Union of American Hebrew Congregations

November 7, 1989

This is the exact text of the Armenian genocide resolution passed unanimously by the Union of American Hebrew Congregations on November 7, 1989. TITLE: 1915 GENOCIDE OF OVER 1 MILLION ARMENIANS

The massacre of over 1.5 million Armenians beginning in 1915 by the Ottoman Turks and the subsequent exile of an additional 500,000 Armenians is one of the most shameful chapters of modern history.

Elie Wiesel, a past U.S. Holocaust Memorial Council chairman said, `Before the planning of the final solution, Hitler said, `Who remembers the Armenians.' He was right. No one remembered them, as no one remembered the Jews. Rejected by everyone, they felt expelled from history.'

The U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum Executive Council has unanimously agreed to include reference to the Armenian and other genocides to help illuminate or relate to the story of the holocaust.

We recognize that the Turkey of today is vastly different from the Ottoman Empire of 1915. Our respect for modern Turkey's traditions of pluralism should not deter us from learning the lessons of past mistakes.

The genocide is one of those instances of mass destruction which has both preceded and followed the holocaust to which the U.A.H.C. has drawn notice over the years, that their lessons might not be forgotten (among them Biafra and Cambodia).

Therefore, the Union of American Hebrew Congregations resolves to:

1. Commend the executive committee of the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum for its announced decision to include reference to the Armenian and other genocides to the extent that they help illuminate or relate to the story of the holocaust.

2. Instruct the reform movement's Religious Action Center in Washington to encourage passage of S.J. Resolution 212, a joint resolution now before the U.S. Senate designating April 24, 1990 as `National Day of Remembrance of the 75th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide of 1915-1923.'

3. Educate our congregates as to the facts and the lessons of these tragic chapters of modern history. .