08 February 2022
Time to read: 3 mins
On 27 January 2022, Bulgaria marked the International Holocaust Remembrance Day in a commemoration ceremony held in Aula Magna of Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski, the oldest and biggest university in the country.
The event was co-organized by the Embassy of the State of Israel, Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski, the National Assembly of the Republic of Bulgaria, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria and the Organization of the Jews in Bulgaria “Shalom”.
The ceremony gathered a number of high-level officials, representatives of the diplomatic corps, the academic community and the Jewish community in Bulgaria.
The audience was addressed by the Rector of Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski Mr. Anastas Gerdzhikov, the Speaker of the National Assembly Mr. Nikola Minchev, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Mrs. Velislava Petrova, the ambassador of Israel Mr. Yoram Elron, the ambassador of Germany Mr. Christoph Eichhorn, and the President of the Organization of the Jews in Bulgaria “Shalom” Mr. Alexander Oscar. Short remarks were also delivered by Dr. Danielle Gurevitch of the Bar-Ilan University in Israel and Dr. Lev Topor of Cambridge University presented his scientific research entitled “Nazis on the Rise: Contemporary Trends and Explanations of the European Far Right”.
The ceremony included a performance of Jewish music, a video screening of the Holocaust survivor Levy Zauderer’s testimony and a candle lighting ceremony in memory of the victims of the Holocaust. Prayers were red by Rabbi Yoel Ifrah (Sofia Central Synagogue) and Rabbi Yosef Salomon (Chabad Jewish Center).
The participants in the commemoration were acquainted with the exhibition of the Yad Vashem World Holocaust Remembrance Center „Shoah: How was it Humanly Possible?“.
The entire commemoration was live-streamed via the official Facebook page of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria. The event was widely covered by the media, including by the Bulgarian National Television.
Commemoration events play a significant role in advancing remembrance of this genocide and in countering anti-Roma discrimination.
On 27 January, International Holocaust Remembrance Day, individuals, organizations and governments from all over the world showed their commitment to this pledge. Adjusted to adhere to coronavirus regulations, this year’s commemoration events had an unmistakably digital character.
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