The Jewish Representative Council of Ireland has voiced “deep concern” over the volume of anti-Semitic incidents documented in the country during the six-month period leading up to January this year, reports RTE.
A reporting system set up by the JRCI logged 143 incidents during that timeframe, reports RTE.
The JRCI has urged the creation of “a dedicated national plan to counter growing anti-Semitism”.
These incidents were submitted through the JRCI’s online reporting portal between July 2025 and January 2026, reports RTE.
According to the report, some cases were documented by JRCI staff who acted as intermediaries, using details gathered through direct engagement, email correspondence, or subsequent discussions.
The reported incidents took place across a range of settings, including public areas (50), workplaces (eight), educational settings (21), healthcare facilities (five), retail and hospitality venues (13), and online platforms (36), reports RTE.
Of the total incidents, 52 involved verbal abuse or derogatory language, with 21 of those including threats or intimidation.
The JRCI stated that the figures reflect “a partial picture” because international research “consistently shows that anti-Semitism is significantly underreported”, reports RTE.
Ireland’s Chief Rabbi, Yoni Wieder, pointed out that the findings did not suggest anti-Semitism had become an everyday experience 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, reports RTE.
In November, the European Commission’s Special Eurobarometer 570 revealed that 41% of respondents in Ireland regarded anti-Semitism as a problem.
Meanwhile, 47% said they believed anti-Semitism had risen over the previous five years, reports RTE.
The JRCI said that although the National Action Plan Against Racism 2023 to 2027 makes reference to anti-Semitism, it fails to set out “an operational response” backed by dedicated oversight structures, specific measures, or measurable policy tools.
It characterised this as “a policy gap” and called for a separate, stand-alone national strategy to tackle anti-Semitism in Ireland, reports RTE.
Rabbi Wieder said the community would continue to confront 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,”, reports RTE.
Census 2022 documented 2,193 individuals in the Irish State who identified their religion as Jewish.
Tell us your thoughts in the Facebook post and share this with your friends.
