Open Letter to H.E. Slavena Gergova, Ambassador of the Republic of Bulgaria
Your Excellency,
I was deeply shocked and saddened to learn of three antisemitic attacks on important symbols of the Jewish community – the Sofia Monument of Salvation, the Burgas Monument of Gratitude, and the historic synagogue in Varna. These cowardly acts of hatred stand in painful contrast to Bulgaria’s proud legacy of tolerance and moral courage. I write to you as a friend of your country, to express both my concern and my hope that Bulgaria will once again demonstrate the strength of character for which it has long been admired.
I had the pleasure of visiting Bulgaria recently, and traveled widely including Sofia, Plovdiv, Burgas, Nessebar, and Haskovo. Everywhere I went, I was struck by the warmth of the people, the beauty of the countryside, and the sense of national pride that is so evident in everyday life. When I returned home, I started to actively encourage friends and family to visit Bulgaria – not only for its landscapes and history, but because of the spirit of decency and respect that distinguishes it among European nations. Bulgaria, I told them, is a country that deserves to be known for its soul as well as its attractions.
That sense of admiration only deepened as I learned more about Bulgaria’s remarkable conduct during one of the darkest periods in human history. Bulgaria remains unique among European nations for the way its citizens – ordinary people, parliamentarians, clergy, and even members of the royal family – stood together to protect their Jewish neighbors during the Nazi occupation. It is a fact too little known that more than 90 percent of Bulgaria’s Jewish population survived the war, saved by the courage of the Bulgarian people and the unwavering moral support of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church. This is a legacy of which the country can rightly be proud – an enduring testament to conscience, unity, and humanity.
During my visit, I saw this spirit still alive. On a walking tour through downtown Sofia, our guide spoke with genuine pride about the city’s diversity, pointing out from a single vantage point where churches, mosques, and the great Sephardic synagogue stand together, all part of the fabric of a nation that values coexistence. Unlike in some other so-called liberal societies where Jews are advised to hide their identity for fear of violence, in Bulgaria I had no need to hide who I was, sensing that all communities belong together there.
This proud history makes the recent attacks all the more painful. Acts of vandalism against monuments that celebrate rescue and gratitude are not only crimes against the Jewish people but insults to Bulgaria’s own story – a story of courage, moral clarity, and shared humanity. While I am sure these incidents do not reflect the attitudes of the Bulgarian people, it is essential that the government take clear, decisive steps to ensure that such hatred finds no shelter within the country’s borders.
I trust that your government will move beyond words of regret or sympathy to concrete action:
- to investigate swiftly and bring the perpetrators to justice;
- to reaffirm publicly Bulgaria’s zero tolerance for antisemitism and all forms of racial or religious hatred; and
- to invest in education and community initiatives that strengthen understanding and mutual respect.
Such measures would send an unmistakable message – that Bulgaria’s legacy of decency is not confined to the past but continues to guide its future.
Your Excellency, I express these thoughts with great respect and with the deep affection of someone who has experienced your nation’s kindness firsthand. The Bulgaria I discovered is a country that has earned its praise for its courage, dignity, and compassion. I beg you to not let this be torn away by people who lack any sense of justice and fairness. I pray that these events, painful as they are, will strengthen your people’s resolve to defend those values and to preserve the country’s deserved reputation as a beacon of tolerance.
With enduring friendship and admiration, I remain hopeful that Bulgaria will once again lead by example, showing the world that hatred can never erase history – and that moral strength, once proven, does not fade.
With highest respect,
Henry Kaye
Ashkelon, Israel
