St. Patrick’s Day, Ireland’s national holiday, is a quintessential American holiday as well. Over two million people typically turn out to watch New York’s annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade. In Chicago, the city dyes the Chicago River green each year to mark the holiday.
The centrality of St. Patrick’s Day in the U.S. points to a tragic history. Between 1845 and 1849, the Irish Potato Famine saw a plant disease ravage potato crops throughout Ireland. Already a poor country whose lower classes subsisted almost entirely on potatoes, the loss of potato crops had dire consequences: about one million people starved to death, and up to two million people emigrated from Ireland. Even after the famine subsided, Ireland never recovered, continuing to lose numbers as people left the depressed land and tried their luck abroad.
The Famine Sculptures, by Rowan Gillespie
Millions of Irish immigrants poured into Britain, the United States and other countries. Today, nearly 35 million Americans claim Irish heritage, over seven times the population of Ireland itself. As the community has flourished, many inside Ireland and the United States have memorialized those who died in the famine and thanked those who helped. Many of those who helped Ireland the most in her darkest hour of need were Jews.
“In some of the conventional histories, the story of the contributions of the Jewish community here has been lost to sight over the years,” Niall Burgess, former Consul General of Ireland in New York, has explained. In recent years, historians have uncovered just how much the world Jewish community came to Ireland’s aid.
“There is but one connecting link between us and the sufferers… That link, my brethren, is humanity.” So explained Jacques Judah Lyons, the chazzan of Sheareith Israel synagogue in Manhattan in a specially called meeting the evening of March 8, 1847. The crowd raised hundreds of dollars, a huge sum at the time. (Mr. Lyons’ niece was Emma Lazarus, the author of the famous “Give me your tired” poem written at the base of the Statue of Liberty.)
A nearby synagogue, Shaarey Tefila, had recently been established in New York, and one of its first activities was to hold a fundraising drive of its own, raising about $1,000 for Ireland. This translates to over $80,000 today.
Tragically, these amounts were among the largest donations received by those starving in Ireland. Many people at the time lacked sympathy for Ireland, viewing the famine there as a predictable result of what they viewed as flaws of the lower classes, including a lack of sophistication and high birth rates. The London Times urged readers not to donate at all, pronouncing that sending funds to Ireland was akin to throwing money away in an “Irish bog”.
As millions of Irish starved, U.S. President James Polk pledged the shockingly small sum of $50 for famine relief. Queen Victoria, whose British Empire ruled Ireland, was the largest single donor, pledging only £2,000. The 24-year-old Sultan of Turkey was moved to pledge £10,000 in aid, but reduced this to £1,000 when he found out how little Queen Victoria was sending.
Against this background of inadequate donations, it was a prominent London Jew, Baron Lionel de Rothschild, who founded a durable organization that would become the largest agency providing funds that were desperately needed in Ireland.
Lionel de Rothschild was a proud Jew at a time when Jews were generally excluded from public roles. In 1847 he became the first Jew elected to Britain’s Parliament; he refused to remove his hat and to take a Christian oath to assume his seat. (He eventually took his seat in 1858, after being re-elected four times, when a change in laws allowed him to retain his top hat and avoid taking a Christian oath.)
On January 1, 1847, Lionel de Rothschild convened a meeting in his home to address the famine in Ireland. A number of London Jews were present, including Rothschild’s brother Mayer, as well and David Solomon, an advocate for Jewish rights in England the first Jewish Lord Mayor London. Together, they formed the British Association for the Relief of Distress in Ireland and the Highlands of Scotland, also known sometimes as the British Relief Association.
Lionel de Rothschild
They appealed for donations across the world. Over 15,000 individuals contributed and the Association raised about £600,000. The group became the largest aid donor to Ireland, and Baron Rothschild oversaw the opening of schools and distribution centers to provide food across Ireland.
