“Praying and Eating”: The Preservation of Jewish Food Traditions in the Wake of Brexit Trauma

This research examines the impact that Brexit, the Northern Ireland Protocol, and the Windsor Framework have had on the food traditions of the Jewish population of Ireland, through focusing on the lived experience of the Jewish communities of Belfast and Dublin and their collective memory. While there has been much debate on the lasting effect of the UK leaving the EU on industry and agriculture, the deleterious impact on the kosher observant in Ireland has been less documented, with specific challenges for the preservation of food traditions in a community with a history “full of praying and eating” (Maurice Cohen, 2022). The paper explores the food traditions of the Jewish population in Ireland prior to Brexit. Part of this exploration focuses on the diminishing numbers of Jews on the island, and the increased reliance on imports. To ascertain the impact of Brexit on this community, the relevant sections of the Northern Ireland protocol will be exemplified. A brief history of the opposing political views in Northern Ireland clarifies why the protocol was deemed necessary. Interviews with key members of the Jewish community in Ireland and various media reports will be examined. The paper draws conclusions on the effect that the recent political upheaval has had on the food traditions of the community, and the options available to preserve this disappearing culture in the future. Regarding the topic of food and memory, the study of the Jewish experience will offer an original and alternative interpretation of the traditions around food that exist in Ireland, and highlight the challenges that come with attempts to preserve these traditions, despite the development of an increasingly multi-cultural society.