In Moldova, Jewish life continues thanks to new Ukrainian refugees.

At the Chisinau Jewish cemetery, located in Moldova, Yvette Merzbacher, a native of Peru, began a project in 2021 to photograph the surviving tombstones. Two years later, she managed to find the grave of her great-grandmother Rakhil Koffman, who died in 1921. This was especially valuable — the moment she was able to place a stone on the grave became one of the happiest in her life, writes September 9, 2025 www.jta.org.

LivingStones Project

While researching her genealogy, Merzbacher, the founder of the Swiss non-profit organization LivingStones, aims to preserve Jewish graves in Moldova and protect them from vandalism caused by anti-Semitism. The goal of the project is to photograph all the surviving tombstones at the cemetery in Edinet, a place where her grandparents once moved from Bessarabia.

Youth Participation

In the past five years, LivingStones has also implemented the Likrat Moldova project, which educates young people to confront anti-Semitism and successfully debunk stereotypes about Jews in schools across the country.

A recent survey conducted by the European Jewish Association showed that 48% of Moldovans have a negative attitude towards Jews. Rabbi Menachem Margolin believes that the deep roots of anti-Semitism represent a significant problem that needs to be addressed.

Historical Context

Chisinau, now Chișinău, is known for the most bloody Jewish pogroms, such as the events of 1903, which claimed the lives of 49 people and led to mass emigration. During the Holocaust in Bessarabia, approximately 60,000 Jews perished, and even today, authorities minimize this tragedy, and graves continue to be desecrated.

Modern Challenges

Amid conflicts in the Middle East, Jewish communities in Europe face an increasing threat of anti-Semitic acts. The head of Moldovan Jews, Pinchas Zaltzman, is not worried about this. Although Chișinău is not an isolated place, ties between Jerusalem and Moldova are strengthening.

The Israeli ambassador to Moldova, Yoram Elon, opened a new embassy in Chisinau, emphasizing the importance of historical ties between the two countries. The political, economic, and cultural aspects of this cooperation are inextricably linked with the local Jewish community.

Current Issues

In Moldova, the Jewish community is shrinking, and in the context of the war with Ukraine, current demographic changes need to be considered. At present, about 5,000 Jews live in the country.

As commented by Aliona Grossu, head of the Jewish community of Moldova, the organization actively helps refugees, which is an important aspect of the community’s work in times of crisis.

Education and Culture

Educational initiatives focus on supporting youth. Several Jewish schools and synagogues operate in the country.

However, local resources to support the older generation are limited, and those who remain in the country face the consequences of poverty and a lack of funding for aid programs.

Future and Challenges

Moldova seeks to establish its position on the international stage, charting a course towards rapprochement with the European Union. However, anti-Semitism still poses a barrier to social change.

The situation is exacerbated by disputes over the revision of Holocaust history in educational institutions, raising concerns about historical accuracy. This underscores the need for Bessarabia to address issues related to education and prejudice.

Efforts to investigate incidents of anti-Semitism should continue, and the support of the LivingStones organization demonstrates the importance of such initiatives for preserving the memory of Jewish history.