Bulgaria confers highest state honour on WJC President Ronald Lauder
Bulgaria has conferred on Ronald S Lauder, President of the World Jewish Congress, its highest state honour, the Stara Planina first degree.
The award celebrates Lauder’s extraordinary dedication to the development and strengthening of friendly relations between the global Jewish community and Bulgarian state institutions, civil society, and the local Jewish community. It is also for his contribution to the development of education in Bulgaria.
The honor was handed over by head of state President Roumen Radev. This was on the day that Bulgaria commemorated the 76th anniversary of the rescue of the Bulgarian Jews from being murdered in the death camps of the Holocaust.
Radev said that the joint initiatives of the World Jewish Congress and the Organization of the Jews in Bulgaria Shalom contributed to increasing intolerance and opposition to xenophobia and discrimination. It also increases better co-operation with the Bulgarian institutions for action against antisemitism and hate speech.
“The rescue of the Bulgarian Jews is not only a historical event. It is an inspiring example for today and tomorrow,” he said.
Lauder praised the Bulgarian people for standing up to the Nazis during the Second World War. Additionally, he praised them now against the rise of neo-Nazis.
“Once again today, you showed the entire world that courage, moral clarity, and decency begin right here in Sofia,” he said. This was in reference to the “Together for Bulgaria, Together for Bulgaria” event.
“Once again, the Bulgarian people, along with their leaders have stood together and said: ‘We will not tolerate antisemitism or hatred of any kind.’ President Radev and Prime Minister [Boiko] Borissov have been so responsive to any kind of anti-Jewish hatred, setting an example for all world leaders. The World Jewish Congress thanks you for your outspoken clarity.”
Lauder’s Approval
Lauder also thanked the many NGOs from across Bulgarian civil society. They have also pledged to sign the Memorandum to Fight Hate speech in Bulgaria. Additionally, they said, “I think it is very clear where the future lies. It lies with tolerance, good neighbours, and everyone working together to build a better world for our children.
“Hate will not be part of our future. Intolerance will not be part of it. Bulgaria reminds us that we must never be silent in the face of evil. It also reminds us that it takes courage to stand up to evil. Bulgaria reminds us that even a small country can tower over all others. Let the world use Bulgaria as its model.”
In the evening, Lauder was among guests and speakers at a commemoration ceremony at Sofia Central Synagogue.
Speeches were delivered by Sofia Cohen, who is President of the Central Israelite Religious Council of Bulgaria. Also speaking was Deputy Foreign Minister Georg Georgiev, who is Bulgaria’s National Co-ordinator against Antisemitism. Additionally, Maxim Benvenisti of Shalom’s Tzedaka Foundation, who introduced the history of those ordinary Bulgarians who participated in the rescue of the Bulgarian Jews, spoke.
Shalom
Shalom conferred its highest honor, the Shofar award, on Georgiev and on US ambassador Eric Rubin and Israeli ambassador Irit Lilian.
It furthered its campaign to build a partnership network with NGOs. They commit to a society without division, intolerance and hate speech. Also, they signed a memorandum of co-operation with 10 NGOs at the ceremony. This was a sequel to the signing of the memorandum in February with the GLAS Foundation.
The memorandum was signed with 10 NGOs. They are the Association of European Journalists Bulgaria, the Association of Families for Partnership in Psychiatry, the Bulgarian Fund for Women, the Bulgarian Helsinki Committee, Jamba – an organization that connects people with diverse abilities to employers – the National Foster Care Association, the Bilitis Foundation, Marginalia, the Movement of Bulgarian Mothers, and Maiko Mila, a support website for mothers.
Article and photos originally posted on The Sofia Globe
