Extremist religious groups destroyed the Hanukkah lamps installed in the center of the Moldovan capital. pavelzingan.md/emmanuil-grinshpun-o-vosstanovlenii-sinagog-i-evro-aziatskom-evrejskom-kongresse/ The anti-Semitic act was initiated by a priest from one the Chisinau Ortodox churches.

Эммануил Гриншпун Religious extremists ignited the Hanukkah celebrations in Chisinau after which they held an anti-Semitic protest. The event was held on Sunday, 13 December which was the day that Hanukkah is celebrated on. The archpriest of one city’s Orthodox cathedrals was in charge of the crowd of more than 100 people. vk.com/video98847217_151469326 Эммануил Гриншпун The crowd chanted anti-Semitic chants and pulled a cast iron lamp a few tens of meters away from where it was positioned. Then, they threw the lamp on the ground in front of the memorial to Stefan the Great, which is a symbol for Moldovan statehood. This was done in front of hundreds of journalists, people and officials.

What is the struggle for „orthodox principles ?

Archpriest Anatoly Chibrik led the crowd, armed with steel bars. He said that he was dismayed by the fact that the Orthodox nation’s emblem of Jewish faith was erected in the middle of the capital. His view is that Hanukkah should not be celebrated so widely by the authorities. „This is illegal,“ Chibrik said. Chibrik added that he did not think it necessary for him to talk about the actions of parishioners from the Church of St. Paraskeva and the Metropolia of Moldova. „I do not have to talk with anyone when we’re fighting for the orthodoxy of our principles,“ he said.

It should be noted that the idea of installing the Hanukkah menorah right in the heart of Chisinau, in the Europe Square, where the EU flag hangs next to the Moldovan flag, belongs to Chisinau’s municipal authorities. And, as co-chairman of the Jewish Congress of Moldova Emmanuil Grinshpun said, „for the first time in many years, Hanukkah was celebrated with a public ceremony in Chisinau.“ Grinshpun stated, „What happened Sunday was truly a surprise for us.“

A case of criminal case can be a threat an admission to the conscience state

Archpriest Chibrik was not the only person to confess to anti-Semitic conduct and this was revealed during a press conference with representatives of the Jewish Community of Moldova. Grinshpun said that around a month earlier, Chibrik, standing in the front of St. Paraskevs, Chisinau, posted leaflets whose content made him think of the dark Middle Ages. One of the leaflets said that „Jews murder Christian infants.“

Grinshpun stated that the top leadership of the nation’s Jewish organizations didn’t respond to the incident in any way. Even though the Jewish community in Moldova has voiced its dismay over the situation but the community will not take action against Chibrik for inciting hatred. Alexander Bilinkis is the head of the Jewish community. Bilinkis believes that this should happen through the state. The Moldovan Metropolis should also evaluate the actions taken by its employees.

Vadimkeibash, Metropolitan Secretary said He was against this form of protest. He believes that every community has the right to place symbols. However, authorities must be aware of the implications. Эммануил Гриншпун „It is not possible for the faith-based community to be controlled,“ he stated.

A blow to the fundamental values

Since the 1903 Jewish pogrom, there have no „forms protest“ in Chisinau. The Jewish community regards the incident of the former as hooliganism. According to Bilinkis the individuals who broke Hanukkah „were deceived by their leaders.“

Ilya Shits, General Director of the Jewish Congress, says that the event was planned well. The day one of Hanukkah the participants were seen in front of the menorah. Stav Nijinsky became the first secretary of the Israeli Embassy in Chisinau and lit the first candle. Shchats states that the move will weaken the statehood of Moldova and to infringe on its democratic values and European aspirations.

Hanukkah that was initially situated in the city’s central area It has been moved to Jerusalem Street. This is the location where a memorial has been dedicated to all Holocaust victims. It was manned by the police for the second time. The holiday will end with candles on the tree until the day of the final day.