Chief Rabbi of Israel Calls Antisemitism a Battle Between Darkness and Light at Moldova Ceremony

Rabbis and public figures gathered in Chișinău, Moldova, for the inauguration of Rabbi Menachem Mendel Axelrod as the new Chief Rabbi of Moldova. The ceremony featured a keynote speech by Israel's Chief Rabbi Kalman Meir Bar, who described antisemitism not merely as a conflict against Jews but as a struggle between forces of darkness and light. Rabbi Bar highlighted the symbolism of the ceremony taking place at the start of the new month, likening the waxing and waning moon to the Jewish people's resilience through history.

He emphasized the rabbi's role as a beacon of light in dark places, referencing the Lubavitcher Rebbe's description of a Hasid as a "lamp-lighter." Rabbi Bar also recounted lighting the largest Hanukkah menorah in Europe last year alongside German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier at the Brandenburg Gate, a site historically associated with Nazi persecution.

Concluding his remarks, Rabbi Bar praised Rabbi Axelrod's long-standing dedication to nurturing Jewish life in Moldova, affirming that his appointment is a recognition of his ongoing mission to kindle Jewish spirit and light in the community. The event underscored themes of Jewish survival and renewal despite historical attempts at destruction.