Nearly 400 mainly young Jews from Moldova and the southern Ukraine are coming together today in Chisinau for Limmud FSU Moldova.

More than 22,000 Jews live in Moldova, with about 15,000 concentrated in the capital city. For more than a century, Chisinau (formerly known by its Russian name of Kishinev) has been marked by its rich Jewish history. Today, this once-remote part of the former Russian Empire is the vibrant capital of the recently independent Republic of Moldova, with a newly thriving Jewish community.

The entire Limmud FSU Moldova event is being organized by a team of local volunteers and a programming committee, in collaboration with the head of the Jewish community of Moldova, Alexander Bilinkis, local Jewish organizations and co-sponsored by the USA Embassy in Moldova. The conference will include over 80 lectures, presentations, cultural performances, workshops, excursions and round-table discussions, in the tradition of all Limmud FSU events.

Among the presenters will be prominent historians, scientists, artists, politicians, businessmen, educators and musicians from the FSU, Israel, and the U.S. Among the performers are The Shuk, the widely acclaimed Israel-based ensemble of musicians and educators; Burlacu Geta, a Moldovan singer and contestant on the Eurovision Song Contest 2009; Marianna Goncharova, Laureate of international literature awards and winner of the LiveJournal “Professionals 2009” and “Best Blogs of 2009” competitions; Igor Irten’ev, a leading Russian contemporary poet; Eli Itin, Innovation Evangelist, Amdocs; Valery Khait, Chief editor of “The Fountain” humor magazine of Odessa and Vice-President of the World Club of Odessa’s citizens; Constantine Moscovici, People’s Artist of Moldova, soloist in the National Philharmonic Orchestra and virtuoso on the nai (Moldovan pan-pipes); Igor Shchupak, director of “Tkuma” the All-Ukrainian Center for Holocaust Studies and Museum of History of Jews of Ukraine and Holocaust History; Igor Tomilov, Director and leading actor at the State Musical Theater of the National Arts in Moscow.

“Limmud FSU Moldova will bring together the best and brightest young Jews from throughout the region to learn, connect and celebrate the incredible rebirth of a historic community,” said Chaim Chesler, founder of Limmud FSU. “We are privileged to experience and support this once-again vibrant Jewish culture.”