Community in Bulgaria - World Jewish Congress

Bulgaria

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The Years of the Holocaust

Post-Holocaust to Communism Period

Demography

Community Life

Religious and Cultural Life

Information for Visitors

Relations with Israel

The Institute for Jewish Policy Research (JPR) estimates that Bulgaria has between 2,000 and 6,000 Jews, with most of the people being elderly Sephardim. The Bulgarian Jewish community has developed considerably in recent years, with a strong emphasis on reviving communal Jewish knowledge. Furthermore, there are no overt displays of antisemitism in Bulgaria, as Jews have full participation in all elements of Bulgarian public life, including high-level government positions.

The Bulgarian Jewish community is represented by the Organization of Jews in Bulgaria-Shalom – the Bulgarian WJC affiliate.

WJC Affiliate

Organization of Jews in Bulgaria-Shalom (Организация на евреите в България "Шалом")

Telephone: +359 2 40 06 301
Email: info@shalom.bg
Website: http://www.shalom.bg/

Social Media:

Facebook: Организация на евреите в България "Шалом"/Organization of Jews in Bulgaria "Shalom"
Instagram: Organization of the Jews in Bulgaria SHALOM
X: @ShalomBulgaria

President: Dr. Alina Levi, MD, PhD

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History

Bulgaria and the Jewish community have a centuries-long history of coexistence based on mutual loyalty and tolerance.

Archeological findings indicate the presence of Jews in what is today Bulgaria as far back as the Roman period. After the establishment of the First Bulgarian Empire in 681, a number of Jews persecuted in the Byzantine Empire are believed to have settled in Bulgaria.

In the 14th century, Tsar Ivan Alexander (1331–1371) married a Jewish woman, Sarah (renamed Theodora), who converted to Christianity and had considerable influence in the court.

During the time of the Ottoman Empire, many Jews came to the land of Bulgarian after the Expulsion from Spain in 1492. In that time the Jewish community played an important role in trade, cultural life, and the intellectual sphere of the country. The Sephardic Jews who came from Spain to settled in various Bulgarian cities: Vidin, Nikopol, Silistra, Pleven, Sofia, Yambol, Plovdiv (Philippopolis), and Stara Zagora. A wave of Ashkenazi Jews arrived in Bulgaria after being banished from Bavaria in 1470.

Bulgaria has a long tradition of integrating Jewish citizens into society, with some of the first legal documents of the newly created Bulgarian state in the 19th century guaranteeing equality for all citizens, regardless of ethnic or religious affiliation. The Tarnovo Constitution of 1879 declared all Bulgarian citizens equal politically and legally, and Jewish communities played a significant role in the economic development of the country. The rabbi of Sofia, Gabriel Mercado Almosnino, and three other Jews took part in the Constituent National Assembly of Bulgaria in 1879. During this period, many Jews achieved success in trade, industry, and science. Jews were drafted into the Bulgarian Army and participated in the Serbo-Bulgarian War in 1885, the Balkan Wars of 1912-1913, and World War I. During that period 952 Jews died fighting for Bulgaria.

The Treaty of Neuilly following World War I emphasized the Jews' right to equality, yet antisemitism began to spread and was indirectly promoted by the governments of the time. The Bulgarian Jewish community found much of the anger and resentment that the gentile population had concerning their country’s destitute state of affairs directed at it, and as a result, the Jewish population in Bulgaria began to decline.

In the 1920s and 1930s, Bulgarian Jews began to establish themselves as an important part of the Bulgarian intellectual and cultural life. These years marked a period of emigration and political change in Bulgaria, but many Jews remained active in society. Prominent figures such as the artist Jules Pascin, Nobel laureate Elias Canetti, and many others played key roles in the cultural life of Bulgaria and the world. At this time, Bulgarian Jews made up about 0.8% of the country's population, and most of them were born in Bulgaria and held Bulgarian citizenship. There was a flourishing of Zionism during this period, despite the younger generation displaying a sense of assimilation by speaking Bulgarian instead of Ladino, the language of their fathers. However, all of this occurred under persistent and prevalent antisemitism that was inextricable from the country’s alignment with Nazi Germany.

The period of growing Nazi influence over Bulgaria began to bring changes to the relationship between Bulgarians and Jews. In the 1930s, as Germany began seeking allies in the Balkans, the political situation in Bulgaria shifted. During this period, far-right and nationalist organizations such as the "Union of Bulgarian National Legions" and the "Warriors for the Advancement of Bulgarianism" began to spread antisemitic ideas. Although these antisemitic attitudes did not lead to large-scale violence in Bulgaria, they indicated that the country was gradually aligning itself with Nazi principles.

