Concerts in Rousse (on the Danube) and Yambol (south Bulgaria), and exhibitions around the country brought people together on Sunday to celebrate the European Day of Jewish Culture. "It is the second time that Rousse has marked this occasion," said Emil Kalo, president of the Shalom association. He explained that the aim is to show the Jewish culture, traditions and rituals to people outside the Jewish community. Jewish communities in larger Bulgarian towns held exhibitions to explain Judaic history and culture to the public.

The project, called the Day of Open Doors, took place for the second time in Bulgaria. Most of the regional branches of the Shalom organization exhibited sacred and ritual objects. Concerts were staged in Hebrew and archaic Spanish, and ancient folklore dances were performed on Sunday.

The central synagogue of Sofia was filled with Jewish music from throughout the ages by the Shalom organization's Agada choir. Verdi's Nabuko was chosen for its powerful Jewish choir. In the afternoon there was a presentation of books and ritual objects in Sofia.

"The noon gathering tries to show something about the Jewish culture that's not so well known," said Kalo. The hall remained open until late in the evening for all those curious to know something more about the Jewish culture. "We want to destroy the myths about the mystery of Jewish people," Kalo added.

The Day of Open Doors this year coincided with Pesah, an important Jewish holiday. The motto of the European Day for Hebrew awareness is connected to the Jewish holiday Pesah, which commemorates the liberation of the Jews from the Egyptians.

Kalo explained that Pesah is a day of holiday and liberty and symbolizes the spirit of the Jews and their pursuit of freedom. "That is the only holiday fitting our mentality and deserves to be the motto of the Day of Open Doors."

The emphasis of the celebration in Plovdiv was on art and photographic exhibitions by Greddy Assa and Lina Pinazhel. The exhibitions were held in the foyer of the Jewish Cultural Hall in Plovdiv. They traced the life of the community throughout the centuries.

The Culture Hall in Rousse celebrated the Day of Open Doors with an opening speech by Isak Goldstein, chairman of the local Jewish community. He explained that Bulgarian Jews were lucky to be saved from the Nazi destruction and that there are 150 Jewish families still living in Rousse.