Irish-Jewish Museum in Dublin promoted in New York City

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MOLLY MULDOON,

Irish Voice Reporter

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Dr. Derek Enlander speaking at Monday's event.

Photo by Jay Spero

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“The Irish and the Jewish who came to America came from similar backgrounds, from abject poverty and persecution in many instances. So this was a natural coming together,” Briscoe said.

“In Ireland, irrespective of your race or religion, you’re Irish by your nationality, you’re Jewish by religion.”

During the event, Dr. Derek Enlander, a Belfast doctor based in New York, was commended for his contribution to the Irish Jewish community both at home and abroad.

A specialist in chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) diagnosis and treatment, Enlander is the director of New York's new Mount Sinai ME/CFS research center.

He told the crowd about his honeymoon in Ireland, where he and his late wife made the trip to the Dublin museum.

“She wanted to actually see that there were Jews in Ireland,” hesaid.

When they arrived at the museum they were disappointed to find it was closed.

“We weren’t there on the right day,” Enlander recalled. “She banged on the door.  Caron actually didn’t take no for an answer.”

When someone finally answered the door, she explained that they had come to Dublin to see the museum.

“We are only here for the day and my husband is from Ireland and I would like to see exactly what is going on with the Jews in Ireland,” he recalled her saying.

Once inside, the couple discovered information about Enlander’s mother’s family who immigrated to Ireland.

“Low and behold, from 1850, a large placard with my family who actually came from Russia was produced,” he said.

“This museum is most important because these are the anecdotes,” he told the crowd. “I am giving you a taste of what we should be helping to develop in Dublin.”

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