Hanukkah in Moldova: meetings, events and the miracle of light
The Jewish community in Moldova annually organized a number of events for the Jewish community throughout Moldova. We strive to unite Jews during the Hanukkah celebration, filling the days with joy, warmth and light. As Hanukkah approaches, our hearts are full of faith, hope, and a deep desire to share this joy with others. From Hanukkah celebrations to the preparation of traditional donuts and dishes, everything we do is filled with joyful anticipation of the holiday!
The main goal of the Chabad Moldova community is create a wonderful holiday atmosphere for the Jewish community in Moldova and make sure that everyone can experience the joy of Hanukkah. We strive to ensure that everyone can feel the true spirit of the holiday, creating a special atmosphere of warmth and joy. However, we also know that some people still struggle to satisfy their basic needs before they can enjoy the holiday. Thanks to the dedicated efforts of Yocheved, Vadim, Malka, Zina, and our generous supporters, the synagogue prepared hundreds of food packages for those in need. We express our sincere gratitude to everyone who contributed to this important act of kindness.
The Gotzel brothers arrived from Israel again for the week of Hanukkah. They organized events to celebrate the holiday and visited different areas of the country with a Jewish community in order to express support for every Jew in Moldova. At each meeting, those present received charity kits from the Chabad Lubavitch community supported by GJRN. These sets were intended for IDF soldiers. This because a gesture of goodwill and support for Israel by the Jewish community in Moldova.
Events held by the Gotzel brothers throughout Moldova became a symbol of support and unity for the Jewish community and gave us a small miracle for this special holiday.
On the first day of Hanukkah we received a blessing from Pinchas Altoise, a well-known Chabad rabbi in Israel who joined us for the lighting of the first candle. Support from this famous rabbi brought the community together and recalls the inextricable connection of Jewish communities around the world during this special period of joy and light.
The Jewish community of Balti has launched a number of events dedicated to celebrating hanukkah. An important moment was the arrival of Rabbi Mendel Axelrod, who congratulated all the Jews on this wonderful holiday. In his speech, he expressed sincere wishes for peace, joy, and good health to every member of the community.
At the annual awards ceremony for the Jewish community in Moldova, known as the 7 candles, a special award given to the envoy of the Lubavitcher Rebbe – Rabbi Mendel Gotzen – for his significant contribution to the development and strengthening the local Jewish community. This well-deserved award is a symbol of gratitude for the tireless work of Rabbi Gotzel for his significant contribution to the Jewish community in Bender.
This year’s holiday week was full of several important events, one of which was the grand opening of the renovated Nativ offices in Kishinev dedicated to Hanukkah. Mrs. Marina Anukova, Director of Nativ in Kishinev, and Mr. Alexander belinkis, Chairman of the Jewish community, emphasized the important moment and conveyed blessings to everyone present. Rabbi Shmuel Zalmanov represented the Chabad Lubavitch synagogue at this event. He lit the menorah and put mezuzahs on the doorposts. All those present expressed appreciation for the renovated offices and the atmosphere created there.
The Enerjew youth club also celebrated Hanukkah with an exciting event. Young people immersed themselves in the story of Hanukkah and its history by learning and discussing aspects of the holiday. Everyone attended actively exchanged opinions, and the discussion helped them to better understand the essence of the holiday. At the end of the meeting, everyone took part in decorating traditional Hanukkah donuts.
Jewish women plunged into the study of Hanukkah traditions and learned a lot about the meaning of the holiday during a meeting led by Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka. The women played a game of dreidel which created an atmosphere of fun and joy. Decorating the traditional donuts was another highlight of the meeting, and the women were excited to share the donuts with their friends and family during the holiday.
The delightful evening of the first night of Hanukkah was a unique event that united hundreds of Jews from Bender, Dubossary, and Rybnitsa in a single event. The candles on the Hanukkah menorah were lit by Rabbi Mendi and Rebbetzin Leah Gotzel, accompanied by Chairman of the Bender Jewish Community Mark Finkelzon. This was followed by a Hasidic concert by the talented Lev Leibman. Despite the snowy weather outside, it was warm inside the community center. This was such a wonderful start to the Hanukkah celebrations in Bender.
The Chabad Moldova Jewish Kindergarten students celebrated Hanukkah with a wonderful festive program. The children enjoyed the event, with delicious Hanukkah donuts and other special treats! Together they sang songs and danced to Hanukkah melodies. This truly wonderful day was filled with laughter and joy.
On December 10th, in the spacious hall of the Chabad Lubavitch synagogue, a children’s Hanukkah celebrations took place. The children not only learned the history of Hanukkah but also actively participated in various fun events created especially for them. At the beginning of the holiday, Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka Zalmanov organized a quiz where the children were asked questions about Hanukkah with the opportunity to win prizes.
After the quiz, the children were divided by age groups: the younger ones went to the children’s area which had various fun attractions like slides and swings. For the older children, a creative master class was held. Every participant had the opportunity to go home with their own creation.
This year, the Chabad Lubavitch community marked a special moment: on the fourth night of Hanukkah, the menorah was lit in the very center of Kishinev. The event brought together many honored guests, community members and friends who are interested in Jewish traditions. At the moment when the candles are lit, it is important to remember all the goodness in the world and the unity of the community’s spirit. Let these burning candles become a symbol of unity and peace, reminding us all of the value of harmony and traditions!
Among the guests present at the celebration was the deputy head of mission from the US embassy in Kishinev Mrs. Laura Hruby, who addressed the members of the Jewish community with a congratulations. The participation of such a high-ranking official is symbolic, as it demonstrates support and understanding of the significance of Hanukkah not only for the Jewish community but for Moldova as a whole. During the festive concert, members of the Enerjew youth club Gabi and Gena performed beautiful Hanukkah melodies on musical instruments for everyone present. Hanukkah Sameach sounded in every corner of Moldova, where the warmth and joy of the holiday granted by our envoys and others dedicated to the Chabad Lubavitch Jewish community led by Rabbi Zushe Abelsky. We hope that our efforts have shone a light of goodness on the hearts of all Moldovan Jews, filling them with joy and hope during these holidays.
