The Jewish community in Bulgaria
Shalom: Bulgaria's Jewish community is building a new home
The Organization of the Jews in Bulgaria "Shalom" keeps Jewish life going here: education, holidays, help for families and heritage. Now it is building a campus in Sofia to bring the community's kindergarten, school and cultural center under one roof. We are Israelis living in Sofia, and we invite you to get to know it and support it.
- children in the kindergarten
- 90+
- students at the school
- 250+
- the year it opens
- 2028
MakeYourTravel and the community
We support each other. We and the organization share one mission: to look after the Israelis and the Jews in Bulgaria. Together, with full backing.
We tell our travellers
Tens of thousands of Israelis plan their Bulgaria trip with us. We tell them about the community waiting for them here and the home it is building.
The campus with every booking
Everyone who books with us sees the campus on their thank you page, and everyone on the site finds it at the foot of every page.
Every euro arrives directly
The donations go through Shalom's own pages. We never touch the money and take nothing from it.
The mission
To preserve, protect and develop the identity, traditions and heritage of the Jews of Bulgaria: through culture, education, spiritual life and social support.
The organization brings together the Jews of Bulgaria and their families, fights hate speech and antisemitism, and protects the religious rights and freedoms of every citizen.
What that looks like in practice
Jewish education
A kindergarten, a school and learning programs for every age, from first steps to lectures and seminars.
Holidays and dates
The community marks the holidays, memorial days and its own milestones together.
Culture and the arts
Exhibitions, concerts, theatre and music, conferences and gatherings, and the community's newspaper.
Welfare and health
Social, health and education services for its members, and support for families who need it.
Heritage
Caring for the synagogues, cemeteries, graves and monuments all over Bulgaria.
Against antisemitism
Standing against hate speech, antisemitism and xenophobia, and protecting everyone's religious rights and freedoms.
The campus: the community's next step
Shalom Campus brings education, culture and community under one roof in Sofia: a place to carry on the journey, and a place where the children begin theirs. Construction has started, and the campus opens in 2028.
What it holds
The kindergarten
Gan Balagan: more than 90 children aged 1 to 6 learn through play and get to know Jewish values and traditions.
The school
The Ronald S. Lauder School: more than 250 students, high academic standards together with values and belonging.
The cultural center
A concert and conference hall, workshops, exhibitions, holidays and gatherings, open to every member of the community.
The campus in numbers
- square metres of land, with a yard and green spaces for play and events
- 8,238
- square metres built, in a modern and energy efficient building
- 15,100
- rooms: classrooms, specialist rooms, sport and culture
- 261
The timeline
- 2020The concept design
- 2021The architectural plans
- 2022The land with its building rights, a gift from Sofia Municipality
- 2022, 2023Documents and permits
- 2025Construction starts
- 2026The structure completed
- 2027Systems and interiors
- 2028The campus opens
Want to help build it?
A monthly donation, or a one time gift of any amount.
- €36a monthA square metre (opens in a new tab)
- €54a monthA classroom (opens in a new tab)
- €108a monthA playground (opens in a new tab)
- €180a monthEquipping a room (opens in a new tab)
The building fund goal: €613,000How much is raised so far, on Shalom's website (opens in a new tab)
Or by bank transfer
- Beneficiary
- Beth Shalom Foundation
- Bank
- UBB · SWIFT UBBSBGSF
- IBAN
- BG03 UBBS 8002 1087 0130 50
- Reason for payment
- Donation
Your donation goes straight to Shalom, on their own secure Stripe page or to their bank account. We never touch the money and take nothing from it.
Questions about the campus?
Shalom's campus team answers by email: campus@shalom.bg
MakeYourTravel is not part of Shalom. This page tells about the community and the campus and leads to their official donation pages, so that helping is easy.
