“Unlearned lessons of the Holocaust” – Discussion dedicated to the International Day of the Victims of the Holocaust January 27th

On the 27th of January in the  “Jerusalem” hall of the Jewish cultural center in Sofia the discussion “Unlearned lessons of the Holocaust” took place on the occasion of the International Day of the Victims of the Holocaust January 27th. The event was organized by the Organization of  the Jews in Bulgaria “Shalom”, the Commission for Protection against Discrimination, the  Regional Organization of the Jews “Shalom” – Sofia, Foundation “Ethnopalitra”, Federation of Zionists in Bulgaria and Club “Magen”.

The discussion was attended by the  Ambassador of the State of Israel N.Pr.Irit Lililan, the director of the Polish Cultural Institute Jaroslav Godun, the president of the Commission for protection against discrimination  Assoc. Prof. Ana Dzhumalieva,  the deputy chairman of the Commission for protection against discrimination Baki Huseynov, the mayor of ” Vazrazdane” municipality Savina Savova, the Deputy mayor of ” Vazrazdane” municipality Tatiana Dimitrova, the President of the OJB “Shalom” Maxim Benvenisti, the chief secretary of OJB “Shalom” Joseph Melamed, Professor. Iskra Baeva and Assoc. Prof. Rumyana Hristidi  from the Faculty of History of  the Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski” and  Mr. Maxim Delchev – director of the department ”Educational programs “at OJB” Shalom “.

The topics of discussion were: “Rewriting the history in democratizing Eastern Europe and the resurgence of neo-fascism and anti-Semitism” presented by prof. Iskra Baeva, professor of modern general history at the History Faculty of the Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski “; “Banality of evil – contemporary dimensions and unlearned lessons” presented by Maxim Delchev, director of  the department “Educational programs” at OJB “Shalom”; “Holocaust education during the socialist regime and today – omissions, misrepresentations or unlearned lessons of history” – Assoc. Prof. Rumyana Hristidi, lecturer in modern Bulgarian history at the Faculty of History of Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski “,” The words of hatred – public manifestations, criminality and prevention “- Assoc. Prof. Ana Dzhumalieva, President of the Commission for Protection against Discrimination and” The role of the Commission for Protection against Discrimination as an independent body for equality of treatment “- Mr. Baki Huseynov, deputy chairman of the Commission for protection against discrimination.

Before beginning the discussion, the Chairman of OJB “Shalom” Maxim Benvenisti and the President of the Commission for Protection against Discrimination Assoc. Prof. Ana Dzhumalieva signed a memorandum for cooperation in the combat with xenophobia, racism, anti-Semitism, hatred and other forms of intolerance,  hate crimes, and prevention of these events.