Moldova is set to officially appoint a new chief rabbi for the first time in 12 years, marking a significant milestone for the country’s Jewish community. Rabbi Menachem Mendel Axelrod, who has served in an unofficial capacity for the past decade, will assume the formal role following a ceremony scheduled for August 12. Rabbi Axelrod was elected by representatives of various streams of Judaism in Moldova and is expected to represent the community both internationally and in legal matters.
Rabbi Axelrod has longstanding ties to the community, with most of his children born in Moldova, and is regarded as a well-known and respected figure among local Jews. His appointment follows a period without an official chief rabbi since the death of Rabbi Zalman Abelsky in 2014. Rabbi Zalman Abelsky, the father of Rabbi Zushe Abelsky—head Chabad emissary in Moldova—was appointed in 1990 by the Lubavitcher Rebbe to reinvigorate Jewish life in the country. During his tenure, he established foundational components of Jewish infrastructure, including kosher food options, education, and religious services.
Since Rabbi Zalman Abelsky’s passing, his son Zushe Abelsky has coordinated Jewish communal activities. Currently, there are five Chabad shliach families operating primarily in the cities of Chisinau and Bender, overseeing Jewish life in over 18 communities across Moldova. Many of these communities are small, with only a handful of Jewish residents, and some open their synagogues only annually. While other non-Chabad congregations exist, Chabad remains the most prominent religious group in the country.
Estimates of Moldova’s Jewish population vary. Official figures claim between 10,000 and 15,000 Jews live in Moldova, but Abelsky suggests the actual number is closer to 5,000 to 7,000. In addition, Moldova serves as a transit point for approximately 10,000 Jewish pilgrims annually traveling to Uman, Ukraine, with about half arriving during Rosh Hashanah.
The Moldovan Jewish community has played a key humanitarian role since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine in 2022. Chabad has been instrumental in providing assistance to refugees fleeing the conflict, offering shelter, sustenance, and support for mental health and other needs. At the height of the influx, synagogues in Chisinau accommodated as many as 600 to 700 people per night, many arriving with few possessions. The community coordinated their care and ensured proper arrangements as refugees continued their journeys.
Abelsky emphasizes that no community is too small to receive attention from Chabad. Many remote communities maintain only a minimal Jewish presence, yet periodic visits help sustain religious and cultural connections. For example, during Passover last year, Chabad distributed 1,000 boxes of shmurah matzah to Jewish households throughout Moldova, reinforcing a sense of belonging and continuity.
Recent developments include the inauguration of Mikveh Liel, the country’s first ritual bath for women, and plans to construct a Jewish campus adjacent to the Chisinau synagogue. This facility aims to incorporate classrooms, a kosher restaurant, and other communal resources, reflecting an ongoing investment in the future of Jewish life.
Rabbi Zushe Abelsky highlights a central theme guiding the community’s growth: continuity. Quoting a teaching from the Lubavitcher Rebbe, he stresses the importance of long-term commitment to local Jewish populations, adapting to and integrating with local customs while fostering a lasting connection to heritage. This dual commitment, he says, strengthens both the community and its leaders, creating bonds that transcend generations.