NOVEMBER 2023

METRO DETROIT CHALDEAN COMMUNITY VOL. 20 ISSUE X NOVEMBER 2023 

Tragedy 

in Bakhdida 

DEADLY FIRE AT WEDDING 

RAISES QUESTIONS 

Featuring: 

Origins of Language 

Why Language Matters 

Thank You For Your Service

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NOVEMBER 2023 CHALDEAN NEWS 3

4 CHALDEAN NEWS NOVEMBER 2023

METRO DETROIT CHALDEAN COMMUNITY | NOVEMBER 2023 | VOL. 20 ISSUE X 

ON THE COVER 

22 Tragedy in Bakhdida 

Wedding fire raises questions 

By Christina Salem 

FEATURES 

24 Why Language Matters 

What Sureth means to Chaldeans 

By Cal Abbo 

26 Origins of Language 

Exploring cuneiform 

By Dr. Adhid Miri 

28 Thank You for Your Service 

Honoring Chaldean American veterans 

By Sarah Kittle 

22 

32 Spicing Up Michigan 

How Chaldean cuisine became 

mainstream 

By Cal Abbo 

DEPARTMENTS 

6 From the Editor 

Loss, Sacrifice, and Rediscovering Culture 

By Sarah Kittle 

8 Guest Column 

A Note About Support 

By Mike Sarafa 

10 Foundation Update 

Job Fair, Civics Bee 

21 Obituary 

Prof. Malik Yousif Mary 

44 Life Skills 

Buying Insurance as an Immigrant 

By Paul Natinsky 

46 Arts and Entertainment 

Sam Sako 

By Weam Namou 

38 Culture & History 

First Tango with Mango: Amba 

By Dr. Adhid Miri 

42 Celebrating 20 Years 

Chaldean Cultural Center Gala 

By Weam Namou 

12 Noteworthy 

Genevieve Kashat returns, Crain’s 40 

Under 40 

48 Family Time 

Beyond the Turkey 

By Valene Ayar 

14 Chaldean Digest 

Cardinal Sako visits Pope 

16 Religion 

Meet Fr. John “Junior” Jwad 

By Michael Antoon 

20 In Memoriam 

50 Sports 

Chaldeans and Golf 

By Mikey Lossia 

52 Events 

Chaldean Chamber’s Business Luncheon 

Photos by Dany Ashaka 

28 


FROM THE EDITOR 

PUBLISHED BY 

Chaldean News, LLC 

Chaldean Community Foundation 

Martin Manna 

EDITORIAL 

EDITOR IN CHIEF 

Sarah Kittle 

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS 

Cal Abbo 

Michael Antoon 

Valene Ayar 

Sarah Kittle 

Mikey Lossia 

Dr. Adhid Miri 

Weam Namou 

Paul Natinsky 

Christina Salem 

Mike Sarafa 

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Subscription and all other inquiries: 

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Chaldean News 

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Farmington Hills, MI 48334 

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Phone: (248) 851-8600 

Publication: The Chaldean News (P-6); 

Published monthly; Issue Date: November 2023 

Subscriptions: 12 months, $35. 

Publication Address: 

30095 Northwestern Hwy., Suite 101, 

Farmington Hills, MI 48334; 

Permit to mail at periodicals postage rates 

is on file at Farmington Hills Post Office 

Postmaster: Send address changes to 

“The Chaldean News 30095 Northwestern 

Hwy., Suite 101, Farmington Hills, MI 48334” 

Loss, Sacrifice, and Rediscovering Culture 

We chose our cover carefully to convey 

the great sorrow and anguish felt after 

a recent tragic fire in the Nineveh Plain 

province of Iraq. It was the happiest of occasions, 

a wedding between two lovers, a marriage of families, 

which turned into one of the most heartbreaking 

events a family can endure. 

The story made headlines internationally, in 

part because of the “blame game” that started almost 

immediately among Iraqi officials and others 

involved, and in part because this tiny community 

has been beleaguered by tragedy for decades and 

has endured. Other recent events in the Middle East have 

overshadowed this story, so we wanted to remind you that the 

people of this small village in northern Iraq are still dealing 

with the aftermath of the fire and are struggling to pick up the 

pieces. Will they be able to recover from this horrific event and 

once again rebuild the community? Only time will tell. 

We cannot ignore the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, however. 

It has far-reaching effects as well as the potential to turn 

into the next world war. It seems that everyone has an opinion 

on this issue. Guest columnist Mike Sarafa shares his views on 

the situation, one that we hope and pray will have cooled off, 

or at least not escalated, by the time we go to print. 

In honor of Veterans Day on November 11, we are humbled 

and honored to feature a story about Chaldean American 

veterans who served in the US military as part of our 

“Great Michigan Stories” series. Engaged in conflicts from 

World War II to the Detroit Riots to the Gulf War, these brave 

men and women served in war and in peacetime, admirably 

representing and upholding the values of the community. 

All Americans owe every US veteran a debt of gratitude. 

Exploring more “Great Michigan Stories,” we seek to tell 

the tale of how Chaldean immigrants impact their adopted 

state. Two articles penned this month by star reporter Cal 

Abbo—Why Language Matters and Spicing Up Michigan— 

explain the importance of sustaining a shared culture, the 

former about native language and the latter about native cuisine. 

Chaldean language and Chaldean food are unique and 

deserve to be celebrated and preserved. We hope you agree. 

SARAH KITTLE 

EDITOR 

IN CHIEF 

Dr. Miri once again delights readers with colorful 

prose extolling the virtues of Chaldean culture 

and history. This month’s article is all about Amba, 

that delicious spicy mango-flavored treat that is a 

staple in Iraqi kitchens. In First Tango with Mango, 

he traces this delicacy to its roots in India and explains 

how it was adapted by cooks in Iraq. 

In Celebrating 20 Years, Chaldean Cultural Center 

(CCC) director Weam Namou shares CCC founders’ 

stories and photos of the anniversary gala they 

recently celebrated. This small center has a large impact 

on the community, whether Chaldean or non- 

Chaldean. Families bring their young ones to show them their 

familial and cultural roots and others come to be educated 

about their neighbors. It serves a great purpose, and we are 

The people of this small village in 

northern Iraq are still dealing with 

the aftermath of the fire and are 

struggling to pick up the pieces. 

excited about the upcoming relocation and expansion. 

Other articles in this issue include Origins of Language, 

Dr. Miri’s take on cuneiform and other early forms of writing 

and Arts & Entertainment, in which author Weam Namou tells 

the story Sam Sako, a foreign language coach in Hollywood. 

Michael Antoon introduces us to one of the community’s 

newest priests, Fr. John “Junior” Jwad; Mikey Lossia tells the 

story of his family’s introduction to and subsequent love affair 

with golf; Paul Natinsky gives us an update on new Americans 

seeking health insurance; and Valene Ayar shares some 

unique ideas for Thanksgiving fun, minus the turkey. 

Sarah Kittle 

Editor in Chief 

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PUBLISHER'S CIRCLE 

Join the 

Publishers Circle 

As the publication of record for Michigan’s 

Chaldean community, the mission of the 

Chaldean News is to preserve and archive 

Chaldean heritage and history, and to tell the 

ongoing story of Chaldean contributions to the 

communities in which we live and work — in Michigan 

and around the world. 

Since being acquired by the Chaldean Community 

Foundation in 2019, the Chaldean News has substantially 

increased its readership and social media following, 

introduced new digital and website content, and expanded 

storytelling with the help of small grant funding. 

The Publisher’s Circle initiative empowers community members 

to provide major support for the Chaldean News and its 

important mission. With the generous help of individuals and 

organizations, together, we can ensure that this vital resource 

continues to educate and connect the community, while 

evolving to meet the needs of future generations. 

The Chaldean News has ambitious plans which include 

launching a CN app and continuing to expand into new 

media such as radio and TV, all with the goal of preserving 

our culture and telling the story of our people. You 

can take part in helping to preserve your Chaldean 

heritage by joining the Publisher’s Circle today. 

Jibran “Jim” Manna 

Martin and Tamara Manna 

Sylvester and Rita Sandiha 

We are grateful for the generous and 

continuing support of our community. 

To learn more, visit chaldeannews.com 

or contact us at 248-851-8600 

Let’s grow the circle. 

SEPTEMBER NOVEMBER 2023 CHALDEAN NEWS 7

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GUEST COLUMN 

A Note About Support 

On October 13 at 

11:50pm, we were to 

board a plane from 

JFK Airport in New York to Israel 

for a long-planned bucket-list 

trip to the Holy Land. 

Obviously, it didn’t happen. 

The unprecipitated yet 

coldly calculated terrorist attack 

by Hamas on innocent 

Israeli citizens, that also included 

Americans and other 

nationalities, has upended 

the fragile peace in the Middle 

East. Semi-neutral arbiters in the 

long simmering Palestinian - Israeli 

conflict have chosen sides—the United 

States lining up squarely and fully behind 

Israel—while countries like Egypt 

and Jordan, with their own peace treaties 

with Israel, are being forced to 

stand with the “Arab Street.” 

The repercussions of this war will 

be felt for a long time. The U.S. and 

other countries have called for some 

restraint by Israel but have also basically 

green-lighted the dismantling of 

Hamas. There is no way for Israel to 

accomplish this without the near complete 

destruction of the Gaza strip and 

without causing massive casualties to 

the Palestinian people. There is human 

tragedy on all sides of this conflict. 

I was able to attend a service at 

Temple Israel a couple Fridays ago 

along with about a dozen other representatives 

from Shenandoah. It is 

basic decency to stand with our Jewish 

brothers and sisters and friends 

to roundly condemn what happened 

in Israel and how it happened. I also 

reached out to close friends and colleagues 

of mine that happen to be Jewish 

to express sorrow and sympathy at 

a personal level. For Jews all over the 

world, the fate of Israel is a deeply personal 

and existential matter. 

Taking those steps was how I chose 

to respond to these heinous events. In 

addition, when asked by the heads of 

some Jewish organizations to release a 

statement or to add my name to a joint 

interfaith statement, I did so. 

But I want to urge my Jewish 

friends and colleagues not to conflate 

what they perceive as “silence” by 

some as complicity. For example, I 

MIKE SARAFA 

SPECIAL 

TO THE 

CHALDEAN 

NEWS 

personally don’t use any social 

media unless you count 

LinkedIn. So most of what 

I described above about my 

own activities and feelings 

would be unknown to the 

larger public. 

The vast majority of 

people, especially younger 

people, use social media for 

exactly what it says—social 

things. I think many Americans 

handle these types of 

events quietly, expressing 

their thoughts and sharing their opinions 

with those closest to them. 

In opinion polls, it is clear that an 

overwhelming number of Americans 

stand with Israel and also support 

President Biden’s extremely strong 

stance for the same. 

Individuals that represent organizations 

or large companies with thousands 

of employees may have a more 

public obligation to speak out, the way 

many have about LGBT rights or Black 

Lives Matter, for example. But these 

issues are domestic American policy 

matters. I’m not defending this but 

I’m also not sure it’s fair to be overly 

critical. It likely did not occur to many 

Americans that it might be important 

to be vocal and public in their views on 

this particular terrorist attack. 

When ISIS was rampaging through 

the Christian villages of northern Iraq, 

destroying churches, cemeteries and 

attempting to wipe out Christianity in 

that part of the world, we really did not 

hear much support from people outside 

the Chaldean community. I’m not 

sure we really expected it either. 

Most people possess a basic righteousness 

and will respond as such 

when nudged. But many people are also 

private or deliberately unaware about 

major world or political issues. Where 

and when this is the case, let us not consider 

it a moral failing, but rather an opportunity 

to educate our fellow citizens, 

to reach out across communities and cultures 

and to take solace in the innate humanity 

and humaneness in all of us. 

This is a guest column and does not 

necessarily reflect the views of the 

Chaldean News. 


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FOUNDATION UPDATE 

Community Job Fair 

The CCF hosted 40 employers including Amazon, Kroger, Oakland 

University, Corewell Health West Bloomfield, Sterling 

Heights Police Department, and more at the Chaldean Community 

Foundation’s 2nd Annual Community Job Fair. 

More than 160 job seekers attended the event and met with hiring 

professionals across various industries. Job seekers were able 

to have in-person interviews with employers during the event. 

For those seeking employment, visit CCF’s Career Services 

department during walk-in days on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday 

to learn more about the available employment opportunities. 

Breast Cancer Awareness 

October was Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The Chaldean Community Foundation was proud 

to partner with the Anthony L. Soave Family Mobile Mammography and Health Screening Center 

which is designed to ensure all women have easy access to high-quality breast health services regardless 

of their ability to pay. 

The Ascension St. John Hospital “Because We Care” program is committed to caring for all people 

with special attention to those who are uninsured, under-insured and require financial support 

with breast care. 

The CCF supported two dozen women in receiving mammography screenings this year. 

Delegation Visits NYC 

A small delegation of community members met in New York with the Prime Minister of Iraq, Mohammed 

Shi’a Alsudani, to discuss the current acrimony going on between the central government 

and the Chaldean Patriarch. 

The group also addressed the plight of Christians in Iraq with a special focus on a self-managed 

administrative unit in the Nineveh Plain and the recent alcohol ban inside Iraq which disproportionately 

hurts Christian and Yezidi businesspeople. 

National Civics Bee 

The Chaldean Community Foundation and Chaldean American 

Chamber of Commerce are partnering with the U.S. Chamber of 

Commerce Foundation and Michigan Chamber of Commerce to 

host a first-of-its-kind civics competition that encourages young 

Americans to engage in civics and contribute to their communities. 

Participating 6th, 7th and 8th graders will flex their civics 

knowledge for a chance to win recognition and cash prizes. Finalists 

will be invited to Washington, D.C. to compete in the inaugural 

National Civics Bee national championship in Fall 2024. 

How To Enter: Any 6th, 7th, or 8th grade student residing 

in Michigan with an idea about using civics to improve 

their community may review the rules and submit an essay 

application on this page: my.reviewr.com/NationalCivicsBee/ 

site/MI/ChaldeanChamber. The application opens November 

13th, 2023, and closes on January 8, 2024. 

Upcoming Events: 

2nd Annual Bet Nahrain Art Show 


Friday, November 2nd 5:00pm-9:00pm 

Saturday, November 3rd 5:00pm-9:00pm 

Sunday, November 5th 2:00pm-7:00pm 

Oakland University Admissions & Financial Aid Night 


November 15th 6:00pm-7:30pm 

Prime Minister of Iraq Mohammed Shi’a Alsudani and CCF President, Martin Manna. 

Caring for the Caregiver – MSU Nutrition 


December 8th 12:00pm 


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NOTEWORTHY 

Civics Bee 

The Chaldean American Chamber of Commerce 

(CACC) and Chaldean Community Foundation are 

partners in this year’s third annual National Civics 

Bee. The CACC is one of 5 Michigan chambers that 

have been chosen to participate. 

