site.btaBulgaria's Consulate General in New York Commemorates 83rd Anniversary of Rescue of Bulgarian Jews

An event organized jointly with the American Jewish Committee (AJC) to mark the 83rd anniversary of the rescue of Bulgarian Jews took place on March 12 at Bulgaria’s General Consulate in New York, the diplomatic mission said on Facebook.

The commemoration was held under the motto “Memory, Action, and Prevention: Bulgaria’s Commitment in the Fight Against Antisemitism in the Broader Transatlantic Context.” It was dedicated to Bulgaria’s contemporary policies to combat antisemitism, inspired by the historical memory of the rescue of nearly 50,000 Bulgarian Jews during World War II.

The discussion stressed the connection between historical memory, education, and prevention, as well as the importance of international cooperation within the broader transatlantic context. The event included opening remarks, keynote presentations, a moderated discussion, a cultural programme, and a cocktail reception.

Prof. Rumyana Christidi, head of the Hebrew Studies Programme at the Faculty of History of Sofia University, was the keynote speaker at the invitation of the Consul General of Bulgaria, Angel Angelov, and the American Jewish Committee.

The event was attended by the head of Bulgaria’s mission to the United Nations, Ambassador Guergana Karadjova, as well as by the Consuls General of Israel, Georgia, Lithuania and others, representatives of the diplomatic corps, members of the American Jewish Committee, representatives of the Jewish and Bulgarian communities in New York City, the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, and descendants of rescued Bulgarian Jews who now live in the United States.

In her lecture, Prof. Rumyana Christidi recalled the historically good relations and mutual tolerance between Bulgarians and Jews. She noted that even today Bulgaria is among the countries with the lowest levels of antisemitism in the world and enjoys a well-deserved reputation as a country that is safe for all ethnicities and religions.

Kaya Deckelbaum, a sculptor of Bulgarian and Jewish origin, also participated and presented her sculpture “The Spirit,” which expresses gratitude to the Bulgarian people and their heroic role in the rescue of the Bulgarian Jews. She noted that during the “dark years of World War II, Bulgaria was the only country in Europe from which light and humanity came.”

Deckelbaum added that she is grateful to be a daughter of the Bulgarian people, who preserved their moral values in immoral times and demonstrated the “spirit” of humanity. The sculpture “The Spirit,” as part of an art installation, was displayed in the central lobby of the General Consulate of Bulgaria.

Brandon Pinsker, Associate Director of the New York office of the American Jewish Committee, briefly presented the work of the organization in the United States and around the world and paid special attention to its partnership with its representation in Bulgaria. The cooperation between the AJC and the Bulgarian government was highlighted in the context of the adoption of the definition of antisemitism of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA), including its adoption by nine Bulgarian universities, as well as the development of a National Plan to Combat Antisemitism.

Information was also shared about a number of joint initiatives in New York City with the Bulgarian diplomatic missions in the city, including activities marking the 80th anniversary of the rescue of the Bulgarian Jews.

During the subsequent discussion, moderated by Consul General Angel Angelov, participants discussed the importance of education, historical memory, and institutional policies as mutually complementary elements in efforts to prevent antisemitism, as well as the need for stronger international cooperation and the exchange of best practices.

Special attention was paid to the role of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church in the rescue of Bulgarian Jews. A special guest at the event was Bishop Kliment of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church in New York City, who took the floor to thank the organizers for commemorating this historical event and for introducing it to the American community.

The event concluded with a musical highlight, featuring a piece by Milcho Leviev, a Bulgarian composer of Jewish origin, performed by Israeli cellist and composer Tamar Sagiv.

During the cocktail reception, guests admired the statue “The Spirit,” which, combined with carefully designed lighting, made a striking impression, and to share their impressions of the event, noted the team of the Bulgarian diplomatic mission.

Among the attendees were numerous foreign and Bulgarian diplomats, representatives of Jewish organizations, American citizens of Bulgarian and Jewish descent, members of non-governmental organizations, academics, and others.