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'System of a Down' Genocide Documentary To be Screened at Valley Beth Shalom
ENCINO -- Valley Beth Shalom and Jewish World Watch will screen the new
documentary "Screamers," on Monday, January 22, at 7 p.m., at 15739 Ventura
Blvd., in Encino. Admission is free of charge.
This new documentary follows the Grammy-winning rock band, "System of a Down"
as they explore modern day genocide beginning with the Armenian Genocide of
1915, through the Holocaust, to Darfur in our time.
The screening will be followed by a panel discussion with Rabbi Ed Feinstein,
System of a Down band member Shavo Odadjian, Director Carla Garapedian,
and Harut Sassounian, Publisher of The California Courier.
 "Screamers"
is a term coined by Harvard Professor Samantha Power, to refer to people who
cannot stand idly by while a genocide is unfolding. The members of System of a
Down are descendants of Armenian Genocide survivors. Through their worldwide fan
base, they have helped educate the public at large about genocide, in order to
prevent its denial and repetition.
"Screamers" recently won the prestigious Audience Award at the AFI Film Festival
and was selected by the Skirball Center for its under-18 Film Guide. The film's
nationwide release begins January 26.
"Regardless of the differences in circumstances, period of time and identity of
the perpetrators, the victims of all genocides have one thing in common: They
have all been killed simply for no other crime than being innocent human
beings," said Harut Sassounian, Publisher of The California Courier.
"We promised the victims of the Holocaust that we would never forget. We
promised to stand up as witnesses. That responsibility extends beyond the circle
of our own. Wherever the evil of genocide is practiced, we are called to be
'screamers.' We embrace our neighbors and friends in the Armenian community in
commemorating the Armenian genocide 90 years ago, as we stand with them to
demand a response to the contemporary genocide in Sudan," said Rabbi Ed
Feinstein, senior rabbi of Valley Beth Shalom in Encino.
"I'm thrilled that Valley Beth Shalom, Rabbi Feinstein and Jewish World Watch
have reached out to work with us and the Armenian community to bring attention
to the need to end all genocides. We all need to be screamers to make sure there
is meaning to the words 'never again,'" said Carla Garapedian, the Director of
the documentary.
From The California Courier and others
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