On Sunday, March 17, Dr. David Gardiner, director of Irish Studies at the University of St. Thomas and editor of the New Hibernia Review, will explore the history of Irish-Jewish connections with Or Emet member Dr. Michal Moskow, professor emerita at Metropolitan State University.

This program, on St. Patrick’s Day, will run from 10 a.m.-noon at the Talmud Torah of St. Paul, 768 Hamline Ave. South in St. Paul. A social time will follow.

Gardiner will focus on James Joyce’s hero, Leopold Bloom, and what Bloom’s perceived Jewish identity in “Ulysses” (1922) demonstrates about his role in Ireland and Europe at the beginning of the 20th century.

Moskow will speak about the Jewish community in Ireland with a focus on a brief historical overview. She will highlight the role of Ireland in saving Jewish children during the Holocaust and will provide brief comments on loyalties to Israel or Palestine during the Second Intifada and Queen Elizabeth’s Golden Jubilee.

Those who cannot attend in person may join over Zoom. Please register in advance here.

The Sunday adult programs are free and open to the public and meet concurrently with the Jewish Cultural Sunday School.

Or Emet is a secular congregation celebrating and honoring Jewish culture, history and values from a humanistic, inclusive perspective.

For information about Or Emet’s Jewish Cultural Sunday School, contact JCSS director Molly Phipps at school-1@oremet.org. 

For information about Or Emet, email info@oremet.org or visit oremet.org.