Today, the official meeting of the President of the Jewish Community of the Republic of Moldova, Alexander Bilinkis, and the Ambassador of the United States of America, HE Kent D. Logsdon, took place.
Ambassador Logsdon visited the Jewish Community Center, located on the site of the Wooden (Lemnaria) Synagogue for the first time, and got acquainted with the structure and activities of the Jewish Community on both banks of the River Nistru.
Alexander Bilinkis told the head of the US diplomatic mission in Moldova about the important work that the Community is doing to preserve and promote the cultural and spiritual heritage of the Jews of Moldova. The parties discussed separately the need of establishing a museum of the history of the Jews of Moldova, which, according to the Decree of the Government, should have been founded since 2018. It was noted that there is no law or mechanisms for the restitution of community property in Moldova, in contrast to the member states of the EU and the countries in the region.
One of the important topics was linked the joint efforts of the parties to prevent discrimination and hate speech online and in the public space.
The Jewish Community shared with colleagues from the US Embassy information about the program to support members of the Jewish communities of Ukraine, which is being implemented as part of the current humanitarian crisis response with the support of international Jewish organizations.
The leadership of the Jewish Community and the US Embassy expressed their readiness to continue effective communication and cooperation in the framework of current projects.
The meeting concluded with a visit to the synagogue restored within the walls of the Community Center, which is the fourth functioning synagogue in Chisinau.