In the 20th century, life for Bulgaria's Jews changed dramatically three times: during the Second World War, as a result of the great aliyah, and under Communism. Despite all the turbulence of historical events that Jews had no control over, a new beginning appeared on the horizon in 1989: the Communist system collapsed.
On 10 November 1989, just a day after the fall of the Berlin Wall, Todor Zhivkov, Bulgaria's Communist leader for 35 years, was deposed in a intra-party putsch. A post-Communist multi-party system was established within a few months, and a new, democratic Constitution followed.
Bulgaria reestablished diplomatic relations with Israel in 1990. In 1991, the official Cultural and Educational Society of Jews in Bulgaria disbanded itself. Shalom, the Organisation of Bulgarian Jews, was set up in its place. Other pre-war Jewish organisations were also reestablished and the Central Israelite Spiritual Council took care of religious affairs.
A number of international Jewish organisations that had been banned in Bulgaria under Communism were quick to make their reappearance. These included the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee and, thanks to it, in 1994 Bulgaria got its first rabbi in decades. The multitude of restrictions imposed by the Communists on cultural and religious life were lifted. Bar Mitzvot are now performed in Sofia; circumcisions, once forbidden, are performed by specialist doctors; and kosher food can be ordered at the Sofia Synagogue and at the Rohr Chabad Jewish Center.
In 1992 a process of restitution of property began. Most private properties were returned to their owners but some properties "donated" to the People's Republic of Bulgaria by various Jewish organisations, for example hospitals, were more problematic.
What the majority of Bulgarians now refer to as the "Democratic Changes" of the 1990s also brought about a collapse of the planned economy system. Increasing poverty and destitution, as well as that somewhat characteristic Bulgarian amalgamation of organised crime and politics, ensued. Jews, both young and old, were affected. The economic turbulence, coupled with the newly-acquired freedom to travel, brought about a second wave of aliyah to Israel; or emigration to Western Europe and the United States.
More than half of Bulgaria's remaining Jews now live in Sofia, which is the centre of Jewish life in the country. Communal life is centred on the Jewish Community House, Beit Shalom and the Rohr Chabad Jewish Community Center.
Established in 1919, the Jewish Culture House has one of the oldest libraries in Sofia, with an emphasis on history, religion and languages by and about Jewish authors. A variety of activities are on offer, like a club for preservation of Ladino language, traditions, and culture; Hebrew language classes; a choir for Jewish and traditional Bulgarian music; a publishing house.
The Beit Shalom, located opposite the Sofia Synagogue, houses the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, a children's day centre, and the Shalom Youth organisation. Following the decades of life under Communism, Bulgaria's Jewish community is predominantly elderly. Shalom also runs a number of programmes for elderly Jews, like canteen, food home delivery service, daycare and a retirement home.
Shalom, as well as other organisations such as the Ronald S Lauder Foundation and the World ORT, take care of the 134th School in Sofia, popularly referred to as the Jewish School. It has a reputation as one of the city’s best education establishments, and an increasing number of non-Jewish children compete to enrol.
Since 2000, Sofia has had a Chabad Lubavitch Center with a synagogue, a library, a kindergarten, a mikveh, a humanitarian aid centre, a Hebrew language school and a kosher restaurant.
Some smaller Jewish communities in the country also run educational and cultural activities.
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