The National Civics Bee is an annual competition 

that encourages young Americans to engage in civics 

and contribute to their communities. Contributing 

6th, 7th and 8th grade students flex their civics 

knowledge for a chance to win recognition and cash 

prizes. 

Youth Baker Returns to the Food Network 

Now 12-years-old, Genevieve Kashat, featured on the 

cover of the March 2023 issue, has returned to the 

Food Network’s “Kids Baking Championship” for 

their Halloween baking special. 

Fittingly titled “Bloodcurdling Bakes,” four contestants 

returned to claim title of “Baking Champ” 

along with a $10,000 prize package, packed with 

baking implements. “She had her eyes on that blast 

chiller & stand mixer from the get-go,” said her mother, 

Evon Kashat. 

The special aired on September 25th, and Genevieve’s 

version of a fault line cake won over the tastebuds 

of Food Network hosts Duff Goldman and Sam 

Seneviratne. 

No stranger to the obstacles of a reality baking 

show, Genevieve said it was a challenge, and she 

tried to balance her creativity with the time and recipe 

constraints of the show, especially the renowned 

mid-show baking twist Food Network is famous for. 

“I’m really happy with the group I was against,” 

she said of the Halloween special. “We were competing, 

but we are all such great friends. It wasn’t like we 

were angry when someone else won.” 

While Genevieve said there aren’t currently any 

plans for her to return to “Kids Baking Championship,” 

she would be eager to go back if given the opportunity. 

In the meantime, she wants to keep on baking 

and encouraging others to try it out on their own. 

“I’d love it if I got another chance to be on the 

show again,” she said. “Never stop, even if you fail 

the first time. You will always have another chance 

to try it again.” 

The Civics Bee aims to positively impact and 

engage communities, improve understanding and 

involvement in civic life, change the conversation 

about how businesses thrive, and create solutions in 

communities. 

The third annual National Civics Bee will take 

place in 2024 in partnership with local and state 

chambers of commerce across the United States. 

There are opportunities for sponsorship. Contact the 

CACC at 248-851-1200 for more information. 

Crain’s Detroit Business 40 Under 40 

Two members of the Chaldean community made 

Crain’s “40 Under 40” list this year, joining a class of 

professionals that are at or near the top of their game 

and still rising. They are CEOs, presidents, franchisors, 

creators, developers, founders, judges, and community 

leaders. Each was nominated by colleagues or 

peers and selected through a rigorous review process 

by Crain’s editors and reporters. They will be celebrated 

on November 9 at the Gem Theatre in Detroit. Congratulations 

Brandon Hanna and Brian Shunia. 

Brandon Hanna is co-founder of West Bloomfield 

Township-based Encore Real Estate Investment Services, 

a brokerage house with about 40 investment 

sales brokers that pulled in nearly $1 billion in revenue 

last year. “We’re definitely a force,” says Hanna. 

Alongside his partners Deno Bistolarides and 

Ryan Vinco, Brandon oversees a team of seasoned 

Brandon Hanna 

Brian Shunia 

investment professionals that focus on advising clients 

in the acquisition and disposition of net leased 

and multi-tenant retail assets throughout the United 

States. Throughout his investment brokerage career, 

Brandon has broken price per square foot records 

and cap rate records in nearly every market. 

Prior to founding Encore Real Estate Investment 

Services, Brandon began his career at Marcus & Millichap, 

where he was able to exceed the multi-billiondollar 

level of total sales by age 29. This, combined 

with his experience working in the private sector, has 

added value to Brandon’s portfolio, bolstering his 

reputation in the national marketplace. 

Brian Shunia is co-founder of Wing Snob, a 

modern, quick-service, casual style restaurant serving 

made-to-order fresh chicken wings. Shunia and 

co-founder Jack Mashini, also a 40 Under 40 honoree, 

recently told Crain’s the company hopes to grow 

to 50 locations by year end. 

“We receive leads (on potential new locations) almost 

every day coming from not only the U.S.A. but different 

parts of the world,” Shunia said. “I know that our 

work is not going unseen.” 

For Shunia, simply establishing Wing Snob 

is his greatest achievement. Successful expansion, 

profitability and building a loyal customer base bring 

him great pride. 


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CHALDEAN DIGEST 

The Chaldean Church calls for an end to military 

operations in Palestine and the region 

Statement by Cardinal Louis Raphael Sako: 

We follow with pain and concern what is happening 

in the region, a fighting that ignores international 

law and targets the lives of innocent civilians, 

infrastructure, and even hospitals. These 

actions are shameful. 

Political officials in the region must realize that 

the solution is through courageous dialogue to 

achieve peace and justice, and not through weapons 

that destroy life and quarantine. 

As a church, we call on the international community 

to assume its responsibilities in halting 

military operations, sparing the countries of the 

region from sliding into all-out war, allowing the 

entry of food and medical supplies, creating safe 

passages for civilians, and striving seriously to revive 

the peace process and establish two peaceful 

neighboring states: Israel and Palestine. 

We join the call of His Holiness Pope Francis and 

all Christian and Muslim clergy and people of good 

will in the world, in prayer and hope to stop this devastating 

war and find a just solution for the Palestinian 

people. 

– Catholic News World 

According to a statement from the Patriarchate, “Pope Francis received Cardinal Louis Sako in a private audience at the Apostolic Palace in the Vatican,” on 

Saturday, October 21, 2023. 

Coptic Solidarity Leads Statement Urging Reinstatement of Chaldean Patriarch Sako 

At the end of September, Coptic Solidarity, 

a nonprofit dedicated to helping 

the world’s minorities published 

a public statement signed by 86 nonprofit 

organizations, former legislators, 

and myriad individual experts 

urging a reinstatement of Patriarch 

Sako as head of the Chaldean Church. 

Copts are particularly sensitive to 

this effort to undermine and sideline 

Patriarch Sako, having been through 

a similar situation with their previous 

Pope. In 1981, Egyptian President, Anwar 

Sadat, rescinded the presidential 

decree of 1971, which recognized Pope 

Shenouda III as the Pope of Alexandria. 

It was four years before he was 

reinstated after extensive pressure by 

the Copts and their supporters. 

Based on this experience, Coptic 

Solidarity believes it is vital that the 

international community speak out 

against President Rashid’s effort to further 

marginalize and remove the ancient 

Chaldean peoples of Iraq. The statement 

expresses a belief that “the Presidential 

decree and concomitant campaign 

are ultimately intimidation tactics employed 

against Iraqi Christians—designed 

to drive them into forced migration 

in order to seize their properties.” 

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RELIGION 

Better Know a Priest 

Meet Fr. John “Junior” Jwad 

BY MICHAEL ANTOON 

John “Junior” Jwad was born to a faithful and loving 

family on May 7, 1996. The youngest of three 

siblings, he was baptized and confirmed by the 

late Monsignor Suleiman Zia Denha. Junior attended 

St. Fabian Catholic School in Farmington Hills from 

kindergarten through eighth grade, taking his First 

Holy Communion there. He continued his education 

at Brother Rice High School in Bloomfield Hills, graduating 

in 2014. 

After two years of college, Jwad entered Sacred 

Heart Major Seminary in Detroit as a seminarian for 

the Chaldean Diocese of St. Thomas the Apostle, 

USA. After graduating with his bachelor’s degree in 

philosophy in 2019 from Sacred Heart, he went on a 

mission year to serve in Lebanon. 

Returning from Lebanon, he transferred to the 

Chaldean Diocese of Mar Addai in Canada, enrolling 

at St. Phillip’s Seminary in Toronto. It was there, at 

St. Philip’s, that he graduated with his master’s degree 

in theology in 2023. He was ordained a subdeacon 

in October 2022 and a deacon in May 2023. 

At the time of this interview, we await the ordination 

to the priesthood of Deacon John Jwad scheduled 

for November 1, 2023. He is to be ordained at Holy Family 

Chaldean Church in Windsor, Ontario, through the 

laying of the hands and invocation of the Holy Spirit 

by His Excellency Mar Robert Saeed Jarjis, Bishop of 

Mar Addai Chaldean Catholic Eparchy in Canada. 

Faith Background 

Junior was blessed with faithful parents, Issam and 

Thikra Jwad, who ensured that he and his siblings 

attended Mass every Sunday as a family. Father John 

remembers praying in the car daily on the way to 

school. His mother taught (and still teaches) First 

Communion classes at St. Thomas. 

Being the youngest, Junior remembers tagging 

along with her weekly and sitting in on Sister 

Therese Shikwana’s lecture for parents while his 

mother taught her class. At such a young age, he 

could comprehend the content at the level of the 

adults Sister was teaching. Father John also fondly 

remembers Sister Therese telling him he was asking 

too many questions. 

After receiving First Communion, Junior began 

altar serving at St. Thomas Chaldean Church in West 

Bloomfield with Father Frank Kallabat (now Bishop 

Francis) and the late Father Emmanuel Rayes. When 

Father Rayes got sick, he remembers His Excellency 

Bishop Ibrahim Ibrahim coming to St. Thomas to celebrate 

the Chaldean Mass. Seeing these three holy 

priests encouraged Father John to live the same life 

of service and joy. Father John was a dedicated volunteer 

throughout his youth, teaching Catechism and 

First Communion and attending and subsequently 

leading the high school youth group at St. Thomas. 

Around the age of 10, Father John took an interest 

in learning to read and write Chaldean. On his 12th 

birthday, he read the Epistle (Shleeha) for the first time 

at Chaldean Mass. From then on, he began 

to serve all the other liturgies and 

became heavily involved with 

the subdeacons of the church, 

joining them in Rumsha 

(evening) and morning 

prayers and serving alongside 

them in the Mass. He 

greatly credits Shamasha 

(Deacon) Khairy Foumia 

and Shamasha Najib Ayar 

for helping him learn the 

language. He also appreciates 

them for giving him 

their places for readings 

and parts, encouraging him to 

learn more. 

Call to the Priesthood 

Growing up, Fr. John admits he 

was not a good student and was 

more of a troublemaker. He says 

he was rebellious and pulled many 

pranks. He stayed very close to the 

church and his faith throughout his 

life. Fr. John says he thanks God for 

the many experiences he was given in 

these years of living an everyday 

teenage life. He believes 

these experiences 

helped him understand his vocation and, more 

importantly, choose his vocation freely. 

Fr. John remembers his earliest childhood 

memory was that he did not just want to be but 

knew he would be a priest. Some power and force 

within him confirmed that God would call him to 

the priesthood one day. He also remembers that at 

a young age, though he didn’t 

know what this call 

PRIEST 

continued on 

page 18 



Left: Father John 

as a seminarian 

at St. George Church. 

He says Lebanon was a fantastic experience for 

him, being entirely away from home, in another 

country for the first time. This time was very freeing 

for him and is a time in his life that he constantly remembers 

and misses greatly. Fr. John says he learned 

many things about life and claims that one’s perspective 

on life changes when one sees actual suffering. 

He encountered many Chaldeans waiting in Lebanon 

after escaping from the Islamic State. These Chaldeans 

had been waiting there for five to six years for 

a chance to emigrate for a better life. Even through 

their suffering and pain, he remembers them to have 

been extraordinarily joyful, happy, and welcoming. 

He saw their love for the priests and the Church and 

their great faith and hope in God’s providence in 

their time of despair. 

PRIEST continued from page 16 

meant, as he matured, his understanding of the 

priesthood grew as well. The priesthood was not 

just wearing a cape and doing sacraments. He 

eventually realized it was also a life of service and 

giving up oneself for the good of the other, the 

good of the Church, and the good of all people. 

Regarding mentors, he says again that Bishop 

Ibrahim played a considerable role in his life and 

vocation. Fr. John says the bishop didn’t do anything 

to pressure him, it was simply the bishop’s joy 

and demeanor, the way he spoke, walked, and dealt 

with his people, that inspired him. As a little kid 

in the sacristy, an altar boy, Junior says the bishop 

was so humble and loving to him and all the young 

servers; how meaningful it was that he was bishop 

of the whole diocese and such a strong leader, but 

still, he opened himself to these children. 

He also says that anyone who told the bishop 

they had a test, for example, would be checked 

back on to see how their test went. “Bishop Ibrahim 

took great interest in our lives, even though 

we were just little children, and he truly cared and 

was a father figure to many people,” says Fr. John. 

Fr. John also acknowledges that many priests and 

deacons contributed to his formation, whether spiritually, 

pastorally, or liturgically. He says that in these past 

years, Bishop Jibrail Kassab taught him the meaning of 

discipleship after retiring and moving to Michigan; how 

a priest must be a faithful messenger of Jesus Christ. Especially 

seeing how Bishop Kassab visits and serves all 

people, without distinction, night or day, and has made 

himself available to all those in need, even after retiring. 

He is a great example, like Fr. John Jwad, of a 

servant leader. 

Community Involvements 

Fr. John mentioned that if God had not called him to 

be a priest, he would have most likely followed his 

aspiration to become a lawyer. He explained that he 

greatly loved law and public speaking in high school. 

Even today, Fr. John says he enjoyed history, philosophy, 

and canon law in seminary. Possibilities included 

becoming a teacher, professor, or writer – which is 

why he loved writing for the Chaldean News. 

After returning from the Holy Land on a pilgrimage 

in 2011, Junior Jwad decided to write an article on 

this first-of-its-kind pilgrimage for youth and submit 

it to the Chaldean News. He says they liked the article 

so much they asked him to continue writing. From 

then, every month for the next couple of years, you 

could find a religion-based article by Junior Jwad. 

Later, in 2015, he was approached by John Zia 

Oram to begin a daily segment for the Chaldean radio 

program that he had sponsored. Then, a year later, 

he was asked by the Chaldean Voice Radio to give a 

weekly segment—a weekly lecture, which he is still 

doing to this day. Listen to 690 AM on Saturdays and 

you’ll be sure to hear Fr. (then Deacon) John provide 

insight on our faith, culture, and community topics. 

He reminds us of many traditions that our older generation 

remembers from their life in the village, such 

as traditions of the Chaldean Church, its teachings, 

and feasts, as well as current community events. 

Serving in Lebanon 

Throughout his spiritual year in Lebanon, Fr. John 

lived in a Maronite Seminary located next to the 

beautiful Marian Shrine of Our Lady of Lebanon, 

Harissa. While residing at the Maronite seminary, 

he spent much of his time doing humanitarian work 

with a Muslim convert priest, Fr. Majdi Allawi. 

Time in Canada 

A vocation to the priesthood requires sacrifice and dedication. 

In the same way husbands must give their lives 

to their wives, and wives to their husbands, the priest, a 

true representative of Christ on Earth, must give his life 

to the Church. According to Fr. John, the most significant 

sacrifice in going to seminary is being away from 

your structured life, family, friends, and home. However, 

he says that seminary is helpful for a man to be able 

to detach himself from things of this world and to be 

able to dedicate himself to a life of prayer and self-giving. 

The life of a priest requires a man to be flexible, and 

it needs one to be able to change his life for the good of 

the Church and the good of his people. 

