Chief Rabbi pays tribute to ‘extremely warm and dynamic’ Cork community

The Chief Rabbi has paid tribute to an “extremely warm and dynamic community” following the closure of the last remaining synagogue in Cork – bringing to an end 135 years of Jewish history in the Irish city.

Speaking of Cork Hebrew Congregation, Ephraim Mirvis, who became Chief Rabbi of Ireland in 1984 aged 28, said it was “very sad news” but recalled his “wonderful memories” of Cork and the tireless efforts of Fred Rosehill, its chairman of trustees.

He said: “They say of Ireland that her greatest export is her people and that is certainly true of the Jewish community of Cork, who are now spread out all over the world. “This is of course very sad news but also an opportunity to look back fondly on what was an extremely warm and dynamic community.”

The South Terrace site, which once had 400 members, has been operational since 1905, but Rosehill said: “We are down in numbers. We couldn’t support a rabbi, a Hebrew school, a synagogue. “We tried everything. It has come to the stage that there is no money left.”