'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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