Reflecting on his time at St. Philip’s Seminary in 

Toronto, Ontario, Fr. John feels that the formators 

and fathers of this seminary truly treated the seminarians 

as their children. They are guided with love 

and faith and are supported by these great fathers 

to succeed. He says that seeing this “fatherhood” in 

your life encourages you to give others this love. 

Regarding the Chaldean Church of Canada, he notes 

it was terrific to be in a place different from your home. 

Although very similar as a church, you’re in a different 

environment with people you meet for the first time. 

Learning about these other groups of people, he came 

across many newcomers, those who had come in the 

last 5-15 years. Hearing of their culture and way of life, 

he learned more about different villages and learned 

the history of the people of the church of Canada. 

Fr. John also says that the people of his diocese 

have a very traditional way of dealing with clergy, being 

so new to the country, and have a very humble 

and loving spirit towards their clergy. 

“When you realize you made a difference in the 

lives of many in the community, even helping one 

person overcome an obstacle, you receive a joy that 

cannot be compared to any other joy,” explains Fr. 

John. “It cannot even be compared to the pleasures of 

this world; no wealth, power, or popularity can equal 

this. To realize that God, through you, made a difference 

in someone’s life brings you true joy. You were 

able to help, to teach, to serve, and even just to be 

present.” 



IN MEMORIAM 

Badria Abbu Ashaka 

Jul 1, 1944 – 

Sep 20, 2023 

Isaac Shimon Toma 

Jul 1, 1948 – 


Janan Abawi 

Feb 17, 1944 – 


Buddy Habby Atchoo 

Sep 15, 1927 – 


Basem Fuad Kandah 

May 3, 1946 – 


Khana Khamo 

Jul 1, 1935 – 


Sabah Oraha Khoshi 

Jul 1, 1937 – 


Ibrahim (Grant) 

Yousif Rayess 

May 8, 1940 – 


Wadee 

Gorges Delly 

Jul 1, 1942 – 


Hasina 

Kiryakos Gorges 

Jul 1, 1942 – 


Yousif Potrus 

Ablahad 

Jul 31, 1946 – 

Oct 1, 2023 

Luay Bahjat Hana Jr 

Hamama 

Jul 1, 1993 – 


Virgeen Sinnawi 

Garmoo 

Oct 12, 1932 – 


Riadh 

Khamoro Kana 

Jul 1, 1945 – 


Noael Shoush 

Feb 10, 1941 – 


Ramzi Tobia Manni 

Jan 17, 1939 – 


Khalida Salman 

Murad Oraha 

Nov 29, 1938 – 


Joseph Paul Istefo 

Jul 1, 1941 – 


Sami Habib Rahimo 

Aug 19, 1930 – 


Jaber Shuker 

Abbo Ashaka 

Jul 9, 1962 – 


Muntasir 

Aboka Jarbo 

Aug 2, 1958 – 


Luis Hanna Sheena 

Jul 1, 1943 – 


Butrus Rofa Aqrawi 

Jul 1, 1935 – 


Khairy Issa 

Yousif Bello 

Jun 4, 1947 – 


Qaryaqos 

Oraha Habbo 

Jul 1, 1941 – 


Wasif Shammamy 

May 14, 1945 – 


Sameerah 

Fandaqli 

Jul 1, 1935 – 


William Deselva 

Dec 4, 1941 – 


Korial Esttaifo Yaqo 

Jul 1, 1943 – 


Donald Delor Issa 

Jan 15, 1970 – 


Samria Hano Saco 

Feb 20, 1937 – 


Latif Gorgies Odesho 

Jul 1, 1948 - 


Salima Kiryakoza 

Jan 1, 1927 – 



OBITUARY 

Malik Yousif 

Mary 

Professor Malik Yousif Mansour Francis 

(Fransi) Gorgees Yousif Francis 

Mary was born in Baghdad, Iraq, on 

August 24, 1931. He passed peacefully 

at his home on October 3, 2023, surrounded 

by his wife Amira, son Raed, 

daughters Raghad, Rand, and Rana, 

brother Adhid, and sister Suha. 

Malik was educated in England 

and the United States and received 

a master’s degree (MA) from Ohio 

State University. He had a long academic 

career and served as Professor 

of English Language and Literature 

at Al-Mustansiriyah University (1976- 

1999), Baghdad University (1964- 

1976) and the Department of Education 

in Iraq (1954-1960). 

Professor Mary lived a long life, 

completed many of his dreams, and 

will be remembered by the countless 

lives he touched, the minds he 

shaped, and the hearts he inspired. 

His legacy will carry forward the lessons 

he taught, the value of knowledge, 

the importance of kindness, 

and the significance of lifelong learning. 

His influence will continue to 

shape the world we live in through 

the knowledge he shared and the 

love he gave. 

Malik is survived by Amira, his 

wife of 58 years, so many family and 

friends who will cherish his memories 

as a historian, writer, poet, 

friend to many students, colleague 

of academics, and an extended 

Mary/Miri family including grandchildren 

Andrew, Isabelle, Natalie, 

Katherine, Allison, Zahary, Luca, 

Lawrence, and Jordan. 

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COVER STORY 

Tragedy 

in Bakhdida 

Friends and relatives attend a funeral 

for the victims who died in a fire during 

a wedding ceremony in Hamdaniya, 

Iraq, Friday, Sept. 29, 2023. 

Seeking answers and healing 

after wedding hall fire 

BY CHRISTINA SALEM 

In the heart of the Nineveh Plain 

province, the close-knit town of 

Bakhdida (also known as Qaraqosh) 

grapples with a devastating tragedy that 

left them searching for answers and 

healing. The horrific fire that engulfed 

the Al-Haitham wedding hall during 

the bride and groom’s slow dance on 

September 26, 2023, sent shockwaves 

through the town and beyond. 

More than one thousand people 

attended the celebration of love for 

Haneen and Revan, two Bakhdida natives. 

As fire rained down from the décor 

above, many scrambled to disperse 

from the venue. According to locals 

who witnessed the fire, The town only 

has one fire truck which arrived on the 

scene 30 minutes after the fire broke 

out. It ran out of water within seconds. 

There were no fire extinguishers 

in the building, no emergency fire escape, 

and no sprinkler system. “I hold 

the owner of the hall responsible for 

what happened at the party because 

there are no extinguishers or safety 

measures in the hall,” the father of the 

groom told CNN. 

According to the Associated Press 

as well as videos from the event, it 

has been stated that the fire occurred 

because of pyrotechnics that lit the 

ceiling of the venue, which was decorated 

with flowers, fabric, and hay. 

Iraqi authorities say that the owner of 

al-Haitham was aware of the safety issues 

in the hall and proceeded to move 

forward despite warnings. He attempted 

to flee but was arrested in Erbil. 

The entire town of Bakhdida is Christian. 

Before the ISIS invasion, the town 

boasted a population of 64,000. About 

half returned to the town, only to face 

this massive tragedy. Much of the Chaldean 

community in metro Detroit has 

family from or near Bakhdida, which is 

only a 35-minute drive to Mosul, an hour 

drive to Tel Keppe, and an hour and 

18-minute drive to Al Qosh. Chaldeans, 

Assyrians, and Syriacs alike perished 

in this tragedy; patriarchs from all five 

Christian churches in the community 

performed the funeral the day after. 

Mayor Issam Behnam Matti, a central 

figure beloved in Bakhdida, has 

shared his insights into the events 

that transpired on that fateful day. He 

highlighted the numerous challenges 

posed by a rushed investigation, the 

personal struggles he faced, and the 

pressing need for a thorough, scientific 

analysis of the incident. 

This catastrophic fire claimed the 

lives of over 128 individuals and left 

many others critically injured, according 

to a local Bakhdida native. 

An Assyrian Aid Society report, which 

confirmed a U.S. citizen as one of the 

victims, left the entire town speculating 

about the fire’s origins. Religious 

leaders in Bakhdida have joined the 

chorus of those who believe the fire 

may not have simply been an accident. 

The town’s residents remain resolute 

in their quest for answers. 

Questions That Linger 

Residents continue to wonder if there 

is a serious chance that the mayor will 

be removed from office due to the fire 

investigation’s focus on administrative 

protocol. The current investigation, 

shrouded in political pressure and 

time constraints, may not have been 

as thorough as the community desires. 

The mayor, facing immense pressure 

from both his personal losses 

and his official duties, pointed out the 

challenges he personally faced. He lost 

11 family members in the tragedy, and 

this emotional turmoil, coupled with 

sleep deprivation and lack of sustenance, 

made the investigation an even 

more daunting task. 

One of the critical issues that 

Mayor Issam highlights is the Iraqi 

government’s rush to close the case 

hurriedly, which is a common practice 

in Iraq. A desire to pin the blame 

on someone often results in a lack of 

comprehensive scientific analysis. 

This approach, while expedient, can 

leave unanswered questions and fuel 

further speculation. 

According to sources on the ground 

in Iraq, the investigation primarily focused 

on the administrative part of the 


fire, such as approvals and permissions, 

rather than delving into the scientific 

aspects. What caused the fire? 

Why were pyrotechnics used inside? 

What type of building materials were 

used and was there a proper fire suppression 

system? These are questions 

that have remained largely uninvestigated 

by officials. 

PHOTOS BY HADI MIZBAN/AP 

Protests and Calls for International 

Involvement 

In response to these concerns, the people 

of Bakhdida planned a demonstration 

to demand answers. They are still 

seeking the intervention of other national 

governments and the United States, 

or any external entity, to ensure an unbiased 

and transparent investigation. 

The community’s skepticism regarding 

the investigation’s thoroughness 

is made clear by videos of the 

townspeople’s protests on social media. 

The people of Bakhdida are not 

content with an investigation that 

appears to be veering toward hasty 

blame-shifting rather than a technical 

and scientific analysis. 

Furthermore, this tragedy extends 

beyond the borders of Bakhdida. The 

Chaldean/Assyrian/Syriac community 

in Arizona, led by Sam Darmoo, organized 

a gathering that united various 

political parties and churches. This 

event served as both a funeral and a 

show of support for the victims of the 

fire. The American that perished in 

tragedy was from Arizona and this has 

resonated with that state’s politicians, 

transcending political divides. 

A Path to Recovery 

Amid the turmoil and the quest for answers 

overshadowed by more recent 

events in the Middle East, the humanitarian 

aspect of the tragic fire’s aftermath 

cannot be overlooked. There are 

still burn victims in need of care and 

medication. Beyond these immediate 

needs, the community is grappling 

with the emotional, psychological, 

and political fallout. 

Mayor Issam believes that a committee 

or group of psychologists 

should be brought to Bakhdida to support 

the community’s long-term healing. 

The trauma inflicted by the fire is 

profound and enduring, and the residents 

require professional assistance 

to regain a sense of normalcy. Protesters 

have set ablaze the jailed hall 

An Iraqi woman reacts at the site of a fatal fire in the district of Hamdaniya. 

owner’s property out of frustration to a 

lack of response from the government. 

Moreover, the government needs to 

acknowledge its faults and ensure that 

measures will be taken to prevent such 

a tragedy in the future. The people and 

mayor of Bakhdida propose the formation 

of a committee dedicated to fostering 

peace and reconciliation. This 

committee, as Mayor Issam suggests, 

should be coordinated with the Iraqi 

government. 

Lessons Learned 

The owners of the wedding hall faced 

allegations of multiple safety violations. 

While these violations may not 

have directly contributed to the fire, 

they raise concerns about the standards 

and regulations that were in 

place. Violations such as an expired 

fire extinguisher and the use of flammable 

materials should have been addressed 

immediately. 

It’s important to note that these 

safety violations were not under the 

jurisdiction of Mayor Issam’s office, 

emphasizing the need for more rigorous 

oversight and enforcement of safety 

standards. 

Iraq has a history of safety violations. 

Recent examples include a 

ferry in Mosul that had a capacity of 

50 but exceeded nearly 200 passengers, 

leading to a capsize in 2019. In 

2021, during the onset of COVID, a fire 

occurred in Baghdad’s Ibn al-Khatib 

Hospital. The fire blazed through the 

hospital due to a lack of fire detection 

and suppression systems, according 

to the New York Times. Many died because 

they were taken off their ventilators 

to escape. 

Improving Emergency Response 

Reflecting on the tragic outcome, 

there’s a growing awareness of the 

importance of safety and evacuation 

training in Iraq. Inadequate education 

on how to respond during a fire emergency 

contributed to the high casualty 

count. The fire department showed up 

30 minutes after the fire was reported, 

and the lack of understanding and 

preparation among the venue’s staff 

and attendees resulted in chaos. 

After the owner of the venue cut 

the lights out when the fire began, 

hundreds of people panicked and 

trampled one another to escape the 

deadly blaze. Efforts to educate businesses 

and the community about 

safety protocols and evacuation procedures 

are crucial to preventing such a 

tragedy in the future. 

Bakhdida’s Resilience 

Bakhdida has faced its fair share of 

challenges, including the invasion of 

ISIS in 2014. Although the town was 

liberated in 2017, it sustained heavy 

damage and resulted in massive relocation. 

According to the Syriac Press, 

more than 32% of homes and civil centers 

were burned down. 

Furthermore, ongoing political disputes 

for the coveted area of land in 

the Nineveh Plain province affect the 

of the lives of the townspeople. Ongoing 

political clashes, security instability, 

and land disputes with neighboring 

communities continue to hamper the 

progress of recovery for the Christian 

community in Iraq. The tragic fire at 

the wedding hall is yet another blow 

to the town that witnessed a mass exodus 

of its residents just 9 years ago. 

Mayor Issam acknowledges that 

the cumulative effect of these events 

has left the community somewhat 

numb to the constant turmoil. Every 

new incident reinforces the idea that 

leaving the area is a logical response 

to crisis. While the fire’s impact on 

Bakhdida’s momentum remains uncertain 

due to the lack of basic mental 

health and governmental resources, 

the community faces a difficult road to 

recovery. 

The challenges facing Bakhdida 

are immense, but the strength of its 

people endures. As they seek answers, 

healing, and justice, the world barely 

watches. Those that are paying attention 

are hopeful that this resilient 

community will find the peace and 

stability it deserves as it remains overshadowed 

by higher-priority western 

political issues. The tragedies of the 

past should not define Bakhdida’s future, 

and through unity, understanding, 

and comprehensive investigations, 

there is a path forward for this 

close-knit community. 


FEATURE 

the native language becomes less useful 

in everyday life. Chaldeans tend to 

focus on English because it’s useful in 

all contexts and with all Americans, 

not just Chaldean ones. Today, many 

Chaldeans born outside of villages do 

not speak their native tongue. 

The Schøyen Collection MS 577, Oslo and London. Syriac Sertâ book script. Mt. Sinai, Egypt, ca. 11th c. 

From the Monastery of St Catherine, Mt Sinai. Credit: Elizabeth G. Sørenssen & Jingru Høivik. 

Why Language Matters 

Saving Sureth 

BY CAL ABBO 

In the heart of metro Detroit, the 

Chaldean community stands as a 

testament to the enduring spirit of 

an ancient people relocated. Rooted in 

the cradle of civilization, the Chaldean 

story is one of resilience, migration, and 

cultural preservation. Central to this 

narrative, and one that grants the Chaldean 

story its importance, is the Aramaic 

language—a linguistic bridge connecting 

modern Chaldeans to their storied past. 

