RIGHTEOUS JEWS SUPPORT ARMENIANS

[MosJan]

RIGHTEOUS JEWS SUPPORT ARMENIANS

More than 50 prominent Jews, most of them from the United States, issued earlier this month a very sympathetic statement about Armenians in general, and confirmed that both Armenians and Jews have been victims of genocide.

 

 

In the not too distant past, when some American-Jewish organizations and Israeli officials made anti-Armenian statements, including the denial of the Armenian Genocide, Armenian activists rightly condemned them. It is therefore fair and proper that when other Jews, in this case, “Righteous Jews,” issue truthful statements on the Armenian Genocide, Armenians should thank them and commend them for their sincere expressions of friendship and support!

 

 

Here is the full text of the Jewish statement:

 

 

“We, the undersigned, are scholars, rabbis, teachers, community leaders, and students of Jewish heritage. As Jews, we share many similarities with the Armenian people. We were both victims of genocide during the twentieth century and have survived despite those who would deny us our right to exist. On this year, 2001, which marks the 1700th anniversary of Armenia’s adoption of Christianity, we as Jews salute our Armenian friends and their contributions to Western society and culture.”

 

 

Among the most prominent signers of this statement were:

 

 

- Israel Charny, Executive Director of the Institute on the Holocaust and Genocide, Jerusalem; Editor-in-Chief of the Encyclopedia of Genocide; -Leon Botstein, President, Bard College; -Dr. Stephen Feinstein, Director, Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies, University of Minnesota; -David Gordis, Ph.D., President & Professor of Rabbinics, Hebrew College; -Dr. Steven L. Jacobs, Rabbi, Aaron Aronov Chair of Judaic Studies, University of Alabama; -Professor Efraim Karsh, Head of Mediterranean Studies, Kingâs College, University of London; -Robert Jay Lifton, Department of Psychiatry, Harvard University.

 

 

By Harut Sassounian Publisher, The California Courier