IT is the little synagogue in New York that helped save Irish lives during the Famine.President Mary McAleese yesterday visited the Shearith Israel temple to thank the congregation for its role in helping Famine victims in Ireland 163 years before.
And, talking with New York mayor Michael Bloomberg, she recalled the little-known story of the temple whose congregation raised $200 - the equivalent of $80,000 today - in March 1847 for those dying of starvation in Ireland and "helped alleviate the misery of the Irish people at that time".
"The Jewish people know better than anybody the desolation of others," Mrs McAleese said.
The President was also acutely aware of the problems facing Irish people in the present. She raised concern for the plight of those in Ireland who are currently "under pressure" from negative equity mortgage payments and who are struggling to pay their food bills.
She was speaking before a ceremony at the Irish Hunger Memorial in New York city where she was honouring the two million Irish people who died of starvation or emigrated during the Great Hunger.
"We know there are people [in Ireland] who are worried about tomorrow and worried about their future," she said.
The President's comments came a day after St Vincent de Paul reported that some homeowners in Ireland were so strapped for cash after paying their mortgages that they were unable to buy food or pay their utility bills.
In the first four months of this year alone, the society has received a record number of calls from people requesting help with their food and utility bills -- up 30pc on last year.
The President, who was in the Big Apple on a four-day visit to commemorate the Irish Famine, said the legacy of the tragedy meant Ireland should "take responsibility for the present".
"We have a reputation worldwide for caring for those who are worried, whether it is about their homes or about food," Mrs McAleese said.
"And if it is the case that people in Ireland are suffering, and we know it is -- how could it not be with so many jobs lost and so many people living with negative equity -- that's a very, very important question for us to answer with social solidarity and with responsibility."
Children
Yesterday the president also attended a special Famine commemorative Mass at St Patrick's Cathedral where she watched as dozens of special needs children were confirmed by Archbishop of New York Timothy M Dolan.
As the President begins the final 18 months of her term in Aras an Uachtarain, she told Irish reporters that this would not be her last visit to America as Irish head of state.
There has been speculation that the President hopes to visit Washington to meet President Barack Obama before she leaves office in November 2011.
"There are plans in the offing for at least one more trip to the US," the President said. "The plans aren't finalised yet so I won't go any further than to say that. I'll be back. With God's help," she said.
SIC: II