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Impoverished Moldova fears Jewish exodus

May 30, 2014 12:00

By

Anshel Pfeffer,

Anshel Pfeffer

1 min read

The small Jewish community of Moldova is charting an uncertain path between a revival of Jewish life and the departure of many of its young people.

At the Moldova Limmud that took place in Chisinau last weekend, 400 local Jews came together to hear lectures, take part in cultural events and socialise — but also to discuss their future.

Tanya Rabotnikova, a member of the organising committee and one of the leaders of the small community of 2,000 in Belz, said: “It’s getting much more difficult to have any real communal life as most young people are either moving to Chisinau or leaving the country altogether. Fifty of us came to Limmud from Belz because we just can’t get any Jewish culture in our town.”

Nicolai Agulnicov, a 17-year-old student from Chisinau, is planning to emigrate to Israel next year. “There just aren’t any good jobs or prospects here if you’re not well-connected or have money,” he said. “I don’t believe 50 years from now there will be any Jews left in Moldova.”

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