Bulgaria’s top civil appeals court rejected the Jewish community’s claim to land on which a downtown Sofia hotel now stands. The news agency Novinite reported the Supreme Cassation Court had ruled against Shalom, a Bulgarian Jewish communal organization, which had sought compensation or joint ownership of the Rila Hotel. The hotel, worth an estimated $34 million, was built on land where a Jewish school stood before World War II.
A Bulgarian court ruled in 1992 that Shalom was the legal owner of nearly 50 percent of the property, and it ordered that portion of the hotel’s property to be returned. Shalom never received the compensation, however, and in 2000 the hotel was privatized.
Help ensure Jewish news remains accessible to all. Your donation to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency powers the trusted journalism that has connected Jewish communities worldwide for more than 100 years. With your help, JTA can continue to deliver vital news and insights. Donate today.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
