The rescue of the Bulgarian Jewish community during the Second World War is a source of national pride for all Bulgarians because not a single Bulgarian Jew was deported to the Nazi death camps. This is what President Rumen Radev said during a meeting at the Presidency with members of organisations of Bulgarian Jews in Israel. The meeting was held on the initiative of the Bulgarian Immigrants Union (Ihud Olei Bulgaria), the Bulgarian Cultural Information Center and the Israel-Bulgaria Friendship Society. The occasion was the 80th anniversary of the rescue of Bulgarian Jews during World War II. The meeting was attended by famous historian and public figure from Israel, Prof Michael Bar-Zohar, and the Ambassador of the State of Israel, Yoram Elron. 

 

A small nation, together with its government, church and intelligentsia, succeeded in rescuing its Jewish compatriots in one of the darkest periods of human history, and we are duty-bound to continue this legacy by preventing new instances of anti-Semitism, the head of State said, recalling that, thanks to this act of bravery and tolerance carried out by Bulgaria during World War II, the entire Jewish community in the country, numbering some 50,000 people, survived the war. 

 

The President pointed out that the rescued Bulgarian Jews and their descendants in Israel are a solid foundation for the advancement of bilateral relations and the strategic partnership between Bulgaria and Israel. In his words, this country can use Israel's example for development in science, technology and economy. 

 

The representatives of the organisations of Bulgarian Jews expressed gratitude to Bulgaria and the Bulgarian people for rescuing the entire Jewish community in the country from deportation during the Second World War. They raised the need to speed up the procedure for acquiring Bulgarian citizenship and to strengthen cooperation in education, science and culture. 

 

The participants in the meeting also discussed the challenges related to the manipulation of historical facts about Bulgaria's actions during the Second World War. The common position was that joint efforts are needed to defend the historical truth about the rescue of Bulgarian Jews by Bulgaria and the Bulgarian people, and the representatives of the organisations of Bulgarian Jews expressed their determination to contribute to this.

 

The programme to mark the 80th anniversary of the rescue of Bulgarian Jews during the Second World War under the patronage of the head of State envisages the opening tomorrow of a documentary exhibition dedicated to the anniversary at the SS Cyril and Methodius National Library. The opening will be attended by the members of the organisations of Bulgarian Jews. Prof Michael Bar-Zohar will be a guest of honour.