Much has been reported in then media about a desecration of the Jewish cemetery in Chișinău in recent days. We post here, as a Public Service Announcement, clarifications about the incident (and corrections) from Irina Shikhova, the director of the Moldova Jewish History Museum, which oversees the cemetery as an open-air museum.
She writes:
ABOUT THE VANDALISM AT THE JEWISH CEMETERY IN CHIȘINĂU
The vandalism at the Jewish cemetery in Chișinău (The Jewish History Museum of the Republic of Moldova) has been reported worldwide. Unfortunately, many media outlets have repeated unverified information, and only a few have reached out to us for clarification. For everyone concerned about this issue: those with relatives buried in this cemetery and everyone else, both Jews and non-Jews.
1. The act of vandalism occurred no later than June 3rd (not “on the night of the 11th to the 12th”).
2. The vandalism involved spray painting Nazi and neo-Nazi symbols (no gravestone was “destroyed” or “smashed”).
3. A total of 37 gravestones were affected (not “more than 50”) in one sector, mainly graves from the 1970s.
4. Immediately after discovering the vandalism, the police were notified and promptly responded by collecting evidence, camera recordings, etc., and an investigation was initiated.
5. The Ministry of Culture, the Agency for Inspection and Restoration of Monuments, the Jewish community, and the Embassy of the State of Israel have been informed, and information has been posted on the Museum’s page.
6. To date, with permission from the investigative authorities, all traces of vandalism on the gravestones have been removed by Museum staff.
The Museum is making maximum efforts in two main directions: education and promoting the Jewish culture, tolerance and mutual understanding; and preserving Jewish heritage, particularly caring for the Jewish cemetery in Chișinău as an open-air museum.
What happened was primarily made possible because the stone wall surrounding the cemetery (11.5 hectares, nearly 25,000 graves) has deteriorated in several places, making it impossible to prevent unwanted persons, including criminal ones, from entering the territory. The Museum has been seeking for two years for funding for restoring the wall. For anyone wishing to help, banking details are available in dollars, euros, and Moldovan lei.
MDL 
BC “Moldindconbanc” S A., SWIFT: MOLDMD2X MUZEUL DE ISTORIE A EVREILOR DIN REPUBLICA MOLDOVA INSTITUTIA PUBLICA IBAN MD72ML022510000000005328
DESTINATION: DONATIONUSD 
CORR BANC: The Bank of New York Mellon, New York, USASWIFT IRVTUS3NXXX
BC “Moldindconbanc” S A., SWIFT: MOLDMD2X MUZEUL DE ISTORIE A EVREILOR DIN REPUBLICA MOLDOVA INSTITUTIA PUBLICA, IBAN MD72ML022510000000005328 DESTINATION: DONATIONEURO 
Correspondent bank Raiffeisen Bank International, Vienna, Austria, SWIFT RZBAATWW
OR
Landesbank Baden-Wurttemberg, Stuttgart, Germany, SWIFT: SOLADESTXXX
BC “Moldindconbanc” S A., SWIFT: MOLDMD2X
MUZEUL DE ISTORIE A EVREILOR DIN REPUBLICA MOLDOVA INSTITUTIA PUBLICA, IBAN MD72ML022510000000005328
DESTINATION: DONATION
2 comments on “Moldova: Clarifications from the director of the Moldova Jewish History Museum about the recent vandalism at the Jewish cemetery in Chișinău”
Thank you for the clarification. As a fundraising strategy I recommend being more transparent by stating the specific amount needed to repair the wall, and maybe provide a visual for how close you are to completion. This gives donors an idea of how much to donate. Also, if someone were to donate the entire amount I would hope there is recognition. For example donate to a section of wall, earn a thank you plaque. This way whole families can go in on a donation. Same for organizations that might need more exposure.
Many thanks for this clarification!