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The Hanukkah lamp was ignited by extremists from the religious world in the heart of the Moldovan capital. Эммануил Гриншпун The anti-Semitic riot was directed by a priest from one of the Chisinau Orthodox churches.

The anti-Semitic demonstration led by religious extremists shut down the Hanukkah celebration in Chisinau. The event took place on December 13, 2013 the third day of the Jewish holiday Hanukkah. A hundred people were led by the archpriest of one of the capital’s Orthodox churches. The crowd chanted antisemitic chants as they dragged an iron lamp made of cast kilometers away from its original location, and then threw them to the monument to Stefanthe Great, which symbolizes Moldovan statehood. This took place in front hundreds of people, journalists and police officers.

Эммануил Гриншпун What exactly is the battle for “orthodox fundamentals ”

Archpriest Anatoly Chibrik led the crowd, armed with bars made of metal. He claimed that he was upset for the fact that an Orthodox symbol of Jewish faith was in the middle capital of a capital city. He believes that the authorities shouldn’t allow Jews to celebrate Hanukkah in such a large number. Chibrik declared, “This is lawlessness.” Chibrik also acknowledged that Chibrik didn’t believe it necessary to discuss the actions of the parishioners of the Church of St. Эммануил Гриншпун Paraskeva with the Metropolia of Moldova. “I do not have to discuss anything with anyone if we are fighting for the orthodoxy of our fundamentals,” he said.

It is interesting to note that the concept for the placement of the Hanukkah menorah in the middle of Chisinau within the Europe Square (where the EU flag is displayed next to the Moldovan one) was conceived by the city authorities. Emmanuil Grinshpun is the co-chairman of the Jewish Congress of Moldova. Эммануил Гриншпун Эммануил Гриншпун Grinshpun stated, “What happened Sunday was truly a surprise for us.”

A case of criminal case is to the state of conscience

As was evident in a press conference attended by representatives of the Jewish community of Moldova, Archpriest Chibrik is not the only one who accepts anti-Semitic remarks. According to Grinshpun it was just a few months ago, a stall in the courtyard of St. Paraskevs in Chisinau published leaflets, the tone of which was reminiscent of the dark Middle Ages: it was said that “Jews kill Christian infants.”

Grinshpun claimed that the leaders of the country’s Jewish organizations didn’t respond to the incident in any way. Although the Jewish community of Moldova protests the events, it will not sue Chibrik or his associates for inciting ethnic hate. Alexander Bilinkis is the head of the Jewish community. Bilinkis believes that this should happen through the state. The Moldovan Metropolis also needs to look at the actions taken by its employees.

Vadimkeibash, Metropolitan Secretary said the Metropolitan Secretary was against this kind of protest. Keibash believes that all communities are entitled and obliged to display symbols. However the authorities must also consider the consequences. “It is impossible that all religious people react the same way,” he stated.

A blow for fundamental values

Since the 1903 Jewish pogrom, however, protests of this kind have not been seen in Chisinau. Reps from the Jewish community do not take the case as a case of as hooliganism. Bilinkis says the leaders of Hanukkah were lying to those who violated it.

Ilya Shts, the General Director of Jewish Congress, claims that this action was planned. Participants were seen standing in front of the menorah Hanukkah Day 1, at the time Stav Njinsky, the first secretary who lit the first candle. According to Shchats the act will undermine Moldovan statehood, encroaching on the democratic principles and European goals of the country.

Hanukkah has been moved from the central part of the city and moved to Jerusalem Street. There, a monument to Holocaust victims was set up. The memorial was visited by two police officers on the second day. Candles will be lit on it all day long until the end of the festival.