site.btaUPDATED 82nd Anniversary of Rescue of Bulgarian Jews Marked with Ceremony, March of Tolerance in Sofia
A formal ceremony and the "We Remember" march of tolerance took place in downtown Sofia on Sunday to commemorate the 82nd anniversary of the rescue of Bulgarian Jews and to honour the memory of those who perished in Nazi death camps.
The march began at the Church of St. Sophia and concluded at the Monument to the Salvation of the Bulgarian Jewish Community.
Among the participants were National Assembly Chair Nataliya Kiselova, Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov, Sofia Mayor Vassil Terziev, Foreign Minister Georgi Georgiev, members of Parliament, President of the Shalom Organization of the Jews in Bulgaria Assoc. Prof. Alexander Oscar, and Israel’s Ambassador to Bulgaria Yosi Levi Sfari.
Addressing the event, Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov reflected on the significance of the historic rescue of Bulgarian Jews: "Eighty-two years separate us from those momentous events when, in an atmosphere of oppression, totalitarian darkness, and horror, Bulgarians from all walks of life – clergy, politicians, public figures, and ordinary citizens – raised their voices to defend their fellow countrymen’s right to live. Their voices became the embodiment of humanity and compassion".
"Let us remember the victims, honour them, and never turn a blind eye to evil. Let us carry forward the virtues that make us proud today but also oblige us to act rightly – to act with humanity," Zhelyazkov added.
National Assembly Chair Kiselova emphasized the responsibility to reject all forms of xenophobia, racism, and antisemitism, not just in Bulgaria but globally. "Let us remember the honourable Bulgarians who helped save the Bulgarian Jews. Let us bow our heads in memory of the Jews from Aegean Thrace, Vardar Macedonia, and the town of Pirot, who perished in Nazi camps during World War II," she said.
Sofia Mayor Terziev stressed that March 10 is a day of remembrance and responsibility, ensuring that history’s lessons are not forgotten and that humanity is never compromised. "At a time when the darkness of war threatened to consume thousands of innocent lives, ordinary people made an extraordinary choice – they chose courage over fear, solidarity over submission, and human life over political convenience," he said.
Foreign Minister Georg Georgiev described the events of 82 years ago as the most golden page in Bulgarian history and a supreme symbol of humanity. "There is nothing more valuable and noble than human life," he declared.
Israeli Ambassador Yosi Levi Sfari highlighted that Bulgaria had influential figures who stood up and said "This will not happen here". He noted that this serves as an exceptional historical lesson on the power of people when confronting evil.
/KK/
Additional
news.modal.image.header
news.modal.image.text
news.modal.download.header
news.modal.download.text
news.modal.header
news.modal.text