The building of the Central Sofia Synagogue is rightfully described as the pride of the Bulgarian Jewish community. It is one of the three largest Sephardic (Spanish-Jewish) synagogues in Europe and the largest on the Balkan Peninsula. The Religious Community of the Jews in Bulgaria now finds itself in a very difficult situation struggling to execute emergency repairs of the roof of this beautiful historic monument – the home of Judaism in Bulgaria. Water is leaking inside the building and pieces from the roof are falling on the nearby streets endangering passers-by.
To comply with the measures for social and physical distancing to prevent Covid-19, as early as March 8, 2020, the Synagogue in Sofia closed for visitors and canceled all planned social events and public celebrations of holidays.
The situation affected the religious life of the community but it also almost zeroed the finances of the Religious Council. The main sources of income of the Synagogue are:
the donations of tourists visiting our beautiful Synagogue – a historic and cultural monument
the issuing of Kosher certificates by the Rabbi of Bulgaria.
As of March 8, 2020, the income from these operations has been zero.
This resulted in almost all synagogue employees being on paid and unpaid leave or dismissed, and the inability to pay utility bills for heating, electricity, water, and other mandatory expenses. In 2021 the circumstances aren’t any different.
The building now needs emergency repairs to the roof and the facade. There are leaks and pieces of construction material are falling and endangering the passers-by. Immediate action must be taken.
Presently the community does not have the financial resources to perform the repairs and there is no perspective to raise the money from its usual sources of income.
We turn to you, hopeful that you could help us with this urgent task. Your financial support will help us preserve one of the most beautiful Synagogues in Europe to remain a religious home and refuge for the Jews in Bulgaria.
