Newstalk Documentaries presents a new documentary by independent producer Bearbre Flood. ‘Jewish Ireland’ is an exploration of the history and culture of Jewish Ireland, from Deli 613 to the Irish Jewish Museum. Historians, musicians, Jewish organizations and individuals share various aspects of modern Jewish culture in Ireland.
Edwin Alkin talks us through various artefacts, photographs and exhibits at the Jewish Museum of Ireland in Dublin, explaining some of the history of Ireland’s Jews. Dr. Melanie Brown talks about what she has learned from her Jewish Oral History project and her involvement in the Interfaith Council, and what it means to her to be Irish and Jewish.
‘Jewish Ireland’ will first air on Newstalk on Sunday, January 21st at 7am and will be rebroadcast on Saturday, January 27th at 9pm. And it will be available as a podcast on GoLoud and all major platforms.
Rabbi Zalman Lent and Rifky Lent of Deli 613, Dublin’s first kosher deli in 50 years, introduce Jewish cuisine, explain why they founded it and how it has been embraced by the community. . We then head to Cork to meet klezmer composer Ruthie Lux from the Cork Jewish community and hear her perspective as one of the ‘new Irish’ Jews who have made Ireland their home.
“Jews have lived here since the time of the Normans. Jews are not strangers here, but they still have to interact with others in many ways. And that’s very interesting to me. Why, after a thousand years, does this Other still exist? – Dr. Melanie Brown.
Produced by Baibre Flood and funded by Coimisiun na Mean under the Sound and Vision Scheme.
(Photo: courtesy of Klezmer band Fresh Air Collective’s Rooty Lux),