The Aramaic language, known today 

in its many names and dialects like 

Chaldean, Assyrian, Syriac, or Sureth, 

was once the lingua franca of vast 

swathes of the Middle East and served 

as the voice of culture and thought 

for many people in the region. This 

language, although it experienced a 

significant decline since that time, has 

become a defining feature of the Chaldean 

identity, especially as waves of 

Chaldeans migrated to new lands in 

search of opportunity and safety. 

A Unique Voice in Detroit 

When they arrived in Michigan, Chaldeans 

lived among a mosaic of immigrant 

groups. Each community 

brought its unique language and culture, 

although almost all were European. 

While there were some Middle 

Eastern immigrants who came to 

Detroit starting in the 1870s, many of 

them spoke Arabic, and most Chaldeans 

coming from villages could not 

easily communicate with them despite 

the cultural proximity. 

The Chaldean community stood 

out, not just because of its distinct 

Middle Eastern heritage, but because 

of its ancient Aramaic dialect. European 

and Middle Eastern immigrants 

could communicate with one another, 

respectively; a Polish immigrant, 

for example, could find other Polish 

people in the area and create a community 

there. An Arabic speaker could 

find others that speak their language 

too. Chaldeans, on the other hand, 

maintained a small circle of Aramaic 

speakers, most of whom they knew 

from back home, and learned to rely 

on one another. 

This linguistic distinction played a 

pivotal role in preserving the community’s 

identity. While many immigrant 

groups faced pressures to assimilate 

and abandon their native tongues, the 

Chaldean community’s commitment 

to its language became a beacon of 

cultural preservation, as Chaldeans 

most often learned their native tongue 

at home. This closeness of language 

and community helped spur Chaldeans 

to the forefront of business and 

culture in Michigan. 

Over time, however, the commitment 

to language in the diaspora has 

faded. As the community grows larger, 

and more generations of Chaldeans 

are born in the United States, relationships 

with non-Chaldeans grow, and 

A Language to Share 

Language is about more than words. 

It’s a vessel for stories, traditions, and 

values. For the Chaldean community, 

Aramaic is more than a means of communication; 

it’s a lasting inheritance 

from their ancient homeland, a tool for 

imparting wisdom to younger generations, 

and a symbol of their enduring 

presence. As the modern world continues 

to evolve, the Aramaic language 

serves as a poignant reminder of the 

timeless bond between ancestors and 

the generations that follow. 

The Chaldean community’s influence 

in Metro Detroit extends beyond 

its language. Their entrepreneurial 

spirit has left an indelible mark on 

the region’s business landscape and 

Chaldeans have a profound impact in 

the world of culture. Festivals, music, 

and culinary traditions have enriched 

the cultural tapestry of Michigan. Frequently, 

Chaldean words seep into 

the linguistic repertoire of Detroit and 

Michigan at large. 

Why does the language matter today, 

though? Since Chaldeans have 

assimilated and acculturated to Detroit 

and many use English as their 

first language, it might seem a trivial 

issue. Through this process, however, 

the community is prone to losing the 

very thing that shapes its identity and 

made it successful. 

Instead of letting our identity fade 

into obscure history, many Chaldeans 

choose to fight against full acculturation 

to American life and seek to reestablish 

Aramaic as a legitimate and 

useful language. As of right now, it 

faces a harsh reality of nonexistence. 

According to the United Nations 

Educational, Scientific, and Cultural 

Organization, otherwise known as 

UNESCO, the Aramaic language spoken 

by Chaldeans is “definitely endangered.” 

This is a simultaneous result of 

years of oppression and war plaguing 

the community in the Middle East 

combined with the reality of assimilation 

in the diaspora. Some families 


encourage their children to learn 

English rather than their heritage 

language so they can advance further 

in the English-speaking world. Other 

parents keep the native language to 

themselves so they can talk with one 

another privately. These efforts exacerbate 

the negative effects of the assimilation 

process and discourage a 

continuation of the Chaldean cultural 

identity. 

How to Revive a Language 

Throughout history, languages rise, 

fall, and change immeasurably. Linguists 

trace the languages we use today 

and connect them with ancient 

languages of the past. In modern 

times, Aramaic goes by many names, 

including Sureth, Chaldean, Syriac, 

Assyrian, and more. 

Chris Salem founded the charity 

Nineveh Rising to send aid to the 

homeland and is involved in various 

efforts to rekindle the use of Sureth in 

everyday life. He claims that the community 

of Aramaic speakers worldwide 

can inspire a movement like the 

Hebrew revival to keep the language 

intact and in use. Indeed, there are 

some striking similarities between the 

Jewish and Chaldean histories. 

Few languages and linguistic communities 

have experienced a mass 

revival comparable to Hebrew and 

the Jewish community. Throughout 

their well-documented history, Jews 

have been persecuted, enslaved, conquered, 

and displaced; yet they maintained 

a crucial link to their cultural 

identity and religion that carried them 

into the modern age and afforded 

them the opportunity to resettle their 

ancient homeland. 

Around 130 AD, Judea revolted 

against the Roman Empire, but was 

defeated after a large war that lasted 

a few years. The population was massacred, 

the land of Judea was divided 

into three provinces, and many of the 

remaining Jews were forced to leave 

and resettle elsewhere in the empire. 

Historians tend to regard this event 

as the virtual death of Hebrew as a 

vernacular language. Most Jews left 

in Israel spoke Aramaic. Hebrew was 

maintained, however, among the religious 

order and as a liturgical language. 

Over the last 150 years, Hebrew 

has experienced an extraordinary resurgence 

from its near-death. A strong 

Jewish nationalist ideology called 

Zionism took root among displaced 

Jews and inspired them to resettle 

Israel in a movement called Aliyah. 

Even before the beginning of WWII, 

more than 400,000 Jews had resettled 

Israel. Shortly after the war’s end, 

once the state of Israel was founded, 

Jewish immigration exploded, and 

nearly 800,000 people returned. Holocaust 

survivors made their way to 

the Holy Land. 

In 1890, only 43,000 Jews lived 

in the area that would later become 

Israel. Today, because of the Zionist 

movement, more than 7 million Jews 

live in Israel and nearly all of them 

speak Hebrew. Jews in the diaspora 

were spread throughout Europe and 

the Middle East, and over hundreds 

and thousands of years, began to 

speak the local language instead of 

their native tongue. They needed a 

language in common to understand 

their compatriots in their new country, 

and many Jews knew Hebrew 

from religious rituals. 

The revival didn’t begin, however, 

until the establishment of schools in 

Jewish settlements that taught Hebrew 

to children and adults. Since the 

language was used exclusively in religious 

tradition, however, it was incomplete 

and insufficient for everyday use. 

The shapers of the Hebrew revival borrowed 

words from other languages like 

Arabic, Aramaic, and many others. As 

time passed, Jews made concerted ef- 

LANGUAGE continued on page 53 

CHALDEAN 

STORY 

This report is made possible with generous support from 

Michigan Stories, a Michigan Humanities Grants initiative. 


FEATURE 

Origins of the Written Word: 

Cuneiform 

BY ADHID MIRI, PHD 

Mesopotamia, located in what 

is now Iraq, is considered 

the birthplace of writing and 

with it, recorded history. Its people 

also built the world’s first cities and 

developed the oldest known political 

and administrative systems and drafted 

the first known letter. The very idea 

of philosophy was introduced in the 

Epic of Gilgamesh. 

The earliest known writing was 

invented there around 3,400 B.C. in 

an area called Sumer near the Persian 

Gulf. The development of Sumerian 

script was influenced by local materials, 

clay for tablets and reeds for styluses. 

At about the same time, or a little 

later, the Egyptians were inventing 

their own form of hieroglyphic writing. 

Writing (visible signs of ideas, words, 

and symbols) emerged in many different 

cultures in the Bronze Age. Archaeological 

discoveries in ancient Mesopotamia 

show the initial power and purpose of 

writing, from administrative and legal 

functions to poetry and literature. Scholars 

generally agree that the earliest form 

of writing appeared almost 5,500 years 

ago in ancient Sumer and spread over 

the world from there via a process of cultural 

diffusion. 

Even after Sumerian died out as a 

spoken language around 2,000 B.C., it 

survived as a scholarly language and 

script. Other people within and near 

Mesopotamia—from Turkey, Syria, and 

from Egypt to Iran—adopted the later 

version of this script developed by the 

Akkadians (the first recognizable Semitic 

people), who succeeded the Sumerians 

as rulers of Mesopotamia. In Babylonia 

itself, the script survived for two more 

millennia until its demise around 70 C.E. 

Before the Written Word 

For thousands of years, long before the 

invention of the true written word, people 

used symbols to keep essential records. 

The earliest form of notetaking known in 

the Middle East, the “tally bone,” dates 

back 30,000 years. The bones recorded 

lunar months, which governed the ritual 

cycles observed by hunter gatherers. 

A mud brick bearing a cuneiform inscription is seen during excavation at 

the ancient Sumerian city of Girsu, now known as Tello, in Iraq’s al-Shatrah 

district of the southern Dhi Qar province on November 14, 2021. 

From 9000-3000 BC, people in the 

Middle East used clay tokens to record 

commercial transactions, sealing them 

into clay envelopes called bullae. A token’s 

shape symbolized either goods 

(animals, grain, trees) or specific large 

numbers. At around the same time, the 

seal, (a detail-engraved image identifying 

the sender of the message) was 

developed. The seal was pressed on 

wet clay by stamping, or in the case of 

cylinder seals, by rolling. 

Every human community possesses 

language, a feature regarded as a defining 

condition of mankind. However, 

the development of writing systems, 

and their partial supplantation of traditional 

oral systems of communication, 

have been sporadic, uneven, and 

slow. Once established, writing systems 

on the whole change more slowly than 

their spoken counterparts, and often 

preserve features and expressions 

which are no longer current in the spoken 

language. A great benefit of writing 

is that it provides a persistent record of 

information expressed in a language, 

which can be retrieved at a future date. 

Cuneiform 

Cuneiform is the earliest known writing 

system invented around 3400 

B.C. Scribes used symbols built from 

wedge-shaped impressions pressed 

into clay or carved into stone. Many 

languages and civilizations used cuneiform, 

from Sumerian to Persian. The 

rise, fall, and rediscovery of cuneiform 

tells the story of the written word. 

The invention of writing is considered 

the most important event in the 

intellectual history of humankind. It 

separates the prehistoric stage from 

subsequent historical stages. In this 

context, we must point out that while 

we believe cuneiform writing to be the 

oldest writing in the history of mankind, 

history must include Egyptian 

writing, which the Greek called hieroglyphics. 

It appeared in the same period 

but unlike the Sumerian writing, 

hieroglyphics depicted pictures rather 

than letters. 

The emergence of writing in each 

area is usually followed by several 

centuries of fragmentary inscriptions. 

Historians mark the “historicity” of 

a culture by the presence of coherent 

texts in the culture’s writing system(s). 

The four Mesopotamian civilizations—Sumer, 

Babylon, Akkad, and 

Assyria—were centers of science and 

PHOTO BY ASAAD NIAZI/AFP 

knowledge. The Sumerian cuneiform 

script was adapted for the writing of 

the Akkadian, Elamite, Hittite (and 

Luwian), Hurrian (and Urartian) languages, 

and it inspired the old Persian 

and Ugaritic national alphabets. 

Although it then disappeared when 

these cultures faded and new scripts 

(such as the Phoenician alphabet) developed, 

numerous clay tablets and 

stelae (such as those upon which the 

Code of Hammurabi is written) remained 

in use. 

While the cuneiform writing system 

was created and used at first only 

by the Sumerians, it did not take long 

before neighboring groups adopted it 

for their own use. By about 2500 BC, 

the Akkadians, a Semitic-speaking 

people that dwelled north of the Sumerians, 

starting using cuneiform to 

write their own language. However, it 

was the ascendency of the Akkadian 

dynasty in 2300 BC that positioned Akkadian 

over Sumerian as the primary 

language of Mesopotamia. 

While Sumerian did enjoy a quick 

revival, it eventually became a dead 

language used only in literary contexts, 

whereas Akkadian would continue 

to be spoken for the next two 

millennium and evolved into later 

(more famous) forms known as Babylonian 

and Assyrian. 

Writing Tools 

Writing was very important in maintaining 

the Egyptian empire, and literacy 

was concentrated among an 

educated elite of scribes. Only people 

from certain backgrounds were allowed 

to train as scribes, in the service 

of temple, pharisaic, and military authorities. 

The hieroglyph system was 

difficult to learn, but in later centuries 

may have been intentionally made 

even more difficult, as this preserved 

the scribes’ position. 

The development of the Sumerian 

script was influenced by local materials: 

clay for tablets and reeds for styluses 

(writing tools). They wrote on 

clay, on stone, on silver, on gold on 

papyrus and on deerskin, in cuneiform 

and with the alphabet in Akkadian 

and Aramaic. They never stopped 

writing. In times of peace and in times 

of war. Through famine and in times of 

tribulation. No other ancient civilization 

has bequeathed to the world so 

vast a corpus of documents. There are 


IRAQ MUSEUM / FACEBOOK 

PINTEREST.COM PINTEREST.COM 

Clockwise from above: Cuneiform inscriptions on the aqueduct at Jerwan; The artwork of Iraqi calligrapher Hisham Elbaghdadi; A ring with a cylinder seal from 

Mesopotamia set with rubies. 

about 130,000 mud slabs of Mesopotamia 

in the British Museum. 

Cuneiform writing continued for a 

few centuries BC and was adapted to 

write in at least fifteen different languages. 

The last dated cuneiform text 

has a date corresponding to A.D. 75, 

although the script probably continued 

in use over the next two centuries 

and was replaced by the Levant alphabetic 

writing that began to spread with 

the spread of the Aramaic language, 

especially during the reign of the last 

(South Chaldean) dynasty. 

The original Sumerian writing 

system derives from a system of clay 

tokens used to represent commodities. 

By the end of the 4th millennium 

BC, this had evolved into a method 

of keeping accounts, using a roundshaped 

stylus impressed into soft clay 

at different angles for recording numbers. 

This was gradually augmented 

with pictographic writing using a 

sharp stylus to indicate what was being 

counted. 

Round-stylus and sharp-stylus 

writing were gradually replaced 

around 2700-2500 BC by writing using 

a wedge-shaped stylus (hence the term 

cuneiform), at first only for logograms, 

but developed to include phonetic elements 

by the 29th century BC. About 

2600 BC cuneiform began to represent 

syllables of the Sumerian language. 

Finally, cuneiform writing became 

a general-purpose writing system for 

logograms, syllables, and numbers. 

From the 26th century BC, this script 

was adapted to the Akkadian language, 

and from there to others such as Hurrian 

and Hittite. Scripts similar in appearance 

to this writing system include 

those for Ugaritic and Old Persian. 

