Ireland’s recently-appointed Chief Rabbi, Yoni Wieder, has responded to comments made by President Michael D Higgins, challenging his remarks that statements of anti-Semitism in Ireland were “irresponsible”. The Rabbi made his statements during an Israel solidarity event, organised by the Ireland Israel Alliance, in front of the Dáil.
Rabbi Wieder reported that Jewish families residing in Ireland for multiple generations have expressed a sense of increasing “tension” and a newfound feeling of having their perspective as Jewish individuals “delegitimised”. He specified that his comments were not on behalf of Israeli Jews presently living in Ireland, though their sentiments were consistent with his, but more on behalf of the fundamental Irish Jewish community.
Rabbi Wieder felt that there was a lack of understanding on President Higgins’ part and on the part of many others. He also stressed the need to abstain from exaggerating any issues, expressing his gratitude over the physical safety of the Jewish community in Ireland, which is a stark contrast to physical violence experienced by Jews in other countries in recent times.
Last Friday, in a conversation with the Irish Examiner, President Higgins criticised the abuse of the Jewish community with exaggerated claims of anti-Semitism across Ireland. He branded the propagation of fear among the Jewish populace by relevant representatives as “highly irresponsible”, suggesting that it unnecessarily instills fear where none exists.
The president also carefully pointed out that it was inappropriate to hold members of the Jewish community responsible for the actions of the Israeli government.
Rabbi Wieder concluded his address by stating that the current atmosphere in Ireland is one where numerous members of the Jewish community are feeling intensely isolated and pained.
Since the 7th of October, not a single week has gone by where individuals haven’t expressed their feelings of discomfort to me, due to their visible Jewish identity on the streets or within their workplaces. They feel as though they are perceived negatively, viewed as outsiders or ‘the other’,” iterated the speaker.
He further lamented that the Jewish voices advocating for Israel and expressing their lived experiences locally are not being regarded or considered. The speaker also reminisced about a recent meeting held with other top members of Ireland’s Jewish diaspora and President Higgins at Áras an Uachtaráin last Thursday, being the day preceding his remarks.
“During a considerable part of the hour that we spent together, President Higgins sermonized to us about the horrifying actions carried out by Israel in Gaza,” the speaker expressed. He held a desire that the President might acknowledge the reality of the Jewish population in Ireland, hoping their enduring family experiences could invoke a sense of understanding in the President.
He noted regretfully that President Higgins had primarily taken away from their discussion the fact that many Irish Jews were opposed to blocking aid to Gaza. However, the speaker questioned why this was the only sentiment relayed on behalf of the Jewish community in Ireland by the President. “How is it that he remains indifferent to the deep connection that the majority of Irish Jews have with Israel?” He also questioned why the President remained unmoved by the confession from a long-standing member of the Jewish community that they were hesitant about raising their grandchildren in Ireland due to the prevailing climate towards Jews, a notion difficult for him to vocalise.