The event was opened by the Deputy Head of Mission Mr. Tadian Poplinger.
On April 23, a commemorative ceremony dedicated to Israel’s Holocaust Remembrance Day was held in the “Jerusalem” Hall of the Jewish Cultural Center.
The event was opened by the Deputy Head of Mission Mr. Tadian Poplinger.
A minute of silence and sirens honored the memory of the six million men, women, and children murdered by the Nazis and their collaborators, and prayers were heard in the hall for the return of the hostages from Gaza and for the soldiers currently fighting on Israel’s borders.
Ambassador Yossi Levi-Sfari lit the first memorial candle – in memory of the six million victims. He emphasized that today, more than ever, we must remember and fight against hatred.
The second candle was lit by Eli Anavi, a member of the Executive Board of the Organization of the Jews in Bulgaria “Shalom” – in memory of the destroyed Jewish communities in Europe, whose culture and heritage continue to live in our hearts.
The third candle – in memory of the one and a half million Jewish children – was lit by students from Ronald S. Lauder Private School. They recited the poem “Written in pencil in the sealed railway car” by Dan Pagis, which reminded us of all those who were unable to tell their story.
The fourth candle was lit by Tami Salomon – in honor of the Holocaust survivors. The heartbreaking last letter of Sara Gorlitz to her 6-year-old daughter Dita, who survived and today lives in Israel, was read.
The fifth candle was lit by Yakov Assa – in memory of the Jewish fighters during the Holocaust, in tribute to their courage and resistance.
The sixth candle was lit by the Chief Rabbi of Bulgaria, Rabbi Yoel Ifrah – in memory of the Righteous Among the Nations, who risked their lives to save Jews.
The prayers “Yizkor,” “El Male Rachamim,” and “Kaddish” were heard, and the ceremony concluded with the national anthem of Israel – “Hatikvah.”
Israel’s Presidency of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance - IHRA in 2025 was presented through a call to renew the commitment to the Declaration of the Survivors and to preserve memory for generations to come.
To remember. To honor. To pass on.
