Yom Kippur Guest President Stoyanov of Bulgaria Speaks on Miraculous Rescue of 50,000 Jewish Citizens During WWII at Beverly Hills Temple of the Arts

Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the Jewish calendar, observed by prayer and fasting, begins at sundown on Sunday evening, September 27. It will be marked on Monday morning by the visit of President Petar Stoyanov of Bulgaria who will reveal a little known historical episode about the miraculous rescue of his country's entire Jewish population of 50,000 Jews during World War II.

Rabbi David Baron announced that the previous past President of Bulgaria, Petar Stoyanov, will speak at the Temple of the Arts during Yom Kippur, Monday, September 28th, about these events, and Professor Ed Gaffney, producer of the moving documentary "Empty Box Cars," will screen a segment of the documentary and participate in a discussion from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Yom Kippur afternoon.

President Stoyanov will share historical facts and the story of rescuing the Bulgarian Jews from deportation from the Nazi regime that would have sent them to the killing center at Treblinka during the Second World War. Professor Ed Gaffney, along with Bulgarian born Rabbi Haim Asa, who was part of this amazing rescue, will participate in the discussion, with words on his first hand account of being someone who was part of this incredible rescue mission.

"Empty Box Cars" deals with the murder of 11,343 Jews of Macedonia and Thrace, two territories that Hitler allowed Bulgaria to occupy during World War II. Bulgaria entered into an agreement with Nazi Germany to deport all of its Jews to Vienna on Bulgarian boxcars, and to pay the Nazis for "relieving Bulgaria of its Jewish problem."

"Empty Box Cars" reveals the story of the largest mass uprising and rescue during the Holocaust. Nearly 50,000 Jews inside the Kingdom of Bulgaria survived because ordinary people in many walks of life stood up for them and demanded an end to a deportation order that would have sent them to their death in Treblinka. Victims, survivors, perpetrators and rescuers are people you will want to meet and hear their powerful stories through the presenting of the service and the film.

Temple of the Arts at the Saban Theatre in Beverly Hills is the largest arts and entertainment industry synagogue in the United States. Highlights of its Yom Kippur service will be broadcast nationally on Time Warner and Direct TV through Jewish Life Television.