New Shluchim to Chișinău, Moldova

Formerly part of the Soviet Union, the Republic of Moldova is home to some 10,000 Jewish people and is one of Eastern Europe’s fastest-developing countries.

After the fall of the Iron Curtain in 1989, Reb Zalman and Leah Abelsky moved to Kishinev as the Rebbe’s Shluchim to revive and rejuvenate Moldovan Jewry. Since then, Jewish life in Moldova has experienced an extraordinary resurgence, flourishing in ways that were previously unimaginable.

Now, 35 years later, the Moldovan Jewish community is poised to begin an exciting new chapter of growth and expansion with the arrival of Rabbi Shneur Zalman and Chana Tiefenbrun. In just a few week’s time they will be embarking on a one-way flight to Chișinău together with their 7-month-old baby Mendel to expand and enrich Chabad of Moldova’s wide array of outreach activities.

For Shneur Zalman and Chana, who have already spent several Yomim Tovim connecting with the local community in Chișinău, the prospect of learning a new language and adapting to a new culture is secondary to the Z’chus of fulfilling the Rebbe’s Shlichus.

In anticipation of their upcoming move, Rabbi Shneur Zalman shared, “We are really looking forward to joining forces with the Shluchim families on the ground and building upon the strong foundations of Jewish life that are already in place. The potential for growth is huge, and we are excited to get started.”

While their Shlichus will be all-encompassing, their primary focus will be on developing personal relationships with and within the community to draw people closer to each other and to their Jewish heritage.

Rabbi Zushe Abelsky, head Shliach to the Republic of Moldova, shared, “With the unprecedented westernization of this rapidly developing country, there could be no better time to welcome a new couple to Chabad of Moldova. Of all of the recent developments in Moldova, this is certainly the most transformative of them all!”

The Tiefenbruns have launched a 72-hour campaign to raise vital seed money for their upcoming Shlichus.

Please make a donation to kickstart their Shlichus at Charidy.com/Moldova.