The Jewish community in Bulgaria celebrated the eighth day of the Hanukkah holiday at the Central Sofia Synagogue.
Guests at the official ceremony were the President of the Republic of Bulgaria Mr. Rumen Radev, Speaker of the National Assembly Mr. Rosen Zhelyazkov, Mayor of Sofia Municipality Mr. Vasil Terziev, Ambassador of the State of Israel in Bulgaria Yossi Safari-Levi, MPs, representatives of the Council of Ministers, diplomatic missions in Bulgaria, of the faiths and friends of the Jewish community.
The ceremony was opened by Mr. Maxim Delchev CEO of Shalom and Chairman of the Central Israeli Spiritual Council, to whom 4-year-old Hannah brought the fire for lighting shamash – the main candle of Hanukkah. “The sages say that we are all like candles – we carry light somewhere deep inside us and we can transmit it.” And this is my message to all of us dear sisters and brothers here. Now we need, all of us, to clean up what has been desecrated. And even if we do not have the power to clean and improve the land of Israel, let us turn to our hearts and reignite the light we carry there. And let’s continue to pay it forward. “, Mr. Delchev said.
The first candle was lit by the President of the Republic of Bulgaria Mr. Rumen Radev. The other seven were ignited by the Speaker of the National Assembly Mr. Rosen Zhelyazkov, Mayor of Sofia, Ambassador of the State of Israel in Bulgaria N. Pr. Mr. Yossi Levi Safari, Minister of Justice Mr. Atanas Slavov, Chairman of the Organization of Bulgarian Jews in Israel “Ehud Olei Bulgaria” Mr. Ino Itzhak, Mr. Gon Susana of Kibbutz Kfar Aza and Chairman of the Jewish Organization in Bulgaria “Shalom” Prof. Dr. Alek Oscar .
“The antagonism of light is darkness, and we have chosen to celebrate the light, emphasized Rosen Zhelyazkov. He noted that the light was associated with the symbolism of the struggle that led to the liberation, but lit a fire that did not extinguish in the temple. Today we congratulate the Feast of Light, we congratulate the feeling that we will be able to pass on the wisdom that was before us to future generations,” said the Speaker of the National Assembly, Mr. Rosen Zhelyazkov in his speech.
The speech of Mr. Gon Susana, a survivor of the terrorist attack in Israel on October 7, moved all those present. He, his wife and their 5-month-old daughter are miraculously saved. “Hanukkah is a holiday when we come to kindle the light and defeat the darkness, a holiday of courage, of the few against the many and of the great miracle.” I want to pray with you for a miracle that will bring back all our kidnapped. And protect our soldiers. Let us pray to defeat darkness and live in peace. “, he said.
The ceremony ended with Hanukkah blessings and a prayer for the prosperity of Bulgaria and Israel by the Chief Rabbi of Bulgaria Rav Yoel Yfrah and a light show.
