Working notes for between the bridges walk September 6 2015 Peter White
The title of this stroll is between the bridges and although the bridges do exist-called Portobello and Harold Cross bridges, my theme today is more about bridging the generations.
However it was roughly the area between these bridges that most of the Jewish people who came to Dublin in the late 1800 s set up home. The area was known as little Jerusalem and having a close family link with the area hopefully I can inject some personal interest into the next hours stroll.
Before we set off lets understand why so many Jewish people ended up in Dublin and other Irish places.
The first Jewish people that settled here in the 16th century were Sephardi Jews from Iberia-Spain and Portugal after the Spanish inquisition in late 15th century. Earliest synagogue dated from 1660 in Crane Lane off Dame Street. So a common theme in Jewish history is fleeing regimes-be it Spanish inquisition, Russian anti Semitism, Nazi pogroms.
Most of the present community originates from eastern European Jews-Ashkenazi arriving in Ireland from Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and other parts of the Russian empire. They were fleeing pograms poverty, and compulsory 21 years military service in the czars army. Things got especially anti Semitic after the assassination of the czar in 1880 and Jews had no civil rights-not permitted to buy land –many other anti Semitic measures taken thus causing a huge wave of emigration to the west-mainly the us, England, France, and some to Ireland- note that unscrupulous sea captains sometimes put people off boats in England and Ireland telling the poor people that they had reached the u.s! That way they could take on a new load.
The new immigrants lived first side by side with their Christian neighbors in artisan dwellings which had been built all over Dublin to provide decent accommodation for the poor-previously housed in slums and tenements that were unsanitary and disease ridden. Lady Aberdeen set up these dwellings in 1870.
The poor Jewish immigrants were living close to each other and helped one another. They started businesses- maybe off a barrow-pawnbrokers, cabinet makers, jewelers and tailors and practiced skills and crafts they had used in their homelands.
So here we have the first generational bridge or link with regards to my fathers family-22 Victoria street-my paternal grandparents left Russia in the wave of emigration and ended up in Leeds, Yorkshire. There they founded a small tailoring workshop. They sweated and worked all hours it grew and eventually the family came to this house in Dublin and the little tailoring sweatshop became one of the largest clothing manufacturers in Ireland.
To Bloomfield Avenue
Zion schools opened 1934 as a school with emphasis on Jewish education shut 1980 amalgamated with Stratford college-note here that the Jewish school became necessary when other schools insisted that Jewish pupils attended on Saturdays. Chief rabbi Herzog attempted to intervene to no avail. Thus was created the requirement for a Jewish school.
Continue up Bloomfield ave to Herzog house home of first chief rabbi of Ireland Yitzhag Herzog 1922-1936 married my parents in 1929.
Son Chaim was president of Israel 1983-1993 went to Wesley college presented prizes in 1985 year he opened museum. Much info on Herzog available on Google.
Up Bloomfield ave to canal turn left along canal
Lennox street Synagogue1887-1980 number 32 one of the congregation was man called Steinberg. His daughter Ettie was the only Irish jew killed in the holocaust she married a Belgium in the synagogue in 1937. They went to live in Belgium and were forced to flee by the Nazi advance they moved to France. Arrested in Toulouse in 1941 and eventually sent to Auschwitz and gassed in the ovens. Ironically their hard won visas for returning to Ireland arrived 1 day after their arrest. You can see a plaque dedicated to them in the museum later during our tour.
Stamer Street-Harry Kernoff born in London 1900 ,moved to Dublin in 1914 died Christmas day 1974 very prolific artist and set/costume designer for the gate and abbey theatres taught by Harry Clarke of stained glass window fame, and Sean Keating.
Go to Bretzel Bakery opened 1870 Grinson family. Finish your stroll with a delicious bagel and coffee!