Draft:Agudath Israel in Moldova

• Comment: You have zero sources here, we base articles on what those say, see WP:BACKWARDS. Theroadislong (talk) 11:05, 16 November 2023 (UTC)

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Agudath Israel in Moldova (Hebrew: אֲגֻדַּת יִשְׂרָאֵל‏ במולדובה) — The largest Jewish cultural and religious organization in the Republic of Moldova. It began its work in 1991.

The declared mission is to implement programs and activities filled with Jewish spiritual experience and richness, to build a dynamic and modern community on the basis of traditional values of the Jewish people, to develop partnerships with state, cultural, ethnic, educational institutions and associations in Moldova and abroad for the sake of preserving and developing Jewish spiritual heritage, attracting new members of the community, strengthening Jewish families and generational continuity.

History

Agudath Israel in Moldova is historically linked to the World Agudath Israel Movement, established in 1912 in Katowice. One of the founders of the movement and the head of its branch in Bessarabia was the Chief Rabbi of Bessarabia, one of the greatest religious and spiritual figures of the first half of the 20th century, Rabbi Yehuda-Leib Tsirelson.

The synagogue is currently located in the building of the Hay Synagogue, which was built in 1886 and is an architectural monument of municipal importance in Chisinau. The synagogue is located in the historical part of the city and is one of the oldest functioning synagogues in the Republic.

For several decades Agudath Israel operated primarily as a yeshiva (religious school) for boys and girls from all over the republic. Among its leaders were such influential rabbis as Moshe Yarkoni, Avraham Krichevsky, Mordechai Tokarsky and Moshe Budilovsky.

In 2017 Agudath Israel in Moldova was headed by Rabbi Pinchas Zaltzman.

Activity

The main principles on which the activity of Agudat Israel in Moldova is based are the Jewish spiritual tradition based on the commandments of the Torah and Talmud, the rulings of Jewish sages and rabbis, the centuries-old spiritual and cultural experience of Ashkenazi Jews and the history of the Jews of the Republic of Moldova.

Since 2019, Agudath Israel has become the leading Jewish communal organization in the republic, carrying out extensive work on the preservation of Jewish tradition, Jewish informal education, and the promotion of Jewish values and culture.

Since 2021, Agudat Israel Moldova becomes the first member of AEPJ (European Association for the Preservation of Jewish Heritage) in Moldova, as well as of the state Agency for Interethnic Relations.

Community revitalization and support

In addition to its active work in Chisinau, Agudath Israel conducts programs and supports Jewish communities in Balti, Tiraspol, Ribnita and Dubasari. In 2022, a branch of the organization was opened in Tiraspol.

Jewish tradition

Agudath Israel, which is careful to keep and observe the commandments, conducts daily prayers, celebrates all traditional holidays, Shabbat and Avdalah. The functions of the religious court on registration of documents, conversion to Judaism, ceremonies of brit milah (circumcision), chuppah (wedding) are carried out. A fully renovated mikvah (ritual pool) is operating at the Hay Synagogue. There is a kosher restaurant and a pizzeria.

Education

Much attention is paid to educational programs for children and adults. At Agudath Israel there is an international project Smart J, realized with the support of the Ministry of Diaspora Affairs of the State of Israel, the World ORT and the Federation of Jewish Communities of the CIS. The project is a platform of additional education for children from 5 to 13 years old.

Children's playgrounds and camps, Sunday programs, Torah and tradition lessons for adults and children are held regularly.

Social and humanitarian programs

Helping needy members of the Jewish community is one of the main activities of Agudath Israel. Dozens of people are provided with three hot meals a day, and humanitarian aid is regularly delivered to hundreds of people in need.

Since the beginning of military operations in neighboring Ukraine in February 2022, Agudat Israel has received and provided all kinds of assistance (accommodation, food, paperwork, further transfer, etc.) to more than 30000 refugees, for which it was awarded with diplomas from the President of the Republic of Moldova and the General Mayor of Chisinau municipality. Chisinau. In August 2022, Agudat Israel prepared and published an original book "One-way ticket" about the fate of 20 refugees who passed through Moldova.

In 2023, Agudat Israel was officially authorized by the government of the State of Israel to be the responsible Jewish structure in the Republic of Moldova for the organization and logistics of the pilgrimage of over 20,000 Breslav Hasids to Uman through Moldova.

Jewish culture and heritage

Rashkov

A special project in the field of Jewish heritage preservation is the project in Rashkov. A fact of historical significance was the identification in 2022 of the grave of R. Shabtai ben Zvi Girsh in one of the Jewish cemeteries of the village. The work was carried out directly on the initiative of the Chief Rabbi of Moldova Pinchas Zaltsman. The sign of the organization Agudas Ohalei Tzadikim, which for several decades has been authorizing and restoring the graves of famous rabbis and righteous people in the former USSR, Israel, Yemen, Syria and Turkey, has already been installed here.

Р. Shabtai (approximate years of life 1655-1745), one of the outstanding disciples of the founder of Hasidism Besht is the author of the famous prayer book, compiled according to the instructions of one of the greatest kabbalists of the history of the Arizal - Rabbi Yitzhak Luria. Rabbi Shabtai's prayer book was and still is used by the world's greatest rabbis.

Rabbi Shabtai also established the custom, accepted in many communities, of reciting the 27th Psalm of David daily in the month of Elul before Rosh Hashanah.

Together with the Great Synagogue, two cemeteries and dozens of preserved former Jewish houses, Rashkov is a particularly attractive place for those wishing to touch the spirit of history, holiness, mysticism and tradition.

Agudath Israel in Moldova is working on attracting guests to this important place, preparing logistics and infrastructure for their reception.

JT, ER, EDJC

New pilot projects for the Jewish community are European Routes of Jewish Heritage and Jewish History Tours, realized under the aegis of AEPJ and with the support of the Council of Europe and the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Moldova. As part of their implementation, information on Jewish history and locations of cities and towns of the Republic was collected, virtual tours were created in Chisinau, Tiraspol, Balti, Orhei and Rascov, translated into 7 languages and posted on international platforms.

Since 2022 Agudat Israel for the first time in Moldova began to organize events dedicated to the European Day of Jewish Culture, which have been held since 1999 under the auspices of AEPJ in dozens of countries on the continent.

Holocaust

Commemorating the events and victims of the Holocaust is the most important task of Agudath Israel. An original exhibition entitled "Rabbis of Europe during the Holocaust" has been prepared presented at the Agency for Interethnic Relations, and a unique and innovative exhibition "Fragments of Shattered Lives" presented at Artcor, the largest exhibition center in Chisinau.

Regular commemorative programs are held for the dates of Yom HaShoah (Shoah Day) and Kristallnacht.

Partners

Agudath Israel's partners in Moldova include local government agencies, including the Ministry of Culture, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration, Ministry of Internal Affairs, Agency for Interethnic Relations, Chisinau Municipality, Chisinau International Airport and others, international Jewish organizations, including Agudath Israel of America, United Hatzalah (Israel), Orthodox Union, Conference of European Rabbis, Jewish Federations of North America, Nacht Family Foundation, HIAS, The Together Plan (UK), Mosaic United, Bnei Brit Foundation, Hillel Jewish Students Organization of Moldova, American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, JAFI and many others. AI also cooperates closely with diplomatic missions in Moldova, in particular the embassies of Israel, USA, Germany, Italy, Sweden, Azerbaijan and Ukraine.

References

This page will be placed in the following categories if it is moved to the article namespace.

Categories:

• Synagogues
• Jewish organizations
• Moldova
• Jewish communities