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Judaism

Just a quick intro!

Article by : SpunOut.ie

Judaism teaches that there is one God and that the Jewish people are chosen by God. It is the faith that Christianity started from. The founders of Judaism are Abraham and Moses.

  • Judaism is about 3,500 years old and it started in the Middle East.
  • Jews worship in buildings called Synagogues and their religious leaders are Rabbis.
  • The holy book or text of the Jewish faith is the Hebrew Bible (Tanakh) and in particular, the first five books (The Torah). 
  • The Jewish Holy Day is the Sabbath (or Shabbat), this is in memory of God resting on the seventh day of creation.
  • Family and community are very important in Jewish tradition.
  • Prayer brings Jews closer to God and closer to the Jewish community.

 

There is a long history of Judaism in Ireland, with the earliest reference to Jews here as early as the year 1079. During the first decade of the 20th century, Jews in Ireland encountered anti Semitism as they did in other parts of Europe at the time. With the end of WW11, many Jewish people emigrated to larger Jewish communities such as the UK or Israel, so Ireland’s Jewish population shrank.

However, there are estimated to be just under 2000 Jews here in Ireland now. There are five Jewish synagogues in Ireland; with four being in Dublin and one in Cork. There is also a Jewish Museum located in Portobello, Dublin.

Kosher Food:

Kosher food is a type of food that is deemed acceptable by Jewish law. Kosher meat must be slaughtered in as humane a way as possible. Also, Kosher meat must come from an animal that chews their own cud or has cloven hooves. If an animal does not fit either of these criteria, it cannot be eaten. For this reason; pork is not kosher.  Another kosher law is that meat and dairy products must not be eaten together.

Kosher foods can be bought in Ireland in certain shops such as in Supervalu, Braemor Road, Churchtown, Dublin and The Bretzel Bakery (locations in Churchtown and Portabello Dublin), which sells a vast array of Kosher baked goods. There is no Irish kosher symbol, but many Kosher products have the British kosher symbol on them. There are also lists of Kosher products available from Jewish Ireland.

Kosher restaurants and caterers must be certified by the Rabbinate Committee of Ireland.

 

Jewish communities in Ireland:

Dublin Terenure Hebrew Congregation (Orthodox)
Tel: (01) 661 2408/676 6745

Dublin Knesset Orach Chayim (Progressive/Liberal)
Tel: 353-1-4907605
Email: djpc@ulps.org
Web: www.ulps.org

Belfast Synagogue (Orthodox)
Tel: 44-2890-775013

Cork Hebrew Congregation (Orthodox)
Tel: 353-21-4870413
Email: rosehill@iol.ie
 
Dublin Jewish Home of Ireland (Orthodox)
Tel: 353 1 4972004
Email: jewishhomeofire@eircom.net

Dublin Machzikei Hadass Congregation (Orthodox)
Tel: 353 1 4938991



Support:

www.jewishireland.org/

www.somethingjewish.co.uk

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