helped the people of Ireland during their toughest era.
Money was also raised by the Temple Shaaray Tefila and an individual contribution of $500 was given by banker August Belmont (founder of Belmont Racetrack).
According to records from the March 8 meeting, Lyons told the gathering that its purpose was to “take measures for the relief of the famishing thousands of their fellow mortals in that unfortunate and destitute country, Ireland."
While Lyons, who was among those who founded the Jews (now Mount Sinai) Hospital, recognized that the Jewish community in New York needed dollars for its own internal needs, he insisted that his community reach out to help the people of Ireland.
When questioned about sending aid to those outside their own community, Lyons said, "It is true that there is but one common link between us and the sufferers...That link is humanity.”
He continued, “Its appeal to the heart surmounts every obstacle. Clime, color, sect are barriers which impede not its progress thither.”
Although it is not clear how much funds were actually sent to Ireland from the Jewish community, it is estimated to be about $1,000, a substantial amount at the time.
Angel said, “Reverend Lyons held a fundraising appeal at the Synagogue and had the money sent to Ireland for famine relief, and by doing so he aptly applied what the Torah teaches us about compassion and responsibility for all people, in this case he applied it to a far-away crisis.”
Angel said the ceremony to mark the New York Jewish community’s aid to Ireland in the mid 1800s is important because “according to Jewish tradition, there are two fundamental elements in commemorating events of the past.
“Remembering our shared memories helps build our identities and shared understanding. More importantly, however, is that our memories inspire us to continue this beautiful legacy of humanistic concern that transcends boundaries of geography and religion,” said Angel.
Irish Consul General, Niall Burgess told the Irish Voice on Tuesday that there has been many stories both told and published about the Famine relief contributions from abroad, but very little has been written or known about the Jewish contributions during that era.
Burgess, through a friend, was made aware of the special relationship the New York Jewish community had with the Irish during the Famine through the Jewish Museum in Dublin.
“There are some stories that are well known about Famine relief contributions, but when you look at some of the specialist works on that period the three Jewish contributions don’t feature very prominently,” said Burgess.
The event with McAleese is one of three being held on Sunday, May 23 to mark the Great Hunger.
After the commemorative ceremony at the synagogue, a Mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral will be celebrated by Archbishop Timothy Dolan, and a later event at Battery Park will commemorate the hunger memorial.
Burgess said the event at the Congregation Shearith Israel is of particular significance.
“This story and others like it -- like that of the Choctaw Indians -- is the reminder of how when a humanitarian crises happens, how even in the mid-19th century, there is a sense that this just wasn’t our concern, it was everyone’s concern,” he said.
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.downinthebasement | Sep 26, 2010, 06:51 PM EDT
I think I will send this page to all the people I know...so they understand that there is a strong trait among the Irish... Stupidity, popery, and anti-Semitism... Yeah, the Jews created the IRA...now that one is rich...
Galaway2 | Aug 02, 2010, 09:35 AM EDT
Correction for my other post,in quotation marks:This article is false that money was collected by Jews "for the Irish,it was for for Jews in Ireland".They were trying to take over Ireland as their new homeland at the time.
Galaway2 | Aug 02, 2010, 09:32 AM EDT
This article is false that money was collected by Jews for Jews in Ireland.They were trying to take over Ireland as their new homeland at the time. The IRA was even created by the Jews and financed who took over many of the Catholic Churches being hidden Jews to create hatred, and they were behind the famine they wanted the Irish to emigrate or die.These rich powerful Jews held onto the foods sent from UK and held it in the ports. I had no idea about this until my Irish grandmother spilled the beans and told us how and why she had to escape Ireland as a child from the Jewish IRA Mafia because her parents were educators and they were for the Jewish snipers silencing game. If you think this is conspiracy check it out yourself, just the other day it came out that in 1930's when it looked like they the Commie Jews may not get Palestine now mostly Israel,they even tried to take over western Australia and this sensational news was broken in Australia just the other day and its being hushed up!
dan Breen | May 13, 2010, 09:54 PM EDT
This is just a smoke screen,,,When the president of Ireland speaks to these jews remind them of what there money to Israel is doing to the palestinians...Rmember all you good christians" Who killed christ?" it was not the romans...................
murphy66 | May 13, 2010, 02:48 AM EDT
Make that "chock-a-block."
murphy66 | May 13, 2010, 02:47 AM EDT
Hey Kathy Callahan, let's not go overboard. Dip into the Talmud and discover that Jesus is in Hell boiling in hot excrement (Gittin 57a), and that His mother Mary played the harlot with carpenters and with many other men (Sanhedrin 106a). These rabbinical writings are ckock-a-block with vicious anti-Christian rhetoric.
