Holocaust Remembrance Day Ceremony Commemorating the Rescue of Bulgarian Jews

The Holocaust Remembrance Day ceremony took place at HIT Holon Institute of Technology, focusing on the rescue of Bulgarian Jews during World War II. 

Prof. Yakubov, Ambassador of Bulgaria and the foreign diplomats 

This moving event, attended by the Institute's top management, students, and faculty members, was held in the presence of the Bulgarian Ambassador to Israel, Ms. Slavena Gergova, along with senior diplomats and ambassadors from various countries, as well as representatives of Bulgarian Jewish communities and numerous guests. 

The ceremony symbolized the deep connection between the nations and highlighted the importance of remembering human courage during the darkest periods of history. A particularly moving guest at the ceremony was Orly Gilboa, mother of the hostage who returned from captivity, Daniella Gilboa, who also has Bulgarian roots.

Prof. Eduard Yakubov and Orly Gilboa 

Prof. Eduard Yakubov, President of HIT, opened the ceremony with a moving speech in which he said: "We have gathered here today to commemorate the six million victims who perished in the Holocaust. Every year we say, 'Never Again,' but we must ensure that this statement is accompanied by actions. We are a people who aspire to peace, and to achieve this, we must continue to strengthen our country, our economy, and our values. I hope that the day will come when we can all live in peace, without wars."

H.E. Ambassador Slavena Gergova

H.E Slavena Gergova, the Bulgarian Ambassador to Israel, thanked HIT Holon Institute of Technology for hosting the event and said: "Holocaust Remembrance Day is a date we mark with reverence, commemorating the destruction and calamity inflicted upon the Jewish people during one of the darkest periods in history. This year, we gather to mark it at a time when a difficult war is taking place in the country, involving hostages – including children. Particularly during this complex time, the Institute has chosen to focus on the story of the rescue of Bulgarian Jews – a story of courage, moral responsibility, and hope. The rescue of approximately 50,000 Jews in Bulgaria is a living example of the importance of choosing the right side of history – a story that must continue to be told, especially in these days. We will never forget."

The story of the rescue of Bulgarian Jews during the Holocaust is one of the most fascinating and inspiring stories from the World War II era. It is an extraordinary tale of civil resistance and mass rescue. During World War II, Bulgaria was an ally of Nazi Germany. Nevertheless, Bulgaria was almost the only European country that managed to save most of its Jewish population: approximately 50,000 Bulgarian Jews.

During the ceremony, a segment from a documentary film about Dimitar Peshev was screened. Peshev was a Bulgarian politician who served as Deputy Speaker of the Bulgarian Parliament and was a key figure in the struggle to save the Jews. In February 1943, when he learned about the planned deportation of Bulgarian Jews, he acted quickly to warn Jewish leaders and organize resistance.

In one of the most dramatic moments, when the Germans demanded the deportation of Jews in February-March 1943, Peshev managed to repeatedly delay the deportation through various pretexts and excuses, while public protest grew. Eventually, the Bulgarian Parliament canceled the plan to deport the Jews. To our regret, despite the success in saving the Jews of Bulgaria itself, Bulgaria failed to save the Jews in the territories it had conquered in Macedonia and Thrace (approximately 11,000 Jews), most of whom were sent to death camps.

A guest of honor at the ceremony was retired Judge Abraham Ben-Hador, who shared a moving personal testimony about his family's experiences in Bulgaria and their rescue thanks to the courageous actions of Bulgarian citizens and political and spiritual leaders.

Judge (retired) Avraham Ben Hador

Dr. Ranny Yeger, a Hebrew culture researcher and founder of the Israeli Prayer House, who comes from a Bulgarian family, told the story of his family, which inspired a deeply moving animation film by student Daniel Mualem from the Department of Visual Communication at HIT who created it based on the personal story of Dr. Yeger's mother, Herzlina.

The film was made as part of a joint project of the Student Dean's Office at HIT, the Faculty of Design, and “Yad Vashem”. Additional student films from the same project were screened in the lobby of the Faculty of Design building, and their creators were awarded Certificates of Appreciations in a small ceremony.