Nabu 

In the time of Hammurabi of Babylon 

(1792-1750 BC), the God Nabu (a 

divine patron of scribes) received the 

Sumerian Goddess Nisaba’s attributes 

and became the patron of writing and 

scribes. Nisaba was still venerated and 

didn’t disappear from the pantheon, 

but from that moment on, she was 

known as Nabu’s wife. Nabu was very 

important for the Babylonians and 

was adopted by the Assyrians as the 

son of their supreme god, Ashur. 

In the 1800s and 1900s, archaeological 

excavations revealed thousands 

of cuneiform documents, and the variations 

of the script across languages and 

time were slowly deciphered. 

While we can read cuneiform documents 

today, the majority—many hundreds 

of thousands—still survive unread, 

and the few hundred cuneiform 

experts worldwide face an impossible 

task. Fortunately, machine learning 

and artificial intelligence offers potential 

assistance. Scholars at many institutions 

are compiling databases and 

training machines to read and fill in 

gaps in these ancient texts. 

Calligraphy 

Arabic calligraphy is the artistic practice 

of handwriting Arabic script in 

a fluid manner to convey harmony, 

grace, and beauty. It was primarily 

developed as a way of delivering the 

Word of God through the holy scripture 

of the Qur’an and is considered 

the quintessential art form of the Islamic 

world. Arabic letters decorate 

objects ranging from mosques to palaces, 

carpets, and paintings. 

The practice, which can be passed 

down through formal and informal education, 

uses the twenty-eight letters of 

the Arabic alphabet, written in cursive, 

from right to left. Originally intended 

to make writing clear and legible, it 

gradually became an Islamic Arab art 

for traditional and modern works. 

Arabic consists of 17 characters, 

which, with the addition of dots placed 

above or below certain of them, provide 

the 28 letters of the Arabic alphabet. 

Arabic calligraphy is the artistic 

practice of handwriting based on the 

Arabic alphabet. It is known in Arabic 

as Khatt and the calligrapher as Khattat. 

Calligraphers are highly regarded 

in the Islamic culture. 

The art of calligraphy has universal 

appeal, and that is why it developed 

so quickly and became so sought-after 

from the Middle Ages onwards. Its 

beautiful proportions and exquisite luminosity 

are something that everyone 

can appreciate. 

An Arabic calligrapher employs 

a reed pen, called a Qalam, with the 

working point cut on an angle. This 

feature produces a thick downstroke 

and a thin upstroke with an infinity 

of gradation in between. The nice 

balance between the vertical above 

and the open curve below the middle 

register induces a sense of harmony. 

The peculiarity that certain letters 

cannot be joined to their neighbors 

provides articulation. The line traced 

by a skilled calligrapher is a true marvel 

of fluidity and sensitive inflection, 

communicating the very action of the 

master’s hand. 

In the early centuries of Islam, 

Arabic not only was the official language 

of administration but also was 

and has remained the language of religion 

and learning. The Arabic alphabet 

has been adapted to the Islamic 

peoples’ vernaculars just as the Latin 

alphabet has been in the Christianinfluenced 

West. 

The evolution of writing is a collection 

of significant events in the alphabet’s 

history accented by the civilizations, 

cultures and people who made it 

happen and correlated with world affairs. 

Our Chaldean News stories seek 

to breathe life into what is considered 

by many to be antiquated and old subjects; 

however, our themes constantly 

change, and we remain steadfast in 

our commitment to revisit history and 

revive our culture with articles, insight, 

and words. 

Sources: Iraqi Museum, Encyclopedia 

Britanica, Musée du Louvre, Sjur 

Cappelen Papazian, Shelby Brown, 

Christie’s Online, Andre Parrot (The 

Arts of Assyria). 


FEATURE 

George Matti on the job 

as Boatswains Mate. 

Thank You for Your Service 

A Salute to Chaldean American Veterans 

BY SARAH KITTLE 

In the rich tapestry of American diversity, 

the Chaldean community 

stands out as a vibrant example 

of immigrants who have not only embraced 

the American dream but have 

also contributed significantly to the 

country’s defense. With a deep sense of 

patriotism and a commitment to safeguarding 

the freedoms they’ve come 

to know, Chaldean Americans in every 

generation have a proud tradition of 

serving in the United States military. 

Hundreds of men and women have 

joined the effort to protect and serve. 

In 2002, the Chaldean American 

Ladies of Charity (CALC) arranged a 

tribute booklet and ceremony for Chaldean 

Americans that have served or 

are serving in the US military. When 

many Chaldeans immigrated to the 

United States seeking refuge and opportunity, 

they brought with them 

a strong work ethic and a profound 

sense of gratitude for their new homeland. 

Many served in the Army, and a 

great many were decorated war heroes 

in World War II, Korea, and Vietnam. 

Chaldeans Americans have served 

their adopted country in conflicts from 

WWII to the Iraq War of 2014-2017. 

They helped liberate concentration 

camps in Germany and Austria and 

paid witness to the Cuban Missile Crisis 

from ships offshore. They served 

as interpreters and cultural advisors 

in the Middle East. Their stories 

are unique and incredible and have 

helped shaped the history of the United 

States of America. 

John Hakim was drafted to serve in 

World War II. Not an American citizen 

at the time, he earned his citizenship 

while overseas. John Cassa was 14 

when he joined; he misrepresented his 

age to serve and was injured during 

maneuvers, ultimately sharing a hospital 

room with future Vice President 

(and self-titled “inventor of the internet”) 

Al Gore. Michael Denja provided 

security for former President George 

H.W. Bush. At least two Chaldean 

American soldiers served alongside 

the legendary Elvis, one shipping out 

with him and one served in training 

with the historic “King of Rock and 

Roll.” 

Military from this community tend to 

be highly decorated as well. Jose P. Denja 

was recommended for the Congressional 

Medal of Honor and received the 

Purple Heart, Silver Star, and Bronze Legion 

of Merit for his service in Korea. Joseph 

Essa had served his time in World 

War II, was wounded several times, and 

won a Purple Heart. He was eligible for 

honorable discharge but elected to reenlist 

and was killed in action in 1945. 

Peter Essa, who fought on the beaches 

of Normandy, was awarded the Bronze 

Star and the Combat Infantry Badge as 

well as the European-African-Middle- 

Eastern Campaign Medal. An article 

featuring his story was published in the 

Chaldean News in November of 2020, 

when Peter was 95 years old. 

The Chaldean community in southeastern 

Michigan was nourished in the 

20th century by two fundamental factors: 

the sacrificial love of family and 

friends and the generous support of the 

local Church. Both would factor heavily 

during wartime. Chaldean people also 

have a history of enduring adversity and 

persevering through turbulent times, 

and they understand the concept of sacrifice. 

The Yelda Family had 6 brothers 

who all served in World War II. A women 

named Rosemary Yelda, family connection 

unconfirmed, served in Korea. 

This reporter had the distinct honor 

of sitting down and talking with a few 

Chaldean American veterans. Tom 

George, who was drafted into the Army 

when he was 19, remains grateful for 

the training. Although he remained 

stateside and never saw combat, the 

discipline of boot camp stayed with him 

his whole life. Many of his friends were 

sent to Vietnam, and Tom remembers 

them with affection, especially each 

year on Veteran’s Day which “keeps the 

experience of service close to mind.” 

One thing most veterans will agree 

on is that they appreciate their family 

so much more when they return from 

VETERANS continued on page 30 


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US Army Oath: 

I solemnly swear that I will support 

and defend the Constitution 

of the United States against all 

enemies, foreign and domestic; 

that I will bear true faith and allegiance 

to the same; and that I will 

obey the orders of the President 

of the United States and the orders 

of the officers appointed over 

me, according to regulations and 

the Uniform Code of Military Justice. 

So help me God. (Title 10, US 

Code; Act of 5 May 1960 replacing 

the wording first adopted in 1789, 

with amendment effective 5 October 

1962). 

Warrior Ethos: 

Fred Najor in the Michigan National Guard; Peter Essa served in World War II. 

I will always place the mission 

first. I will never accept defeat. I 

will never quit. I will never leave a 

fallen comrade. 

VETERANS continued from page 28 

service. For Tom, who lost 32 pounds 

on Army chow, homemade meals were 

one of the things he missed the most. 

Army rations are “definitely not like 

Chaldean food,” he asserts. 

“The saddest and most confusing 

part of serving in the Vietnam era,” says 

Tom, “was our homeland [America] calling 

it a ‘worthless war’” when he personally 

knew so many who had sacrificed 

their lives. Present-day calls for “defunding 

the police and villainizing the military,” 

Tom says, “are hard to witness.” 

Tom supports Hire Heroes USA, a 

nonprofit organization that moves veterans 

into the corporate world. His transition 

to civilian life was a little easier than 

most, as he returned the family business, 

which, according to Tom, “took 

care of that without any thought.” 

How can civilians show their support 

for veterans? For Tom, a simple, 

“Thank you for your service” suffices. 

It fills him with great pride and honor 

that he served his time. 

George Matti joined the US Navy 

in 1966. Previously, his brother had 

joined the Marines. “It was either join 

for 4 years and pick the branch or get 

drafted and spend two years in the 

Army,” George explained to those who 

asked. (And many did.) 

“I’m glad I went when I did,” says 

George, “but I wouldn’t go back.” 

He was stationed on an LST ship, 

delivering supplies to combat soldiers 

in Vietnam. One of his worst wartime 

memories was running aground on a 

small boat with his captain on a river 

in Danang. Always a target for enemy 

fire, it was a harrowing wait before a 

tugboat rescued them from the sandbar 

they were stuck on. 

Another clear memory of George’s 

is laying looking up at the stars in a 

Vietnamese sky and asking himself, 

“What am I doing?” It was a mind-expanding 

experience. 

“When you go, you’re like a kid,” 

remembers George. “You grow up real 

fast.” 

What was he doing? “A Chaldean 

kid from Baghdad,” George says, “A 

thousand miles from home.” A kid in 

combat. 

Nevertheless, he persevered. He 

met a Lebanese guy from Toledo who 

spoke Arabic. George spoke Sureth, 

but they managed to communicate 

and became fast friends. Any familiarity 

goes a long way while overseas. 

What don’t people understand 

about veterans? “They don’t get it 

unless they have a family member or 

know someone in the service,” says 

George. “They think we’re all Rambo.” 

CHALDEAN 

STORY 

George believes that every young 

person should do one year of compulsory 

military service. It would greatly 

benefit most of them, he thinks, especially 

with developing self-discipline. 

“The military has a lot of rules,” he 

says. “Obey them.” 

Fred Najor’s was a poor family raising 

nine kids supported by the family 

store when Vietnam escalated. The socalled 

“Living Room War” was the first 

time that images from a still-active war 

were brought into the family purview 

by the magic of television. 

Classified as A-1, Fred was next in 

line to be drafted when he joined the 

Michigan National Guard. “I’ve got 

no beef with anyone,” he said, so he 

opted for a 6-year stint stateside rather 

than get shipped to a far-off Asian 

country to kill strangers. At that time, 

Walter Cronkite’s newscast showed 

rows of body bags every evening. 

“It’s always somebody else’s war,” 

Fred says. “Old people start wars, and 

young people have to fight them.” 

For a Chaldean American, Fred 

got a great gig; he was placed in food 

service. The National Guard trained 



him how to cook in quantity. He was 

at Camp Grayling when they received a 

call that “half of Detroit was burning.” 

His group hustled back to the 8 Mile 

Armory and prepared to service the 

folks fighting to keep peace in the city. 

On a run to drop off deliveries at 

Central High School, Fred’s convoy 

came under fire. Another truck in the 

line had a machine gun which retaliated 

by taking the top off the building 

that the hostile was shooting from. 

The hostility lasted for days, and several 

people were killed. Fred’s family 

store was firebombed while he was at 

Camp Grayling, but they were able to 

stay open, unlike most of the stores in 

Detroit. 

Talking with his fellow veterans, 

Fred says, “When we look back on it, we 

were fortunate America opened its doors 

for us.” He attributes the welcome to the 

fact that they were Christian. Ironically, 

that fact is what put them under attack 

in Iraq. “If we had stayed there,” Fred 

says, “we would be dead.” 

The U.S. military is a fine institution, 

says Fred, but the powers that 

be take advantage of their troops and 

do not put them first. A better system 

is required, and the point should be 

peace rather than winning. He’s frustrated 

by the fact that we as a species 

are still fighting over land. “We’re so 

smart,” he says, and should put our 

power toward peace, not war. 

“We helped America stay strong,” 

says Fred. “I love America. Why 

wouldn’t I?” 


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FEATURE 

PIXABAY 

Spicing Up Michigan 

Chaldean cuisine becomes mainstream 

Spices are 

at the heart 

of Chaldean 

cuisine. 

BY CAL ABBO 

The culinary traditions of the 

Chaldean community are as 

rich and diverse as our ancient 

history. Originating from the cradle of 

civilization, Chaldean cuisine boasts 

a plethora of flavors that narrate our 

cultural heritage. As the Chaldeans 

found a new home in Detroit, Michigan, 

we brought along our cherished 

recipes, crafting a unique food narrative 

that melds ancient traditions with 

the modern-day food landscape of the 

Motor City. 

Food Culture 

The culture and format of serving 

meals is just as important as the ingredients 

and taste. In the villages, many 

Chaldeans were farmers and raised 

animals. Religious Chaldeans saw the 

creation and consumption of food as 

a spiritual act. The food you received 

was passed down from God unto you, 

so as to nourish your body and continue 

the cycle of life. Food was a sacred 

community item, too, and was offered 

as a gesture of good faith to visitors 

and at festivals and celebrations. 

Cooking food was most often considered 

a woman’s right and privilege. 

Her knowledge and skills in the arts of 

Chaldean cuisine were tested against 

other families in fierce-but-friendly 

competition. In essence, each house 

had its own kitchen, and individual traditions 

were passed down through the 

generations. Small changes in each individual’s 

recipe and methods evolved 

our food over thousands of years. 

Chaldean women have a sense of 

pride when it comes to cooking their 

own food and feeding their families. 

Like anyone, they want to cook great 

food and impress their family and 

guests. While they might share recipes 

with close friends and family, especially 

daughters, many Chaldeans 

gatekeep their exact secrets like professional 

chefs. 

As the community soon found out, 

life in the United States is much different 

than living in a village. Within 

a few generations, assimilation and 

the geographical reality of living apart 

changed the food culture invariably. Individual 

households maintained their 

own food traditions and collaborated 

less and less over time. Americans were 

introduced to Chaldean food with invitation-only 

family dinners. 

Commercial Chaldean restaurants 

and pre-made food at grocery stores 

slowly popped up and commodified 

the rich food tradition into dishes for 

sale. While this greatly expanded the 

influence of Chaldean food across 

metro Detroit and pushed Michigan 

cuisine to new heights, over time, it 

also contaminated the relationship 

between families and food and allowed 

Chaldeans to purchase our traditional 

food rather than rely on their 

family’s cooking. Recipes and dishes 

were standardized and replicated to 

emphasize what was popular, what 

the masses enjoyed, and what made 

the most money. Some Chaldean food 

became so similar to food in other Middle 

Eastern restaurants that it is now 

indistinguishable. 

