An official ceremony and the March of Tolerance in Sofia was held on 9th of March
Today, Ambassador Yossi Levi Sfari took part in an official ceremony and the March of Tolerance in Sofia, marking 82 years since the rescue of Bulgarian Jews and honoring the memory of the 11,343 Jews from Aegean Thrace, Vardar Macedonia, and the town of Pirot who were murdered in Nazi camps. The march began from the Church of St. Sofia and ended at the Monument of Salvation.
In his official speech, Ambassador Yossi Levi Sfari noted that in Bulgaria, there were enough influential people who stood up and clearly said—the deportation of Jews will not happen here. He added that this is an excellent lesson to be learned from history about the power of people when they stand against evil.
"This story will forever connect Israel and Bulgaria because there is no other similar example on such a scale. Bulgarians deserve to be proud of their history, and it is our duty to ensure that future generations are familiar with it, both here and in Israel, so they can understand the roots of our excellent relations," the ambassador stated.
Among the official guests were the Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Bulgaria, Nataliya Kiselova, Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov, Mayor of Sofia Municipality Vasil Terziev, Minister of Foreign Affairs Georg Georgiev, and Members of Parliament.
The ceremony was opened by the Chairman of the Organization of the Jews in Bulgaria "Shalom," Assoc. Prof. Dr. Alek Oscar, with the words:
"Today we commemorate 82 years since the dramatic events of March 1943, when, thanks to the collective efforts of the Bulgarian people and the leaders of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, Bulgarian Jews were saved from almost certain death in the concentration camps."
Speaker of the National Assembly Nataliya Kiselova recalled the heroic actions of the rescuers and called on people to uphold human values and oppose xenophobia, racism, and anti-Semitism.
In his speech at the event, Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov stated that 82 years ago, Bulgarians from all social classes raised their voices in defense of their Jewish compatriots, demonstrating humanity and humanism. According to him, humanism is not merely a legacy but something that must be nurtured. He emphasized that we must remember the heroism and the victims, honor their memory, and stand against evil.
The Mayor of Sofia, Vasil Terziev, stressed that March 10 is a day of remembrance and responsibility—to never forget the lessons of history and to be a voice against hatred.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Georg Georgiev described the rescue of Bulgarian Jews as "the golden page of Bulgarian history" and a symbol of humanity and humanism. He emphasized that today, when the world is once again torn by wars and violence, the Bulgarian example shines brightly.
"Bulgaria will always oppose terrorism and stand up for human life," the minister stated.
The ceremony was also attended by children from the Ronald Lauder Jewish School, who laid 59 yellow tulips—in memory of the deceased and as a symbol of solidarity with the 59 Israeli citizens abducted and still held captive in Gaza.