KathyCallahan | May 13, 2010, 12:07 AM EDT
James Joyce channeled Leopold Bloom -a wandering Irish Jew striving hard to try and find his way back home in Ulysses. --- Robert Briscoe was the first Irish Jewish Mayor Of Dublin and IRA man. And his son followed in his footsteps, according to the historical record. --- I can remember the divisive and vilifying garbage that was spewed by a few religious in classes and hallways of the suburban catholic school that I attended for one year. Toxic remarks, such as, the jews killed jesus (wink/nod) were handed down and inflicted upon captive second graders studing and practicing for their first holy communion. Some were so riled up on the way home from school and stuck in the impressionable mud of misinformation, they hurled bullying punches and insults, "Let's get the kindergarten jew boy now because he killed jesus." In a suburban NJ town sixteen miles from Ellis Island. --- Fwd: http://www.thewildgeese.com/pages/shalom.html Shalom Ireland 2006 is the first film made by Ganley. Asked why she thought the film might appeal to Irish readers, Ganley says the two cultures "have a shared historical experience, both having suffered from discrimination on the basis of religion." In addition, she notes, both groups have lived in the diaspora, creating another level on which they can relate to each other. "That's another thing they have in common —forced from your homeland to live somewhere else and how that affects your psyche and your sense of community and who you are." ------ Maybe it was ten years ago when the Vatican officially debunked and denounced the jews killed jesus vitriolic myth. But it served them well for a long while; distracting, ginning up and unifying the base against them. When, up and coming, Cardinal Ratzinger and bishops should have been focusing their energy on rooting out a burgeoning pedophile culture and scandals lurking beneath the surface. Exploding in our midst circa 2010. No?
brianmack | May 12, 2010, 07:49 PM EDT
Enjoyed this article. I grew up in an Irish/Jewish neighborhood. Great inter-marriages and wonderful friends. Similarities with those who are Jewish and those, Irish, are vast. Slavery is prominent/ Irish with England and Israel vs. Egypt. We survived this, are stronger and have a "link!"
IrishAndProud | May 12, 2010, 06:52 PM EDT
There has certainly been historic interaction between the two, mrfoomutt...which is why it's so ironic, misguided, historically inaccurate and frankly hurtful when certain (not close to ALL) of the Irish attempt to identify with the ARABS rather than the Jews when it comes to the Jews' own ancient land of Israel, and would love to see Jerusalem made JUDENFREI, as the Germans would say ('Jew-free'). Fortunately not all Irish have been deluded in this way, and the warm bond remains.
mrfoomutt | May 12, 2010, 05:32 PM EDT
If my history serves me right, there has been a long generous relationship with the Jewish people and the Irish people.
murphy66 | May 12, 2010, 03:44 PM EDT
That's $82,000.00 more than Queen Victoria ever gave.
McClusky | May 12, 2010, 03:04 PM EDT
Not surprised. Jews are charitable.
McNamara31 | May 12, 2010, 01:54 PM EDT
KathyCallahan....beautiful and touching story. So sorry you lost your mom at such a young age. It's a hurt that lasts forever.
figtirish | May 12, 2010, 01:36 PM EDT
love this story --exactly why this site is so good
killowen | May 12, 2010, 12:05 PM EDT
Someone making it known of a particular tribe insuring he's identified on any matter possible can make a claim. A contribution of a few dollar I've made to the building of an edifice has my name emblasoned on a plaque within it. I could now seek to spread being a irish contribeter. Being a wealthy banker offering $500 is like me offering a penny.
KathyCallahan | May 12, 2010, 11:28 AM EDT
Here is a Lester quip, "My father and I would always say, What is it with the Irish...our Irish patients. Out of every group they are the toughest, kindest and never complain and whine bitterly...They keep on going and have the gift of longevity genes...90 and still carrying her own groceries and wouldnt have it any other way...nary a bitter complaint. Kathy, I can see these Irish guys walking around cemataries at night. I said laughing, Oh really. What?! Oh yea Kathy and their carrying baseball bats, patroling the place and hollering at the dead, "You get back in their right now! Enough already!"
bostonblakie | May 12, 2010, 11:20 AM EDT
In the final analysis we are all humans with the good, the bad and the ugly playing their parts. I found the article to be informative and thank you for making this story known.
KathyCallahan | May 12, 2010, 11:18 AM EDT
I am not surprised at all...Condolances for Dr. Lester Berkow can be found and read on NJ.Com...He came from a long line of big hearted humanitarians who happened to be doctors and loved treating the Irish/Irish American's. Lester lived the Tora and we all shared the same exact timing and quick wit and love for a good story. Lester and Rhoda were my parents tenents in first new two family home for many years during residency and early medical career. They were invited to visit on Chrisrtmas Eve and we all went upstairs to share Hannuka with their kids. I came home from school on May 12 and as I was coming around the block I spied the strangest site at 3:15 p.m. Lester and my da and uncle were hovering togther on the front lawn and sporting dark sunglasses on a work day. They were waiting for me and my sisters to tell us my mother was suddenly killed in an accident...Lester and Rhoda stayed close by and comforted us and walked with my da through the wake, funeral mass and supported him 110% after the funeral; and we have all remained soul mates through Lester's funeral yesterday...
Porickseantuny | May 12, 2010, 11:12 AM EDT
The commemoration of the famine distracts from the reality that the British occupation of Ireland was an ongoing oppression not confined to the 1840's. Indeed, a few examples the peasants of Mayo gave us the term Boycott in the 1880's, John Adair evicted Donegal tenants in midwinter in the 1860's, Blake terrorized his tenants in Dun Macreana, Galway until the the 1920's. Those are the ones I know of with my limited knowledge.
seamuscorcoran | May 12, 2010, 09:31 AM EDT
god bless them always. perhaps they can help todat by prayer for all