Prime Minister of Moldova met with the country’s Chief Rabbi, declaring, “We will not allow antisemitism to take root in Moldova.”

While Jewish communities in many European countries are dealing with a disturbing rise in antisemitic incidents, often met with the silence of leaders, a different trend is emerging in Moldova. Prime Minister Dorin Recean held an official meeting with the country’s Chief Rabbi, Pinchas Salzman, to discuss several topics. These included preserving Jewish heritage, developing institutions for the Jewish community, and strengthening cooperation between the community and state authorities.

In a statement to Belaaz following the meeting with the Prime Minister, Rabbi Saltzman said: “The war in Gaza and events in the Middle East have led to a wave of antisemitic incidents across Europe, underscoring the need for heightened vigilance to protect Jewish communities on the continent. Regrettably, Moldova is not immune to these waves, and we therefore express our gratitude to the Prime Minister for his firm stance against hate incidents and his determination to eradicate antisemitism in Moldova.”

“We are committed to ensuring that the Jewish community lives here in security, peace, and prosperity,” Prime Minister Recean stated. “We will not allow antisemitism to take root in Moldova.” During the meeting, the Prime Minister emphasized that this is a comprehensive government policy to strengthen ties with the country’s Jewish community, which numbers in the thousands, alongside many Israeli tourists who visit the country.

Rabbi Pinchas Salzman, who serves as the Chief Rabbi of Moldova, presented the Prime Minister with an overview of the Jewish community’s extensive activities in Moldova, including its institutions like educational centers, synagogues, Jewish heritage preservation projects, and social aid programs. During the war in Ukraine, the community’s institutions became a center for refugee assistance, working to save lives in coordination with local authorities and international bodies.

The Chief Rabbi expressed the Jewish community’s gratitude for the support provided by the authorities in preserving historical memory and Jewish heritage, along with initiatives aimed at strengthening understanding and inter-community cooperation.

“The meeting with the Prime Minister is an expression of the mutual commitment between the Jewish community and the Moldovan government,” Rabbi Salzman said after the meeting. “Especially at a time when Jews across Europe are experiencing a worrying increase in antisemitism, it is important that the Prime Minister publicly declares support for the Jewish community.”