In Commemoration of
Yom Hashoah,
Holocaust Memorial Day
for an afternoon
Interfaith Learn-In
on
Genocide
in the Modern World
Beginning with the documentary film:
Worse than War
Followed by Discussion and an Interfaith
Service Against Genocide:
Prayer, Healing and Action.
Presented Jointly by Greater Lowell Leadership Alliance (GLILA) and
Temple Emanuel of the Merrimack Valley (TEMV)
At Temple Emanuel of the Merrimack Valley
Order of Events
2pm — Movie – Worse than War (Sanctuary)
Approx. 4:15 — Break, Snack, Breakout Groups with GLILA moderators
(Upper and Lower Levels of Temple)
Approx. 5pm — Service Against Genocide (Sanctuary)
Service against Genocide
In keeping with the solemnity of the service, we ask that all cellphones be turned off, and that no photography be taken. We also ask that there be no applause.
Piano Processional, Performed by Dave Keefe, Accompanist, St. Francis Catholic Church, Dracut
Procession by GLILA and Participants
Welcome and a few words on the World Family as taught by Hinduism, by Tej Tanden, Manager and Chair of the Board of trustees. Om Center, North Billerica, VP of GLILA
Welcome by Marylin Gallant, President of TEMV
Introduction to the Service by Dr. Stephen Fisher, Ph.D., Spiritual Psychologist, HealingSprings Counseling, Lowell; VP of GLILA.
Explanation of Presentations, Rabbi Dawn Rose, Ph.D., Rabbi, Temple Emanuel of the Merrimack Valley
First Presentation with Prayer – Japan in remembrance of Hiroshima and Nagasaki
Ryuoh Faulconer Shonin (Nichiren Buddhist Sangha of Greater New England)
Shogen Kumakura Shonin (New York Daiseion-Ji)
Will perform Jigage and Shusan
A section of Chapter 16 of the Lotus Sutra (known as Jigage) will be chanted today in remembrance of the victims of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
The section of the Lotus Sutra we are chanting shows us that all living beings have Buddha nature and can become Buddhas. It will be followed by a blessing from Chapter 28 of the Lotus Sutra. This blessing is called Shusan and is in the form of a Dharani (Incantation) called Atandai and is used for spiritual healing and protection.
Response – Roman Catholic, Fr. William McSweeney, OMI, St. Francis Catholic Church, Dracut
Reflective Silence, Signal for the End of Silence, the sound of the Kana maru
Laura Smith, Assistant to the President, Middlesex Community College, I Found the Answer
Second Presentation with Prayer – North America in remembrance of American Indians
The Weight of Ashes, Trail of Tears
The Rev. Paul D. Millin, United Church of Christ, retired
Reflective Silence, Signal for the End of Silence
Response – Islam – Imam Hafiz Abdul Hannan, Imam and Religious Director, Islamic Society of Greater Lowell
Third Presentation with Prayer – Cambodia, in remembrance of the victims of the Khmer Rouge
Niem Nay-Kret, Bi-Cultural Behavioral Field Specialist, Lowell Community Health Center, Presenting a Poem by Venerable Ly Van of the Glory Buddhist Temple
Sinan Ung – will perform a “Smoth or Gaup” on behalf of Cambodian Genocide victims
Response — Ajahn Mangkone Sananikone (Dhammadharo), Wat (Temple) Buddhabhavan, Westford, MA – will provide background on his country of origin, Laos, then chant “Bungsa-Khun”
Reflective Silence, Signal for the End of Silence
Fourth Presentation with Prayer – Africa – On multiple genocides, historic and current
An Update on Lyberia – Rev. Jeremiah Menyongai, Christ Jubilee International Ministries
Presentation in Mourning Clothing of Ghana, The Tetteh Family, Esther, Rebecca, and the Rev. John Tetteh,
Rebecca Tetteh, The Hut, an original poem for this service.
Response – Esther Tetteh, The Lord’s Prayer
Reflective Silence, Signal for the End of Silence
Fifth Presentation with Prayer – Armenians – In remembrance of genocide in Turkey
Ara A. Jeknavorian, Ph.D.
Deacon, Sts Vartanantz Armenian Church
Armenian National Committee of Merrimack Valley, Co-chair
A brief accounting of the Armenian Genocide and a “Requiem Prayer.”
Response – Protestant Christianity – The Rev. Paul Millin
First They Came for…
First they came for the communists,
And I didn’t speak because I was not a communist.
Then they came for the socialists,
And I didn’t speak because I was not a socialist.
Then they came for the trade unionists,
And I didn’t speak because I was not a trade unionist.
Then they came for the Jews,
And I didn’t speak because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me,
And there was no one left to speak for me.
By Martin Niemoeller
Reflective Silence, Signal for the End of Silence
Sixth Presentation with Prayer – Jewish – in remembrance of the Holocaust
A brief introduction to the Holocaust, Rabbi Dawn Rose
All Rise, Temple Emanuel’s Holocaust Torah will be removed from the Ark by second generation Holocaust survivors, Shirley Papp, David Emmerich, and Vivian Burton.