Traditional Chaldean Dishes 

Chaldean cuisine draws many similarities 

to other Middle Eastern food, 

but its unique flavors and preparation 

offer a unique Chaldean twist. Here are 

some dishes that Chaldeans helped 

popularize in the Detroit area. 

Kabobs and Grilled Meats: The 

preparation of kabobs begins with highquality 

meat, commonly beef, lamb, 

or chicken, which are cut into uniform 

pieces to ensure even cooking. The meat 

is marinated with a blend of traditional 

spices, garlic, and lemon. Skewering the 

meat requires a precise hand to ensure 

that the pieces are secure. On the grill, 

the chef must achieve the perfect level 

of char while retaining the meat’s juiciness. 

The result is tender and flavorful 

meat with a smoky aroma. 

Kubba: To make Kubba, the chef 

SPICING UP continued on page 34 



FEATURE 

PIXABAY 

Tikka and kabob platters are a popular choice at Detroit’s Middle Eastern restaurants. 

SPICING UP continued from page 32 

uses bulgur wheat to cultivate a 

smooth dough which is then filled 

with a seasoned mixture of ground 

meat, usually beef or lamb. Each piece 

is carefully shaped into a disc or oval 

and cooked until golden and crispy. 

The result is a savory, textured dish 

enjoyed by many as a staple in Chaldean 

cuisine, and is often paired with 

a tomato and vegetable broth. 

Pacha: Preparing Pacha is a timehonored 

tradition and involves the 

careful cleaning and preparation of 

sheep’s head, trotters, and stomach. 

The ingredients are simmered with a 

blend of aromatic spices until tender. 

This dish requires a skilled hand to ensure 

the flavors are balanced and the 

texture is perfect, delivering a unique 

taste experience hard to find in the 

Western world. 

Guss: The making of Guss involves 

marinating choice cuts of meat in a 

blend of spices, garlic, and lemon, 

similar to kabobs. The meat is then 

roasted to achieve a perfect char, enhancing 

its flavors, in a stack of meat 

that is seen in Shawarma restaurants. 

The result is a succulent dish with a 

rich, smoky aroma, often enjoyed with 

flatbread and pickled vegetables. 

Dolma: Dolma involves stuffing 

grape leaves with a mixture of rice, 

meat, and various herbs. Each leaf is 

carefully wrapped around the filling 

and cooked until tender. The resulting 

dish is a medley of textures and flavors. 

Preparing this dish is tedious and 

time-consuming, making it one of the 

most extravagant; it is often reserved 

for special occasions. In addition to 

grape leaves, you can use onions or 

cabbage as a wrap. 

Biryani: Biryani preparation begins 

with the marination of meat in a 

blend of spices, followed by layering 

with partially cooked rice. The dish 

is then slow-cooked to allow the flavors 

to meld together. Achieving the 

right balance of spices and a perfect 

layering technique is crucial for this 

beloved aromatic dish that is famous 

across many parts of Asia. 

Falafel: The preparation of Falafel 

involves soaking chickpeas, then 

grinding them into a coarse mixture 

with herbs and spices. The mixture is 

shaped into small patties or balls and 

deep-fried until crispy. The result is a 

flavorful, crunchy exterior with a soft 

interior, often enjoyed in sandwiches 

or with tahini sauce. 

Bamia: Preparing Bamia begins 

with simmering okra with a mixture of 

tomatoes, garlic, and traditional spices. 

The process requires a gentle simmer 

to ensure the okra becomes tender 

without losing its shape. The result is 

a comforting stew, often enjoyed with 

rice and bread. 

Harisa: The preparation of Harisa 

involves slow-cooking wheat with 

meat, often chicken or lamb, until it 

reaches a porridge-like consistency. 

The dish is stirred continuously to prevent 

lumps and achieve a smooth texture. 

Harissa is a hearty and nutritious 

dish, often associated with religious observances 

and community gatherings. 

Masgouf: Masgouf is a traditional 

Iraqi fish dish that begins with the selection 

of a fresh, high-quality carp. 

The fish is seasoned with a blend of olive 

oil, tamarind, and a mix of spices, 

then skewered and slow-grilled over 

an open flame. The grilling process is 

crucial to achieving a crispy exterior 

while maintaining a tender, flaky interior. 

The result is a smoky, tangy dish 

enjoyed with traditional accompaniments 

like flatbreads and veggies. 

Tekratha: To make Tekratha, first 

craft your dough from high-quality 

flour, which is then rolled out into thin 

discs. A seasoned mixture of ground 

meat, typically beef or lamb, is spread 

over the dough before being baked until 

golden and crispy. The careful balancing 

of spices in the meat and the 

precise baking process results in a flavorful, 

textured dish that is a beloved 

part of Chaldean cuisine. It’s easy to 

stuff these delicious snacks with anything 

from cheese to sweets. 

Shawarma: The preparation of 

Shawarma involves marinating slices 

of meat, commonly beef or chicken, in 

a blend of aromatic spices, garlic, and 

yogurt. The meat is then stacked on 

a vertical rotisserie, where it is slow- 

SPICING UP continued on page 36 


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FEATURE 

SPICING UP continued from page 34 

cooked as it turns on the spit. Slicing 

the meat thinly off the spit requires a 

skilled hand, ensuring tender, flavorful 

slices ready to be wrapped in flatbreads 

and enjoyed with a variety of 

accompaniments like tahini or garlic 

sauce and pickled vegetables. 

Mana’eesh (Za’atar Bread): The 

preparation of Za’atar Bread begins 

with crafting a soft dough from highquality 

flour, which is then rolled out 

into small discs. A mixture of za’atar 

spice blend and olive oil is generously 

spread over the dough before being 

baked until golden and slightly crispy. 

The herbaceous za’atar blend paired 

with the richness of olive oil creates 

a flavorful and aromatic bread, often 

enjoyed as a breakfast item or a snack 

within the Chaldean community. Other 

types of Mana’eesh have different 

toppings, such as cheese. 

Kleicha: Kleicha preparation starts 

with creating a soft, pliable dough 

which is then filled with a sweet mixture 

of dates and nuts. Each piece is 

carefully shaped and adorned with a 

sprinkle of sesame seeds before being 

baked until golden brown. The result 

is a sweet, tender pastry with a filling 

that’s both chewy and flavorful, 

embodying a traditional taste. This is 

great for a post-meal sweet snack. 

Torshi: The making of Torshi involves 

pickling a variety of vegetables 

like cucumbers, carrots, cabbage, and 

cauliflower in a vinegar and spice mixture. 

The process requires a careful 

balance of vinegar, salt, and traditional 

spices to achieve the desired tanginess 

and flavor. Over time, the vegetables 

absorb the flavors of the brine, 

resulting in a crunchy, tangy accompaniment 

to many Chaldean dishes. 

Geymar with Date Syrup: The 

preparation of Geymar involves gently 

simmering heavy cream to achieve a 

thick, clotted consistency. Once prepared, 

Geymar is traditionally served 

with a generous drizzling of date syrup. 

The sweetness of the date syrup 

complements the rich, creamy texture 

of Geymar, creating a simple yet indulgent 

dish often enjoyed as a part of a 

traditional Chaldean breakfast. 

Tabouleh: Tabouleh consists of 

finely chopped fresh parsley, mint, and 

tomatoes, which are then mixed with 

soaked bulgur wheat. A dressing of olive 

oil, lemon juice, and a dash of salt is 

Sahara Restaurant is among the influential Metro Detroit restaurants 

popularizing Middle Eastern and Chaldean cuisine. Under the guidance 

of Zeana (pictured) and Saad Attisha, Sahara has opened additional 

locations, with the latest in The District Detroit. 

added to bring all the flavors together. 

The result is a refreshing, herbaceous 

salad with a citrusy zing, enjoyed as a 

light and nutritious accompaniment to 

many Chaldean meals. 

These recipes and many others can 

be found in greater detail and direction 

in cookbooks like Ma Baseema, 

Babylonian Cuisine, or Awafi. 

Chaldean Restaurants in Michigan 

The voyage of Chaldean cuisine to 

Michigan has resulted not only in the 

spreading of Chaldean dishes into the 

home kitchens of Michigan residents, 

but also the commercialization of the 

food. One of the community’s oldest 

and most famous restaurants, Sullaf, 

is located on 7 Mile Road in Detroit, in 

historic Chaldean Town. It serves basic 

CHALDEAN 

STORY 

Arabic and Chaldean dishes, including 

different meats and fish. Since it 

opened, many other Chaldean restaurants 

have served excellent food and 

become quite popular. 

Smaller Shawarma outfits operated 

by Chaldeans are commonplace 

throughout the suburbs of Detroit in 

cities like West Bloomfield, Sterling 

Heights, Southfield, and Farmington. 

Dozens of Chaldean bakeries, some 

that began informally out of someone’s 

home, can be found in these towns as 

well. Larger restaurants like Sahara, 

which just opened its newest location 

in The District Detroit, serve a wide variety 

of options for diners and also cater 

large parties for Chaldeans. Chaldean 

grocery stores are common in places 

where a lot of us live, which provide 



fresh ready-to-eat food as well as the 

ingredients for making it yourself. 

The Chaldean News has a special 

series called “Chaldean Kitchen” which 

aims to preserve our culinary history. 

The series posts articles about the history 

of someone’s dish as well as the 

full recipe so you can make it at home. 

Even better, the article is accompanied 

by a short video showing exactly how 

it’s made, which can be found on You- 

Tube or the website chaldeannews. 

com. Even further, the new Chaldean 

Community Foundation center located 

in West Bloomfield, when completed, 

will include a demonstration kitchen 

so we can better share our delicious 

recipes with the world. 

The Chaldean community has successfully 

preserved and shared its culinary 

heritage by enriching Michigan’s 

food scene with a blend of ancient flavors 

and modern adaptations. The story 

of Chaldean cuisine in Michigan is a 

flavorful journey of tradition, adaptation, 

and entrepreneurial spirit, contributing 

to the culinary and cultural 

diversity that provides the foundation 

of the Great Lakes State. 


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BREAKING BARRIERS 

3601 15 MILE RD., STERLING HEIGHTS, MI 48310 

Breaking Barriers provides services and advocacy to those with developmental and/or intellectual 

disabilities, older adults, and respite to caregivers. 

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helps better equip those with visual impairments to live independent lives. 

H.E.A.L. (HARD OF HEARING, ESL, AMERICAN SIGN 

LANGUAGE, LIFE SKILLS) PROJECT – helps better equip those with 

hearing impairments to live independent lives. 

C.H.A.I. (CAREGIVER HELPING AID INITIATIVE) PROJECT– 

supports the family caregiver in care provision and stress reduction. 

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for individuals with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities and their families. 

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for older adults with mobility challenges to reduce the risk of Falling. 

BINGOCIZE- Older adults meet and enjoy group Bingo and light exercise to 

socialize and improve their overall health. 


CULTURE & HISTORY 

First Tango with Mango: 

Iraqi Amba 

BY ADHID MIRI, PHD 

In the world of culinary delights, 

few things can match the mouthwatering 

tang and flavor offered 

by a good old-fashioned Iraqi mango 

pickle (amba). 

To tell the story of amba, or as it 

is popularly known in India, Aam ka 

Achar, we must begin with the story 

of Indian Ocean trade and the longstanding 

historical network of merchants 

who traversed this massive 

body of water for millennia bringing 

spices, people, and ideas to Basra-Iraq 

from all directions. 

Iraqis traditionally do not use curry 

and hot peppers in their cooking. Amba 

sauce was transferred from the Indian 

peninsula to Basra-Iraq by Iraqi Jewish 

merchants in Bombay. The product 

found its way to the Souq Hanoon and 

Shorja markets in Baghdad at the beginning 

of the twentieth century where 

it was modified and popularized to fit 

the mild taste of Iraqi cuisine. 

In this article, we delve into the 

rich history of amba in Iraq, exploring 

its journey from a humble homemade 

delight to a beloved condiment that 

can be enjoyed with many traditional 

Iraqi dishes, adding a burst of freshness 

and a tangy twist to many meals. 

Pickling 

Pickling was one of the very limited 

number of ways to preserve food before 

the invention of canning (about 

200 years ago) and modern refrigeration. 

This process has been an 

integral part of civilizations and an 

ancient practice to preserve food for 

long journeys. Almost anything can 

be preserved through pickling—fruits, 

vegetables, berries, leaves, roots, and 

even some meats. 

Vegetables and fruits get spoiled 

due to the presence of moisture in 

them. One of the ways to preserve 

some of these items for a longer period 

is the pickling process. Mangoes 

get spoiled in a few days, but a mango 

pickle lasts for several months. 

The true history of pickles remains 

somewhat a mystery. They were introduced 

so far back in the mists of history 

that no one knows exactly when, 

although some believe they date back 

to India some 4,030 years ago. Pickles 

are mentioned in the Bible, in the Old 

Testament books Numbers and Isaiah. 

Cleopatra attributed some of her 

beauty to pickles, Aristotle claimed 

that pickled cucumbers had healing 

properties, Napolean valued the pickle’s 

health benefits for his army, and 

reportedly, George Washington had 

a collection of 476 different kinds of 

pickles. (I wonder if he ate them all.) 

What is Amba? 

Amba is a liquid sauce with a hot spicy 

taste that is widely used in Iraqi food. 

It is typically made of pickled green 

mangoes, vinegar, salt, turmeric, chili, 

and fenugreek. The Iraqi amba may 

have been derived from a type of pickle 

spread in India and the Arabian Gulf 

called green mango chutney. 

Amba is available in the market 

either in the form of a prepared liquid 

in a glass bottle with a wide mouth to 

allow the flow of liquid and the mango 

fruit pickled in it, or in the form 

of a powder from which the dough 

is prepared by adding water and vinegar 

to it. 

To Iraqis, opening a bottle of amba 

is a universally enjoyable experience. 

The aroma of spices takes us back to 

our childhood, and the fiery peppers 

and colorful fruits in the mixture are a 

sight to behold. 

Amba is eaten alone or added to 

falafel, shawarma sandwiches, boiled 

eggs, eggplant, or fried potatoes and 

is considered one of the best ingredients 

in Iraqi food. Amba is best when 

paired with Hyderabadi biryani, one of 

the most popular rice dishes. It is also 

the basic material for preparing certain 

types of Iraqi Turshi. 

One of the amba’s primary purposes 

is related to its ability to mask whatever 

else you’re eating. Tangy, spicy, 

and tropical, amba is a storm of flavors 

that adds brightness and complexity 

to the simplest of meals. The Baghdadis 

developed this taste further and 

Amba was associated with the famous 

wood-grilled Masghouf (Tigris trout) 

on Abou Al-Nawas Street. 

The quintessential street food has 

evolved to be served in Mediterraneanstyle 

restaurants around the world. 

