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History of the Jews in Chișinău

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The Chișinău Choral Synagogue, 1913.

The history of the Jews in Chișinău dates to the early 1700s, when Chișinău (then known as Kishinev) was located first in Moldavia and later from 1812 onwards in the Bessarabia region of the Russian Empire. Chișinău is now the capital city of Moldova and is the center of the country's Jewish population. As of 2022, around 10,000 of the 15,000 Moldovan Jews reside in Chișinău.[1]

History

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Chișinău (Keshenev in Yiddish) was historically part of Moldavia. In 1812, the region was annexed by the Russian Empire and became known as Bessarabia. The earliest Jewish presence in Chișinău dates back to the early 18th century. By 1774, Jewish people were 7% of the total population of Chișinău. In 1774, a Jewish burial society was founded in the city with 144 members.[1]

Kishinev pogrom

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Post-Soviet era

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Holocaust Memorial, Chișinău

Since 1991, following the collapse of the Soviet Union, many Moldovan Jews have made aliyah to Israel or have emigrated to Western countries such as the United States. The population of Moldovan Jews is disproportionately elderly, with between a quarter to half of the community being elders.

Chabad maintains a synagogue in Chișinău. Agudath Israel operates the Torat Emet yeshiva.[2]

In 2022, Ukrainian-Jewish refugees found refuge in Chișinău's four main synagogues, including the Sinagoga Sticlarilor (Glassmakers' Synagogue).[3]

Notable Jewish people from Chișinău

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Kishinev". YIVO. Retrieved 2022-03-22.
  2. ^ "Moldova Virtual Jewish History Tour". Jewish Virtual Library. Retrieved 2022-03-22.
  3. ^ "In Moldova, Ukrainian Jewish refugees anxiously wait out the war in synagogues and Jewish centers". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. Retrieved 2022-03-23.