Bakelite Star of David button worn by a Bulgarian Jewish woman

Rashel Hasson was born on January 20, 1909, in Ruse, Bulgaria, to Isaac and Mali Shalom Hasson. She had three siblings: Vikki, Eliezer, and Liza. In 1940, Rashel married Haim Eshaya in Burgas. Haim was born on May 16, 1904, in Sofia, to Avram and Rivka Amada Levy Eshaya. They owned a textile business in Burgas.
In July 1940, Bulgaria began to enact restrictive anti-Jewish legislation. In early March 1941, Bulgaria joined the Axis alliance. The Bulgarians formed Jewish forced labor battalions to build infrastructure needed for the war. From June to September 1941, Haim was interned in Beli Izvor forced labor camp. Rashel remained at home and managed their business. In 1942, Germany began pressuring Bulgaria to deport its Jews. That August, Jews were forced to register and wear Star of David badges. In early March 1943, Bulgarian authorities deported Jews in occupied areas and prepared to deport the Jews from the capital, Sofia. Rashel was in danger of being deported. In March 1943, Bulgarian politicians, intellectuals and clergy protested the imminent deportations, which were cancelled in May 1943. From February to November 1943, Haim was interned in Gradeshnitsa forced labor camp. In May 1944, Haim was sent to Smyadovo labor camp. Soviet forces approached in summer 1944 and on September 1, 1944, Haim was liberated and returned to Burgas. In October 1944, Bulgaria switched allegiances and declared war on Germany. On May 7, 1945, the war ended when Germany surrendered. In 1947, Rashel had a son. In 1948, the family emigrated to Israel and settled in Tel Aviv.