Why, you might ask, would a nice Jewish-American boy visit the Republic of Eire in the south of Ireland five times, and come to regard it as almost another homeland? Valerie Lapin Ganley's documentary, "Shalom Ireland," brought back to me the Ireland I've come to know and love in a wonderful and emotional way.

Early in my travels and research, I discovered remarkable parallels between both cultures, and from the start I saw Eire through Jewish eyes. When I learned the truth about the "potato famines" of the 19th century - that the British government let two million Irish die of starvation and disease, and forced eight million to flee the country - I felt an immediate connection to the millions slaughtered by the Nazis. When I saw the ruins of homes and churches destroyed by invaders, mostly British; when I visited mansions where six-year-old children labored because as Catholics they were denied schooling as well as other rights; when I saw old cottages where Mass was held secretly to avoid prison and death; when I heard the native Gaelic spoken in a land where it was once outlawed - the similarities to the Jewish experience throughout history struck home. And so for me, Eire is a very "Jewish" country.

In "Shalom Ireland," Ganley sets out to explore the history of Jews in Ireland, and the role played by that community in Irish history. The film focuses on the Jewish former Lord Mayor of Dublin, Benjamin Briscoe. Over the years, Briscoe became a friend to me; he understood from the beginning my sense of connection to Eire, and my sense of ease there. In the film, in fact, Irish Jews proudly affirm that anti-Semitism is a virtual unknown. To me, the Catholics of Eire always seemed a people who value their own religious heritage so deeply they would never deny others the same right. Ireland has long struggled to reflect the unity its flag proclaims - stripes of orange, white, and green for Protestants and Catholics joined in peace - and it still struggles today. But the Irish save their animosity for the governments responsible for its ongoing political problems, not the individual citizens.

Ganley's film explores another powerful bond between Jews and the Irish: a strong sense of humor. Maybe humor has served as the ultimate coping mechanism for two groups who have endured great tragedies. Our respective sufferings could have turned us into bitter, vengeful people. Instead, our humor has enabled us, Jews and Irish alike, to rise above the past. It has helped us to be good, down-to-earth, decent folks - nations not only of saints and scholars, but of mensches, too.

Mark Persky is a disc jockey for WBLM. After watching "Shalom Ireland," he has decided to visit his adopted homeland again.

2004 MJFF Program Book edited by Abby Zimet