Rima Varzhapetyan-Feller

Rima Varzhapetyan-Feller
Born
Rima Varzhapetyan
Nationality Armenian
OccupationMechanical engineer
Known forPresident of the Jewish Community of Armenia

Rima Varzhapetyan-Feller (Armenian: Ռիմա Վարժապետյան-Ֆելլեր, Russian: Римма Варжапетян-Феллер) is an Armenian Jewish woman who 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 Antisemitism in Armenia

Organizations like the Anti-Defamation League and some media outlets 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 glorifying of Nazi collaborators

On Apr. 28, 2015, Arye Gut, an Israeli of Azerbaijani origin, accused Varzhapetyan of not denouncing the publication of antisemitic 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 (in 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