Jewish Migration to 19th Century Cork: Cause and Effect | Peter Garry | TEDxYouth@EEB3

23 Jul 2024 (5 months ago)

Historical Context of Migration

Migration is a recurring theme throughout history, not just a modern phenomenon. The example of Alan Kurdi, a Syrian boy who died trying to reach Europe in 2015, highlights the ongoing global migration crisis.
While migration to Europe is often portrayed as a recent issue, historical records show that people have been migrating for centuries, both voluntarily and involuntarily.

The 19th century saw a massive wave of European migration, with millions of people leaving for North and South America, particularly the United States.
Migration was not limited to Europe; significant movements also occurred in Asia, with millions of people migrating from India and China to Southeast Asia and the Indian Ocean, and from northern and eastern Asia to Siberia, Central Asia, and Japan.

The focus of this talk is on European migration to the Americas, with many Italians, Greeks, Irish, Swedes, Norwegians, and Russians seeking new opportunities in the New World.
The journey to America was often long and arduous, particularly before the advent of steamships, which could take 30 to 40 days from European ports like Hamburg or Liverpool.

This talk will examine the migration of a small group of Jewish immigrants from Eastern Europe (Latvia, Lithuania, Ukraine, and Russia) to Cork, Ireland, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
While Ireland is often associated with emigration during the 19th century, particularly after the Irish famine, a small number of Jewish immigrants did settle in Cork, albeit temporarily.

The story of these Jewish migrants is representative of the experiences of many other European migrants during this period.
The reasons for their migration to Cork are multifaceted and will be explored in detail.
The arrival of Jewish people to Cork in the 19th century was driven by several factors, including fear of persecution in Russia, conscription into the Russian army, and economic reasons.

Many Jewish immigrants believed they were traveling to New York, but ended up in Cork due to various circumstances, such as being misled by ticket sellers, becoming ill, or running out of money.
The speaker discusses the possibility of accidental arrival of Jewish migrants in Cork, citing the example of a ship from Hamburg to New York that broke down and had to be towed to Cork.
The speaker mentions another ship, the "Dumble Dam," which also broke down on its way to America and was towed to Plymouth, England, with Cork being the next stop on its journey.

The 1901 and 1911 Irish censuses provide valuable insights into the Jewish community in Cork, revealing that over 400 people identified as Jewish at the time.
While the census data supports the narrative of accidental arrival, it also highlights the gradual nature of the migration, with many immigrants arriving in stages, often passing through ports in Britain like Hull and London.
The census data indicates that many Jewish immigrants to Cork had previously resided in Manchester, Leeds, and Liverpool, suggesting a connection to the established Jewish communities in these English cities.
The analysis of family names in the census reveals a diverse range of origins, with some families having members born in Russia, England, Germany, Ireland, and other European countries.
The migration of Jewish people to Cork in the 19th century was a multi-stage process, with many individuals having lived in other locations before arriving in Cork.
The 1911 census reveals that a significant portion of the Jewish population in Cork had origins in Russia, with a smaller number coming from England.

Migration in the 19th century was driven by economic factors, with steamship companies aggressively advertising and offering discounted tickets to attract passengers.
The expansion of railway lines in Russia, Eastern Europe, and Britain facilitated migration by providing convenient and affordable transportation to port cities.
Cork's strategic location as a port facing the Atlantic, coupled with the increase in transatlantic traffic following the Irish Famine, made it a key stopover point for migrants traveling to the New World.

Primary sources, such as the record books of the Cork Hebrew Jewish Community, provide detailed insights into the migration process, including ticket prices, train routes, and steamship routes.
The Jewish Chronicle newspaper documented instances of shipwrecks off the coast of Cork, which resulted in some migrants being stranded in the city and choosing to stay.

The speaker emphasizes that the Jewish migration to Cork, like other migrations in the 19th century, was a complex phenomenon influenced by various factors, including economic opportunities, religious persecution, and political instability.
The speaker cautions against reducing the migration to a simplistic narrative of accidental arrival, persecution, or escape.
The speaker encourages the audience to examine multiple reliable sources, including primary and secondary sources, when researching any topic, particularly migration.
The speaker concludes by highlighting the importance of remembering that behind every statistic, there is an individual with their own personal story.