The President, Mrs McAleese made history last night, as the first Irish Head of State to officially attend a synagogue of the Liberal and Progressive Jewish Community of the UK and Ireland.
The community president, Ms Sue Woolfson, and Chief Rabbi Charles Middleburgh welcomed Mrs McAleese to the synagogue in Rathgar, Dublin. "We are all really honoured and thrilled that President McAleese joined us on this occasion," Rabbi Middleburgh said.
The visit coincided with the centenary celebrations of the Liberal and Progressive Jewish Community of the UK and Ireland. The first candle of Chanukah, the Jewish Festival of Lights, was kindled during the ceremony.
A 15-minute prayer service was followed by songs in Hebrew from the synagogue children. An inscribed copy of Siddur Lev Chadash, the prayer book, was presented to the President by Rabbi Middleburgh and she was shown an inscribed leaf which has been affixed to the congregation's Tree of Life in honour of her visit.
More than 100 people attended last night's service which was open to the entire Jewish population in Dublin. The Dublin community was founded in 1946 and has a congregation of 130 families.
Chanukah, meaning rededication, lasts for eight days. Jews celebrate the festival to mark the victory over the Syrians and the rededication of the Jerusalem temple almost 2,200 years ago.