Jewish community mourns prominent activist
THE Jewish community in Ireland is in mourning after the death of one of its most prominent activists.
Friends and colleagues yesterday paid tribute to 73-year-old Raphael Siev (left), the curator of the Jewish Museum in Dublin, who died after a short illness this week. Last Sunday, Mr Siev insisted on speaking in his scheduled slot at the annual Holocaust Commemoration Day in the Mansion House, despite having fallen ill just a few minutes into the event.
Born in Rathmines in 1935 of Lithuanian and Polish descent, he had a lengthy career with the Department of Foreign Affairs, serving as first secretary of the Irish embassy in Denmark as well as working on a number of projects for the United Nations. He was appointed curator of the Jewish museum in 1985 and took up the role full-time on his retirement about eight years ago.
Debbie Briscoe, who is on the committee of the museum said: "He was a very quiet person, an absolute gentleman and anybody who had any dealings with him really liked him."
Mr Siev, a qualified barrister, was very well known, said his friend Carl Nelkin, who is also a spokesperson for the Jewish community in Ireland.
A single man with no children, he spoke on Sunday evening of Ireland's much-criticised stance during the 1940s when a "narrow and restrictive" policy of allowing Jewish refugees into the country was adopted. He later collapsed at home and died on Wednesday morning.
He was buried shortly after in accordance with Jewish tradition.
- shane Hickey
