Ireland is facing a moment of truth.
In Dublin, a proposal to remove the name of Herzog Park—a space honoring Israeli President Chaim Herzog, who was born in Belfast, raised in Dublin, and deeply rooted in Irish history—has sparked sharp concern, not only from Ireland’s Jewish community but from the nation’s most senior leaders.
The park, named in 1995, stands in a neighborhood where Jewish families have lived for generations. It sits beside Ireland’s only Jewish school. Its name is not symbolic. It is personal.
This week, Ireland’s Tánaiste (Deputy Prime Minister) Micheál Martin delivered an unmistakable warning:
“The proposal to rename Herzog Park should be withdrawn… It would erase the distinctive and rich contribution to Irish life of the Jewish community… and will without any doubt be seen as antisemitic.”
He also condemned it as:
“Overtly divisive and wrong.”
The proposal originated from Dublin City Council’s Commemorations and Naming Committee, which recommended the removal of Herzog’s name—despite only one objection and despite the profound historical ties involved.
A Park That Tells a Story
Chaim Herzog’s father, Rabbi Yitzhak HaLevi Herzog, was the first Chief Rabbi of Ireland from 1921 to 1937.
The Herzogs are woven into Ireland’s national story—through faith, leadership, and even participation in the Irish struggle for independence.
Maurice Cohen, chair of the Jewish Representative Council of Ireland, explained what the park means:
“The name of the park is not an abstract tribute. It reflects a real and meaningful Irish story.”
Removing it, he said, would not be neutral:
“It would single out a Jewish figure for erasure… and send a hurtful and isolating message to a small minority community.”
Those supporting the motion may view it as a political statement about Israel. But Ireland’s Jewish community sees something else:
a warning sign.
A Small Community, a Deep Wound
Ireland’s Chief Rabbi Yoni Wieder spoke to the heart of the matter:
“Herzog Park is more than a name on a sign. For neighbouring Jewish families, it’s a place filled with memory… an important reminder that our community has deep roots in Dublin.”
He added that Chaim Herzog’s life embodied this connection:
“Chaim Herzog was shaped by this city, and he loved it in return.”
The decision to strip his name would not only dishonor the man, but diminish the centuries-long bond between Irish and Jewish heritage.
Political Leaders Push Back
Martin’s condemnation followed similar statements from two other senior leaders:
Tánaiste Simon Harris:
“It is wrong… This proposal is offensive to our principle of being an inclusive Republic.”
Foreign Affairs Minister Helen McEntee:
“Renaming the park… has nothing to do with criticism of Israel and has no place in our inclusive republic.”
She urged councillors to reject the motion entirely.
A Voice from Jerusalem
The office of Israel’s current president, Isaac Herzog, son of Chaim Herzog, expressed grief and disappointment:
“We are following with concern… Removing the Herzog name would be a shameful and disgraceful move.”
They reminded Ireland of Chaim Herzog’s role as a liberator in Europe:
“Beyond being an Israeli leader, Chaim Herzog was a hero of the campaign to liberate Europe from the Nazis… dedicated to freedom, tolerance, peace, and the fight against antisemitism.”
Naming the park after him was meant to honor a bridge between peoples—one now at risk.
Pray for Ireland
To erase the name Herzog today is not a neutral act.
It participates in a growing trend: the soft removal of Jewish identity from public spaces under the guise of political protest.
As Christian Women For Israel, we must recognize the pattern and pray that Ireland chooses the path of dignity, memory, and friendship.
“Do not remove the ancient landmark which your fathers have set.”
— Proverbs 22:28
Herzog Park tells a story worth keeping.
It is a reminder of the Jewish community’s faithful contributions, of shared history, and of lives woven together long before today’s political pressures.
When a nation protects its Jewish heritage, it protects its own future.
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