Rabbi Dawn Rose will sing the Prayer for the Departed:
Eil Molei Rachamim
God, Full of Compassion
Exulted God, full of compassion, find true repose for those we remember today, beneath the wings of Your Divine Presence, in the exalted spheres of the holy and the pure who shine like the bright firmament. May their memory be for a blessing. Bind their souls with the bond of eternal life and may they rest in shalom, in peace.
Response – Universal Kaddish – A Responsive Reading/Prayer, lead by Rabbi Margaret Frisch Kline, Education Director, Congregation Beth Israel, Andover
In Memory of All Those Who Have Perished by Genocide
Yit-gadal America
V’yit-kadash Bosnia
Sh’may raba Cambodia
B’alma dee-v’ra che-ru-tay, China
Ve’yam-lich mal-chutay Darfur
B’chai-yay-chon uv’yo-may-chon Germany
Uv-cha-yay d’chol beit Yisrael, Guatemala
Ba-agala u’vitze-man ka-riv, Japan
Ve’imru amen.
Y’hay sh’may raba me’varach le-alam uleh-almay alma-ya.
Lithuania
Yit-barach v’yish-tabach, Pakistan
V’yit-pa-ar v’yit-romam Poland
V’yit-nasay, v’yit-hadar Rwanda
V’yit-aleh v’yit-halal South Africa
Sh’may d’koo-d’shah, Soviet Union
B’rich hoo. Layla Turkey
Meen kol beer-chata v’she-rata, Uganda
Toosh-b’chata v’nay-ch’mata,
Da-a meran b’alma,
Ve’imru amen.
Y’hay sh’lama raba meen sh’maya v’cha-yim aleynu v’al kol Yisrael, ve’imru amen.
O’seh shalom beem-romav, hoo ya’ah-seh shalom aleynu v’al kol Yisrael, ve’imru amen.
Reflective Silence, Signal for the End of Silence
Next Steps – Rabbi Dawn Rose, Ph.D.
Benediction – Dr. Stephen Fischer
Lura Smith, If I Can Help Somebody
Final Song and Recessional: Let There Be Peace on Earth
Let There be Peace on Earth
Let there be peace on earth
And let it begin with me.
Let there be peace on earth
The peace that was meant to be.
Created as equals
Brothers all are we.
Let me walk with my sister
In perfect harmony.
Let peace begin with me
Let this be the moment now.
With every step I take
Let this be my solemn vow.
To take each moment
And live each moment
With peace eternally.
Let there be peace on earth
And let it begin with me.
GLILA Genocide Project Committee Members
(Last page, Alphabetical by Last Name)
Rabbi Dawn Rose, Ph.D., Rabbi, Temple Emanuel of the Merrimack Valley
Fr. Khachatur Kesablyn, St. Vartainian Armenian Orthodox Church, Chelmsford
Rev. Paul D. Millin, United Church of Christ, retired
Rev. Sylvia Robinson, United Church of Christ, retired
Rev. Ryuoh Faulconer, Founder, Nichiren Buddhist Sanghe of Greater Boston, Haverill, MA.
Rev. Dr. Jean Wright, Pastor; First Baptist Church of Fitchburg, Fitchburg, Ma., President of GLILA
Dr. Stephen Fisher, Ph.D., Spiritual Psychologist, HealingSprings Counseling, Lowell; VP of GLILA
Farook Taufig, Islamic Center of Greater Lowell
Imam Hafiz Hannan, Religious Director and Imam, Islamic Center of Greater Lowell
Kathy Long, Director of Religious Education, Pastoral Associate, St. Francis Catholic Church, Dracut, Ma.
Niem Nay-Kret,
Rev. John Tetteh, Calgary Church
Special Thanks to
Nichiren Temple of Greater Boston and the TEMV Religious School for the Origami Peace Cranes
Phebe Rand, Temple Emanuel of the Merrimack Valley, Lowell
David Emmerick
Lura Smith
David Keefe, St. Francis Catholic Church in Dracut
The Teens of St. Francis
Debbie Hovanasian, SUN Newspaper, Lowell
Shogen Kumakura Shonin (New York Daiseion-Ji)
Fr. William McSweeney, OMI, St. Francis Catholic Church, Dracut
Rebecca and Esther Tetteh
Fr. William McSweeney, OMI, St. Francis Catholic Church, Dracut
Sinan Ung
Ajahn Mangkone Sananikone (Dhammadharo), Wat (Temple) Buddhabhavan, Westford, MA
Ara A. Jeknavorian, Ph.D.
Deacon, Sts Vartanantz Armenian Church
Armenian National Committee of Merrimack Valley, Co-chair
Rabbi Margaret
Holy Moriah: A Kabalah 