Legacy of Hope: Hidden Heroes from Generation to Generation

Copyright © 2023 Avi Mizrachi.

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Scripture quotations marked (NKJV) are taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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Scripture quotations marked (TLV) are taken from the Tree of Life Version. © 2015 by the Messianic Jewish Family Bible Society. Used by permission of the Messianic Jewish Family Bible Society.

Interior Graphics/Art Credit: Grayson Stallings

ISBN: 979-8-3850-0258-0 (sc)

ISBN: 979-8-3850-0264-1 (hc)

ISBN: 979-8-3850-0303-7 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2023913817

WestBow Press rev. date: 12/05/2023

ADONAI foils the purpose of the nations.

He thwarts the plans of the peoples.

The plan of ADONAI stands forever,

the purposes of His heart from generation to generation.

Blessed is the nation whose God is ADONAI,

the people He chose for His own inheritance.

ADONAI looks down from heaven.

He observes all humanity.

From His dwelling place He gazes

on all the inhabitants of the earth—

He who fashions the hearts of all,

who discerns all their deeds.

No king is saved by his great army,

no warrior is delivered by great strength.

A horse is a false hope for victory,

nor can its great strength save.

Behold, the eyes of ADONAI are on those who fear Him,

  waiting for His love,

to deliver their souls from death,

and to keep them alive in famine.

Our soul waits for ADONAI—

He is our help and our shield.

Our heart rejoices in Him,

because we trusted in His holy Name.

Let Your lovingkindness, ADONAI,

be upon us, as we have waited for You.

(Psalm 33:10-22, TLV)

ENDORSEMENTS

Oh that this book were in every library of the world! The book carefully and precisely adds otherwise unknown information about the horrors of the Holocaust years in Europe, but also honors the often hidden heroes of that era. Two of those heroes were the chief rabbi of Bulgaria and the Metropolitan bishop of Bulgaria. Together, the rabbi and the bishop successfully encouraged the King not to deliver their 48,000 Bulgarian Jews to the Nazis for extermination. The memory of the rabbi is indelibly etched in the hearts of those families who were later able to find safety in Israel.

Another less known part of the history that needs to be told is that this honored rabbi created quite a dilemma as he began to let people know that he had come to believe that Jesus is indeed the promised Messiah of Israel. Though the rabbi was deeply loved and honored, the rabbinic councils of Israel did not know what to do with him.

This amazing man of God looms large in Avi Mizrachi’s own family, as well as others who came to faith in Jesus because of the rabbi’s life and teaching. Even though the rabbi’s life was not easy, made even more challenging because of his belief in Jesus, the Bulgarian Jewish population was adamant in seeing that at his death he was given a well-deserved state burial.

I strongly recommend this book. You will not be disappointed. You will be freshly encouraged in your own faith walk. Get this, read it, pass it to others, and buy a copy for your local library.

Don Finto,

Pastor Emeritus, Belmont Church, Nashville, TN

Founder, Caleb Global

*     *     *

Legacy of Hope by Avi Mizrachi is a milestone book. This story of Rabbi Daniel Zion is heartwarming and such a wonderful story to show the authenticity of Messianic Jewish faith through the life of this amazing man. His pastoral love and service was an exemplary model. I wholeheartedly urge you to read this book.

Dr. Daniel Juster

Author and Founding Director of the Tikkun International

*     *     *

Legacy of Hope is a moving story of God’s faithfulness to the Jewish people. It highlights the amazing journey of Rabbi Daniel Zion, the Chief Rabbi of Bulgaria, who was instrumental in saving Bulgarian Jews from the Nazis in World War II. Rabbi Zion later immigrated to Israel and became a dedicated follower of Yeshua (Jesus) the Messiah. He paid a price for his faith, but his influence has had ripple effects from generation to generation, especially seen in the Mizrachi family and their special story of Yeshua’s love and grace. This is not only an important historical account, but a moving testimony of God’s goodness through obedient servants who simply said yes to Yeshua.

