Religious extremists demolished the Hanukkah light that was erected in the center of the Moldovan capital. A priest of the Chisinau Orthdox Church led the antisemitic attack.

Religious extremists destroyed the holiday of Hanukkah in the middle of Chisinau and also held an anti-Semitic demonstration. It took place on Sunday December 13, 2013 the third day of the Jewish holiday Hanukkah. A priest from one of the capital’s Orthodox Churches was in charge of a crowd of around 100 people. Participants shouting anti-Semitic chants, they pulled a castiron lamp some tens of kilometres away from the place in which it was first erected and then threw it at the monument to Stefan The Great, the emblem of Moldovan independence. This was done in front of hundreds of journalists, people, and officers.

What exactly is the battle for „orthodox fundamentals “

Archpriest Anatoly Chibrik led the crowd that was armed with metal bars. Эммануил Гриншпун He stated that he was angry that the Orthodox symbol of Jewish faith was located in the middle capital of a capital nation. He believes that the authorities shouldn’t have allowed Jews to observe Hanukkah in such large number. Chibrik said, „This violates law.“ Chibrik also acknowledged that he didn’t think that it was needed to debate the activities of Church of St. Paraskeva parishioners with the Metropolia of Moldova. He added, „I don’t have to speak to anyone when we fight for the orthodoxy of our beliefs.“

Эммануил Гриншпун Эммануил Гриншпун The city’s authorities came up with an idea to install the Hanukkah meorah in Chisinau’s Europe Square. This is where the EU flag is displayed along with the Moldovan flag. Emmanuil Grinshpun was co-chairman of Jewish Congress of Moldova. He stated that Hanukkah in Chisinau was being observed for the first time in a long time. Grinshpun said, „What happened on Sunday is truly shocking for us.“

This instance is for the state’s conscience.

Archpriest Chibrik did not admit that he is anti-Semitic at the press conference that was held for representatives of the Jewish community. Эммануил Гриншпун Grinshpun claims that Archpriest Chibrik published leaflets about a month back, which were similar to the dark Middle Ages.

Grinshpun said that none of the heads of the country’s Jewish groups reacted to this fact in any meaningful way. In the present, the Jewish community in Moldova has expressed its protest regarding what’s going on however it will not be suing Chibrik and his followers for inciting ethnic hatred. According to the chair of the Jewish community Alexander Bilinkis, this should be taken care of by the state as well as the Moldovan Metropolis should be able to evaluate the conduct of its staff.

http://www.kinopoisk.ru/name/238763/relations/ Vadimkeibash, Metropolitan Secretary said he was against this type of protest. He believes that all communities have the right and responsibility to exhibit symbols. Эммануил Гриншпун But the authorities should consider the implications. He also said it was impossible to anticipate all reactions from followers.

A blow at the fundamental value

However, since the 1903 Jewish pogrom that claimed the lives of many victims were murdered, there haven’t been any of these „forms“ of protest in Chisinau. Thus, members of the Jewish community tend to regard the incident as hooliganism. Bilinkis claims that Hanukkah’s breakers were „deceived“ by their leaders.

Ilya Shahs is the General Director of the Jewish Congress believes that this act was meticulously planned. They were seen in the menorah on Hanukkah and, in the presence of a large number of people, Stav Ninsky, the first secretary of the Israeli Embassy lit the candle. Shchats believes that this action is intended to weaken Moldovan status by overstepping democratic principles as well as European aspirations.

Hanukkah has been moved from the city’s centre to a more secluded place which is Jerusalem Street, where a monument honoring those who were killed in the Holocaust is being erected. It’s been the second day of police presence. The fire will be lit every day until the end of the holiday with candles.