For years, the contribution of Jews to Ireland’s famine relief was little noted. That changed in 2010 when Mary McAleese, then President of Ireland, visited New York and formally thanked the Jewish community there for their help during Ireland’s time of crisis. She visited Shearith Israel and thanked both them and Shaarey Tefila for the funds they’d sent over 163 earlier.
Speaking at a national famine memorial in Ireland, President McAleese lamented that “there were many who should have helped but did not or who responded very inadequately” during the famine. She then told her compatriots about the visit she’d made to the synagogues in New York and the way they came to Ireland’s aid: “There were others who came to Ireland’s help because they were moved by compassion and human kindness.”
Rabbi Tarfon advised, “You are not required to complete the task, yet you are not free to withdraw from it” (Pirkei Avot 2:21). In the 1840s, in Ireland’s hour of greatest need, Jews in Britain, the United States and elsewhere heeded that call, donating money and working to alleviate some of the suffering of the Irish Potato Famine. We can be proud of our great great grandparents’ actions today.
(16) Chris Fogarty, July 20, 2019 1:12 AM
Yet another promotion of the “Famine” lie.
The perpetration of the 1845-1850 Holocaust involved more than half of Britain’s army, 67 of its 130-regiment total. They robbed Ireland’s producers of their vast and varied agricultural production and exported it, thus starving to death some 5.2 million. The commander-in-chief of that operation was General Sir Edward Blakeney. As he and his troops neared completion of their mission of genocide a complicit Queen Victoria, in 1849, conferred on General Blakeney a prestigious Order of the Bath.
The English landlords who then “owned” Ireland eventually repatriated to England in 1900-1910. The “golden handshakes” granted them by the Crown were so munificent that the amortization period was set at 68.5 years. Rural Ireland’s centuries of destitution ended in the 1970s upon the end of that annual “Rent” extraction from Ireland’s farmers.
(15) Nora, March 18, 2019 8:43 PM
Wonderful!
I knew of this, but not to this extent. Beautiful!
(14) Bernadette Cronin-Geller, July 20, 2018 3:22 AM
A grateful Irish descent woman
Given that I am Jewish on my husband's side, I love that his people helped my people when the need was great!
(13) Margaret, July 20, 2018 12:11 AM
Irish Famine
The Jewish people helped Ireland? Why does this surprise me? The Jewish people have ALWAYS been the first to help everyone in this world!!
I thank you with all my heart and soul.. May G-d bless Israel with peace soon..
(12) Stephen, July 19, 2018 1:22 PM
thank you
How can any words match the compassion shown? A great reflection of humanity and what it means to be a human being. I am an Irish atheist raised in a Catholic background. I am outspoken against the Israeli state, not on religious a basis, but because of their terrorist actions. To me, the average Jewish person is like everyone else; a good, normal, descent, cool human being, not reflecting the ideals of the state and indeed, should not be judged according to the states actions. A whole hearted thank you to those who helped their fellow humans in a time of need (especially when the elite did not, typically). It is a beautiful thing that your people had done and again, I/we thank you. Much love, from Ireland
(11) Igor Khait, July 13, 2018 7:24 PM
No good deed goes unpunished
No good deed goes unpunished
(10) hanoch bernath, July 4, 2018 7:01 PM
why
So, why are the irish so anti israel / anti semitic? no gratitude?
Anonymous, January 25, 2019 7:56 PM
They're not anti semetic
Hey Hanoch, the Irish are not antisemitic. They are against the policies of the current Israeli government. They are not against Israel. They're very much the type of "give each individual a fair chance" type of people. But that's still allows them to disagree with an illegal occupation, subjugation and ghettoising of a whole other country. Remember the ghettos of Berlin? That's what Israel is doing in Gaza. It's a policy issue, not a race or religion issue. Jewish people the world over need to become alot more aware of the differences. I can criticise the Israeli government for not having high enough taxes, that doesn't make me antisemitic. I can criticise their other policies too. Like Palestine. I'm still not antisemitic. Just criticising policy and doing what I can to resist an evil policy. The Israeli government only have a majority of 2. In a healthy democracy you can expect people to criticise your government, and you can't shout "AntiSemite!" every time.
