A longstanding relationship with an American rabbi has resulted in the gift of a Sefer Torah to the small Cork congregation.

Sophia Spiegel, secretary of the Cork Jewish Community, accepted the scroll from Congregation Agudas Achim-Ezrath Israel at a ceremony at its synagogue in Malden, Massachusetts, attended by members and the local mayor, with Cork congregants looking in on Zoom.

Cork has been without a Sefer Torah since the closure of its synagogue in 2016. However, communal activities continued under the name of Munster Jewish Community (online during the pandemic), which were Reform in flavour but open to Jews of all denominations and none.

It was renamed Cork Jewish Community in 2022 and its monthly services in a Quaker meeting house attract around 20 people, some driving three hours to participate. They are sometimes led by Ms Spiegel, whose Jewish background is Liberal. Other services are more Orthodox influenced.

Festival events can involve up to 50 people — “we are completely full for Pesach”, she told the JC.

With an increase in activities and requests for bar and bat mitzvahs, community leaders were on the lookout for a scroll.

And they found one thanks to Rabbi David Kudan from Massachusetts, who supports the Irish community during his stays at his holiday home in West Cork. It was through him that the Boston and Cork congregations connected and the offer to donate a scroll was made.

Ms Spiegel said that the media attention around the closure of Cork’s South Terrace shul had given the erroneous impression “that there was no Jewish community.

“I think Covid helped [in the sense that it] showed how important it was to get together in person.”

Jews were coming to Cork to work in the pharmaceuticals industry or teach at the university, she reported. “And sometimes they marry Irish people.” Mixed marriages account for around a quarter of the families involved.

The community includes 30 children and young people of school age and Ms Spiegel, a mother of four, said an online Hebrew education programme was being set up.

There are membership fees, although these have been deliberately kept nominal. Those attending services can make a contribution to the cost of the hall hire.

However, the community is looking to have a permanent site once again and has the support of Cork City Council. Indeed, the city council will host the inaugural service for the Sefer Torah in August, timed to coincide with National Heritage Week.

Ms Spiegel paid tribute to Rabbi Kudan, who will lead that service. “Whenever we need him, he’s there for support and advice.”

August will also see the belated bar mitzvahs of two Jewish society members at the university, with the bar mitzvah of Ms Spiegel’s youngest son pencilled in for July 2024.

Meanwhile, as a token of appreciation to Cork’s Boston benefactors, a painting by community member Jack Cornhouse depicting the interior of the former South Terrace shul has been presented to Congregation Agudas Achim-Ezrath Israel.