ARMENIAN ASSEMBLY OF AMERICA AND JEWISH COMMUNITY RELATIONS COUNCIL HELD JOINT ACTION
By Defacto Staff
Defacto
April 3, 2008
YEREVAN, 03.04.08. DE FACTO. As a part of its ongoing efforts to raise awareness of the Armenian Genocide and other crimes against humanity, the Armenian Assembly of America (AAA) partnered with the Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) of Greater Boston to support "Out of Darkness," a performance dance exploring the tragic events of 1915, AAA reports.
The Assembly and JCRC co-hosted a reception for the March 22nd performance, which had featured the world-renowned Liz Lerman Dance Exchange and Sayat Nova Dance Company, the internationally-known Armenian troupe. Adapted from Lerman's Small Dances about Big Ideas, "Out of Darkness" explores mass violence in contemporary times and provides a healing reflection on the scope of human compassion. Leaders from the Armenian and Jewish communities, including Israeli Consular General to New England Nadav Tamir, attended the pre-reception and the performance.
In her remarks at the reception, Nancy K. Kaufman, Executive Director of the JCRC of Greater Boston, reminded those gathered of the special connection that both communities shared and the importance of remembering and acknowledging the genocides perpetrated against both Jews and Armenians in the last century.
This came during the same week that Andrew Tarsy, former Director of the Anti-Defamation League of New England, gave a major speech at Northeastern University, where he expressed hope that the next President of the United States would acknowledge the Armenian Genocide by its proper name.
"When the term 'genocide' applies, as it does...in the case of the Armenians, it is imperative that we be unhesitating and unambiguous in applying it, regardless of the political consequences," said Tarsy, who is now working for Facing History and Ourselves. "Anything less facilitates the obfuscation of truth. Anything less dishonors the memory of the dead and anything less ultimately imperils the safety of the living."
Tarsy also said that the common ground Jews and Armenians had found as victims of genocide made them uniquely interested in understanding each others' historical experience.
"Their mutual empathy can be a source of healing, and their mutual efforts can produce wisdom," he explained.
"The opportunity for the Armenian community and Jewish community to join in partnership projects to explore our common experience with genocide does sensitize our communities to each others' sufferings," said Board of Trustees Public Affairs Chair Anthony Barsamian. "It is important that our communities continue to work together and draw lessons from the past to prevent future crimes against humanity, such as the current genocide in Darfur."
To note, "Out of Darkness" was presented by the New Center for Arts and Culture in partnership with Facing History and Ourselves, Springstep and the Cutler Majestic Theatre at Emerson College.
It should be added that 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.