With its deep fermented flavors and 

spice, amba adds an exciting element 

that you’ll be tempted to spread on everything 

and anything. 

The First Tango with Mango 

The Jews of Iraq claim that they were 

the first to import amba to Basra from 

Bombay, India, and then spread it to 

Baghdad and the rest of the country. It 

is said that the Sasson family invented 

the amba sauce, as we know it in Iraq. 

Beginning in the 17th century, 

groups of Iraqi Jewish merchants from 

Baghdad moved to the Persian Gulf 

port of Basra and from there onward 

to Mughal India, where they set up settlements 

in towns like Bombay, Pune, 

and Calcutta. Over time, other Jewish 

Arabs from Aleppo and Yemen also often 

joined these communities. 

In Bombay, the Iraqi Jewish merchants 

imported dates and Arabian 

horses from Iraq and exported Indian 

spices to Basra. They had learned to 

eat pickled foods with curry and exported 

several barrels of pickled mangoes 

seasoned with salt, pepper, and 

concentrated curry, to the famed Jewish 

community market (Souq Hanoun) 

Hanoun market in central Baghdad. 

Along with spices, textiles, and luxury 

goods, recipes also made their way 

back to Iraq from India. One of these 

was amba, a delicious and tangy mango 

pickle that is at both spicy, sweet, and 

sour, and which became a phenomenal 

hit across Iraq (and in southwestern Iranian 

cities like Ahwaz as well). 

By the mid-20th century, amba 

was everywhere; Iraqi Jewish novelist 

Somekh Sassoon, for example, 

describes growing up with it on the 

AMBA continued on page 40 


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CULTURE & HISTORY 

AMBA continued from page 38 

streets of Baghdad in his autobiography, 

Baghdad Yesterday. 

Baghdadi Jewish cuisine reflects 

the long impact of the Indian Ocean 

trade. Amba shares space with dishes 

like biryani, chicken curry, and 

parathas as Baghdadi Jewish favorites. 

They were not alone in adopting the 

foods of the lands they settled. 

The influence of amba on Iraqi cuisine 

is undeniable. Ingredients in their 

purest forms were handed over to people 

to work with, resulting in a unique 

identity and culinary delight. Iraqi amba 

pickles are truly different and have become 

significant part of our palate. 

Over time, regional variations of 

the Iraqi mango amba 

emerged, each infused 

with its unique blend of 

spices and flavors, reflecting 

the culinary diversity 

of the product. 

erated for weeks, months, and in some 

cases, years. The quantities and types 

of the ingredients used determine the 

final texture and taste. 

In India, mango is the main ingredient; 

however, Iraqis add other 

ingredients such as boiled turnips or 

cooked baby carrots, boiled potatoes, 

peaches, yellow zucchini, okra, and 

red and orange peppers to add taste 

and thickness. 

One of the benefits of making amba 

at home is the ability to personalize it 

with different seasonings. Traditional 

Indian versions of the sauce use fenu- 

like that of making pita bread. 

Samoon was not known in the 

early part of the last century. Iraqis 

first knew Al-Samoon after the fall of 

the Ottoman Empire and during the 

British occupation of Iraq in the 1920s. 

The type of bread moved to Iraq from 

Georgia when Armenians immigrated 

to Iraq at the end of World War I and 

an Armenian by the name of Simon 

opened his shop in the western district 

of Bab Al-Agha in Baghdad. 

Iraqis were used to the traditional 

homemade khubuz and started wondering 

about this new product and its 

The seller cart contained a wooden 

barrel full of the yellow sauce and a 

basket of samoon. He slit the bread and 

spooned amba inside the bread pocket. 

The price was 10 fils (10 US cents). 

This quintessential street food has 

evolved to be served in Mediterraneanstyle 

restaurants around the world. 

Amba is eaten alone in the form of sandwiches, 

which the people call amba 

and samoon; sometimes it is added to 

falafel sandwiches or shawarma. 

Last tango with mango 

Ship brand is the most popular 

amba among the Iraqis. The preference 

Here, There, and 

Everywhere 

In recent years, with the 

rise of globalization and 

increased cultural exchange, 

Iraqi amba has 

transcended geographical 

boundaries and captivated 

taste buds worldwide. 

With its rich history 

and diverse flavors, amba 

has stood the test of time. 

From its humble origins as a homemade 

condiment to its present-day accessibility 

through platforms and shops worldwide, 

it delights generations of food enthusiasts 

all over the Middle East. 

Just as the Iraqi Jews took amba 

to Israel, we, the expatriate sons of 

Iraq took amba to Michigan, California, 

London, Paris, and around the 

world. It has become commonplace to 

see the mango amba in oriental food 

shops in Europe and the United States. 

Making Amba 

The beauty of pickle making lies in the 

forgiving nature of the time-tested process, 

making it accessible even to beginners. 

The ingredients of Iraqi amba 

are mango slices, salt, vinegar, lemon 

salt, turmeric, hot peppers, ground 

fenugreek, dried coriander, curry, and 

ground spice. 

Almost all these items can be 

stored in airtight containers and refrig- 

greek, turmeric, chili, and mustard 

seeds. Some cooks prefer to elevate 

the flavors by incorporating tanginess, 

usually through the addition of vinegar 

and sour sumac. Garlic and cumin 

are sometimes used when savory flavors 

are preferred. Alternative textures 

can also be achieved — ranging from 

a smooth mango puree to a chunky, 

tender mango salsa-like consistency, 

depending on your taste. 

Samoon 

Samoon is an Iraqi name for a type of 

bread. Its name in other Arab countries 

is aish, khubuz or loaf. It is one 

of the favorite foods in Iraq, especially 

at breakfast. It is baked in traditional 

stone ovens, like pizza, and 

is one of the most widespread breads 

in Iraq. The process of making it is 

maker. Unable to pronounce “Simon,” 

they diluted the word and modified it 

to “Samoon;” that coined the word in 

the Iraqi vocabulary. 

Simon, an Armenian Christian, 

concealed his religious beliefs in the 

new Moslem setting and expressed his 

Christian faith by shaping his product 

like a fish, an historical Christian symbol. 

Ottomans, Lebanese, Syrians, and 

others made the bread round. Simon’s 

“samoon” takes the shape of diamond, 

boat, or fish. 

Amba and samoon was one of the 

popular and inexpensive food pairings 

that were common in the good days in 

Baghdad among children and young 

adults. Kids would go out the school 

gates and straight to the street cart 

vendors selling this combination of 

delicious and filling delight. 

for Ship indicates how late nineteenthcentury 

Basra-Bombay trade routes 

continue to define the post-colonial 

Iraqi citizen—whether in Iraq, the United 

States, or across the diaspora. 

Iraqi amba is a great example of 

how important history, culture, and 

taste are to the food we eat. It is something 

special that travels with Iraqis 

all over the world. The next time you 

want to enjoy mango pickles, whether 

at your favorite Iraqi market, restaurant, 

or in your own kitchen, let your 

imagination run wild and create your 

own unique pickling masterpiece. I am 

certain that tasting amba will not be 

your last tango with mango. 

Sources: Khaled al-Qashtini, Ali Kash, 

Raed Jaffar, Mutta Haaretz, Marefa. 

org, and Alex Shems. 


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For More Information 

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FEATURE 

Arabian Knights 

Depka group 

performs at 

the Gala. 

Celebrating 20 Years 

The Chaldean Cultural Center Founders Gala 

BY WEAM NAMOU 

The Chaldean Cultural Center 

(CCC) celebrated its 20th Anniversary 

Founders Gala on Friday, 

October 20 at Shenandoah Country 

Club. It was a night reminiscent 

of an ethnic bazaar, with a Chaldean 

bread lady, music, and other entertainment 

along with a stroll through 

the museum, a short documentary and 

commemoration. 

Led by zurna player Omar Jarbo, 

guests were escorted inside the banquet 

hall where dancing ensued. Then, 

the Arabian Knights, a folk dancing 

depka group founded by Hassan Khatter 

over 16 years ago, did a performance 

and later invited guests to join. 

Vanessa Denha Garmo, the Master of 

Ceremonies, shared a delightful story 

of when she asked her older sister to 

borrow her Toyota Subaru. Her sister 

said, “Absolutely not!” and as they 

quibbled, their father, shaking his 

head, said, “You girls are so ungrateful. 

When I was your age, I had to 

share my donkey with Amo Thomas.” 

Another story was of a Chaldean 

woman who came to America through 

Ellis Island. She had an eye problem 

which had to be cured for her to complete 

her journey to Michigan. Eventually, 

she was cured, giving glory to the 

Virgin Mary statue (AKA the Statue of 

Liberty), whom she prayed to every day. 

Judy Jonna, event chairperson, 

handed out the CCC founder plaques 

made by renowned artist Sabah Selou 

Wazi. The founders include the late 

Rosemary Antone, Virjean Arabo, 

Francis Boji, Raad Kathawa, Mary Romaya, 

Josephine Sarafa, Victor Saroki, 

and Hanna Shina. 

The Founders’ Stories 

Born in Telkaif (Telkeppe) in 1941, 

Rosemary Antone came to the United 

States in 1950 when she was 9 years old. 

She was featured in the documentary 

Chaldeans in America: Our Story where 

she said, “We want our pioneers to be 

proud of what they did and where they 

brought us. We want future generations 

and our American neighbors and 

From left: Vanessa Denha Garmo, 

Kashat Spices representative and 

Vevean Hababa. 

friends to know who Chaldeans are.” 

Sadly, Antone passed away in 2009. 

Virjean Arabo was born in Samawah, 

a city in southern Iraq, to parents 

who were both teachers. She went 

to college in Iraq, majoring in economics 

and political science. In 1967, she 

married Faisal and came to the United 

States with books packed in her bags. 

Her dream was to continue studying, 

but she had five children in ten years, 

now all grown. “They continued 

studying in my place,” she said. 

Arabo, an artist, was invited by Josephine 

Sarafa to attend a meeting at 

Southfield Manor. Though she didn’t 

know what the meeting was about, she 

went. “There were many people, and 

the next meeting, less people, and the 

meeting after that, even less people than 

that,” she said. “I was one of the ones 

who ended up staying until the end.” 

Francis Boji’s father, a builder, 

came and worked in the United Stated 

from 1929 to 1935, then returned to 

Iraq. Francis was born in Telkaif in 

1942. He studied engineering and at 

age 21, taught at the Faculty of Engineering. 

He came to America with his 

wife and children in 1980. “There is an 

Iraqi museum, and there are other museums 

that dedicate parts to the Chaldeans,” 

he said, “but this museum is 

100% Chaldean, and for Chaldeans, 

and it is authentically Chaldean.” 

Raad Kathawa was born in Telkaif 

and came to the United States in 1969. 

He bought his first store in 1973 and 

worked in the supermarket business 

for 49 years. In the 1980s, he began 

working with organizations such 

as the AFD (Associated Food Dealers 

of Michigan). “We should teach our 

children and grandchildren who we 

are, and where we are from, so that 

they become interested not only in 

this museum, but in the history of the 

Chaldeans in general,” he said. 

Mary Romaya is a retired teacher 

and former Executive Director of the 

CCC. Born in Detroit, she graduated 

from the University of Detroit with a 

B.A. in History and received an M.A. 

Degree in School Administration from 

Eastern Michigan University. She 

worked for 45 years as a professional 

educator with Warren Woods Public 

Schools, leaving the district in Janu- 

PHOTOS BY STEVEN ATTISHA 


READY, SET, LET IT GO! 

DECEMBER 2-3 

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NOVEMBER 29 - DECEMBER 17 

DETROIT OPERA HOUSE • BROADWAYINDETROIT.COM 

GROUPS (10+): BROADWAYINDETROIT.COM/GROUPSALES 

©Disney 

ary 2011. “Shenandoah gave us just a 

little over 2,000 square feet with the 

idea that maybe one day we would put 

a museum in here,” she said. 

Josephine Sarafa was born in Detroit, 

Michigan and grew up speaking 

only Chaldean. “I didn’t know there 

were other languages in the world,” 

she said. She started working at her 

father’s store at age 12 and was reportedly 

the first Chaldean girl to go 

to college in the United States, to the 

University of Detroit, which was two 

miles from her home. “I took the 7 Mile 

bus and then the Livernois bus to get 

to college,” she said. She had a double 

major – Psychology and Education 

– and graduated in 1960. She started 

teaching in Detroit, and later in her 

life, taught at the Birmingham schools. 

The youngest of 5 children, Victor 

Saroki was born in 1957 in Detroit. He 

is the president of Saroki Architecture, 

a multi award-winning architecture 

and interiors firm in Birmingham, 

Michigan, since 1983. Victor graduated 

from the College of Architecture 

& Design at Lawrence Technological 

University. He designed Shenandoah 

Country Club, the museum, and he’ll 

be designing the new Chaldean Community 

Center West Campus. 

“Mike George and other Chaldeans 

bought Shenandoah to be the 

next home for Chaldeans beyond 

what Southfield Manor was,” he said. 

“They interviewed many prominent 

architects, and fortunately, we were 

selected. That was a tribute for us and 

an important project because it was 

for the community and the legacy for 

what the Chaldeans have done in the 

Detroit area.” 

In his youth, Hanna Shina, born in 

Telkaif, received several trophies for 

his participation in sports. When he 

came to the United States, he opened 

a store, coffee shop, and a restaurant 

in the 7 Mile area. “I went to Iraq and 

brought the founders whatever they 

wanted from me,” he said. 

Other Work 

While the museum is the “crown jewel,” 

the CCC encompasses much more 

than that. As executive director of the 

Center, I had the opportunity to speak 

after the award ceremony about the 

impact of our programs, one of which 

is Digital Storytelling. I was able to 

thank videographers Fadi Attisha and 

Michael Nafso for their hard work and 

commitment to the Digital Storytelling 

program and introduce Vevean Hababa, 

a participant. 

Vevean lives in the senior home 

adjacent to Holy Martyrs Chaldean 

Church. A retired teacher, she was visiting 

the United States in 2014 when 

ISIS attacked her birthplace and destroyed 

her beautiful home and everything 

in it, including a manuscript of 

poems she’d been writing since she 

was in fifth grade. A fitting tribute to 

the tenacity of the community, at the 

end of the ceremony, Hababa sang “I 

Have a Dream,” a song she shared with 

her students who have remained in 

contact with her, to remember whenever 

they feel despair. 


LIFE SKILLS 

Health Insurance 

Navigating the maddening maze 

BY PAUL NATINSKY 

Obtaining health insurance and using the coverage 

once insured is complicated even for 

English speakers who were born in the United 

States. It gets more confusing for non-English speakers, 

and still more puzzling for those new to the country. 

Most U.S. citizens, and legal immigrants working 

for U.S. companies, have health insurance through 

their employers. These plans differ significantly in 

what services are covered and how much the patient 

has to pay. 

How it works 

Several terms are important to know here. 

The premium is the amount of money patients 

and their employers pay each month for coverage. 

