Rabbis' visit marks improved Israeli links

A DELEGATION from the New York Board of Rabbis met the President yesterday at the start of a week long visit to Ireland.

The group, which represents 800 rabbis of all traditions in New York, also paid a visit to the Dail, where it was hosted by the Minister for Equality and Law Reform, Mr Taylor, and Mr Ben Briscoe, TD.

The five rabbis will attend Jewish services of both the Orthodox and Reform traditions over the weekend. Tomorrow they will visit the Catholic and Church of Ireland archbishops of Armagh.

The president of the board, Rabbi Alvin Kass, said the visit marked the great improvement in relations recently between Ireland and Israel.

"We're also conscious that while we have in New York the largest Jewish community outside Israel we also have one of the largest Irish communities, and we interface a lot with that community."

He declined to comment on the possibility that the attack on the TWA 800 flight may have been carried out by Arab terrorists. He expressed confidence, however, that the Arab Israeli peace process would continue.

"It may be necessary that after the momentum of the Peres Rabin government, the times demand a period of consolidation. But we are hopeful," he said.

On the question of peace in Ireland, he said he was struck by the thought that, compared with the deep religious and cultural differences dividing Jews and Arabs, the two communities in Northern Ireland had much more in common, including a shared Christian faith.

"If we can create peace in the Middle East, I am optimistic that there can be peace in Ireland, too," he said.