Rabbi Menachem Mendel Axelrod Officially Crowned Chief Rabbi of Moldova

Rabbi Menachem Mendel Axelrod was officially appointed as the Chief Rabbi of Moldova during a ceremony held in Chisinau on August 12, 2026. The event was attended by Israel's Chief Rabbi, representatives from Chabad, and various diplomats, highlighting the renewed vitality of the Jewish community in Moldova. Rabbi Axelrod, a descendant of a distinguished rabbinic lineage and grandson of Rabbi Zalman Abelsky who helped rebuild religious life in Moldova after the fall of communism, has led the community with dedication for over a decade.

Alexander Blitsky, head of the Jewish community in Moldova, emphasized the significance of the day as a moment of responsibility and progress for the entire Jewish population in the country. He also stressed the crucial cooperation between the spiritual and secular leadership within the community. Speakers at the ceremony recalled the complex history of Jewish life in Bessarabia and Moldova, once home to hundreds of thriving communities and synagogues, which suffered during the Holocaust and Soviet repression but is now experiencing a revival.

The highlight of the evening was the emotional crowning of Rabbi Axelrod, who was wrapped in a tallit as the chief rabbis signed his official appointment. Attendees viewed this moment as a powerful symbol of the "dawn's rise" and the triumph of Jewish spirit, which continues to illuminate and establish institutions of Torah, education, and charity throughout Moldova.