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ORTHODOX BELIEVERS TO NOT IMPEDE HANUKAH CELEBRATION, IF MENORAH IS INSTALLED NOT IN CENTER OF CHISINAU

26 november, 2010
ORTHODOX BELIEVERS TO NOT IMPEDE HANUKAH CELEBRATION, IF MENORAH IS INSTALLED NOT IN CENTER OF CHISINAU

Orthodox believers will not impede the Jewish community to conduct the Hanukah celebration this year, only if the Jewish symbol – Menorah – is not installed in a public place in the center of the capital.

During the press conference on Friday, jurist of the Moldova Metropolitanate Elena Bitca said the Jewish community again addressed the Chisinau Primaria [city government] this year with a request to provide it with a place in the center of Chisinau for establishing Menorah during December 1-9 for the Hanukah celebration.

“Moreover, co-Chairperson of the Jewish community Alexander Bilinkis proposed a representative of the Metropolitanate to participate in the first candle lighting, which contradicts Judaic laws, as the Orthodox Church canons”, the jurist said.

She said a group of Orthodox believers also filed an application to the Primaria, where they ask authorities to forbid installing the Jewish symbol in the center of the capital. They said the Jewish community intention “has a provocative, impertinent and humiliating character and represents, in fact, a call for the religious hate”.

Archpriest Anatol Cibric said that a representatives of the Primaria told him on Friday morning that local authorities established the place for installing Menorah – near the Jewish library from the 4 Diordita street.

“Proceeding from this, we would like to thank the Chisinau Primaria for it took into consideration our desires. We do not stand against Jewish holidays. We respect it, but we want the holiday to take place not in the center of the capital. If Jewish people obey the Primaria decision, we will not create them obstacles in the holiday celebration”, Cibric said.

According to him, leadership of the Jewish community “intimidates Israel rabbi Livshic”.

“Even last year, the rabbi said the Menorah installation in public places contradicts Judaic laws of the Hanukah celebration. He says the Hanukah candle lightening is allowed only in private houses of Jewish people and in Synagogues”, Cibric said.

He said Livshic gave him a phone call and said the house he lives, where are also 10 children, is disconnected of electricity.

“Livshic says readers of the Jewish community sent him a notification where they inform him that he must leave the house where he is now”, the Archpriest said, adding this is “the intimidation against people who stand up against the Hanukah celebration”.

Infotag's dossier: In December 2009, the Jewish Menorah was installed in the Stefan cel Mare [Stephen the Great] park in the center on Chisinau. Orthodox believers stood against that and removed the Menorah.

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