The Miraculous Journey of Zionist Sephardic Jews in Bulgaria

Less than a two-hour drive southeast of Sofia lies Plovdiv, an ancient Bulgarian city celebrated as Europe’s oldest continuously inhabited city. Nestled among seven hills along the banks of the Maritsa River, Plovdiv holds a rich Jewish heritage that traces back to the Roman imperial period in the 3rd century C.E. It was then known as Philippopolis and is home to Bulgaria's only ancient synagogue, discovered with a mosaic floor adorned with a menorah and Greek inscription.

The Jewish presence in the region dates back even further, as detailed in "Bulgarian Jews: Living History" by Clive Leviev-Sawyer and Imanuel Marcus. Philo of Alexandria's letter “On the Embassy to Gaius” from around 41 or 42 C.E. mentions Jews residing in various regions, including Macedonia and Thessaly.

In northern Bulgaria, a Latin inscription from the late 2nd century C.E. was discovered in Oescus, part of the Roman province of Moesia Inferior, featuring a menorah and referencing the archisynagogos (head of the synagogue).

Joseph Benatov, a Hebrew teacher at the University of Pennsylvania, provided insights into the history of Jewish communities in Bulgaria. "The oldest known communities date back to the Roman Empire, the so-called Romaniote Jews, who are the Greek-speaking Jews," he explained. Following the Romaniote Jews, Ashkenazi Jews arrived in the 13th and 14th centuries from central Europe, and significant waves of Sephardic Jews settled after their expulsion from Spain and Portugal in 1492 and 1497, dominating Jewish life in the region.

The Sephardic Jews absorbed the Romaniotes, while Ashkenazi communities maintained a minor presence. By the 20th century, 95% of Bulgarian Jews were Sephardic. Benatov highlighted that the Bulgarian-Jewish identity is relatively new, emerging after Bulgaria's independence in 1878. For centuries, Sephardic Jews identified as Ottoman Jews, subjects of the Ottoman Empire.

My wife’s DNA reflects the historical mingling of Ashkenazi and Sephardic communities in Bulgaria. On her maternal side, she is of Sephardic descent, with some Ashkenazi ancestry traced back to her great-great-grandfather, Mr. Berenstein.

In April, we traveled from Tel Aviv to Sofia to explore Bulgaria’s Jewish heritage. Our tour guide, Philip Stanimirov, recommended by Benatov, provided a comprehensive view of Jewish sites, including the awe-inspiring Central Sofia Synagogue, one of Europe’s largest Sephardic synagogues and the largest in the Balkan Peninsula. This Moorish Revival synagogue, completed in 1909, stands as a testament to Bulgaria’s renowned tolerance.

Benatov also noted the significant role of the Bulgarian Eastern Orthodox Church in protecting Jews during World War II. Metropolitan Kiril of Plovdiv and Metropolitan Stefan of Sofia were pivotal in rescuing Bulgaria’s Jews and were recognized as Righteous Among the Nations at Yad Vashem.

Kiril's act of civil disobedience in 1943 at the Plovdiv train station, where he threatened to lie down on the tracks to stop the deportation of Jews, is legendary. Stephan, the bishop of Sofia, supported Kiril, even warning the king he would also lie on the tracks in protest.

The rescue of nearly 50,000 Jews during World War II, despite Bulgaria's alliance with Nazi Germany, is a unique and proud chapter in Bulgarian history. However, not all Jews under Bulgarian control were saved. Approximately 11,343 Jews from Greek and Yugoslav territories administered by Bulgaria were deported to Treblinka and perished.

Dimitur Pešev, the deputy speaker of the Parliament, also played a heroic role by halting the deportation of 8,500 Jews in 1943. His intervention is commemorated in Kyustendil, a stop on Benatov’s tours.

Bulgaria commemorated the 80th anniversary of saving its Jewish population in March 2023. Representatives of the Jewish community, however, did not attend the official ceremony, citing King Boris III’s alliance with Hitler and the imposition of discriminatory laws.

Touring Bulgaria, we visited several Holocaust memorials, including the new memorial in Vazrazhdane Square in Sofia, honoring lawyers, judges, and prosecutors who played roles in rescue operations. The Monument of Gratitude in Plovdiv commemorates the prevention of the deportation of the city’s Jewish community.

Despite challenges, the Jewish presence in Bulgaria remains vibrant. The Zion Plovdiv Synagogue, constructed in 1892, stands as a testament to the enduring Sephardic heritage. Following World War II, many Bulgarian Jews made aliyah to Israel, with about 42,000 moving between 1947 and 1952, and another wave in 1990.

Today, Bulgaria's Jewish population is estimated to range from 2,000 to 6,000. The community, though small, is experiencing a revival. In Vidin, a $6 million initiative transformed the abandoned 19th-century synagogue into a cultural center. In Samokov, the Arie family’s legacy, including a synagogue now a national historical monument, showcases the Sephardic influence.

The Zionist movement found enthusiastic support among Bulgaria's Jews, with numerous Zionist organizations shaping Jewish life. Upon arriving in Israel, many settled in Jaffa, earning it the nickname "Little Bulgaria."

My wife’s grandparents were among the Bulgarian Jews who migrated to Israel in 1948. They joined the celebrations of Israel’s independence, marking a new beginning for Sephardic Jews expelled from Iberia, resettled in the Ottoman Balkans, and finally finding a home in Israel.

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