Rabbis, heads of Jewish communities, and diplomatic representatives gathered in Chisinau this week for the official coronation of Rabbi Menachem Mendel Axelrod as Chief Rabbi of the Republic of Moldova.
The event, which community representatives said embodies the story of hope, restoration, and continuity of local Jewry, was a significant turning point for the local community, which has experienced renewed prosperity in recent years while preserving the memory of its rich past.
The ceremony marked the connection between a glorious past generation and the future generation. Rabbi Axelrod, a descendant of a distinguished rabbinical dynasty and grandson of Rabbi Zalman Abalsky zt"l - who laid the foundations for the restoration of religious life in Moldova after the fall of the communist regime - bears a heavy responsibility that he has been carrying out with dedication in the community for a decade.
"This day is not just an official meeting, but a day of responsibility, acceptance, and a great step forward for the entire Jewish community in Moldova," noted Alexander Belitsky, head of the Jewish community in Moldova, who emphasized the paramount importance of close cooperation between the spiritual leadership and the physical leadership of the community.
A long list of prominent figures from Israel and around the world attended the historic event, including:
The Chief Rabbi of Israel, Rabbi Kalman Bar, who supported the community and emphasized the importance of spreading Jewish light and unity in the modern world, in the face of the growing challenges of antisemitism.
Israeli Ambassador to Moldova, Yoram Elrom, who welcomed the close cooperation and the central role of the Chabad emissary in strengthening the connection between Diaspora Jews and the State of Israel.
Mandi Kotlarsky, representing the Chabad World Emissary Center, who came especially from New York to stand close and strengthen the emissary project in Moldova, continuing the dedicated path of his late father, Rabbi Moshe Kotlarsky, who embraced and accompanied every emissary in the world.
Delegations of rabbis and community leaders from Romania, the Netherlands, Ukraine and other European countries, testifying to the strength of Chabad's global network of emissaries.
The speakers at the ceremony repeated and recalled the complex history of Judaism in Serbia and Moldova - a place that once teemed with hundreds of thriving communities and synagogues, endured the horrors of the Holocaust and Soviet oppression, and is now resurrected.
The highlight of the evening was the coronation ceremony, when Rabbi Axelrod was wrapped in a tallit, and the chief rabbis signed the official letter of appointment. The participants said they saw the ceremony as a clear symbol of the "Dawn of the Day" and the triumph of the Jewish spirit, which continues to illuminate and establish institutions of Torah, education and charity throughout the country.
Chief Rabbi of Israel, Rabbi Kalman Ber, stated at the event: "We are going through complex times in which anti-Semitism is raising its head, but the Jewish people are alive and well. Seeing the light rekindled here in Moldova, in a place where there was great darkness, is the greatest proof of the triumph of the Jewish spirit."
Mandy Kotlarsky, one of the heads of the Chabad Emissaries Center (Ahavat Olam) added: "We came here to recognize and cherish the enormous investment that began in 1990 from the ruins, and to see up close how the community here is flourishing. The story of the Chabad Emissaries in Moldova, who stood by every Jew and opened their doors in every difficult hour, is a model of true giving and love of Israel."
Alexander Belitsky, head of the Jewish community in Moldova, stated: "This day is not just a day of an official meeting, but a day of responsibility, acceptance and a giant step forward. We want to see living synagogues all over the country, communities full of people, where tradition flourishes and illuminates the future of all of us." Yoram Elrom, Israeli Ambassador to Moldova: "The role of a chief rabbi is not only spiritual, but also a role of connecting and uniting people, preserving tradition and building a path for the entire community. The work of the community and the Chabad movement in Moldova is a profound testimony to action, to caring for others and to strengthening the eternal connection between local Jews and the State of Israel."