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As you know, most of the Jews in Bulgaria came from Spain [following the expulsion of the Jews from Spain] [1], therefore the Jews on the Balkan Peninsula, from Turkey, Greece, Bulgaria, Macedonia, part of Yugoslavia and a small part of Romania spoke Spanish [i.e. Ladino] [2]. Our origin is Sephardic as well as the traditions we observe. Wherever we go in Spanish speaking countries, we can easily communicate in this language. We have good contacts here, at the Sofia synagogue with Spanish Jews, with people of any ethnic origin from Spain and Latin America, and we maintain good relations with them. Yet, there is quite a difference between our ancient Spanish, which is the language of Servants and the contemporary Spanish language. This is a very interesting topic for the Spanish linguists.
There are a lot of rabbis in my father’s kin. My paternal grandfather, as well as many of his ancestors used to be rabbis, who have played an important public role. They were Spanish Jews who used to live for a long time in Solun [today Thessaloniki, Greece]. My grandfather went with his family to Gorna Dzhumaya and settled there.
I can’t tell anything specific about my grandparents, as our father was quite old when he got married. There is a big age gap between my parents. It was a second marriage for both my parents. My father used to have a wife but they had no children. His first wife burnt to death in a tragic accident in Dupnitsa. There was a fire in their house and she died in it. He was 46 or 47 years old at that time. Then he went to Sofia in order to look for a wife. My mother was born in 1889, and my father in 1865. Their age difference was 24 years.
There are a lot of rabbis in my father’s kin. My paternal grandfather, as well as many of his ancestors used to be rabbis, who have played an important public role. They were Spanish Jews who used to live for a long time in Solun [today Thessaloniki, Greece]. My grandfather went with his family to Gorna Dzhumaya and settled there.
I can’t tell anything specific about my grandparents, as our father was quite old when he got married. There is a big age gap between my parents. It was a second marriage for both my parents. My father used to have a wife but they had no children. His first wife burnt to death in a tragic accident in Dupnitsa. There was a fire in their house and she died in it. He was 46 or 47 years old at that time. Then he went to Sofia in order to look for a wife. My mother was born in 1889, and my father in 1865. Their age difference was 24 years.
Location
Bulgaria
Interview
Yosif Avram Levi