Community Directory - Kishinev
Kishinev (or Chisinau in Moldovan and Romanian transcription) is the political, administrative, industrial, scientific and cultural center of the Republic of Moldova. The word Kishinev means “a spring". According to other sources, kishlak nou is of Tatar origin and means “a new settlement”. The land on which modern Kishinev is situated was first mentioned in the gift deed written by Stephan the Great in 1466. This year is considered to be the date of founding the settlement that later became known as "Kishinev". From the 16th century to 1812, Kishinev as part of the Moldavian principality was under Turkey's power. Twice during this period it was burned and destroyed. However, after the unification with Russia and thanks to its advantageous geographic position on the trade route from Iasi to Bendery and the Crimea, the population and the territory of the city increased.
The population of modern Kishinev numbers about 800,000 representing 40 ethnicities.
First mentioning of Jews as Kishinev residents refers to the beginning of the 18th century. According to the census of 1897, the Jewish population of Kishinev was more than 50,000 people, i.e. as high as 46% of the total city population.
In 1903, Kishinev suffered the notorious "Kishinev Pogrom" when 49 Jewish people were killed or died of wounds and approximately 500 were injured. The Pogrom was probably the most significant event in Moldova's Jewish history, foreshadowing further persecutions of its Jews that culminated in the Holocaust several decades later. However, the Pogrom was also a decisive turning point for the Jewish community, helping them to realize the need for a national independence and a Jewish state. News of this pogrom spread throughout the world and it also became the topic of Bialik's famous poem "Al Hash'kita" ("On the Slaughter").
Before World War II there were 77 synagogues and about 70,000 Jews in Kishinev. 53,000 perished during the Holocaust. In the present time about 12,000 Jews and Jewish family members reside in Kishinev.
The development and strengthening of the Jewish Community of Moldova during the last years revealed the need of creation of a “home” where each and everyone will find a niche for spiritual, cultural, educational development, answers to questions, activities based on interest and social protection. The idea of the Jewish Campus in Kishinev is to unite, under the same roof, the key community Jewish organizations in order to optimize the effectiveness of their activities. Due to the support of major sponsors Irwin and Joan Jacobs (USA), UJA Federation of Greater Toronto, Claims Conference, Posner family (USA) and JDC this idea was implemented.
Established – 2003.
President - Emmanuil Grinshpun .
Phone and fax – (373-22) – 884515, 884516 (fax)
e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
In June 2003, under the initiative of a group of Jewish business people, the Moldova Jewish Congress was formed. The Congress proclaimed its primary tasks: development of the local Jewish community, representing its political, economic, social and other interests, support of welfare and cultural projects, Jewish tradition.
Established - 2007.
Chairperson – Alexander Bilinkis
Phone and fax– (373-22) – 509657, 509689
The Jewish Community of Moldova is successor of the Republican Association of Jewish Organizations and Communities and Republican Jewish Cultural Society founded in 1989. It consolidates Republican Societies of Ghetto and Concentration Camp Survivors, War Veterans, Refugees, etc., and also local urban Jewish Communities.
Kishinev Union of Jewish Organizations and Communities
Established - 2000.
The Union is successor of Kishinev Jewish Cultural Association founded in 1989. The Union was created to serve as the main local umbrella organisation that unites various other organizations such as City associations of veterans, survivors, refugees, Jewish women, etc., but did not succeed. Now it formally represents city Jewish community in municipal events.
Established – 2005. JCC KEDEM
Stella Harmelina, Director JCC KEDEM
Phone – (373-22) - 509601, 509602
e-mail – This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
JCC KEDEM was established in 2005. JCC is an integral part of the Kishinev Jacobs Jewish Campus (KJJC). The idea of the Jewish Campus is to unite, under one roof, the community Jewish services (welfare, cultural, family, educational, etc.) in order to optimize the effectiveness of their activities. The campus is located on the site of one of the community’s former synagogues situated in the very center of Kishinev.
Kishinev Welfare Center "Hesed Yehuda"
Established - 1996.
Alexander Filipov, Hesed Yehuda Director
Phone – (373-22) - 509608
e-mail – This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Being one the biggest NGO in the country welfare center Hesed Yehuda serves over 2,000 clients in Kishinev and southern Moldova. The list of the programs provided by Hesed Yehuda center includes: · Food packages · Meals-on-Wheels · Hot meals · Fresh food sets · Home care · Day Center · Winter relief · Warm homes · Medical equipment loan · Medical consultations · Medicines distribution · Hesed-on-wheels (25 settlements, 7 routes) · SOS (assistance in emergency cases) Since 2006 Hesed Yehuda entered Kishinev Jacobs Jewish Campus.
Jewish library \ Jewish Community Center named after Y. Manger
Established - 1991.
Director - Anna Batsmanova.
Phone – (373-22) - 224814, 213337,
e-mail – This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
WEB-site – www.Manger.araxinfo.com
Located in the centre of Kishinev, this state-funded Jewish library and museum serves as one of the focal points of Jewish life in the city. The book collection is about 35,000 (9,000 on the Jewish themes). Of the 15,000 people who read books at the library, about 25% are Jews. Besides its traditional functions as the library, JCC serves as a community centre, which hosts a variety of clubs, artistic companies and associations such as Pensioners' club, Yiddish Centre, and others. About 25 programs work in the frame of JCC.
