ACCLAIMED Irish tenor Ronan Tynan has made his peace with New York's Jewish community.The tenor, who has become famous in America for his rendition of God Bless America at New York Yankees games, and singing for firefighters and police killed in the 9/11 attacks, got into hot water over an alleged anti-Semitic remark.
The controversy led to his regular baseball gig at Yankee Stadium being cancelled. It followed remarks to an estate agent outside his Manhatten apartment.
Tynan explained that two Jewish women came to view a neighbouring apartment to his and the estate agent had said that they were very particular, and the pair had laughed about it.
Some time afterwards another estate agent showed up with a potential client, with the agent joking to Tynan "at least they're not (Boston) Red Sox fans".
Tynan, 49, replied, referring to the exacting women he had met earlier: "At least they're not the Jewish ladies."
The prospective client, Dr Gabrielle Gold-Von Simson, who is a Jewish paediatrician, took umbrage and said: "Why would you say that?"
Tynan replied: "That would be scary", and laughed, referring to the previous incident.
However, the Yankees then rang to say his gig was cancelled after they received a complaint about the remark.
Tynan, who had both legs amputated when he was younger, said he rang the woman and apologised, saying he would never do anything that was in any way hurtful and he was sorry that his remark was offensive.
The doctor accepted his apology and suggested he make a contribution to a children's centre.
The story was taken up by the New York Times and NBC, with a spokesman for the Yankees saying Tynan had acknowledged using the "slur" and he was disinvited by the team for the rest of the 2009 season.
Last Thursday, however, Tynan performed at the dinner of the Anti-Defamation League's annual meeting in New York City.
The group claims to be the world's leading organisation fighting anti-Semitism.
The group said that, in a meeting with ADL leaders, Tynan had "unequivocally and sincerely apologised for a comment he made about Jews".
The ADL leaders said that "in talking with Dr Tynan and hearing his life story, it was clear that he is a good man who understood that he had made an inappropriate comment that was hurtful not only to the person who heard it, but to the community".
The ADL national director, Abraham Foxman, said: "It is our belief that when an individual who has a record of good works, as does Dr Tynan, slips up on one occasion, a sincere apology should help everyone move on."
Tynan said he was grateful for the opportunity to talk through the issue with the ADL.
"I understand totally the insensitivity of my remarks. I do understand from my own life how hurtful and wrong prejudice is," he said.
He sang God Bless America at the dinner.
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