A police investigation has been launched in Moldova this week following reports that Chief Rabbi Mendel Axelrod was harassed as he left synagogue.
A young man, described by eyewitnesses as having an Eastern European appearance, reportedly drove to the Great Synagogue located on Chabad Lubavitch Street and began taking photographs of the building. After being approached by a security guard, the man started cursing Jews and Israel.
When Rabbi Axelrod emerged from the synagogue, the assailant directed his anger towards him by shouting, “What are you doing here? How come no one has finished you off for everything you are doing to the Palestinians?”
Sensing threats of physical violence, the security guard separated the two, allowing the rabbi to re-enter the synagogue and the assailant to leave the scene in his car.
“Moldova takes such events very seriously. We have decided to increase security around the school, kindergartens, and synagogues throughout the country, as well as make every effort to catch the perpetrators,” said the chairman of the Chabad-Jewish community, Rabbi Zushe Abelsky, in a statement as quoted by Arutz Sheva.
