Moldova's young Jews find strength embracing their culture
Every Friday evening, young Jewish people in the Moldovan capital, Chisinau, celebrate Shabbat and break bread together. At a time when antisemitism is on the rise in Europe, they have made a conscious decision not to hide their Jewish identity.
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00:00It's Friday night in Chisinau, and members of a Jewish student organization have gathered
00:09to celebrate Shabbat.
00:10Among them are Nikita Bivol and Svetlana Jani.
00:14For both students, taking a break from their daily routine and being united in prayer and
00:19celebration is a highlight of their week.
00:23Shabbat is important because we have to pass on this tradition to future generations.
00:32We light candles, each woman has to light two candles, for her husband, if he has a husband.
00:40If he doesn't have a husband, he has to light a candle for his future husband.
00:45Keeping traditions alive is important to 21-year-old Nikita.
00:49At a time when anti-Semitism is on the rise in Europe, the psychology student chooses
00:54not to hide his Jewish identity.
00:57Svetlana finds support and purpose among her Jewish peers.
01:01She used to study in Ukraine, but came back to her native Moldova because of the war.
01:06The Jewish community became her second family.
01:11After all the prayers have been read, the culinary part of Shabbat begins.
01:22Everyone brings something to eat and helps set the table.
01:26The most important items are bread and wine.
01:29Wine symbolizes celebration, the bread – unity.
01:34Although most Jewish people don't feel threatened in Moldova, anti-Semitism is still an issue,
01:40especially since the war in Gaza began.
02:04Jews receive everything they want and do nothing to receive it.
02:13They have everything they want, but that's not the case.
02:17For Jews, Saturday is a day of rest.
02:20Svetlana and Nikita like to spend it taking long walks through the city.
02:24Unlike Nikita, Svetlana says she doesn't feel exposed to anti-Semitism in Chisinau.
02:30In fact, she says, many people are curious about Jewish traditions.
02:46According to Irina Shehova, director of the Museum of Jewish History in Chisinau,
02:51the Jewish communities have always been well integrated in Moldova.
02:55There are about 7,000 Jews in the country today, most of whom live in the capital.
03:00Shehova says that any incidents of anti-Semitism that do occur
03:04are probably the result of a lack of information.
03:26Tradition, community and believing in something bigger than oneself
03:31can bring comfort and strength, especially in times of war and crises.
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