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  • Armenian Genocide Commemoration at Hebrew University

    Saturday, April 29, 2006

    Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Mt. Scopus, Israel
    Prof. Michael Stone and Dr. Sergio LaPorta


    PRESS RELEASE
    The Hebrew University of Jerusalem
    Jerusalem
    Email: [email protected].
    fax: +972-2-588 3658
    Web: http://micro5.mscc.huji.ac.il/~armenia/


    91st COMMEMORATION OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE HELD AT HEBREW UNIVERSITY

    JERUSALEM--- The Hebrew University of Jerusalem held its commemoration
    of the Armenian Genocide on Wednesday 26 April 2006, two days after
    Armenians officially mark the deportation and murder of 1.5 million of
    their people between 1915 and 1917 by the Ottoman Turks. Close to 200
    people, both Jews and Armenians, filled the library at Beit Belgia on
    the University's Givat Ram Campus in Jerusalem for the moving tribute
    and remembrance.

    Dean of the Faculty of Humanities, Professor Steven Kaplan, officially
    represented the University at event, which is initiated and organized
    annually by the long-standing Armenian Studies Program of the
    University headed by Professor Michael Stone.

    Professors Kaplan and Stone addressed the audience as did the Armenian
    Patriarch of Jerusalem, His Beatitude Archbishop Torkom Manoogian, who
    was accompanied by His Excellency Bishop Aris Shirvanian and members of
    the Brotherhood of St. James, and His Excellency Mr. Tsolag Momjian,
    Honorary Consul of the Republic of Armenia.

    As in previous years, the commemoration of the Genocide coincided with
    the State of Israel's Holocaust Remembrance Day, which pays tribute to
    the 6 million Jews murdered by the Nazis in World War II. The result
    was children and survivors of the Holocaust sitting amongst children
    and grandchildren of survivors of the Armenian Genocide, together
    paying respect to its victims.

    The keynote speaker for the evening was former Member of Knesset and
    former Education Minister Yossi Sarid, a passionate campaigner for
    Israeli recognition of the most tragic event. The State of Israel
    unfortunately does not officially recognize the Genocide mainly due to
    its relations with Turkey. Since Jews know the tragedy of genocide so
    well, stressing the moral imperatives, Sarid said, `there is no
    greater
    educational mistake' than to be silent while others suffer the pains
    of
    denial, even when one's self interests are at stake.

    His words were echoed in concluding remarks given by distinguished
    Fulbright Scholar and Professor Abraham Terian who said the psychology
    of denial in comparison to the Genocide itself sometimes `hurts just
    as
    much or more so.' He added that Jews and Armenians understand this,
    as
    their histories are very similar and with a concerted voice, Armenian
    people and the Jewish people should be in the forefront of decrying
    such acts.

    With the poignant yet positive evening of reflection and introspection
    coming to an end, there was optimism that in the coming years, changes
    will happen regarding the denial of the Armenian Genocide in all
    countries, and even in Turkey, Sarid and Terian noted, some measure of
    change can be discerned.


    This electronic newsletter is sent to you by the Armenian Studies
    Department of the Hebrew University. If you do not wish to receive
    future issues send an e-mail message with your name and your full
    e-mail address to [email protected].

    If you have family or friends who would like to receive our electronic
    newsletters please send their names and e-mail addresses to

    From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
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