Chabad of Markham paid tribute to one of the most unknown heroes of the Holocaust – King Boris of Bulgaria.
While most people are well aware of the kindness of other benevolent countries like Denmark, Bulgaria has hardly been recognized for their sheltering of and supporting their 50,000 Jewish citizens. Under the leadership of King Boris not one of Bulgaria’s loyal subjects were abandoned. Every single Jew living in Bulgaria was spared the horrors of the holocaust. This is the tremendous record that was recognized and honored.
The king’s grandson, Prince Hermann of Leiningen – a descendant of Queen Victoria along with German and Russian Royal Families, accepted a posthumous award from a group of Holocaust survivors and Rabbi Plotkin, spiritual leader of Chabad of Markham.
Hermann, who lives in Toronto and is currently the Vice President of Institutional Investments at the Royal Bank of Canada (RBC Asset Management), told the story of his grandfather and family.
Through personal stories and anecdotes he shared his family’s story of courage and benevolence as he heard it from his family members. This was the first time he addressed this important part of his family history.
Greetings from Prime Minister Peter Kent and Foreign Minister Lawrence Cannon were read by Jason Meshwork, a member of the community who was instrumental in encouraging Hermann to tell his story.
Kasriel, a third grader in Torah Temima, told the story of King Boris on March 10 – the day the Jews were saved from deportation. He told about the people of Bulgaria’s heroism and courage. They saved the lives of all 50,000 of their Jews.
As one of the righteous gentiles.
G-d Bless Prime Minister Peter Kent
This was truly a beautiful event
Rabbi and Rebbetzin plotkin you are doing such great work
thank you !!!!!!!!!!!!