Shacharis in Moldovia; HaRav Zaltzman is front and center
The Rav of Moldovia, HaRav Pinchos Zaltzman, works in a frenzy these days. The stream of refugees continues to flow into his country, and as rabbi of a Jewish community which feels a fraternal responsibility for its fellow Jews, he is mobilizing everything available to assist those who are fleeing Ukraine, while concurrently, he is involved in the opening of a new Talmud Torah (which took place this Monday) at the far end of the city so that Torah can continue to "protect and save."
A talk with him proceeds intermittently, as he continues to attempt to solve all kinds of problems, some altogether unsolvable.
"Not only is the influx made up of Jewish people but also of Jewish soldiers deserting from the Russian army who have removed their uniforms and are seeking asylum. Not all Ukrainian families can leave intact because some of their members are pending army duty. Then there are doctors and nurses who cannot leave, nor allow their families to leave without them. There are also many people who lack the documents to enable them to leave," he says painfully.
With how many people are you dealing?
"It amounts to a daily count of some 1200 people of which up to 600 are rerouted on to Romania. I'd like to repeat a conversation I had with the head of the secret police, the former KGB. He asked me how many years I served in the Israeli army. 'When I see an ultra-Orthodox rabbi operating a broad and many-armed logistic system of helping Jews leave the border, organizing food supplies, lodgings, medical services and consular services, I conclude that you must have served some twenty years...'
"He referred to me as an ultra-Orthodox rabbi," notes Rabbi Zaltzman, "because I am very punctilious that at every official meeting, I retain my long coat and hat. In reply to his assumption, I said, 'We are all graduates of the army of the Rashba and the Ketzos.' When he looked puzzled, I explained at length, adding that 'whoever studies Torah, especially when our brethren are in trouble, in captivity or life-threatening situations, a Jew knows everything that is needed.' The esteemed general could not hide his amazement."
Rabbi Zaltzman says that precisely at a time like this, he makes the effort to uphold the Torah and its exalted lessons before the authorities, but also in the eyes of the masses of Jews streaming to rescue centers. "We performed two weddings this week, one of a Ukrainian couple and another where the bride was from Moldovia and the chosson from Ukraine, both in later stages of life and baalei teshuva. The wedding was fully attended by prominent Jews, important doctors, Jewish government employees, Jewish Moldovan military personnel, members of Hatzolah, all of whom deserve plentiful thanks for their activities in these times. I conferred the first bracha under the chuppah to the Rosh Yeshiva of Odessa, and by the second wedding, I also according him a extra blessing despite the need to bestow honors to so many other deserving personages. I took the microphone and announced, 'There is a large number of people here worthy of our thanks and esteem but I only gave two of the brochos to the Rosh Yeshiva, for only Torah is the most important thing to us, certainly as opposed to flags of countries, bright vests, high levels or military positions. All of them deserve our thanks, while only Torah protects and saves!'
"On Shabbos I only gave aliyos to avreichim to emphasize the importance of Torah for all Jewry," he concluded.
Do you have enough kosher food?
"Precisely because of the situation, we are especially meticulous in kashrus, not allow any cholov akum or bread from a non-Jew despite the tremendous effort involved therein."
From left: A shtibel in Moldovia, The mayor of Kishinev with HaRav Zaltzman, The mayor at the community command center
