skip to main content

'Deep concern' over number of anti-Semitic incidents in Ireland

YONI WIEDER-CHIEF RABBI IRELAND
Chief Rabbi of Ireland Yoni Wieder said the report did not claim anti-Semitism had become a daily reality for all Jewish people in Ireland

The Jewish Representative Council of Ireland has expressed "deep concern" about the number of anti-Semitic incidents recorded here over a six-month period up to January this year.

A community reporting mechanism established by the JRCI has reported 143 such incidents in that time period.

The JRCI has called for the development of "a dedicated national plan to counter growing anti-Semitism".

The incidents were recorded through a JRCI online reporting form between July 2025 and January 2026.

The report says some incidents were recorded by JRCI staff acting as intermediaries, based on information received through direct contact, email, or follow-up conversations.

The incidents reported occurred in public spaces (50), workplaces (eight), educational institutions (21), healthcare environments (five), retail and hospitality settings (13), and digital communications (36).

Fifty-two of reported incidents included verbal abuse or slurs; 21 of which included threats or intimidation.

The JRCI has said the reports represent "a partial picture" because international research "consistently shows that anti-Semitism is significantly underreported".


Read More: 9% of young adults in Ireland believe Holocaust was a myth - survey


Chief Rabbi of Ireland Yoni Wieder noted that the report did not claim that anti-Semitism had become a daily reality for all Jewish people in Ireland, which he said it has not.

However, he said: "What it does show is that anti-Semitism surfaces often enough, and in ordinary enough settings, that it cannot be dismissed as rare or confined to the margins of society. This means that for many, Jewish belonging in Ireland feels more fragile than it should.

In November, the European Commission's Special Eurobarometer 570 found that 41% of respondents in Ireland considered anti-Semitism to be a problem.

47% believed anti-Semitism had increased over the past five years.

The JRCI has said that while the National Action Plan Against Racism 2023 to 2027 references anti-Semitism, it does not provide "an operational response" supported by dedicated monitoring structures, targeted actions, or measurable policy mechanisms.

It has described this as "a policy gap" and has called for a dedicated, stand alone national plan to combat anti-Semitism in Ireland.

Rabbi Wieder said the community would continue to stand up against hatred, "but we will not allow it to define us. I am incredibly proud that despite the challenges of recent times, our community has remained resilient, positive, and continues to thrive."

Census 2022 recorded 2,193 people who identified as Jewish by religion in the Irish State.