How New York's Jewish community tried to rescue Irish in Great Famine

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!"

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.

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...

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.

god bless them always. perhaps they can help todat by prayer for all