Wayne Wilks, PhD

Executive Pastor, Church and Jewish Relations

Gateway Church, Southlake, TX

*     *     *

Legacy of Hope is an important historical account that weaves together the unique history of the nation of Bulgaria in its relation to the Jewish Bulgarian population during the time of the Holocaust, as connected to the story of the chief rabbi of Sofia, Rabbi Daniel Zion. Rabbi Zion was the main hero who was instrumental in saving the Bulgarian Jewish population from destruction. Legacy of Hope connects this history to the Mizrachi family, both during the time of the Second World War when they lived in Bulgaria and afterwards, during the time they made their aliyah at the hour of the birth of the modern State of Israel. The book is not only an important document as concerns the most unique history of Bulgaria and of the rebirth of the nation of Israel in the Land of Israel, but it is a wonderful account of the intervention of God in the life of Rabbi Daniel and of the Mizrachi family. Rabbi Daniel is deeply motivated by his faith in the God of Israel and His Messiah, Yeshua, both as he risks his life to the utmost to save his people from the death camps of Eastern Europe and, when once in Israel, to testify boldly and courageously at all costs of the biblical legitimacy of his faith in the promised Messiah of Israel whom his people had rejected. Despite Rabbi Zion’s own personal rejection by his religious contemporaries, he clings in love to God and to His Messiah, to Israel his beloved people, and to his own Jewishness, though he is defrocked by the Rabbinate. As the narrative of the rabbi’s life develops, it becomes increasingly intertwined with the story of the Mizrachi family whose members will be counted among the early followers of the Messiah in the newly born State of Israel. The generational grace of salvation upon the Mizrachi family becomes a picture and a sign, not only of the rebirth of Israel as a nation but of the rebirth of the Messianic Community in Israel.

Reuvan Berger

Pastor, Kehilat ha’Seh al Har Zion

(The Congregation of the Lamb on Mt. Zion)

*     *     *

Legacy of Hope is a fascinating story of adventure and intrigue. The prophet Daniel declared that the people that know their God shall be strong, and do exploits (11:32). Another Daniel arose in the 20th century who did remarkable exploits—from rescuing fellow Jews from the ovens of the Holocaust to leading Israelis to their Redeemer. Rabbi Daniel Zion caused a ripple effect that is still being felt today. Read his story and be inspired.

Pastor Wayne Hilsden

President of FIRM: Fellowship of Israel Related Ministries

Co-founder & former lead pastor of King of Kings, Jerusalem

*     *     *

For years we have heard the name of Rabbi Daniel Zion and some of the stories about his faith and heroism. Avi Mizrachi, who knew Daniel, has done an invaluable service for the body of Messiah in Israel, as well as for Jews and Christians around the world. He has diligently documented the extraordinary events surrounding the man who was the chief rabbi of Bulgaria during WWII, and yet was a humble follower of Yeshua. It is an amazing story of faith in God and what He can do through courageous people. This book will be an encouragement for all believers, especially for those who find themselves in challenging times.

Carol and David Pileggi

Christ Church Jerusalem

*     *     *

Legacy of Hope is the inspiring story of the relationship between the chief rabbi of Bulgaria, Daniel Zion, and Metropolitan Stefan of Bulgaria. These two men worked together to prevent the deportment of Bulgarian Jews to the concentrations camps during World War II; this story highlights the eternal benefits of the collaboration of these two courageous men throughout history. The rescue of almost 50,000 Jewish souls from the ovens of Poland to the salvation, both physically and spiritually, of the Mizrachi family makes this story an exciting, inspirational one that brings hope to the heart during these darkening days in the world. Avi Mizrachi and his family have provided us a beneficial story of what G-d can do when people surrender to the love of G-d provided through Yeshua the Messiah.

Marty and Marleen Waldman

Toward Jerusalem Council II

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

… with Gratitude

Many people helped shape this book, and for that I am forever grateful. First, I want to thank my wife, Chaya, for inspiring me and encouraging me to write this story. I also thank our four daughters—Suzanne, D’vora, Sara, and OrEl—for their continued love and appreciation. I thank my sister, Simcha, and my brother, Immanuel, for their help and support for this project. I am grateful for all my cousins, especially Avraham Kedem, and other family members who have helped piece this story together.

And my thanks to those who assisted in various ways throughout the crafting of this project. Kathi Macias, thank you for your assistance in writing this book. We wouldn’t be here without you. Thank you for your care and wisdom, as well as your creativity and experiences in writing. Terri Gillespie, thank you for all your encouragement, direction, and input into this project.

