Prof. Bar-Zohar Expresses Gratitude for the Rescue of Bulgarian Jews

Jerusalem, 3 November, 2022 (TPS) -- TEL AVIV, 03.11.2022 (BTA)
The Bulgarian-born Israeli historian, novelist and politician, Prof. Michael Bar-Zohar, said Bulgaria’s example showed that a small David can defeat a powerful Goliath. That is why the Bulgarian Jews are so grateful to the Bulgarian people. He participated in a discussion on “The Media and the Rescue of the Bulgarian Jews” at the 17th World Meeting of Bulgarian Media in Tel Aviv on Thursday.

The forum called “Media and Salvation” took place in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv on November 1-3.

“The truth must be kept in our hearts and we should realize three things,” said Prof. Bar-Zohar. In his words, in the rescue of the Bulgarian Jews the good triumphed over the bad. If one more country had been in Bulgaria’s position and had done the same, many more Jews could have been rescued. “When you see now that someone violates human rights or the right to life, don’t ask ‘what can I do on my own,” he added. Dimitar Peshev and the Bulgarian people rescued the Bulgarian Jews, said Prof. Bar-Zohar.

On March 17, 1943, Dimitar Peshev, deputy chairman of the National Assembly, sent a letter to Prime Minister Bogdan Filov signed by 43 lawmakers against the deportation of the Bulgarian Jews. Peshev’s act was supported by the Bulgarian Orthodox Church and intellectuals. Under public pressure, the deportation of 50,000 Bulgarian Jews was canceled.

The 17th World Meeting of Bulgarian Media is held in partnership with Aurubis Bulgaria, Postbank, and Dimitar Madjarov-2 Ltd.