Genocide not tolerated

Where were you in 1994 when the genocide occurred in Rwanda? That is what I asked myself in embarrassment after seeing the film, "Hotel Rwanda." In the future, when Hollywood brings to the screen the horrors that are occurring in Darfur in 2006 will we need to ask ourselves the same question again? By working together, we can proudly stand up and make a difference.

In Sudan, Africa's largest country, a civil war is taking place. Over 400,000 people have been slaughtered in the past three years. Over 3.5 million people have no food and 2.5 million people are homeless because of the daily violence. Women and young girls are being raped every day while children are dying of hunger. The men suffer tortuous deaths.

The Jewish community will not sit idly by and witness this genocide. Three synagogues in the Conejo Valley-Temple Adat Elohim, Temple Beth Haverim and Temple Etz Chaim-have joined together with the Valley Alliance and Jewish World Watch to present a program to educate us on the present day genocide and to explore what we can do as individuals and as a community.

Everyone is invited to attend this free program on April 25 at 7:30 p.m. at Temple Etz Chaim on Janss Road in Thousand Oaks. The presenter of this heart-wrenching program is Abby Leibman, secretary of the board of Jewish World Watch.

Our attendance alone is a symbol of strength and support. Don't sit idly by and some day ask yourself, where was I when the genocide in Darfur occurred? Illece Buckley Weber Agoura Hills