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Florida High School Students Visit the Armenian Assembly of America
High School Students from Palm Beach County Learn About Armenian History, Human Rights, and the Armenian Genocide
WASHINGTON, DC – Last month, the Armenian Assembly of America (Assembly) hosted a group of high school students and educators from Palm Beach County, Florida for a presentation and discussion on Armenian history, human rights, and the Armenian Genocide. Nineteen students and eight teachers travelled to the nation’s capital to meet with various human rights groups and anti-genocide organizations to deepen their understanding of genocide and crimes against humanity. The group was sponsored by inSIGHT Through Education, Inc., a Florida non-profit that uses the lessons of the Holocaust and genocide to fight prejudice and bigotry and to encourage tolerance, acceptance and respect. In addition to the Assembly, the student group also visited Congress and the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum.
Dr. Rouben Adalian, Director of the Armenian National Institute (ANI), provided a briefing to the group and presented the exhibit “Witness to the Armenian Genocide: Photographs by the Perpetrators’ German and Austro-Hungarian Allies.” The exhibit includes ten posters with a detailed timeline, a color-coded map geographically matching the photographs with their location, and seven pages displaying 34 captioned historic photographs depicting the deportations, massacres, and concentration camps.
“The Palm Beach County students were already aware of the importance of addressing current human rights issues,” stated Dr. Adalian. “That made our discussion on the Armenian Genocide that much more informed, as they detected the patterns of discrimination and intolerance that can lead to gross violations forewarning of a genocidal outcome,” Dr. Adalian said.
The students were accompanied by educators Maureen Carter, Maureen Holtzer, Frances Kennedy, Tawny Anderson, Bryan Sandala, Tonisha Cook, Holocaust survivor Frieda Jaffe, and President of inSIGHT Roz Lewy.
Taniel Koushakjian, Assembly Communications Director, also addressed the group and discussed the role of the Assembly in educating the public as well as elected officials about human rights and the Armenian Genocide. “It is important that Holocaust and Genocide education begin at the high-school level and it is encouraging to see my home state and county lead in that effort,” said Koushakjian, a life-long Floridian and graduate of the Palm Beach County public school system.
Established in 1972, the Armenian Assembly of America is the largest Washington-based nationwide organization promoting public understanding and awareness of Armenian issues. The Assembly is a non-partisan, 501(c)(3) tax-exempt membership organization.
OPINION: A Journey Through Time
By Rabbi Craig H. Ezring
Spiritual Leader of Temple Beth Israel of Deerfield Beach, FL
Observer Newspaper
I was invited to a genocide commemoration last week. But this was not a commemoration of the Shoah, this was a commemoration (the very first in the United States) of the 100th Year of Remembrance of the Armenian Genocide.
Most of you who read my column know that I have a passion for dance. So when I heard that the program would include a performance by the Sayat Nova Dance Company …well, how could I stay away? But there was another reason that I needed to be there.
On Shabbat, just before the event, I sang a song during my sermon. The lyrics go something like this:
I am bound for the Promised Land …
Oh Lord, I am bound for the Promised Land …
Oh who will come and go with me …
I am bound for the Promised Land …
Who will come and go with me?
Which is it, are we coming or going? The same question was asked by the Sages in regard to what G-d tells Moses about a trip to pharaoh. You see, the Hebrew word, Bo, can mean, “go” or it can mean, “come.” So was G-d telling Moses to “go” to Pharaoh or was He telling him “come to Pharaoh?” If I asked you to go to the store, I would be asking you to go in my stead. But, if I asked you to come … that is what G-d was saying to Moses, “Come with me … I will be with you every step of the way.”
And that is why I felt I had to come to the Armenian Genocide Commemoration. As a Jew, I have a duty to remember the Holocaust and to see to it that it never happens again. The problem is that, before the Holocaust, there was a genocide perpetrated against the Armenians and there have been others since then in places like Darfur and Rwanda. So how could I not be there to remember the horror that happened to my Armenian brothers and sisters?
The dance program took us all on “A Journey Through Time.” The performers weaved the story of the Armenians from ancient days to the Genocide, to their rebirth. With each step the dancers took on stage, I could feel the connection between the Armenian Culture and the Jewish Community. We each went through an amazing religious transformation; each of us had and have those who would like to see us annihilated; and each of us not only miraculously survived an attempt at extermination, but both cultures have found a way to go on. No, each has found a way to do more than that; each has found a way to live, to laugh and to dance.
