Gerald Goldberg facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Gerald Yael Goldberg
Gerald Goldberg at his home, "Ben Truda", in Cork
Lord Mayor of Cork
In office 1977–1978
Preceded by	Seán French
Succeeded by	Brian C. Sloane
Cork City Councillor
In office 1967–1985
Personal details
Born	12 April 1912 Cork, Ireland
Died	31 December 2003(2003-12-31) (aged 91) Cork, Ireland
Political party	Fianna Fáil
Other political affiliations	Independent, Progressive Democrats
Spouse	Sheila Beth Smith
Children	3

Gerald Yael Goldberg (1912–2003) was an important Irish lawyer and politician. In 1977, he made history by becoming the first Jewish Lord Mayor of Cork. His parents were Jewish refugees who came to Ireland from Lithuania.

Early Life and Education

A New Home in Cork

Gerald Goldberg was born in Cork, Ireland, on April 12, 1912. He was one of 12 children. His parents, Louis and Rachel Goldberg, were Jewish immigrants from a small village in Lithuania. They had fled their home to escape unfair treatment against Jewish people in the Russian Empire.

Gerald's father, Louis, left Riga for the United States when he was 14. However, he got off the boat in Cobh, Ireland, not knowing how far the journey was. In Cork, he met Isaac Marcus, who helped Jewish newcomers. Louis was invited to stay with the Sandler family, who were also from his home village. There, he met Rachel, and they married nine years later.

Growing Up in Ireland

The Jewish community in southern Ireland was growing. Gerald's father, Louis, was well-educated and spoke many languages. He started as a street peddler before opening a drapery store. Louis faced difficulties and discrimination during a time of anti-Jewish feeling in Limerick in 1904. This led him to move his family to Cork.

Gerald grew up in a home where Yiddish was spoken. His family was active in Irish politics, which was risky at the time. They used clever tricks to avoid trouble, like hanging a photo of the British royal family to appear loyal.

School Days and Big Dreams

From a young age, Gerald was interested in politics. He was deeply affected by seeing the bodies of Cork's Lord Mayors, Tomás Mac Curtain and Terence MacSwiney, after their deaths. He also heard the famous Irish leader Michael Collins speak several times.

Gerald went to different schools, including a Jewish boarding school in England. There, he and his brothers got into trouble for refusing to take part in Armistice Day events. This was because of the deaths of Mac Curtain and MacSwiney. His father brought them back to Cork.

Gerald continued his studies at Presentation Brothers College and University College Cork (UCC). He became president of the University Law Society. He earned a law degree from UCC and later received a Master of Arts degree. In 1993, he was given an honorary doctorate in Laws.

A Career in Law

Becoming a Solicitor

After finishing his studies, Gerald Goldberg became a solicitor in 1934. A solicitor is a type of lawyer who advises clients and prepares legal documents. He worked in Criminal Law in Cork for 63 years. He even represented the famous Cork writer Frank O'Connor.

Goldberg was the first Jewish President of the Incorporated Law Society of Ireland. He retired from his law career in 1996.

Helping Others During Wartime

During World War II, Gerald helped set up a committee to assist Jewish people fleeing Nazism. However, the Irish government at the time made it difficult for Jewish immigrants to enter Ireland.

Goldberg also served in the Local Defence Force, a part-time military group. He believed that Jewish people faced discrimination even within this force. He and his family made plans in case of a Nazi invasion. They planned for their sons to live with friends and be raised as if they were their friends' children, while secretly keeping their Jewish faith.

Gerald Goldberg was a Zionist, meaning he supported the idea of a Jewish homeland in Israel. He visited Israel often. However, he turned down offers to work there. He felt he "owed a debt to Cork for its hospitality" and wanted to stay in Ireland.

A Strong Jewish Faith

Throughout his life, Goldberg remained a religious and observant Jew. He was a cohen, which means he was a descendant of the priestly tribe of Levi. This involved certain religious duties. In 1943, he became president of the Cork Hebrew Congregation. He was the public face of the Jewish community in Cork until he passed away. He also served as a cantor (a leader of prayer in a synagogue) and taught Hebrew classes.

Political Life

Starting in Politics

As a student, Gerald Goldberg tried to join a political group called the Blueshirts. But he was refused because only Christians were allowed. This experience, along with other times he faced anti-Jewish feelings, made him dislike certain political parties.

In 1967, he was elected as an Alderman to Cork Corporation (the city council) as an independent politician. He tried to become mayor in 1970 but was not successful.

Goldberg spoke out against comments made by the Mayor of Limerick in 1970. These comments referred to events in 1904 that had forced Goldberg's family to leave Limerick for Cork.

In 1970, he joined Fianna Fáil, a major Irish political party. He felt it was hard for a single councillor to achieve much alone. He believed Fianna Fáil was the "most honest, progressive and united" of the main parties.

Becoming Lord Mayor

In 1977, Gerald Goldberg was elected Lord Mayor of Cork. He was the first Jewish person to hold this important office. During his term, he traveled to the United States. He was given special honors in cities like Philadelphia, New York, and Dallas.

As Lord Mayor, he researched the history of the city's special items, like the mayoral chain. He even published a booklet about its connection to Terence MacSwiney. He also asked the British Museum to return some old Cork maces (ceremonial staffs) that they had acquired.

His time as Lord Mayor was a great source of pride for him. He saw his election as proof that Cork rejected anti-Jewish feelings. He felt it showed that Cork recognized him as "an Irishman and a Jew."

Author and Later Life

A Love for History

Gerald Goldberg loved history, especially the history of Cork. He wrote several books, including The Adventurers of Cork and A History of the Jews of Cork. He also contributed articles about the Jews of Ireland to other books and encyclopedias.

Facing Challenges and Giving Back

After the Israeli invasion of Lebanon in 1982, Goldberg received threats. The Cork synagogue was even firebombed. He believed this was due to unfair media reporting. He thought about leaving Ireland but decided to stay.

He retired from the Cork City Council in 1985. Later, in 1986, he joined a new political party called the Progressive Democrats.

Goldberg was a generous supporter of the arts. He helped many artists and donated works of art to Cork institutions. He had a large private collection of art and Hebrew books. He was involved with the Cork Orchestral Society and other arts groups. He also served on the Board of Governors of the National Gallery of Ireland.

He was active in sports, playing as a goalkeeper for the Cork Jewish soccer team even when he was older. As a young man, he was involved in Scouting, where he met his wife, Sheila Beth Smith. They married in Belfast in 1937 and lived in their home, "Ben Truda," in Cork. Their house was a popular meeting place for students, artists, and thinkers.

Death

In his later years, Gerald Goldberg tutored students of Irish-Jewish history from University College Cork at his home. He passed away at the age of 91 on December 31, 2003, in Cork. His three sons, John, Theo, and David, survived him.

He received a special Civic Funeral, which is a public funeral for important citizens. Members of the Cork City Council wore skullcaps (small caps worn by Jewish men) in his honor. He was buried in the Cork Jewish graveyard at Curraghkippane.

Images for kids

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  Gerald Goldberg at his home, "Ben Truda", in Cork