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Armenian Assembly continues leading role in outreach to Jewish American
community
armradio.am
08.09.2007 11:21
The Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) of Greater Boston
credited the Armenian Assembly of America yesterday for raising public
awareness of the Armenian Genocide, which led the organization to
formally recognize the events of 1915 and to successfully encourage the
Anti-Defamation League (ADL) to do the same.
During the JCRC's annual meeting in Boston, Executive Director Nancy K.
Kaufman thanked the Armenian Assembly and the ADL for "being such bold
and courageous partners for change." Kaufman personally recognized ADL
New England Regional Director Andrew H. Tarsy and Armenian Assembly
Public Affairs Chair Anthony Barsamian who were present at the meeting.
"At the request of the Armenian Assembly of America, JCRC took a public
position on this over two years ago at the time of the 90th anniversary
of that genocide when we issued a statement that said: 'The Armenian
Genocide represented a failure of the international community to
intervene against the worst possible crime, the destruction of people.
We must never forget the Armenian Genocide and maintain our guard
against those who deny its occurrence,'" Kaufman said.
"I want to thank all of you who answered our call and signed the
statement in support of the ADL Regional Board who passed a bold and
unprecedented resolution calling on their National office to change
their position on this issue," Kaufman continued.
The ADL reversed its longstanding policy and acknowledged the Armenian
Genocide last month, following repeated calls by members of the
Armenian, Jewish and other communities, to persuade the human rights
group to change its position. Prior to this, two members of the ADL
Board, Stewart Cohen, a former chairman of the Polaroid Corp. and
Boston City Council member Mike Ross, both stepped down after Tarsy was
fired for breaking rank with national ADL policy and acknowledging the
Armenian Genocide.
Following Tarsy's departure, Kaufman sent a letter to some 40 prominent
Jewish leaders in Massachusetts, urging them to pressure the ADL to
recognize the genocide and support Tarsy.
"I have never gotten such unanimous support for any position by the
JCRC as I have in the last few days on this one," Kaufman told the
Boston Globe last month. "It doesn't matter where people are on the
political spectrum - left, right, middle - people are really standing
behind this because it strikes at the core of what it means to be a Jew
and never again means never again."
In 2005, Assembly leaders met with their JCRC counterparts to encourage
the organization to publicly acknowledge the events of 1915 as
genocide. As a result of that meeting, the JCRC released a statement in
April 2005, commemorating the 90th anniversary of the Armenian
Genocide.
"It has been our privilege to work with leading Jewish-American
organizations, including the JCRC and Nancy Kaufman, within broader
human rights coalitions," said Barsamian. "We are pleased that our two
communities are now working together, like never before, to support
each other on Holocaust and Armenian Genocide affirmation and to fight
denial together at every turn."
Barsamian said that the Assembly is calling on the ADL to follow up on
its new policy by supporting the Armenian Genocide resolutions pending
in the House of Representatives and Senate.
To date, the following Jewish-American organizations support the
Armenian Genocide resolution: American Federation of Jews from Central
Europe (New York, NY), American Jewish World Service (New York, NY),
Center for Russian Jewry with Student Struggle for Soviet Jewry (New
York, NY), Jewish Social Policy Action Network (Philadelphia, PA),
Jewish War Veterans of the USA (Washington, DC), Jewish World Watch
(Encino, CA), Reconstructionist Rabbinical College (Wyncote, PA) and
The Workmen's Circle/Arbeter Ring (New York, NY).
The Armenian Assembly has always been mindful of all other instances of
man's inhumanity to man, and for that reason, was among the first
organizations to support the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
project in Washington.
JCRC works to promote a society that reflects the best of American and
Jewish values -- in Greater Boston, Israel and around the world -- by
convening and mobilizing the Jewish community. Through advocacy,
organizing, service and partnerships, JCRC pursues social justice,
ensures a vibrant Jewish community, and builds a network of support for
Israel.
