Rima Varzhapetyan-Feller

Rima Varzhapetyan-Feller
Born Rima Varzhapetyan
Nationality  Armenian
Occupation Mechanical Engineer
Known for President of the Jewish Community of Armenia

Rima Varzhapetyan-Feller (Armenian: Ռիմա Վարժապետյան-Ֆելլեր, Russian: Римма Варжапетян-Феллер) is an Armenian woman of Jewish origin. She has been the president of the Jewish Community of Armenia since 1996,[1][2] a community which currently stands at 1,000 people, despite Jews being present in Armenia since the days of Tigranes the Great.[3] She is also a member of the European Jewish Parliament, representing Armenia.

She has campaigned for the recognition of the Armenian Genocide,[4][5] especially by Israel, even sending an open letter to the Knesset in 2012.[6]

Controversies

Refuting claims of Anti-semitism in Armenia

Organizations like the Anti-Defamation League and Jewish-owned media in the United States[7] have reported that Armenia is probably the most anti-Semitic member of the former USSR countries, with over half of the population harboring anti-Semitic attitudes, according to some sources. Varzhapetyan has refuted those sources.[8]

Accusations of supporting the glorification of Armenian Nazi collaborators

On Apr. 28, 2015, Arye Gut, an Israeli of Azerbaijani origin, accused Varzhapetyan of not denouncing the publication of anti-semitic books in Armenia and the glorification[9] of Drastamat Kanayan, leader of the Armenian Legion and collaborator with Nazi Germany during World War II. This letter prompted a response sent to the Jewish Journal by Varzhapetyan[10] and moreover, Varzhapetyan has come against Israeli and U.S. Jewish newspapers[11][12] where these anti-Armenian articles have been published, as well as criticizing the leadership of Azerbaijan[13] for whitewashing the image of Azerbaijan in the eyes of Israel and the U.S. Jewish community.[14]

Personal life

Varzhapetyan-Feller is a mechanical engineer,[15] married and has two sons.[16]

References

  1. ↑ There is no Anti-Semitism in Armenia: Rima Varzhapetyan-Feller. Armenpress
  2. ↑ Jewish Community of Armenia. Raoul Wallenberg Foundation
  3. ↑ Never again. «If I had power, I would introduce an 11th commandment». Panorama.am
  4. ↑ ‘Armenian Genocide Recognition Requires Consistent Work’, says Jewish Community of Armenia. Asbarez
  5. ↑ Jewish community of Armenia calls on ADL to support Armenian Genocide resolution. PanARMENIAN.Net
  6. ↑ Recognition of Armenian Genocide by Knesset will also become important contribution to international community’s efforts on prevention of acts of genocide
  7. ↑ Anti-Semitism in Armenia: A Clear and Present Danger. The Algemeiner
  8. ↑ Armenia not anti-Semitic country, head of Jewish community says. Gagrule.Net
  9. ↑ Armenia immortalizes fascists, anti-Semites who participated in the Holocaust. Jewish Journal
  10. ↑ Open letter to Mr. David Harris, Executive Director at AJC Global Jewish Advocacy. Jewish Journal
  11. ↑ Rima Varzhapetyan slams bias ati-Armenian articles published in Israeli newspapers. Armenpress
  12. ↑ Baku to the Future: Azerbaijan, Not Armenia, Is Israel's True Ally ץ Haaretz
  13. ↑ Հայաստանի հրեական համայնքի ղեկավարը խստորեն քննադատել է ադրբեջանամետ պրոպագանդիստներին (Armenian)
  14. ↑ Sassounian: Armenia’s Jewish Community Leader Lashes Out at Pro-Azeri Propagandists
  15. ↑ The Jewish Traveler: Armenia. Haddasah Magazine
  16. ↑ Rimma Varzhapetyan. European Jewish Parliament
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