The main programs of the library: · Rosh Hodesh · Story Hour · Museum of the History, Literature and Art of Jews of Moldova · Computer class · Musical saloon · "Halom" vocal group · "Tsipor" - workshop for children under school age · Sport programs · Reading hall for disabled kids · Puppet theatre
IInternational Center of Training and Professional Development
Established in 2003.
Galina Karger, Director
Phone – (373-22) 509-638
e-mail – This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
International Center of Training and Professional development is a successor of Kishinev JDC Training Department. After the registration the Center works as a community organization that provides high-qualified training for the various community structures. Since 2006 the Center entered Kishinev Jacobs Jewish Campus.
Olga Levus, Director
Phone – (373-22) 509-659
· Food packages · Supermarket sets · Holiday food packages · Humanitarian aid distribution · School of professions for unemployed · SOS for kids · Summer and Winter retreats Since 2006 JFS entered Kishinev Jacobs Jewish Campus.
Rabbi - Josef Itzhak Abelsky.
Phone – (373-22) - 541023, fax – 541020,
WEB-site – www.Jewishmoldova.org, www.Kishinev.org,
e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.m
Established in 1997.
Director - Sergei Lapta
Phone – (373-22) - 509678
e-mail – This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.hillel.su
Theodore Herzl ORT Jewish Lyceum
Opened in 1991.
Director – Svetlana Klimina.
Phone – (373-22) - 243444, 244629
e-mail – This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Opened in 1992.
Director - Sofia Shkolnick.
Phone – (373-22) - 775994
e-mail – This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
One of two Jewish schools in the country with around 200 students from the 1st grade to the 12th. Lyceum is supported by Israeli Ministry of Education through JAFI representation in Moldova.
Opened in 1994.
Director - Svetlana Iliadi.
Phone – (373-22) - 440142, 441110
Programs: · General pre-school education · Jewish tradition
Opened in 2000.
Director – Vitaly Kirilov .
Phone – (373-22) - 243444,
WEB-site – www.ort.md
In the end of 2000 World ORT, Department of Education and Council of Israel in Moldova signed three-part agreement and according to this agreement ORT created a Technological Center (TC) in Kishinev on the base of Theodore Herzl Lyceum.
The ORT TC Kishinev consists of 2 IT Labs, lab of Technology, a resource center, a network center and a mediateca. More than 50 modern computers provide students and teachers with an access to information resources both of school network and Internet resources.
Opened in 1993.
First secretary of Israeli Embassy for Ukraine and Moldova – Marc Basin.
Phone – (373-22) - 245587, fax - 544280
The Consulate represents the State of Israel in Moldova and executes diplomatic and consular functions. It is subordinate to the Embassy of Israel in Ukraine and Moldova located in Kiev.
Israeli Cultural Center
Opened in 1992.
Director – Ida Basin
Phone – (373-22) - 544282,
e-mail – This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Provides information about Israel and its culture. http://il4u.org.il/Israel/Centers/Kishinev/ Supports programs:
• Youth club
• Hebrew classes
• Musical programs
• Computer classes
American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee. Branch in Moldova
Opened in 1993.
Representative in Moldova - Alla Bolbochanu
Phone – (373-22) - 496716, 496732,
e-mail – This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
AJJDC Branch in Moldova is a subdivision of AJJDC http://www.jdc.org The main goal of JDC's activities is rendering help to the local Jewish communities and organizations throughout the world. In FSU JDC's top-priorities are:
• Welfare programs for the needy, disabled, Nazi victims, and Righteous gentile
• Renewal programs (Community centers, Hillel Youth Club, Family programs, etc.)
• Jewish community development
Thanks to the JDC support more than 6,000 needy people receive welfare services and around 12,000 have the possibility to get Jewish education, read and learn about Jewish history and tradition, participate in sport, art and other cultural activities.
Jewish Agency for Israel
Opened in 1992.
Phone – (373-22) - 227160; 241423; 245472; 243070; 241436 Fax – 221981
e-mail – This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.,
WEB-site – www.Sohnut.md
Assists people who make aliah as well as supports some cultural and youth programs:
• Hebrew ulpan
• Open University
• Youth club
• Summer camps
• Jewish schools
• Sport
Buhara and Caucasian Jews Community ”Juhur”
Established in 2002.
President - Shabbatay Hanukaev.
Phone – (373-22) - 746508; 716679
Unites about 100 people and expresses interests of this group of Jews.
“Dor Le Dor” Welfare Foundation
Established in 2002.
Executive director – Sonya Gittenshtein.
Telephone – (373-22) - 278676; 278684
e-mail – This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
WEB-site www.dorledor.info
The foundation was organized by a group of local Jewish businessmen and registered in the end of the 2002. The main aim of the foundation is to improve the situation on the Jewish cemeteries of Moldova. It also participates in important community events, holidays conducting, children’s’ programs.
“Maccabi”Jewish Sport Organization
Re-established in 2003.
President – Yakov Akkerman.
Organization provides a range of sport activities to local Jews.
Association of Israeli Businessmen “Darkon”
Established in 2005
Phone - (+373) 068-16-22-16, 079-41-16-22
e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Association proclaimed development of interrelations between Moldova and Israel, collaboration in the spheres of economy, management, science and culture as its main aim as well as support of humanitarian, educational and welfare projects in Moldova. Association legally supports Israeli businessmen in Moldova. Association unites 24 Israeli businessmen.