site.btaCeremony in Sofia Commemorates Victims of October 7 Terrorist Attack in Israel

The Organization of Jews in Bulgaria "Shalom", the Central Israeli Spiritual Council, the Zionist Federation of Bulgaria and the Friends of Israel in Bulgaria Negev association organized on Monday a memorial ceremony in the Sofia Synagogue for the victims of the terrorist attack in Israel on October 7.

The ceremony began with a minute's silence in memory of the victims. A prayer was offered for the health and release of the hostages.

Chairman of “Shalom” Alexander Oskar, who led the ceremony, explained to journalists that today's event was in keeping with Jewish tradition. “Thirty days after a loved one dies, we gather to pray for their soul,” he said. Oscar noted that over 1,400 people were brutally murdered on October 7 this year and today they will honour their memory and pray for the health of the 240 hostages who were kidnapped.

The commemorative ceremony was attended by National Assembly Chair Rosen Zhelyazkov, Vice President Iliana Iotova, Acting Prosecutor General Borislav Sarafov, outgoing Sofia Mayor Yordanka Fandakova, Defence Minister Todor Tagarev, relatives of kidnapped Israeli citizens, representatives of institutions, the diplomatic corps, and public figures.

Vice President Iliana Iotova: We must never get used to violence. Terrorists, wherever they are in the world, will meet our very firm and very categorical response. I am a proud representative of a nation that 80 years ago defended its Jews and managed to prevent 50,000 people from being sent to the death camps. This should be an example to all.

National Assembly Chair Rosen Zhelyazkov: We support the just cause of our brothers in Israel and their right to defend themselves, their homes and their homeland. Thirty days have passed since the beginning of one of the most sinister wars, with means of expression and manner of waging that go beyond the limits of human imagination. Today, we are witnessing something beyond the concept of war - it is terror in its most terrible dimensions, because it is ubiquitous, it is directed mainly at civilians, it is beyond the rules of warfare, it is beyond the rules of humanity. We also see the way in which the actions are being conducted - on the one hand, human shields, on the other, the Israeli army, which provides corridors for civilians to save themselves. But these rules are not appreciated. Our duty is to stand on the clear position - Israel has the right to wage this war, to wage it without seeking symmetry, because there is none when you are fighting an enemy that does not choose means, attacks children, takes hostages. Today, the State of Israel has the right to live, the people of Israel have the right to live and develop in their land, to bring up their children and to be an example of progress, but they also have the right to defend themselves. Because it is the defence of civilizational choice, of progress against obscurity.

Acting Prosecutor General Borislav Sarafov: The Prosecutor's Office will be absolutely uncompromising to any manifestations of anti-Semitism, radical Islam and to any forms of preparation, propaganda of war, terrorist acts or support of such actions. There will be zero tolerance for any such manifestations.