site.btaMemorial Ceremony at Sofia University Honours Holocaust Victims

The International Holocaust Remembrance Day was marked with a ceremony on Tuesday organized by the Hebrew Studies Programme at the Faculty of History of the St Kliment Ohridski Sofia University and the Diplomatic Institute at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Guests at the ceremony included Diplomatic Institute Director Tanya Mihaylova; Prof. Mira Markova, Dean of the Faculty of History; Nikolay Galabov, President of the Federation of Zionists in Bulgaria; former ambassador to Israel Rumyana Bachvarova, who was deputy prime minister between 2014 and 2017; former interior minister Tsvetan Tsvetanov; Israeli Ambassador Yosef Levi-Sfari; and Argentinian Ambassador Alejandro Meyer, along with representatives of other diplomatic missions. Students from the Dimcho Debelyanov Primary School and the Ronald Lauder Private School were also in attendance.

"At a time when antisemitism is at its highest level in decades and becoming increasingly violent, we must strengthen Holocaust education, not retreat from it," said Prof. Rumyana Marinova-Christidi, Head of the Hebrew Studies Programme, who opened the event. "As historians and as human beings, we feel a moral duty to preserve historical truth," she added.

Deputy Foreign Minister Nikolay Berievski emphasized the importance of historical memory by saying that the Holocaust remains a constant reminder of the dangers of hatred, intolerance and racism. He pointed out that Bulgaria has low levels of antisemitism, but people must remain vigilant and act quickly together to stop hatred.

Ambassador Levi-Sfari said that the Holocaust would not have been possible without support for it, and that education against hatred is extremely important. He acknowledged Bulgaria's unique role in rescuing Jews during World War II. He concluded by calling for an active fight against antisemitism throughout the world.

All participants in the ceremony lit candles in memory of the victims of the Holocaust. A screening of The World Will Tremble, which was shot in Bulgaria, was attended by producer Phillip Roth.

The International Holocaust Remembrance Day has been observed since 2006, following a UN General Assembly resolution of November 1, 2005.