An official ceremony and a March of Tolerance took place in Sofia to mark the 81st anniversary of the rescue of Bulgarian Jews and pay homage to the Jews who died in the Nazi death camps.

''This chapter of Bulgarian history is an inspiration to fight contemporary manifestations of anti-semitism; it sets an example of unity and empathy for Bulgarian society to follow", Deputy Prime Minister Mariya Gabriel said in a greeting read out to the public.

Israel's Ambassador Yosef Levi Sfari thanked Bulgaria for rescuing its Jews, pointing out that it is easy to express support in good times, but it is difficult to do so in hard times. 

‘’Young people find it incomprehensible that during World War 2 people killed other people. That is why we need to know history and learn from it, because we see that the world we live in is becoming an increasingly unsafe place’’, said Professor Alexander Oscar, Chairman of the Organization of the Jews in Bulgaria "Shalom''.