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ANCA-WR REMEMBERS THE LEGACY OF RABBI HAROLD M. SCHULWEIS
Wednesday, December 24th, 2014
http://asbarez.com/130201/anca-wr-remembers-the-legacy-of-rabbi-harold-m-schulweis/
Rabbi Harold M. Schulweis speaks during commemoration ceremonies on
the 92nd Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.
LOS ANGELES - The Armenian National Committee of America Western Region
mourns the passing of Rabbi Harold M. Schulweis, an ardent supporter
of the Armenian-American community's efforts to garner recognition
for the Armenian Genocide and a partner and friend of the community.
"On multiple occasions Rabbi Schulweis has spoken on the importance of
teaching the Armenian Genocide to our children as an important lesson
to the survival of humanity," stated ANCA-WR Chair Nora Hovsepian. "We
extend our sincerest condolences to his family and thank him for his
lifelong mission to raise awareness of the Armenian Genocide. We trust
that his legacy will be continued both through the Jewish World Watch
and other endeavors."
Rabbi Harold Schulweis was the founder of Jewish World Watch and
during his time there, he urged members of Congress to support House
Resolution 252 on the Armenian Genocide. He authored a letter to
members of Congress accompanied by a DVD copy of The River Ran Red,
the epic documentary film on the Genocide by Dr. J. Michael Hagopian.
The Jewish World Watch has been a strong supporter of the Armenian
Film Foundation's efforts to bring the events of the Armenian Genocide
to the forefront. In his letter to the members of Congress, Rabbi
Schulweis wrote, "We are men and women of conscience, and together we
ask our government to recognize what we know as true: that 1.5 million
Armenians were systematically slaughtered in a government-sponsored
campaign of genocide against them. ... I urge you to watch this
film, and put your vote to work, recognizing the Armenian Genocide by
endorsing H.Res. 252." DVD copies of The River Ran Red along with the
same letter also were sent to President Barack Obama, Vice President
Joe Biden and then Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
In 2005 Rabbi Schulweis' concern for Genocide around the world led
him to reach out to the large Armenian-American community in his San
Fernando Valley neighborhood. At that time, Schulweis officiated with
Archbishop Hovnan Derderian Primate of the Western Dioceses of the
Armenian Church of North America at the first joint commemoration
of the Jewish and Armenian Holocausts. Later that year he joined
the rock band System of A Down in an educational program affirming
the common responsibilities of Jewish and Armenian youth to remember
their collective experiences of Genocide and Holocaust, and to take
action to prevent such atrocities.
In 2004, Schulweis delivered a sermon on the Jewish high holidays
calling for a Jewish response to Genocide. He challenged the
congregation: "We took an oath, 'Never again!' Was this vow to protect
only Jews from the curse of Genocide? God forbid that our children
and grandchildren ask of us, 'Where was the synagogue during Rwanda,
when Genocide took place and 800,000 people were slaughtered in 100
days?'" Rabbi Schulweis always spoke to his congregation and other
Jewish congregations across the United States about the consequences
of denial.
As a strong voice for justice, he will be sorely missed.
Wednesday, December 24th, 2014
http://asbarez.com/130201/anca-wr-remembers-the-legacy-of-rabbi-harold-m-schulweis/
Rabbi Harold M. Schulweis speaks during commemoration ceremonies on
the 92nd Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.
LOS ANGELES - The Armenian National Committee of America Western Region
mourns the passing of Rabbi Harold M. Schulweis, an ardent supporter
of the Armenian-American community's efforts to garner recognition
for the Armenian Genocide and a partner and friend of the community.
"On multiple occasions Rabbi Schulweis has spoken on the importance of
teaching the Armenian Genocide to our children as an important lesson
to the survival of humanity," stated ANCA-WR Chair Nora Hovsepian. "We
extend our sincerest condolences to his family and thank him for his
lifelong mission to raise awareness of the Armenian Genocide. We trust
that his legacy will be continued both through the Jewish World Watch
and other endeavors."
Rabbi Harold Schulweis was the founder of Jewish World Watch and
during his time there, he urged members of Congress to support House
Resolution 252 on the Armenian Genocide. He authored a letter to
members of Congress accompanied by a DVD copy of The River Ran Red,
the epic documentary film on the Genocide by Dr. J. Michael Hagopian.
The Jewish World Watch has been a strong supporter of the Armenian
Film Foundation's efforts to bring the events of the Armenian Genocide
to the forefront. In his letter to the members of Congress, Rabbi
Schulweis wrote, "We are men and women of conscience, and together we
ask our government to recognize what we know as true: that 1.5 million
Armenians were systematically slaughtered in a government-sponsored
campaign of genocide against them. ... I urge you to watch this
film, and put your vote to work, recognizing the Armenian Genocide by
endorsing H.Res. 252." DVD copies of The River Ran Red along with the
same letter also were sent to President Barack Obama, Vice President
Joe Biden and then Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
In 2005 Rabbi Schulweis' concern for Genocide around the world led
him to reach out to the large Armenian-American community in his San
Fernando Valley neighborhood. At that time, Schulweis officiated with
Archbishop Hovnan Derderian Primate of the Western Dioceses of the
Armenian Church of North America at the first joint commemoration
of the Jewish and Armenian Holocausts. Later that year he joined
the rock band System of A Down in an educational program affirming
the common responsibilities of Jewish and Armenian youth to remember
their collective experiences of Genocide and Holocaust, and to take
action to prevent such atrocities.
In 2004, Schulweis delivered a sermon on the Jewish high holidays
calling for a Jewish response to Genocide. He challenged the
congregation: "We took an oath, 'Never again!' Was this vow to protect
only Jews from the curse of Genocide? God forbid that our children
and grandchildren ask of us, 'Where was the synagogue during Rwanda,
when Genocide took place and 800,000 people were slaughtered in 100
days?'" Rabbi Schulweis always spoke to his congregation and other
Jewish congregations across the United States about the consequences
of denial.
As a strong voice for justice, he will be sorely missed.