Western Diocese

On Friday April 27, 2007, the Jewish World Watch and the Western Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church, joined together at the Valley Beth Shalom in Encino,and hosted a dinner attended by over 500 people.   Following the dinner a joint Shabbat Service was held in the Temple with close to 1000 people in attendance. The title of this event was “We Remember, We Commemorate.”  During the dinner representatives of Jewish Organizations delivered remarks, the tables were blessed, and the Honorable Antonio Villiaragosa, Mayor of Los Angeles, delivered the opening remarks.  The Mayor spoke about the Armenian Genocide mentioning also the Jewish Holocaust, referring to both of them as genocides and crimes against humanity.

Mr. Armen Liloyan, the Consul General of Armenia also addressed those inattendance  and expressed his thanks and appreciation for this historic occasion.

The Primate together with Diocesan Clergy, Parish Priests, members of the Diocesan Council and Armenian community leaders were in attendance.

During the combined services the choirs of St. Peter Armenian Church of Van Nuys and the Valley Beth Shallom joined together in singing religious songs in both Armenian and Hebrew.

The main speakers were His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, speaking on the topic “The Universality of Human Suffering,” followed by the response of Rabbi Harold Schulweis, the founder of Jewish World Watch, “In Memory of the Martyrs of Armenia.”  One of the highlights of the evening was a poem written by Rabbi Schulweis titled:   In Memory of the Martyrs of Armenia (please see below).

The program concluded with the joint choirs singing the national anthems of Armenia, Israel, and the United States.  Following services a social gathering was held in Memory of the Martyrs of Armenia