A special thank you to Lonnie Lane for all your help and input as well. Thank you to Nikolai Boyadjiev for your information and suggestions regarding Bulgaria and Rabbi Daniel Zion. My deep appreciation to Joseph Shulam and Dr. David and Martha Stern for your invaluable contributions and persevering help. Thank you to Boaz Michael and First Fruits of Zion for your input and support. Thank you to all who have read the manuscript and given suggestions throughout the writing of this book: Don Finto, Dr. Kerry Teplinsky, Wayne Hilsden, Dr. Dan Juster, David and Carol Pileggi, Reuven and Benjamin Berger, Dr. Wayne Wilks, Marty and Marleen Waldman, Jeff Henderson, Susan and Fred Rowe, Amanda Harris, Karen Gower, Adam Ben-Joseph, Dr. Golan Broshi, Sasha and Lilian Granovsky, Eitan Shishkoff, Danielah Castellini, Martin and Norma Sarvis, Avner Boskey, Noam and Joan Hendren, Dr. Yohanan Stanfield, and Dr. Erez Soref. A thank you to Jerry Gramckow and Mona Pelled, our copy editors, and to our translators, Rivka Nessim, Yonatan Alon, and Miriam Givoni, for your excellent work. A special thank you to Michael Hilsden for all the filming of the interviews, input, and persevering help during this project. With gratitude we want to thank Grayson Stallings for the graphic design of this book and your input to this project.

Thank you to my daughter D’vora, who did excellent research and oversaw this project, and thank you to my son-in-law Nathaniel Silverman, who helped so much in the writing and gave direction throughout the whole project. A special thank you to Dugit staff, especially Laura York, Leslie Cross, and Evan Santoro, for your wise counsel and work on this project in so many ways. And, of course, to Rabbi Daniel Zion’s grandchildren, whom I had the honor of meeting and interviewing while writing this book: Pirchiya Cohen, Rachel Amir Zion, Shlomo Zion, and David Zion. Also, to David Cohen, former Israeli ambassador to Bulgaria, Doctor Moshe Mossek, Jacky Comforty, Peleg Levy, retired Colonel Professor Dimitar Nedialkov, and Doctor Daniel Vatchkov for their time and explanations.

A special thank you to Yad Mordechai Holocaust Museum for their cooperation and heartfelt assistance.

We our honored and appreciate very much to have been able to meet and interview Simeon Borisov von Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, better known as King Simeon II of Bulgaria.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Acknowledgements

Glossary of Hebrew Terms

Dedication

Foreword

Preface

Maps & Pictures

PART I: The Rabbi, Bulgaria, the War

Chapter 1:   A Friendship with Far-Reaching Effects

Chapter 2:   The Bulgarian Jews

Chapter 3:   The Bill for the Defense of the Nation

Chapter 4:   Bulgaria as One of the Axis States

Chapter 5:   Initial Plans for Deportation

Chapter 6:   Continued Conflict over Deportations

Chapter 7:   Final Outcome of Deportations…and a Mysterious Death

Chapter 8:   The End of World War II in Bulgaria

PART II: Post-War, the Journey Home to Israel

Chapter 9:   The Bulgarian Jewish Community after WWII

Chapter 10:  The Camps in Cyprus

Chapter 11:  The State of Israel

Chapter 12:  The War of Independence

PART III: The Rabbi’s Legacy in Israel

Chapter 13:  Rabbi Daniel Zion in the Promised Land

Chapter 14:  The Mizrachi Family Meets Yeshua

Chapter 15:  Post-Independence Wars

PART IV: The Mizrachi Legacy

Chapter 16:  Messiah and Me

Afterword

Appendix A: Five Songs (in Hebrew and English) by Rabbi Daniel Zion

Memoriam

About the Author

GLOSSARY OF HEBREW TERMS

• Ahava, Emet, Emuna: three Hebrew words beginning with the letter alef, meaning: love, truth, faith

• Achuzat Bayit: the name of the society that established Tel Aviv, the first modern city of Israel, Hebrew for homestead

• Aliyah: Jewish immigration to Israel, Hebrew for ascent

• Am Yisrael Chai: The people of Israel live!

• Ani Yeshua: I am Yeshua [Jesus].