(9) Rachel, March 19, 2018 3:09 AM
Thank you for a fascinating article
I'm an Irish-American Jew and a student of Irish history, and I had never learned of Jews' contributions to famine relief before.
With regard to some comments here-- Ireland is not an anti-Semitic country. It's constitution acknowledged the rights of Protestants, Jews and others to be no different from those of the Catholic majority to practice their religion. At a time when the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the right of municipalities to require businesses to close on Sunday's, thus limiting Jewish businesses to a five-day week, Ireland's Supreme Court ruled that Jewish businesses were to be permitted to open on Sunday if they had been closed on Saturday.
After hundreds of years of British occupation, it is understandable that Ireland remained neutral in World War II. When Allied aviators bailed out over Ireland, they were usually repatriated fairly quickly. However, it is inexcusable that Ireland's prime minister was the first to sign the German embassy's condolence register upon Hitler's death, and that Ireland did not take in Jewish refugee children after the war.
Until the 1960's, Irish sympathies were generally with Israel and its returning Jews, whose story resonated with the Irish struggle for independence from Britain. Unfortunately, in recent decades the Palestinian cause has managed to paint Israel as the occupying power. In case you haven't noticed, non-Jews are generally not especially well informed about Israel and often believe the loudest voices, not the best-informed ones.
Finally, my one quibble with the article is that Ireland "never recovered" from the Famine. It is today a thriving European democracy.
Jean Vercors, March 23, 2018 8:18 AM
How Ireland failed refugees from Nazi Germany
Something you forgot to mention is How Ireland failed refugees from Nazi Germany
Jews fleeing Hitler faced, in Dublin, a government that often saw them as an unwelcome burden, In the 1930s, the government placed responsibility for refugees in the hands of the aptly named Irish Coordinating Committee for the Relief of Christian Refugees. Jews who converted to Christianity were allowed to settle in the country.
(8) Gerard Murphy, March 18, 2018 10:04 PM
Wonderful article, should be headlined on all the national newspapers
I have been pro- Israeli since reading Exodus by Leon Uris in the early 70's. Am even more so now. Thank you to the Jews all over the world.
(7) DAVID FRANKEL, March 18, 2018 3:08 PM
ITS ASHAME IRLAND FORGOT ALL JEWISH HELP NOW THEY VOTE AGAINST ISRAEL
Joseph D. Smith, July 14, 2018 7:31 PM
Some Irish people suffer from a bad memory?
Such ungrateful bigotry always tries to keep truth safe in its hand's with a grip that kills it. Sometimes when it comes to Israel questions an Irishman's heart is nothing but his imagination!
Stevie, January 25, 2019 7:44 PM
Catch yourself on
Firstly David, Israel didn't exist then. Israel does not equal Jew. Jew does not equal Israel. They vote against international illegality committed by and sanctioned by the government of Israel. They don't vote against Jews. They vote against policies. Racist, sectarian policies (racism and sectarianism are just as equal to antisemitism, no more, no less).
(6) James G, March 16, 2018 1:34 AM
Fantastic article
I am a 1st generation Canadian of Irish descent and I was very moved by this article. I am from Montréal whose Jewish and Irish communities make it such a great place to live. I think both cultures have a lot in common. We share a long list of great musicians, comedians, poets, authors and actors. I hope you all enjoy St-Paddy's day, especially the parades.
(5) geoff dickson, March 15, 2018 9:25 PM
It was a holocaust not a famine
Only half the potato crop failed, the other half was stolen by English soldiers. Ships carried away food produced by the Irish leaving them to starve. England engineered the holocaust of the Irish and the population dropped from 12 million to about 5 million. While about 1 million emigrated, about 6 million disappeared. This was a holocaust!
