First Bar Mitzvah Since Holocaust Celebrated in Bulgaria
Hundreds gathered in Sofia, Bulgaria to celebrate what is being described as the first Bar Mitzvah in the country since the Holocaust decimated its Jewish population during WWII.
The Bar Mitzvah boy, M. M. Solomon, is the son of Bulgaria’s head Shliach and Chief Rabbi, Yossi Solomon.
Photos courtesy of Shturem.net
declasse' intelelctual
I have a couple of problems with the introductory statement: Was this really the first Bar-Mitzvah in over sixty years. One of the lesser know facts from the horrible Holocaust period was the fact that the Bulgarian people and autocracy opposed the Nazi final solution and worked to save the Jewish population in Bulgaria proper. It cost King Boris his life. When the Communist took over after the war, they persecuted not only the Jews but many of the Bulgarian citizens who had helped to save the Jews and tried to destroy the historical records of their heroic deeds. If wanted, I can provide some historical works on this subject.
Interesting note: Sofia has the largest synagogue in Eastern Europe; It is a beautiful structure which I have seen.
leah lipsker
mazel tov mazel tov
may all the rebbes brochas be with you always
eli and leah lipsker
concerned Citizen
To comment #1, it is quite possible that this is the first Bar Mitzva in over 60 years. After WW2 most of the community emigrated and there was a Jewish Community of about 1000 left, which I would imagine was mostly older people.
To #3
I think the title should read “First Bar Mitzvah Where the Maamer Isa B’medrish Tehillim was Read Since Holocaust Celebrated in Bulgaria.” Lets be real, withour the maamer can it really be considered a bar mitzva?