On March 10, we mark 82 years since the rescue of Bulgarian Jews in 1943

On March 10, Bulgaria marks the rescue of Bulgarian Jews during World War II and commemorates the victims of the Holocaust and crimes against humanity. The date has been chosen because of the so-called "Kyustendil Action" of 1943. Then, with the help of politicians and public figures from Kyustendil, the government opposed the deportation of Bulgarian Jews to Nazi concentration camps requested by the Third Reich. 

After 1943, all nearly 50,000 Bulgarian Jews were rescued, which is a unique case in World War II.

Photo: Daniela Kostadinova, BNR Burgas
The Jewish community in Plovdiv and Burgas celebrated 82 years since the rescue of Bulgarian Jews with a ceremony in front of the Monument of Gratitude

"Nowadays, you see how xenophobia and anti-Semitism are spreading, how individual societies are beginning to suffer. Therefore, we must remember what happened during these days and months in Bulgaria,” urged the chairman of the Jewish organization Shalom in Plovdiv, Svetlozar Kalev.

An official ceremony in front of the wall of the Bulgarian righteous people of the world who participated in the rescue was also held at the capital’s 134th school Dimcho Debelyanov which is an ORT School. Among the guests were Minister of Justice Georgi Georgiev, Minister of Culture Marian Bachev, politicians, diplomats and representatives of state institutions.

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