On April 6, the President of the Republic of Moldova Maia Sandu met with Rabbi Zushe Abelsky, chief rabbi of the Jewish community of Moldova, to thank him for his efforts to absorb thousands of Jewish refugees fleeing Ukraine, as well as for the construction of five refugee camps. These camps are not only housing the refugees, but taking care of all their needs as well; they currently serve 2,000 people. Both the assistant president for minority affairs and the president’s chief of staff were also present at this meeting.
The Republic of Moldova shares a border with Ukraine. The Jewish community of Moldova is estimated to have 4,000 members. There are six families of Chabad emissaries in Moldova, and an extensive team of 75 employees in the various institutions and organizations that they operate.
President Sandu acknowledged the Jewish community’s extensive activities taking place around the clock—educational institutions for children, such as kindergartens and a Jewish school, the absorption of refugees, and the preparations for the upcoming Seder night. The Jewish community of Moldova can expect no less than five different events to take place on the night of the Seder. With the acknowledgement of these various activities, the president stated: “Kishinev has become a place where Jews who are disturbed and made to flee have a place where they see a home that protects them, without experiencing persecution and antixemitic incidents.”
The Moldovan presidency itself posted a message on the official Facebook page that read, in part: “Discussions commemorated the victims of the Jewish pogrom that erupted 119 years ago in Chisinau, but also the victims of the war Russia is waging in Ukraine.” April 6 marked the 119th anniversary of the outbreak of the infamous Kishinev Pogrom, in which 68 Jews were massacred. Thousands were left homeless, with property damaged measured in millions of rubles.
President Sando mentioned that one of her priorities is to build a “united and harmonious society in Moldova, where everyone feels safe and knows that their civil and individual rights are respected.” She thanked the Jewish community for the humanitarian aid granted by the State of Israel through the Jewish community in the Republic of Moldova. “Rabbi Abelsky, for his part, praised the involvement of the citizens of Moldova in helping the refugees, and the generosity shown by the people,” the presidential office said in a statement.
By Harry Glazer