The Years of the Holocaust

In 1939, after the start of World War II, Bulgaria witnessed its first open manifestations of antisemitism, with one example being an attempt to replicate the "Kristallnacht" in September 1939, when Jewish shop windows in Sofia were smashed. In 1940, antisemitic legislation began to take shape, inspired by Nazi laws in Germany and Italy. A key moment in this process was the adoption of the Law for the Protection of the Nation in January 1941, which defined the Jewish community in Bulgaria as "foreign elements," hostile to the national identity and spirit. The law introduced strict limitations on the rights of Jews, including the voting, running for office, working in government, serving in the army, marrying or cohabitating with ethnic Bulgarians, using Bulgarian names, and/or owning rural land. Jewish leaders were not alone in protesting against the law; the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, Bulgarian Workers' Party officials, professional organizations, and a group of 21 writers also opposed it.

In 1943, when Germany began demanding the deportation of Jews from Bulgaria, the Bulgarian public and a significant portion of political and religious leaders opposed it. One of the most important stages in the resistance was against the plan to deport Jews from the old territories of Bulgaria. Thanks to the efforts of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, including Metropolitan Stefan and Metropolitan Kiril, as well as other Bulgarian leaders, they managed to prevent the deportation of approximately 48,000 Jews from Bulgaria. Several factors played a crucial role in their salvation – from the firm position of the Bulgarian intelligentsia to the mobilization of ordinary citizens.

One of the most notable cases was the delegation from Kyustendil, who visited Sofia and met with Dimitar Peshev, Deputy Chairman of the National Assembly, to advocate for the salvation of the local Jews. Peshev's position, along with several other members of the National Assembly, led to the cancellation of the deportation of Jews from Bulgaria.

Bulgaria, although under pressure from Germany, managed to save almost all of its Jews during World War II. This achievement was the result of the efforts of numerous Bulgarian politicians, religious leaders, intellectuals, and ordinary citizens who opposed the antisemitic policy and demonstrated unprecedented resistance to the deportation. This story of solidarity and resistance is one of Bulgaria's most significant accomplishments during World War II and remains a symbol of tolerance and humanity.

Unfortunately, with the assistance of Bulgarian administrative and police authorities, between March 18 - 29, 1943, 11 434 Jews from the Aegean Thrace, Macedonia and the city of Pirot were deported to Poland, where nearly all of them perished in the German concentration camp Treblinka. This was one of the darkest phases in Bulgaria's history during World War II, demonstrating the collaboration between the Bulgarian authorities and the Nazis in their efforts to implement the "Final Solution" for the Jews.

Post-Holocaust to Communism Period

After the end of World War II and the liberation of Bulgaria from Nazi influence, the country went through significant political changes. Following the war, many Jews who had survived the Holocaust sought to emigrate, with the majority choosing to go to Palestine, which later became the state of Israel. In the post-war years, the Bulgarian government, now under communist rule, adopted policies that were aimed at aligning with the Soviet bloc. This led to the adoption of various anti-Zionist measures, especially after 1948, when the state of Israel was established. While Bulgaria had once been a strong supporter of the idea of a Jewish homeland, the new government, under Soviet influence, shifted its stance. The Jewish community faced increasing restrictions, with many Jews leaving Bulgaria for Israel, the United States, or other countries in the West.

Bulgaria became a People's Republic under the influence of the Soviet Union, and the political landscape changed drastically. The Jewish community, which had suffered during the war, was also deeply affected by these shifts. the Bulgarian Jewish community found itself cut off from the rest of the world and wider Jewish organizations. As Bulgaria became more and more communist, there was a concentrated effort to wipe out Zionist manifestations in the country. Bulgarian communist authorities viewed outside influences with deep suspicion and disdain, with “illegal” movement from Bulgaria to Israel considered a crime at one point.

In 1948, the Communist government of Bulgaria nationalized property, and many Jewish businesses were taken over by the state. However, in contrast to many other Eastern Bloc countries, Jews in Bulgaria did not experience the same degree of anti-Semitic violence or oppression after the war. Despite the political repression and the challenges of the post-war years, the Jewish community in Bulgaria remained relatively intact.

Demography

The Institute for Jewish Policy Research estimates that Bulgaria was home to roughly 2,000 Jews as of 2022, out of a total population of 6,900,000.

Most Jews live in Sofia but there are smaller communities in Plovdiv, Varna, Burgas and Ruse.

Community Life

The majority of the Bulgarian Jews are represented by the Organization of Jews in Bulgaria “Shalom”, which is an independent, nonpartisan, voluntary, democratic, organization of the Jews in Bulgaria. Its main goals are to uphold Jewish traditions and values, to guarantee the rights of its members and all the Jews in the country; to prevent all forms of racism and antisemitism, and to preserve historical monuments such as synagogues and cemeteries.

The organization aims to preserve and develop Jewish ethnic, linguistic, and cultural traditions, to defend the constitutional rights of its members and all Jews in the country, and to oppose any form of fascism, totalitarianism, racism, antisemitism, and national chauvinism. Its goals are achieved through the study and popularization of Jewish history and ethnic traditions, the celebration of holidays and anniversaries, the organization of artistic events such as exhibitions, musical and theatre performances, and concerts, and the hosting of meetings, symposiums, workshops, etc.

