Israeli President Lauds Role of Bulgaria's Jewish Community

Shimon Peres during his visit to Sofia's synagogue in August 2010. Photo by BGNES

Israel has special connections with Bulgaria, Israeli President Shimon Peres has stated in a letter to Organization of the Jews in Bulgaria, 'Shalom'.

"The rescue of the Bulgarian Jews from certain dead in Nazi Concentration Camps is a sign of the deep historical connection between our two nations," Peres states.

Peres praised the 'Shalom' organization for significant achievements and pointed out it has an important role in Bulgaria's society.

Bulgaria is famous for not allowing its Jews to be taken away by the Nazi regime. An estimated 50 000 Bulgarian Jews escaped the faith of being taken to concentration camps because of a campaign for their rescue that started in the southwestern Bulgarian town Kyustendil, with support or acquiescence of Tsar Boris III and other Bulgarian politicians such as Kyustendil's MP Dimitar Peshev.

However, 11 000 Jews from the regions of Macedonia and Thrace occupied by Bulgaria, a Nazi Germany ally in 1941-44, were deported to Holocaust camps.

Meanwhile, Israel's Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman will visit Bulgaria on Wednesday.

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