Jewish, Armenian Remembrances Begin Today

Jews and Armenians, whose people were systematically murdered during two 20th century genocides, mark man’s inhumanity to man with remembrances beginning today.

Jews will observe Yom Hashoah, or Holocaust Remembrance Day, while Armenians will mark the 86th anniversary of the Armenian genocide.

Six million Jews were murdered by the Nazis during World War II. Armenians estimate that 1.5 million of them were murdered between 1915 and 1923. Most historians agree that the Ottoman Turks during and after World War I organized massacres and large-scale deportations of Armenians to Syria. The Armenians were accused of collaboration with Russia, which occupied northern Turkey. Turkey, whose population is primarily Muslim, has denied that a genocide of its ethnic Armenians, a Christian community, took place, but acknowledges that as many as 600,000 Armenians were left dead, saying that most died of exposure and starvation.

HOLOCAUST REMEMBRANCES

Michael Shermer, coauthor of a book on Holocaust denial, will be the featured speaker Sunday during the Day of Remembrance observance from 2 to 4 p.m. sponsored by the Jewish Federation of Greater Long Beach/West Orange County, the Jewish Community Center, the Jewish Community Chronicle and Anti-Defamation League. The program will be at the Barbara Ray Alpert Jewish Community Center, 3801 E. Willow St., Long Beach. (562) 426-7601, Ext. 1024.

* An annual commemoration of the 1943 Warsaw ghetto uprising against the Nazis will be held at 8 p.m. today at the Los Angeles Yiddish Cultural Club, 8339 W. 3rd St., Los Angeles. Free. (310) 552-2007.

* A Yom Hashoah remembrance sponsored by Congregation Kol Ami of West Hollywood will be held at 7 p.m. Sunday at Fiesta Hall in Plummer Park, 7377 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood. (310) 248-6320.

ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

Thousands of high school and college students from dozens of campuses will lead a 1.5-mile commemorative march through Hollywood’s “Little Armenia” on Tuesday. The march, planned by the United Armenian Students, will start at Sunset Boulevard and Hobart Street at 11 a.m.

* “The Red Trees of the Armenian Genocide,” an art exhibit and performance, will take place today from 2 to 4 p.m. at 100 S. Brand Ave., Glendale; and on Sunday at the same time in front of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, 5905 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles. Free. (818) 631-3540.

EVENTS

The 125th anniversary of Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion will be commemorated Sunday with study and song from 10:15 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the campus, 3077 University Ave., Los Angeles. Speakers include Rabbi Lawrence Kushner and a guest of honor will be Nancy Blase of Seattle, great-granddaughter of college founder Rabbi Isaac Mayer Wise. Registration begins at 9:30 a.m. $12. (213) 749-3424, Ext. 4205.

* Free immunizations for children will be offered Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at West Angeles Church of God in Christ, 3045 Crenshaw Blvd., Los Angeles. The program, presented in conjunction with the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services, is part of National Infant Immunization Week.

* “War and Peace in the World Religions” is the subject of a daylong conference with 20 speakers on Monday, beginning at 8:30 a.m. at California Lutheran University, 60 W. Olsen Road, #1800, Thousand Oaks. Buddhist, Chinese, Christian, Hindu, Islamic and Jewish perspectives will be offered. Free. (805) 493-3151.

* A historical tour of Jewish Los Angeles will be offered Sunday by Congregation Mishkon Tephilo. $40 members, $50 nonmembers. The bus leaves at 9:30 a.m. from the synagogue, 206 Main St., Venice. (310) 392-3029.

* “Male Homosexuality and Jewish Law” is the subject of a course sponsored by Beth Chayim Chadashim’s Queer Jewish Think Tank on Monday and April 30 at 7 p.m. Rabbi Benay Lappe of the Conservative movement will be among the speakers. $24 members, $36 nonmembers. (323) 931-7023.

* How to enable children to make ethical choices in everyday life and how to raise Jewish children in a fast-paced world will be discussed by Rabbi Steven Carr Reuben on Friday at 8 p.m. and next Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Leo Baeck Temple, 1300 N. Sepulveda Blvd., Los Angeles. Nonmembers: $36. Includes lunch. Advance registration. (310) 476-2861.

MUSIC

Music by Hildegard von Bingen will be performed at 2 p.m. Sunday as part of a medieval mystery play at First Presbyterian Church, 1220 2nd St., Santa Monica. $20, seniors; students $15. (310) 451-1303.

* A concert of choral music by the Anglican Chorale of Southern California will be held at 7:30 p.m. April 29 at St. Andrew Catholic Church, 311 N. Raymond Ave., Pasadena. $10. (909) 599-5255.

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