The enduring Jewish story of Bulgaria
A travel feature explores the enduring Jewish story of Bulgaria through Sofia and Plovdiv. It covers the Sofia Synagogue, the complex WWII history of rescue and deportation, post-war aliyah, and modern kosher amenities. The piece highlights living Jewish communities rather than museum relics.
A travel feature explores the enduring Jewish story of Bulgaria through visits to Sofia and Plovdiv. The article highlights the Sofia Synagogue, the largest Sephardi synagogue in Southeastern Europe, which survived a WWII bomb and now serves as an active community center. It recounts the complex history of Bulgarian Jewry during the Holocaust: the rescue of 48,000 Jews within Bulgaria's pre-war borders due to opposition from politicians, clergy, and citizens, alongside the deportation of over 11,000 Jews from occupied territories to Treblinka. Post-war, most of the community made aliyah. The piece also covers practical travel amenities, including Kosher Point Alegria restaurant and the Hilton Sofia, and notes Plovdiv's Zion Synagogue as a living community hub.