Shalom publishes the newspaper Evreiski Vesti, the La Estreya magazine, books, brochures, and other printed editions. There is also an online version of the newspaper, operating since 2025.

OJB “Shalom” works to maintain the historical heritage, such as synagogues, graves, and monuments and also administers and manages both its property and the property distributed to third parties.

The organization provides social, health, and educational benefits, participates in acts of solidarity, and provides social assistance across the country and abroad.

In addition, other Jewish organizations such as BBYO, Hashomer Hatzair, WZO, Maccabi, The organization of the friends of Israel in Bulgaria “Negev”, “Chabad”, as well as the state of Israel, contribute to the of the Bulgarian Jewish Community in Sofia.

Religious and Cultural Life

The Bulgarian Jewish community is a proud Sephardic community, guided by Jewish values and creating a pluralistic environment for the maintenance of Jewish traditions and religion. The level of religious observance in Bulgaria is not high, and many Bulgarian Jews come from mixed marriages, result of the communist regime. Many Bulgarian Jews identify themselves in a national-ethnic, rather than a religious, context.

There are only two functioning synagogues in Bulgaria, located in Sofia and Plovdiv. Services are held every Shabbat, and most of the Jews congregate on the important Jewish holidays. Built in 1909, the synagogue in Sofia celebrated its 115th anniversary in 2024. The neo-Byzantine synagogue is one of the largest Sephardic buildings in the world and among the largest synagogues in Europe.

The largest active demographic segment of the community is the generation aged 50 years and over, but in the last 25 years, after re-establishing the active programming and educational institutions, many families with children have begun to return to the community and to Judaism.

There are many programs and services provided for the members of the community, based on their needs and interests.

Kosher Food

Kosher food in Bulgaria is mostly limited to Sofia, but also in some touristic places like the seaside and the ski resorts. There are many kosher products available in the supermarkets and they are listed on the website of the Sofia synagogue. There is a kosher canteen, part of OJB “Shalom” which serves kosher lunch for the elderly members, the Jewish daycare, the Jewish school and all the big community events.

Jewish Education

In 2010 a private kids’ daycare center called “Gan Balagan” was opened. Fifteen years later there are around 100 Jewish kids from one to five years old educated annually in the daycare.

In September 2019, as a natural continuation on the Jewish knowledge children were receiving from the “Gan Balagan” daycare, the Ronald S. Lauder Jewish School was founded. The school is managed by the OJB “Shalom” together with a board of an educational foundation “Bet Shalom.” It is a value-based community school, that teaches Hebrew, Jewish studies and English language on top of the program, required by the Bulgarian Ministry of Education. Through a family-like environment, students practice Jewish values, traditions and culture.

The Ronald Lauder school currently educates 250 Jewish children, aged from six to 16 years old (every school year, the age of the students will raise up until 18 years of age, or the 12th grade). It aims to educate critical thinking individuals, with a developed moral system, future leaders of the Bulgarian and global Jewish communities.

In Sofia there is also a public school teaching Hebrew language as a primary foreign language 134 ORT Dimcho Debelyanov school.

There is a bachelor and master program called “Hebraistic” in the Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridki”. The program is implemented by specialists in the relevant fields from Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski" and Israeli universities. Teaching is carried out in Bulgarian and English. An important part of the curriculum is the language competence of students in the field of biblical and modern Hebrew. When teaching the language, it is assumed that students have no prior knowledge of it.

Much of the education that members of the Jewish community in Bulgaria receive, from outside of the formal institutions, is conducted through programs and activities of the OJB “Shalom. Founded on the principles of learning through experience and job sharing, the activities of OJB Shalom are, for the most part, experience-based. The purpose of the organization is to educate its members beginning from infancy with the principles of Judaism, Sephardic Jewish traditions, and the education connected with the Jewish State of Israel.

Youth

Jewish teenagers in Bulgaria can participate in the activities of the local chapters of international movements such as BBYO and Hashomer Hatzair.

There is an annual course in Judaism for all the kids turning 12 and 13 and preparing to have their Bar and Bat Mitzvahs during the year. The program is organized by OJB “Shalom” together with the Central Israelite Religious Council in Bulgaria.

OJB “Shalom” also offers annual residential summer camps for children from 6 till 17 years old, leadership programs for teenagers, seminars about Judaism, and classes on Jewish traditions, songs and dances.

Jewish Media

Despite the small size of the community, there are Jewish Bulgarian periodicals and publications. The organization OJB Shalom publishes the newspaper Evreiski vesti, La Estreya magazine, books, brochures and other printed editions. An update on the activities of the community can also be found here.

Information for Visitors

Relations with Israel

Israel and Bulgaria have full diplomatic relations.

Embassy of Israel in Bulgaria:
"Shipchenski Prohod" 18,
1113 Sofia, Bulgaria

Telephone: +359 2 951 5044
Email: info@sofia.mfa.gov.il
Website: https://new.embassies.gov.il/bulgaria/en

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