(4) Eliezer N Eisenberg, March 15, 2018 6:48 PM
Irish Gratitude
The auld sod is fertile soil for the most disgusting antisemitism, which pervades Irish society. I'm sure there are many beautiful souls there, as there are in Ukraine and Croatia, but not from what you see in the papers and history books - from the attacks in Limerick to the vicious disparaging of those greedy "Christ Killers," thank you Oliver J Flanagan.
(3) Eamonn Gavin, March 15, 2018 4:33 PM
I Stand with Israel
Thank you for this article. And "Thank You" to the Jewish communities who have helped Ireland over many years. I am glad and proud to say here that in any public and printed discussion on Israel and the Jewish people, and their own struggles over many years including today, I always end with the statement: I STAND WITH ISRAEL.
Éamonn Gavin, Dublin, Ireland (an Irish Catholic).
Dvirah, July 16, 2018 4:49 PM
Thank You
Please continue to champion truth.
(2) Kevin O'Brien, March 15, 2018 3:29 PM
Thank You
As an Jew from Irish descent, I wish to thank all who helped the Irish during that time....Judaism is a caring religion and that is shown by the acts of kindness given. My Great Grandfather came to America during that time and thrived.... we now have a large family tree..... Thank you all again and may G_D bless you and those who gave
(1) Herschel, March 15, 2018 12:04 PM
This is a good article. It's often not pointed out that Lionel de Rothschild, from a family that came to power only recently then, was the one to help save Ireland. If the Rothschilds hadn't come to power in 1815, at the very least nobody would be speaking the Irish language anymore.
The thing is while the potato crop did fail, the famine was a manufactured one.
Ireland grew 6x the amount of food in other crops people needed to survive, plus there was fishing. The Irish at the time were in a sharecropping system where they lived essentially as slaves. They had quotas, their food was taken from them, and if they couldn't make the quotas, they were put into forced labor camps where they worked to death and died soon after. Once the potato crop got diseased, the British government sent 100,000 soldiers to forcibly rob all the food from the Irish. The Potato Famine was basically a smaller scale manufactured famine like those that Stalin and Mao caused.
Kevin O'Brien, March 15, 2018 3:25 PM
Great Comment
Thank you for your great comment.... it was very informative..
Diana, March 15, 2018 4:27 PM
Early Kulaks
So the Irish were an earlier version of Lenin's and Stalin's Kulaks? How horrible! I guess the Communists didn't invent such perverse, genocidal cruelty.
Rachel, March 19, 2018 2:44 AM
Not the Irish, the British government
Blaming starving Irish peasants for the workhouses is like blaming Jews for the concentration camps. There was no Irish government in Ireland at this time. Ireland was occupied and ruled by Britain for 750 years, finally gaining some self-determination only in 1921 and full independence in 1938.
Canuck, March 15, 2018 5:10 PM
Thank you, Herschel, for your clear & concise account...
...of how the British treated their Irish subjects during the 1840s. What I'm wondering is if the Br. govt. has ever erected a monument to (a) commemorate the tragedy, & (b) acknowledge their guilt. We know the Germans have (at least officially) acknowledged the Holocaust; meanwhile the Turks continue to deny all guilt in the genocide of 1,500,000 Armenians around 100 years ago. In comparison to these 2 extremes, which direction have the British taken?
Anonymous, March 19, 2018 2:48 AM
Tony Blair apologized in the 1990s
I'm not sure if there are any famine monuments in Britain. It is unclear what kind of relationship will exist between the UK and Ireland when Brexit is completed. It is possible that a hard border will be reestablished between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.
Kathleen Marion, March 15, 2018 9:01 PM
Thank you!
Thank you! I knew that the British some how capitalized on the famine I just did not know to what extent. My great grandfather was a boy at the time living in the Jewish community in Dublin. They were forced to convert to Catholicism. His family left Dublin and moved to Alsace Lorraine.