AN EXHIBITION DEVOTED TO THE LIFE OF BULGARIAN JEWS

It is entitled 'The Sacred Road' and is displayed in the National Ethnographic Museum (the former royal palace), situated in the central part of Sofia. Dedicated to the 50th anniversary of the foundation of the Israeli state, the exposition is open to visitors until  September 1998.

The exhibition represents an account of the history of Jews in Bulgaria tracing it from the 15th century up to the late 1940's of our century. It consists of objects, photos, and documents from all the spheres of life of the Bulgarian Jewish community - religious practices, organizations, occupations, way of living, ethnography, culture, etc.

Exhibited are ancient manuscripts in Hebrew, as well as early printed Jewish books, published all over Europe. Presented are synagogues from different towns, festivals and rituals, various objects of cult, art and crafts (gold smith's work, glass making, weaving), documents, photos, etc. related with the activities of Jewish firms and joint-stock companies, with the undertakings of the Jewish Consistory, or with the Jewish political, cultural, sport, musical, youth, women's, etc. organizations. Displayed are some brilliant examples of articles used in everyday life  - furniture, house wares, traditional costumes and even... baby's  swaddling-clothes.

Traced is the contribution of Jews to the country's entire life, including their harmonious relations with the ethnic Bulgarian majority. It is no chance that not only Jews from Spain and Germany sought asylum in Bulgaria, but also Jews from other Balkan countries like Greece and Serbia, which were not familiar with the inveterate anti-Semitism of Western Europe.

Special attention is given to the saving of Bulgarian Jews in World War II. It is underlined that in the period 1941-1945 Bulgaria was the only state in the world, where the Jewish people experienced a significant population growth. Many of the exhibits tell the story of  the "special relationship" of the Jewish community with Tzar Boris III. As is believed, the merit  for  the salvation of the  48 thousand Bulgarian Jews from the Holocaust  went largely to him. Among the other exponents is The Flame of Life Award to H.M. King Boris III, Saviour of the Jews, presented in 1994 by the American Jewish Congress of Holocaust Survivors to his son Simeon II. 
"The Flame of Life" Award
    Here is also the certificate issued by Keren Kayameth Leisrael to the Bulgarian grove in Israel, also presented  to his son Simeon II after the consecration of the grove. 

    The exhibition completes with the original of the fraternization treaty of Sofia and Tel Aviv signed by the mayors of the two cities in 1992. 

    The exposition has been organized by the National Ethnographic Museum, the Museum for History of Sofia, the Central Public Record Office, the Public Record Office in Sofia, and the Jewish Historical Museum - all seated in the Bulgarian capital. 

    Keren Kayameth Leisrael Certificate of Bulgaria Forest in Israel 
    presented  to H.M. Tzar Simeon II following the consecration of the forest, 
    October 1996


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