The ADL is one of the oldest and most influential Jewish organizations
in the United States and has been working to combat anti-Semitism and
bigotry for more than 90 years.
community
armradio.am
08.09.2007 11:21
The Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) of Greater Boston
credited the Armenian Assembly of America yesterday for raising public
awareness of the Armenian Genocide, which led the organization to
formally recognize the events of 1915 and to successfully encourage the
Anti-Defamation League (ADL) to do the same.
During the JCRC's annual meeting in Boston, Executive Director Nancy K.
Kaufman thanked the Armenian Assembly and the ADL for "being such bold
and courageous partners for change." Kaufman personally recognized ADL
New England Regional Director Andrew H. Tarsy and Armenian Assembly
Public Affairs Chair Anthony Barsamian who were present at the meeting.
"At the request of the Armenian Assembly of America, JCRC took a public
position on this over two years ago at the time of the 90th anniversary
of that genocide when we issued a statement that said: 'The Armenian
Genocide represented a failure of the international community to
intervene against the worst possible crime, the destruction of people.
We must never forget the Armenian Genocide and maintain our guard
against those who deny its occurrence,'" Kaufman said.
"I want to thank all of you who answered our call and signed the
statement in support of the ADL Regional Board who passed a bold and
unprecedented resolution calling on their National office to change
their position on this issue," Kaufman continued.
The ADL reversed its longstanding policy and acknowledged the Armenian
Genocide last month, following repeated calls by members of the
Armenian, Jewish and other communities, to persuade the human rights
group to change its position. Prior to this, two members of the ADL
Board, Stewart Cohen, a former chairman of the Polaroid Corp. and
Boston City Council member Mike Ross, both stepped down after Tarsy was
fired for breaking rank with national ADL policy and acknowledging the
Armenian Genocide.
Following Tarsy's departure, Kaufman sent a letter to some 40 prominent
Jewish leaders in Massachusetts, urging them to pressure the ADL to
recognize the genocide and support Tarsy.
"I have never gotten such unanimous support for any position by the
JCRC as I have in the last few days on this one," Kaufman told the
Boston Globe last month. "It doesn't matter where people are on the
political spectrum - left, right, middle - people are really standing
behind this because it strikes at the core of what it means to be a Jew
and never again means never again."
In 2005, Assembly leaders met with their JCRC counterparts to encourage
the organization to publicly acknowledge the events of 1915 as
genocide. As a result of that meeting, the JCRC released a statement in
April 2005, commemorating the 90th anniversary of the Armenian
Genocide.
"It has been our privilege to work with leading Jewish-American
organizations, including the JCRC and Nancy Kaufman, within broader
human rights coalitions," said Barsamian. "We are pleased that our two
communities are now working together, like never before, to support
each other on Holocaust and Armenian Genocide affirmation and to fight
denial together at every turn."
Barsamian said that the Assembly is calling on the ADL to follow up on
its new policy by supporting the Armenian Genocide resolutions pending
in the House of Representatives and Senate.
To date, the following Jewish-American organizations support the
Armenian Genocide resolution: American Federation of Jews from Central
Europe (New York, NY), American Jewish World Service (New York, NY),
Center for Russian Jewry with Student Struggle for Soviet Jewry (New
York, NY), Jewish Social Policy Action Network (Philadelphia, PA),
Jewish War Veterans of the USA (Washington, DC), Jewish World Watch
(Encino, CA), Reconstructionist Rabbinical College (Wyncote, PA) and
The Workmen's Circle/Arbeter Ring (New York, NY).
The Armenian Assembly has always been mindful of all other instances of
man's inhumanity to man, and for that reason, was among the first
organizations to support the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
project in Washington.
JCRC works to promote a society that reflects the best of American and
Jewish values -- in Greater Boston, Israel and around the world -- by
convening and mobilizing the Jewish community. Through advocacy,
organizing, service and partnerships, JCRC pursues social justice,
ensures a vibrant Jewish community, and builds a network of support for
Israel.
The ADL is one of the oldest and most influential Jewish organizations
in the United States and has been working to combat anti-Semitism and
bigotry for more than 90 years.