A joyful farbrengen was held at the Great Synagogue in Kishinev this week to celebrate the birthday of Rabbi Zalman Abelsky, Chabad emissary and Chief Rabbi of Moldova. Dozens of leaders of the Jewish community and various Jewish organizations joined together with friends and supporters of Chabad to take part in the birthday gathering.
Rabbi Abelsky blessed the participants with the traditional Priestly Blessing. This custom stems from 5747/1987, when Rabbi Abelsky received a dollar from the Lubavitcher Rebbe, as was the practice at that time, and the Rebbe told him, “Bless other Jews, and I will bless you.”
Also present were: entrepreneur Alexander Belinkis, Jewish community leaders, Israeli consul in Moldova Stav Nizhinsky, the leader of the Jewish community in the Caucasus and Buchara Shabtai Chanochayev, Jewish Agency representative Paula Lam-Chaim, and representatives of the Joint and other Jewish organizations working in Kishinev.
Baruch Dubrani of the Supporters of Chabad Institutions in Moldova gave a special blessing to Rabbi Abelsky on behalf of the Jews of Kishinev and other communities in Moldova. This was followed by a representative of Israeli students in Moldova, who expressed his gratitude on behalf of hundreds of Israelis currently attending the University of Kishinev for the activities of Chabad’s student division, which Rabbi Abelsky established and has provided them with much assistance and encouragement.
