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A Hub for the Jewish Future — Celebrating a New JCC in Bulgaria
The fact that Bulgaria’s 10,000-strong Jewish community opened up a second JCC, Beit Shalom, in downtown Sofia last week, is an important story of Jewish renewal in Europe. It demonstrates how Jews are literally moving closer to their heritage; the new Jewish Community Center sits directly across from Sofia’s historic, ornate synagogue. At the opening, scores of Bulgarian Jews participated — a sign that the JCC will be a lively hub of Jewish life. The center will cater to Sofia’s approximately 7,000 Jews and will feature a gym, a café, children's areas and other facilities. "Ultimately, this center was created because of the special leadership here in Bulgaria," explained Jorge, JDC Country Director for Bulgaria and Hungary. "Our twenty-something leadership sees this building not just for themselves but for the Jewish children they plan to bring up here. It is paving the way for our future," said Jorge. 
Beit Shalom is housed in a restituted building, formerly the site of a Jewish orphanage. It will occupy three floors of the building, and the community will rent out the other two floors to obtain income for Jewish communal activities. The structure was renovated with the support of SELF (Strategic European Loan Fund) — JDC’s interest free loan program that helps communities develop restituted properties into commercially viable, income generating entities that can fuel community development. Funding for the renovation also came from The Harry and Jeannette Weinberg Foundation, World Jewish Relief and several other foundations and private donors. The fact that after 60 years the Rabbi was able to put the Mezuzah back on the entrance of the JCC symbolizes how far the community has come in developing and expanding its institutions. May 2006 |