• Ar’vit (also known as Ma’ariv): one of three Jewish daily prayers, the evening prayer

• Av Beit Din: head of a rabbinical court, literally a father of a court of law

• Avraham: Abraham

• Avodat Shorashim: family-history project for school; literally roots project

• Bar Mitzvah/Bat Mitzvah: Son of the Commandment/Daughter of the Commandment; a ceremony marking an important milestone often celebrated in the synagogue, including reading the weekly Torah portion, and parties with family and friends

• Beit El: a name of a school in the city of Haifa, Hebrew for house of God

• Bonim ve’Lochamim: Hebrew for builders and warriors

• Brit Milah: covenant of circumcision, performed on the 8th day of a baby boy’s life

• Cantor: one who sings and leads liturgical prayer in Jewish religious services

• Chagim: Holidays/festivals

• Chanukiah: a special menorah/candelabra used during the holiday of Chanukkah, the Festival of Lights/Feast of Dedication

• Chanukkah: an eight-day Jewish festival commemorating the recovery of Jerusalem and subsequent rededication of the Second Temple at the beginning of the Maccabean revolt against the Seleucid (Greek) Empire in the 2nd century BCE; also known as the Festival of Lights and the Feast of Dedication

• Diaspora: dispersion of the Jewish people after being exiled from the Land of Israel, also used to refer to Jewish communities outside of Israel

• Emeq Habacha: The Valley of Tears

• Gaon: Hebrew for a brilliant person or genius person; the formal title for heads of Jewish religious academies

• Gemara: the component of the Talmud comprising rabbinical analysis and commentary on the Mishnah, the first written collection of Jewish oral traditions

• Habrit Hachadasha: New Covenant/New Testament

• Haganah: the Jewish paramilitary organization founded during the British mandate period and later became the Israel Defense Forces (IDF); Hebrew for defense

• Halacha: the collective body of Jewish religious laws that have developed since biblical times and govern daily life and conduct of religious Jews

• Haredi: an ultra-Orthodox Jew

• Har Habayit Be’yadeinu: The Temple Mount is in our hands

• Hashem: Literally the name, a way religious Jews refer to God outside prayers or scripture reading so as to avoid taking His name in vain

• Hashamayim: sky, heaven

• Hashomer Hatzair: a Zionist youth movement founded in 1913, literally the young guard

• Hatikvah: Hebrew for the hope, a 19th-century Jewish poem that later became Israel’s national anthem

• Cherem: censure in the Jewish community, complete exclusion from communal life

• Hey be’Iyar Tashach: the 5th of the month of Iyar, the date on the Jewish calendar for Israel’s Declaration of Independence (May 14, 1948)

• (The) Holocaust: the genocide of six million Jews during World War II (between 1939-1945); Jewish men, women, and children and other people were systematically exterminated by Nazi Germany and its collaborators

• Hora: a circle dance that originated in the Balkans

• Jaffa (Joppa): one of the oldest port cities in the Land of Israel, today part of the Tel Aviv municipality

• Kibbutz: communal settlement in Israel, traditionally based on agriculture or industry

• Kosher: satisfying the requirements of Jewish Law; a term used to describe food that is allowed to be eaten according to the dietary standards of Jewish Law

• Kotel: the Western Wall, a remnant of the Second Temple destroyed in 70 CE, the most sacred place for the Jewish people

• Ladino: a Judeo-Spanish language spoken by descendants of Jews expelled from Spain and Portugal during the Inquisition

• Ma’apilim: illegal Jewish immigrants who immigrated to the Land of Israel during the British Mandate (when the British made restrictions of Jewish immigration beginning in 1934) until the Declaration of Independence on May 14, 1948

• Magen David: a Jewish symbol called the Star of David, but literally the shield of David

• Mahal: an acronym for Mitnadvei Hutz LaAretz, volunteers from abroad who fought alongside Israeli forces during the War of Independence

• Matan Beseter: a name of a Bulgarian charitable organization assisting the poor and needy; literally giving in secret

• Menorah: a lampstand, a sacred candelabrum with seven branches used in the Temple in Jerusalem, originally placed in the sanctuary of the Tabernacle; one of the oldest symbols of the Jewish faith

• Minhelet HaAm: the temporary legislative body founded on April 12, 1948, and became Israel’s provisional government after its Declaration of Independence on May 14, 1948, literally the people’s administration

• Mishna: the foundational text of the Oral Torah (Law), an authoritative collection of oral rabbinic teachings codified in the beginning of the 3rd century CE