As I looked around the audience and saw so many children with parents and grandparents, I realized that the Armenians have the same aspirations that we have … to make our progeny knowledgeable of our past, of our traditions, of our culture and to be proud of being who we are. And, with the help of people like Arsine Kaloustian and the AGC (The Armenian Genocide Commemoration), may we be vigilant to speak out against any and all attempts at the Genocide of any people.
To Arsine and to all my Armenian brothers and sisters, we will not forget!
Shalom my friends.
This article originally appeared in the Observer Newspaper on February 5, 2015, and is reposted with the expressed written consent of the author.
Boca Raton Walkathon to Raise Public Awareness of Armenian Genocide
Event to raise funds for genocide education in Florida
BOCA RATON, FL – An upcoming walkathon in Boca Raton will mark the 99th commemoration of the Armenian Genocide of 1915, whereby 1.5 million Armenians were systematically exterminated by the Ottoman Turkish Empire during World War I. Event proceeds will go towards genocide awareness, community outreach and advocacy for more comprehensive genocide education in Florida public schools.
The Walk Against Genocide, a two-mile walk which will take place Saturday, April 12 at Mizner Park, is organized by the Armenian Genocide Commemoration (AGC) Inc., a nonprofit organization comprised of representatives from various Armenian American organizations and churches in South Florida. The mission of the AGC is to educate the public about the first genocide of the 20th century — and that genocide continues to occur in modern times, all over the world. In the past few weeks, Armenians have watched history repeat itself as foreign Islamic extremists sacked the predominantly Christian Armenian town of Kessab, Syria, displacing thousands of peaceful Armenians.
Arsine Kaloustian-Rosenthal, AGC’s Public Relations Director, explained: “The Armenian American community usually finds itself commemorating the genocide within its own confines. However, with the 100th anniversary one year away, there seems to be a stirring in Armenian communities all over the world. By planning highly visible events such as this walkathon, we are throwing open the door to all who wish to learn more about us, our culture, and the genocide that took our ancestors from us. As the saying goes, ‘all that is necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.’ We must raise our voices together to condemn not only the Armenian Genocide but also the Holocaust, the Assyrian, Greek, Ukrainian, Cambodian, Rwandan and Darfur genocides, among others.”
Today, the Armenian Genocide remains the second-most studied genocide event, after the better-known Jewish Holocaust of World War II. In fact, when Adolf Hitler was asked how the world would respond to his “Final Solution” plan — the extermination of the Jewish people in Europe — he replied, without compunction: “Who, after all, speaks today of the annihilation of the Armenians?” Turkey, the successor state of the Ottoman Empire, has yet to acknowledge the Armenian Genocide, despite repeated calls from historians and world leaders. Over 20 countries and 40 U.S. States officially recognize the Armenian Genocide committed by Turkey, including the State of Florida.
David Silvers, Candidate for Florida House District 89, will be speaking at the event and has stated “It is important to acknowledge both the suffering and the resilience of our fellow world citizens. Recognition of Turkey’s atrocities toward the Armenian people in 1915 is a necessary step in that process. An injury to one is an injury to us all.”
A traditional Armenian performance by renowned musicians Joe Zeytoonian and Myriam Eli will take place following the walk, and food and refreshments will be provided. Registration begins at 7:30 a.m., while the walk starts at 8:30 a.m. at the Mizner Park Amphitheater, located at 590 Plaza Real in Boca Raton.
Registration for the Walk Against Genocide is $19.15, including a T-shirt and a bottle of water. Children under eight years old may participate for free. To learn more, sponsor a walker, make a donation or sign up for the event, please visit http://www.walkagainstgenocide.com.
AGC Inc is non-profit organization whose purpose is to observe the Armenian Genocide, as well as bring awareness to the public on all genocides. The committee was incorporated in February 2014 and is comprised of representatives from the following South Florida organizations: St. David Armenian Church, St. Mary Armenian Church, Armenian Assembly of America, Armenian National Committee of America, Armenian Relief Society, Florida Armenians, Homenetmen, Armenian Revolutionary Federation, and Knights of Vartan.
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Florida Armenians 