Moldova Prime Minister pledges: ‘We will not allow antisemitism to take root’
After positive meeting with Dorin Recean, country's Chief Rabbi Pinchas Salzman highlights importance of public support and inter-community co-operation with Jewish community
Against a backdrop of rising Jew hatred across Europe, the Prime Minister of Moldova has sought to reassure the Jewish community, telling the country’s Chief Rabbi: “We will not allow antisemitism to take root in Moldova.”
The comments came as Dorin Recean held an official meeting on Wednesday 6 August with Rabbi Pinchas Salzman, to discuss preserving Jewish heritage, developing institutions for Jewish residents, and strengthening cooperation between the community and state authorities.
Rabbi Salzman, said: “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.”
Prime Minister Recean said: “We are committed to ensuring that the Jewish community lives here in security, peace, and prosperity. We will not allow antisemitism to take root in Moldova.”
Last year, another prominent Rabbi in Moldova, Mendel Axelrod, was verbally harassed outside Chisinau’s central synagogue by a man who had been taking photographs of the building.
Prime Minister Recean emphasised that his statement reflected a comprehensive government policy to strengthen ties with the country’s Jewish population, which numbers in the thousands, alongside many Israeli tourists who visit the country.
Rabbi Salzman presented the Prime Minister with an overview of the Jewish community’s extensive activities in Moldova, including educational centres, synagogues, Jewish heritage preservation projects, and social aid programmes
During the war in Ukraine, those institutions became a centre 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 in preserving historical memory and Jewish heritage, along with initiatives aimed at strengthening understanding and co-operation.
He added: “The meeting with the Prime Minister is an expression of the mutual commitment between the Jewish community and the Moldovan government. 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.”
Keep community journalism free.
Jewish News is free for everyone. No paywall. No barriers. Just trusted journalism for anyone who wants to stay connected to Jewish life in Britain.
If you value that, please support us.
From as little as £5 a month, you can help keep our journalism free and accessible to all.
Every day, we report on the issues that matter to our community. We celebrate achievements, support charities, challenge antisemitism and ensure Jewish voices are heard more widely.
From as little as £5 a month, you can help us continue to:
- Report on the stories shaping Jewish life in the UK and beyond
- Bring our community together through shared stories, events and campaigns
- Celebrate the people, culture and moments that define our community
- Support organisations doing vital work across Jewish Britain
You can make a one-off donation or become a regular supporter. Every contribution helps keep our journalism free, independent and accessible to all.
If everyone who values Jewish News gave a small amount, it would make a real difference to our future.