• Mitzvot: Hebrew for commandments, also used to refer to good deeds in Jewish tradition

• Mohel: a Jewish person trained in the ritual of circumcision, Brit Milah

• Moshava: a town; a term used in the Ottoman period for a rural Jewish settlement

• Mossad: Israel’s national intelligence agency, founded in 1951

• (The) Palmach: an elite fighting force of the Haganah during the British Mandate period

• Sha’arey Hashamayim: The Gates of Heaven

• Shabbat: Sabbath, a day of rest and worship from Friday evening until Saturday evening, based on God’s commandments in the Torah

• Shacharit: one of three Jewish daily prayers, the morning prayer

• Shamash: head caretaker (of a synagogue)

• Shehecheyanu: a prayer thanking God for sustaining the lives of the people so they could experience a historical moment

• Shiva: a week-long mourning period in Judaism for close relatives or immediate family

• Shomer Shabbat: One who observes commandments regarding Shabbat; literally, keeper of Shabbat

• Sukkah: a temporary dwelling or booth connected to the holiday of Sukkot

• Sukkot: the Feast of Booths or Feast of Tabernacles

• Talmud: the central text of Rabbinic Judaism and primary source of Jewish religious law and Jewish theology

• Tanach: an acronym for the three sections of the Hebrew Bible (Old Covenant/Old Testament): Torah (the Law of Moses), Nevi’im (the Prophets), and Ketuvim (the Writings)

• Tel Aviv: the name of Israel’s first modern city: Tel (ancient archeological mound/hill, which represents the old), Aviv (spring, which represents the new)

• Torah: the first five books of the Hebrew Bible (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy); the Law of Moses; in Judaism can refer to traditional Jewish law

• Torah student: a student dedicated to the study of the Hebrew Bible and all Jewish religious texts

• Tsabar/Tsabarit/Tsabarim: literally, a prickly but sweet cactus fruit; a term used to denote a native-born Israeli

• Tsena: the period of austerity in Israel between the years 1949-1959

• Yaakov: Jacob

• Yeshua HaMashiach: Jesus the Messiah, the Anointed One

• Yiddish: a Judeo-German language, spoken by Jewish communities, which originated in Europe

• Yitzhak: Isaac

• Yishuv: the community of Jewish people living in the Land of Israel prior to the Declaration of Independence; today, a town or a settlement

• Yeshua: Jesus, Hebrew for salvation

• Yom Kippur: the Day of Atonement, the holiest day of the year in Judaism, traditionally observed by fasting and praying

DEDICATION

For my darling wife, Chaya.

You are the spark and powerhouse of my life in every way.

Were it not for your wisdom, love, and encouragement,

I never would have been inspired to write such a story.

Generations to come will owe it to your dynamic vision,

which you carry in your beautiful Israeli heart.

FOREWORD

Near the end of summer 2015, my father, Avi Mizrachi, announced with great excitement, We are going on a family trip to Bulgaria to explore and discover more about our vague heritage.

He caught me off guard with his news, as I was right in the middle of finishing my final projects for my master’s degree. After he left, my mind wandered from the books of study at hand to all the incredible memories I had of my grandparents and of the stories they occasionally—and tactfully—shared with my sisters and me.

Their sporadic narratives often left us girls wondering if there was more to our heritage than they remembered or intended to share with us. Despite my looming deadline for my M.A., I felt the growing excitement and irresistible urge to take this family heritage trip. I cleared my calendar, and within a couple of weeks I found myself in Sofia, Bulgaria.

Once there, I was in awe at seeing the very places my grandfather had described in his stories. I still have many good memories from that trip, but two stand out as especially important.

The first was when we located my grandfather’s childhood home. I was ecstatic to identify the watering well outside the house, exactly as he described in his stories. I looked at the now dilapidated house and pondered many questions:

• How was it to live here during World War II as a Jewish family?

• Where did my grandfather play in the open courtyard?

• What did the Jewish holidays and festivals look like in this place during that time?

• How were the Jewish people treated by the Bulgarians?

• Did my family suffer under the Nazi Regime?

Though the answers were nowhere to be found, I continued taking pictures of the courtyard, surrounding houses, and watering well, as questions called to me from every corner.

My second meaningful memory was of visiting the Great Sephardic Synagogue of Sofia with my family. As we entered the synagogue, we were greeted