How New York's Jewish community tried to rescue Irish in Great Famine
President McAleese to hear how Jews raised funds for famine relief
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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