The Jews of Ireland: Present and Past (pt. 1)

Speaker: Rory Miller
Date: July 16, 2008
The Jews of Ireland: Present and Past
This briefing examines the main trends and developments within the small, but historically vibrant, Jewish community of Ireland. In particular, it will look at the implications for this community, and how it has responded, to three major developments in Ireland over the last decade -- the rise of the "Celtic Tiger" economy; the highly organized anti-Zionist and anti-Israel movement that has attempted to demonize Israel and by association Irish Jews; the rise of a Muslim community that has now replaced Irish Jewry as the major non-Christian minority in the country.
Dr. Rory Miller was born in Dublin in 1971. He has a BA in history from Trinity College, Dublin, an MA in war studies and a Ph.D. in Mediterranean studies from King's College, University of London. He is a senior lecturer in the Mediterranean Studies program there, and teaches on US and EU involvement in the Middle East and the wider Mediterranean. He has published two books: Divided Against Zion: Anti-Zionist Opposition to a Jewish State in Palestine, 1945-48 and Ireland and the Palestine Question, 1948-2004. He is also the associate editor of Israel Affairs.