The interrupting Zirelson Street and the so-called Zirelson SynagogueLet's stop and look at the buildings that are being destroyed and restored at this time. This is our point number 8.In the early 20th century (1902), two of the wealthiest members of the Jewish community, Shulim Perelmuter and his son-in-law Moses Kligman, received permission to build House for the Aged and Yeshiva for Boys. A synagogue was built between the two buildings, which practically created a Jewish center of three sites.The Yeshiva was taught by a prominent religious and social activist, Leib-Yehuda Tsirelson, chief rabbi of Bessarabia. He also became chairman of the board of the Home for the Aged.Chisinau residents named the synagogue and the entire charitable complex "Synagogue Zirelson."In World War I, the yeshiva for boys was closed. In 1918, Rabbi Zirelson was able to restore the work of the yeshiva, where he was the head teacher. Later, in modern times, the charitable Jewish center for the elderly that we spoke of earlier was also named after him, Hesed Yehuda.The almshouse was notable for its external beauty and interior coziness. All the wards were dressed in clean, beautiful clothes.The orphanage was called a small palace.The rooms radiated cleanliness and comfort, in the press it was called "Dutch comfort. "In the rooms lived in 2-3 people. A kitchen was always open, and the wards always received kosher food.In 1940, all the structures were confiscated by the Soviets.Later, the buildings were badly damaged by bombing and earthquakes. In the 21st century, the territory and the remains of the buildings were purchased by the Jewish Community of the Republic of Moldova to build a Community Center.A little about Rabbi Zirelson He arrived in Chisinau in 1909 and became chief rabbi of the city and a year later of Bessarabia. Zirelson was one of the founders of the Agudath Israel movement and actively advocated the establishment of the State of Israel. A large part of his activity was connected with charitable organizations - orphanages, yeshivas, almshouses. The Rebbe was an outstanding philosopher and theologian - he researched, wrote books, lectured.He spoke Yiddish, Hebrew, Russian, Romanian, French. In the 1920s, Leib-Yehuda Tsirelson represented Bessarabia in the Romanian Parliament and was elected senator. He later resigned from the Senate to protest the anti-Semitism and fascism of the Iron Guard when his speech denouncing the university ban on Jewish students was not published. According to one legend, the first bomb dropped on Chisinau during World War II hit Zirelson's house. The Rebbe was buried in the Jewish cemetery in Chisinau, and the Torah scrolls desecrated during the 1903 pogrom are buried in the same crypt.