Dr. Alina Levi was born in the same year that the Organization of the Jews in Bulgaria “Shalom” was founded, and she sees this community as a key factor in her professional and personal development. At 35, she lives in Sofia with her husband and two children and works as a pediatric ophthalmologist at Aleksandrovska University Hospital.
Her candidacy is built on carefully developed priorities: an active and engaged community, education, financial planning, transparency, and a strong civic stance. These principles reflect her strategic approach to community development, aimed at ensuring stability and a high-quality future for all its members.
Professionally, Dr. Levi graduated from the Medical University of Sofia and has completed specializations and training at some of the most renowned ophthalmology clinics in Switzerland and Croatia. In 2024, she completed a two-month course at Harvard Business School under Prof. Margolis, focused on leadership, sustainable management, and social impact.
Since 2016, she has been actively involved in “Shalom”: she served on the Board (2016–2020), has been a member of the Consistory since 2016, a member of the Executive Bureau since 2020, and since 2017 has been Chair of the “Bet Shalom” Foundation, where she contributed to building and developing the community school into a recognized institution for quality education.
Mihaylina Pavlova: Congratulations on your election. The first woman chair of the Organization of the Jews in Bulgaria “Shalom,” and such a young one!
Alina Levi: Thank you. This is incredibly exciting for me, and I accept this choice with humility and gratitude. I hope that in the future it won’t be seen as something unusual or new—so I’m just the first of many.
M.P.: Why did you accept this challenge?
A.L.: I really like challenges. For me, life outside the comfort zone is very important—that’s where I feel growth, progress, and the things that truly matter happening.
I accepted the role because I deeply believe in our community. Over the past years, being part of the organization’s leadership, I’ve seen that through it, our community can truly live a full and authentic life. I’m grateful for how I grew up in it and for everything it has given me.
I want future generations to have the same opportunities I had. This “home away from home” shapes you into a person anywhere in the world—it gives you wings and the meaning to become the best version of yourself.
You feel part of a history that spans over five thousand years. You see your connection to the entire Jewish people. Without this community, I wouldn’t have that connection—this vast heritage wouldn’t be part of my life.
M.P.: And it became that for you?
A.L.: Yes—but this is just one step. I don’t see myself as a beginning or an end. I’m a small piece of a puzzle, a link in a chain—and the chain is what keeps the machine moving. My role is to connect what has been with what is to come.
M.P.: How do you see the organization as you take it over?
A.L.: I see meaning in it. When I was growing up, the community and the organization felt like two different things. I didn’t understand the organization—it had its own life. Now I see it as a brave, authentic part of our community—one that asks the right questions, helps people search for answers together, and unites them.
I’m proud of this organization—especially for taking positions on issues where it would have been easier not to. For having the courage to speak uncomfortable truths. It has enormous potential.
“Shalom” has grown tremendously. It has become something significant. Many people work across different areas to ensure members feel supported and have access to what they need. We built a school, we have a children’s center, and our camps remain the heart of our children’s development. We also have a functioning social system—but it can improve further. We must keep striving for sustainability in every sense.
M.P.: What did the children’s camps teach you?
A.L.: There’s nothing else like that experience—being able to disconnect from everything for two weeks and immerse yourself completely. It’s a kind of magic—friendships and conflicts form, and you grow in a very special way. You feel both free and protected, as if under a glass dome. And every time you leave it, you realize how meaningful it was. There are certain smells and tastes you never forget—that’s what a Jewish summer camp is for me.
M.P.: Did your colleagues understand this?
A.L.: Not at all. I even had to postpone an exam—my ophthalmology exam—to go as a madrich (youth leader).
At a job interview, they asked how I could fail an exam in my chosen specialty. I told them I had no choice—I couldn’t miss this experience. It was that important, and it still is.
M.P.: Let’s return to your priorities—what directions will you focus on?
A.L.: I have a vision for the next four years, but it’s important to develop these priorities as a team—with the Consistory and the Executive Bureau.
Education remains central—both in our school and children’s center, and in future infrastructure projects. Another key focus is financial independence.
The world is unstable and divided—we can’t rely on others to recognize the value of what we do. We need a clear financial strategy to ensure stability and independence.
Another priority is increasing engagement. Many people who grew up in our community may no longer feel connected or know how to contribute. I want to hear them—to understand what matters to them.
“Shalom” is not just a provider of resources—it’s our space for shaping what we want in our lives. And that must come from us.
Transparency is also essential. I want people to understand how decisions are made and to feel confident in the organization’s governance.
And of course—our active public stance. Whether it’s fighting hate speech, preserving the history of Bulgarian Jews during World War II, Holocaust remembrance, human rights partnerships, global issues, or support for Israel—this commitment remains.
We can’t thrive as a community if the world around us is falling apart. We don’t have the luxury of silence.
M.P.: Are you satisfied with the newly elected leadership bodies?
A.L.: Absolutely. It’s encouraging that more people want to be involved. I value the diversity—across generations, genders, and experience. There’s continuity and fresh energy, and I’m inspired to work with this team.
M.P.: Where do you want to position the organization—locally and globally?
A.L.: It’s already well positioned, both internationally among Jewish organizations and as a strong NGO in Bulgaria. I want to maintain that—but also focus inward.
I want things to become more professional, more connected to people. More members should feel represented and supported. Even if the world is unstable, people should feel they have backing—just like I felt in the camps.
M.P.: What kind of person are you?
A.L.: It’s easier for others to say. But I try to make people feel good. I’m a team player. I believe success is greater when shared. I trust people.
M.P.: That requires dialogue…
A.L.: Absolutely—but it’s a two-way process. Everyone must be equally engaged.
I see our community as something valuable that we must care for. Dialogue is easier when both sides share that belief.
I don’t expect everyone to agree—diversity of opinion is healthy. But we must work together. Everyone should give what they can.
M.P.: You balance medicine, public work, and family…
A.L.: It’s been difficult at times, but nothing works without family. I’m deeply grateful to mine—my husband, parents, relatives. Their support gives me strength.
When I see my children, I find the energy for everything. You just have to remember what matters most.
M.P.: A wish for all of us?
A.L.: Health for everyone—and understanding that support is something you earn through work. I welcome both criticism and support. Different perspectives help us grow.
I’ll work to do things the right way—and I want to hear everyone’s voice.
M.P.: Good luck, Alina.
Photos: Lea Alexandrova
Source: Newspaper “Evreyski vesti”
