Shalom Ireland

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About the Film

From shopping at Erlich's kosher butcher shop on Clanbrassil Street, in the heart of Dublins "Little Jerusalem," to worshipping at Adelaide Road, the nations oldest synagogue, Ireland's small, yet devout community of Irish Jews has carried on religious customs for hundreds of years.

During the late 19th Century, there was an influx of Eastern European Jews into Ireland. As they escaped from religious persecution during the Tsars' pogroms, the Jewish immigrants setteled in Dublin, Waterford, Cork, Limerick, Derry and Belfast. Ireland's Jewish communities quickly grew and thrived as Jewish immigrants and their children made many contributions to Irish society. Shalom Ireland tells the untold story of how Irish Jews participated in both the struggle for freedom in Ireland and the effort to create the State of Israel; looks at how World War II and the Holocaust impacted the Irish people; and examines whether anti-Semitism took root in Ireland.

Shalom Ireland profiles members of Dublin's Jewish community who have worshipped together for generations at Adelaide Road Synagogue. Among them is Robert Briscoe (left) who made news around the world when he was the first Jewish person elected Lord Mayor of Dublin in 1956, and his son,

Ben (right), who followed in his footstep and became Lord Mayor in 1988. Ben and his brother, Joe (below), take viewers on a captivating journey through the history of Irish Jewry as they share family stories like how their father, Robert Briscoe joined the cause of Irish freedom and ran guns and ammunition for the Irish Republican Army during Ireland's War of Independence. After the war, Briscoe was elected to the Dáil, the Irish Parliament. He then turned his attention to the plight of European Jews and joined in a massive illegal effort, in defiance of

the British government, to smuggle thousands of Jews escaping from the Holocaust into Palestine. After World War II, Briscoe worked with his friend, Rabbi Isaac Herzog, to find safe places of refuge for Jews who survived the Holocaust. Rabbi Herzog, who had served as the first Chief Rabbi of Ireland, became Israel's first Chief Rabbi, and his Irish-born son, Chaim was elected President of Israel.

Shalom Ireland features Cleo and Joe Morrison, Orthodox Jews who were married at Adelaide

Road Synagogue more than fifty years ago. Cleo maintains a kosher home by shopping at Erlichs kosher grocery store, and Joe preserves Irish Jewish history and culture by conducting tours at the Irish Jewish Museum.

Ireland's Jewish population reached its peak after World War II when there were about 5,500 Jewish people living in Ireland. Just as poor economic conditions resulting in massive emigration has long drained Ireland of her most precious resource -- her people -- the Jewish community has also been hard hit by an exodus of young adults.

As their population dwindles, Irish Jews struggle to find ways to maintain their institutions and pass their heritage on to future generations. Judy Charry and Carl Nelkin (below), a young Jewish couple, are raising their daughter,

Jessica, to be bi-lingual. Judy speaks to her in Hebrew, while Carl teaches he English. Judy and Carl love living in Ireland but they are concerned about the declining Irish Jewish population and whether there will be an organized Jewish community for Jessica in the future. Like many other young Jewish couples, they have considered moving away from Ireland.

In 1999, because of declining membership, the Dublin Hebrew Congregation made a difficult decision to close Adelaide Road Synagogue. It was a time of sadness as Irish Jews realized their community may be in jeopardy of becoming extinct.

The film culminates with the ceremony to deconsecrate the synagogue. Adelaide Road is filled to capacity with people of all ages who have come to witness the final temple service. The cantor sings a Hebrew prayer and one by one, a half dozen silver plated torahs wrapped in royal blue velvet are removed from the ark for the last time.

Rabbis and community elders circle the synagogue holding the torahs close to their hearts as the congregants kiss their prayer books and touch the passing torahs.

"To sum it up in one word, it was like bereavement," says Joe Briscoe. "It was like going to a funeral." The next day a yarmulke-clad congregant packs torahs and prayer books into carton boxes as a work crew dismantles the pews which will be sold at an auction. At the end of the day, the former synagogue is closed forever.

The synagogue closure is a major turning point for Dublin's Jewish community. For many members of the congregation, the loss of Adelaide Road reflects a seemingly hopeless situation -- the end of a way of life. But others believe Ireland's recent robust economic growth offers new hope as young Irish emigrants begin to return home in an unprecedented reversal of historical trends. Among the tears and farewells to this beloved historic institution, a silver lining is found. The synagogue closure was a wake-up call and the catalyst that moved people into action.

Recently, Irish Jews launched an effort to revitalize Dublin's once vibrant Jewish community, and as a result, according to the recent Irish Census, Ireland's Jewish population has increased to nearly 1,800.