This amount varies depending on the types of services 

covered by the plan. Typically, the employer pays 

all or most of the premium. If employees are required 

to pay a portion of the premium, usually it is deducted 

from their paycheck. 

Once employees are enrolled and issued an insurance 

card they may make appointments with doctors, 

visit the hospital if necessary, and receive other 

services. At this point, patients will encounter three 

new terms: co-pay, deductible and out-of-pocket 

maximum. These terms go together because they are 

part of the same equation. 

The co-pay is pretty simple. It is the part of the 

medical bill that the patient pays, typically a percentage. 

So, for example if a doctor’s bill is $100 and the 

co-pay is 20%, the insurance plan pays $80 and the 

patient pays $20. 

Looking at the next term—deductible—is where 

things begin to get complicated. In many plans, patients 

are required to pay 100% of medical bills until 

the total of their bills adds up to a certain amount, 

often several thousand dollars. Once the patient has 

“satisfied” the deductible, say it’s $4,000, then the 

insurance company begins paying 80% and the patient 

the remaining 20%. 

This brings us to the out-of-pocket maximum, an 

amount significantly higher than the deductible. After 

a patient spends a certain amount of money, let’s 

say $7,500 on health services, including copays, services 

are covered 100%. 

As if things are not complicated enough, every 

plan is different. The details of insurance plans are 

the results of negotiations between the employer and 

the insurance company. So, plans through the same 

insurance company for two different employers are 

likely to have different co-pays, deductibles, and outof-pocket 

maximums—and cover different services. 

Dental and Vision 

In many cases, the health insurance plan does not 

cover dental care or vision/eyeglasses. Those services 

are covered under separate plans…and they generally 

don’t operate like health coverage. 

Routine care such as checkups, dental cleanings, 

and eye exams is greatly discounted for patients. 

Significant dental work, such as fillings and 

crowns and eyeglasses, are typically covered with 

a co-pay up to a certain amount. Once that limit is 

reached, patients are usually responsible for any 

additional dental services or eyeglass costs until the 

next coverage year begins. 

So, health care costs are usually limited for patients, 

while dental and vision coverage give patients 

an allowance with any additional costs going 

to the patient. 

Confused? Don’t feel bad. Most people are perplexed 

by this puzzle. The bad news is that things get 

more complicated. 

Networks 

Health care, dental, and vision services are subject 

to “networks,” which are groups of doctors, dentists, 

eye care centers, and other professionals who 

agree to receive a discounted fee from the insurance 

company in exchange for the volume of patients the 

health care professional receives from being part of 

the network. 

The insurance company passes on a portion of this 

discount to the patient. So, patients pay a lower fee 

when they use “in-network” professionals. 

Most people in the United States have employersponsored 

insurance. But what about people who 

don’t work or whose employer doesn’t offer health insurance? 

People in these situations can receive coverage 

from a number of different sources. 

Government Programs 

Those who are below a certain income level or who 

have a disability can get coverage from Medicaid, a 

cooperative state and federal program administered 

by individual states. That’s right, more complexity. 

Each state has its own Medicaid program with different 

rules and coverages. 

People who work for employers that don’t offer 

insurance can get federally subsidized plans through 

healthcare.gov. These plans operate a lot like private 

insurance, but are less expensive because the federal 

government pays most of the cost. Healthcare.gov 

plans are subject to income limits and the unavailability 

of employer-sponsored options. 

For people older than 65, the federal government 

offers a comprehensive plan under the Medicare 

program. The patient portion of the premium is low 

and most services are covered. Inexpensive “supplemental” 

plans offered by private insurers cover what 

Medicare doesn’t. 

For these public programs, there is a crazy quilt 

of regulations about eligibility, coverages, and other 

aspects. 

For those who have refugee status, are undocumented 

immigrants, or have other special circumstances, 

non-profit organizations, immigration 

lawyers, and other resources are available to help 

navigate this intricate maze. 

The system is complicated and in need of reform 

to make it easier for patients and able to cover more 

people. Until that day everyone will continue to try 

and keep pace. 


CITIZENSHIP PREPARATION 

NOW ENROLLING FOR FALL CLASSES 

OCTOBER 3 – DECEMBER 14 

Tuesdays and Thursdays 

MORNING SESSIONS 

9:30 am – 12:00 pm 

OR 

EVENING SESSIONS 

5:00 pm – 7:30 pm 

REGISTRATION WILL BEGIN ON SEPTEMBER 25, 2023 

To register please call CCF at 586-722-7253 

$40 registration fee 

CHALDEAN COMMUNITY FOUNDATION 3601 15 MILE ROAD, STERLING HEIGHTS, MI 48310 586-722-7253 

NOVEMBER 

CHALDEANFOUNDATION.ORG 

2023 NEWS 45

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT 

Chaldean Filmmakers 

Hear the Call: Sam Sako 

BY WEAM NAMOU 

A 

foreign language coach in 

Hollywood, Chaldean American 

Sam Sako is often called 

on by producers to coach some of the 

world’s best known on-screen talent, 

including Leonardo DiCaprio, Omar 

Sharif, Mark Strong, Russell Crowe, 

Oscar Isaac, Brad Dourif, Tim Roth, 

Scott Glenn, Danny Trejo, and Freddy 

Rodriguez. 

“To me, working with major actors 

has become a job,” says Sako. 

Sako recently produced Pomegranate, 

the first Iraqi American feature 

film led by women talent (yours 

truly). The film began circulating festivals 

earlier this year and so far, it 

has earned awards, nominations, and 

official selections from over a dozen 

international film festivals, including 

New York International Women Festival, 

Santa Barbara International Movie 

Awards, La Femme Independent 

Film Festival (Paris, France), Luleå 

International Film Festival (Sweden), 

Rome Prisma Film Awards (Rome, 

Italy), Birsamunda International Film 

Awards (India), and Amsterdam Movie 

Fest, among others. 

“The awards that Pomegranate has 

won is just the beginning,” said Sako. 

“There’s more to come.” 

Once he committed to this project, 

Sam made sure to see it through even 

though it took years of hard work. “If I 

believe in something, I always go the 

extra mile and I don’t back down until 

I get the job done,” he said. 

Sam’s nickname (“Sam of All 

Trades”) comes from his broad knowledge 

of the industry resulting from 

over four decades of work in Hollywood 

as an actor, casting director, 

voiceover artist, Middle East cultural 

consultant, dialect coach, ADR performer, 

cinematographer, editor, producer, 

and director. 

He’s worked extensively on independent 

and major studio domestic 

and foreign releases, particularly 

those for Middle East markets. His 

best- known films include Body of 

Lies, Green Zone, Hidalgo, The Passion 

of the Christ, Iron Man, Mad Max: 

Fury Road, Beverly Hills Cop II, and 

RoboCop. Major television projects include 

Over There, Touch, NCIS, Weeds, 

Homeland, and Lethal Weapon. 

Knowing Chaldean families expected 

their children to become engineers, 

doctors, and lawyers, Sako initially 

studied engineering, but he didn’t continue 

that path. “It wasn’t my thing,” he 

said. “I was always fascinated by Hollywood 

and American films.” 

Born in Baghdad, Sako left Iraq 

shortly before the Iran-Iraq war. As a 

young man, he lived in different places 

throughout the Middle East where he 

learned many languages and some Arabic 

dialects including Egyptian, Khaliji, 

Yemeni, Lebanese, Moroccan, Saudi, 

Farsi and Dari/Pashtune. Soon after 

his high school graduation, his family 

moved to Greece. There, he learned a 

new culture and language, and soon 

moved to the United States. He lived in 

Detroit for two years, where he received 

an A.A. degree in Liberal Arts from 

Wayne County Community College. 

“I couldn’t stand the cold in Michigan, 

so I moved to California and never 

looked back,” he said. 

In California, he earned a B.A. in 

Motion Picture and Television Production 

from California State University 

Northridge. He also continued studies 

in cinema at UCLA. 

After 9/11, movies shifted to those 

with Middle Eastern themes. Sako’s 

background, his travels, and his 

knowledge of the film industry had 

many Hollywood directors and producers 

reach out to him for jobs. For 

decades, Sako advocated for Arab/ 

Middle Eastern films with positive 

messaging. 

“Hollywood films tend to portray 

Arabs and Middle Easterners as bad 

people and don’t even give them a 

name,” he explained. “Their characters 

in the credits are ‘Terrorist #1,’ 

‘Terrorist #2,’ ‘Woman #1,’ ‘Man #2.’ 

Enough of that! It’s time we give them 

names in the films to show who we 

are, whether Christian, Muslim, Jew, 

or anyone else.” 

One of the reasons he got involved 

with Pomegranate is that “It showed 

the good side of Arabs and Middle 

Easterners.” Another reason was that 

the film was being directed by a woman 

of Middle Eastern descent. (Again, 

yours truly.) 

“I always had great respect for 

women, a deep respect which increased 

after the birth of my son,” he 

said, “I have a wife and two daughters 

in the medical field. I believe in Arab 

women, especially the Iraqis who carry 

a great load on their shoulders. So, 

when Weam called me about her film, 

I thought, she’s not only from the Arab 

Clockwise from top left: Sam with Tom 

Hanks in 1985 on the set of the Man 

with One Red Shoe; on the set of Sheik 

in Dubai; Sam with Weam Namou on 

the set of Pomegranate. 

PHOTOS COURTESY SAM SAKO 

community, but she’s from my blood. 

How can I not support her?” 

Made by the community it represents, 

Pomegranate’s script was selected 

as a quarterfinalist by Francis Coppola’s 

Zoetrope. Buffalo 8 Productions 

(in Santa Monica, California) then 

partnered with me during the development 

stage. Later, one of Hollywood’s 

most successful independent producers, 

Scott Rosenfelt, known for box 

office hits such as Home Alone and 

Mystic Pizza, signed on as the film’s 

executive producer. 

Sam understood the value of what 

we were doing and was incredibly supportive. 

Pomegranate follows the life journey 

of Niran, a young Muslim woman 

coming of age in Metro Detroit after emigrating 

from Iraq. She lives in Sterling 

Heights, nicknamed “Little Baghdad,” 

for its large population of Chaldeans. 

Niran walks a fine line between ancestral 

norms and the freedoms of a new 

generation. Inspired by her idol Enheduanna 

of ancient Mesopotamia, the 

first writer in recorded history, she navigates 

societal challenges, fights against 

cultural stereotypes, and aims to make 

her voice heard by all those around her. 

Through the magic of storytelling, 

we are shattering stereotypes and 

nurturing new ways of thinking. It’s a 

significant undertaking, especially for 

women who, in our society, tend to live 

in the shadows. 

Sako, who’s working on his own 

feature film Sea of Chaldea, added, “I 

think it’s time for us to make our own 

films and show people who we are. We 

have the power. We have the knowledge. 

We know how to make films.” 

For more information on Pomegranate, 

visit pomegranatemovie.com. 



FAMILY TIME 

Beyond the Turkey 

New Thanksgiving traditions to try this year 

BY VALENE AYAR 

Now that we have packed away 

our Halloween decorations, 

it is time to turn our focus to 

Thanksgiving and the holiday season. 

This is the perfect time of year to 

focus on family and loved ones with 

some classic (and new) traditions! 

Below is a list of ideas to incorporate 

this coming “Turkey Day.” 

While turkey is usually the main 

event at any Thanksgiving feast, it is 

also a good idea to branch out. Why 

not call relatives and friends and ask 

them for their best recipes with other 

dishes? Even better if the new recipe 

happens to be a spin on a traditional 

Chaldean dish! After the holiday is 

done, you will have a new recipe you 

can make whenever you want. It is the 

gift that keeps on giving. 

A fun way to get everyone involved 

while bringing more food into the 

mix, have your (willing) guests make 

a small pot of dolma to bring with 

them. Assign each one a number and 

let everyone try the different dishes to 

decide whose is best. This is a fun way 

to get the adults involved and in the 

competitive spirit. 

Thanksgiving is a beautiful day to 

reflect on all we have to be grateful 

for and to help those less fortunate. 

While shelters and soup kitchens are 

typically overrun with volunteers on 

this day, that doesn’t mean you can’t 

find other ways to give back. Why not 

volunteer at an animal shelter or go 

around the neighborhood and collect 

canned food to donate? You can even 

ask your guests to bring some canned 

goods to your holiday dinner along 

with any side dishes. It doesn’t cost 

much and is a great way to teach your 

children the importance of charity and 

compassion. 

We’ve already established that 

Thanksgiving Day is a day of reflection 

for all that we are grateful for, so why 

not also set gratitude intentions for the 

coming year? Have everyone make a list 

of future things to be grateful for and 

save the list for next year to see how 

those things have come to fruition. You 

may think of it as a Gratitude List/New 

Year’s Resolution hybrid. Be sure to express 

your intentions in present tense, 

as if they have already happened. 

Studies show that setting intentions/ 

affirmations in the present rewires the 

subconscious mind to get to work on 

making those intentions come true. 

While the turkey usually holds center 

stage on Thanksgiving, there is no 

reason you can’t introduce some nice 

decor to bolster the main star! Why 

not keep the kids busy creating crafts 

while you finish up cooking? (We’ve all 

seen those handprint turkeys.) You can 

make it even more fun by introducing 

some friendly competition into the mix. 

Offer a treat or reward for whoever creates 

the nicest centerpiece. 

Another way to entertain the kids is 

by introducing some fun and games to 

the holiday. It doesn’t just have to be the 

kids; everyone can have fun with this 

one. Play “Turkey Trivia” or break out 

photos from Thanksgivings past and 

make a game of identifying the photo 

subjects. Scavenger hunts and Bingo 

games are always fun and are easy to 

modify for any holiday. How about hosting 

your own neighborhood Thanksgiving 

Day Parade? It can be on foot, on 

A TTORNEYS & C O UNSELORS AT LAW 

bikes, on scooters, or your choice. 

Whatever you do to make your 

holiday more festive, remember it’s 

the effort that counts. Have a Happy 

Thanksgiving! 

Who doesn’t love making a wish 

with a wishbone? But it is typically a 

challenge to decide who gets to split 

it. Why not hide it somewhere in the 

house and have everyone split into 

teams of two to find it. Whichever duo 

finds it gets to break it! 

Football is great but in between the 

endless stream of games all day, it is 

nice to break it up with a Christmas 

Movie so everyone can enjoy. This is 

great for after dinner when the food is 

digesting and making everyone sleepy. 

With so many streaming platforms, 

you will have no problem finding a 

movie everyone will love! Home Alone 

has always been a personal favorite! 

Hopefully this list has provided 

you with some fun new ways to enjoy 

the holiday and bond with your loved 

ones. What are some of your favorites 

not on this list? 


YOUR 

Therapy can be a big step toward being the 

healthiest version of yourself and living the 

best life possible — our licensed, professional 

therapists are here for you to access. Through 

therapy, you can change self-destructive behaviors 

and habits, resolve painful feelings, improve 

your relationships, and share your feelings and 

experiences. Individuals often seek therapy for 

help with issues that may be hard to face alone. 

CONFIDENTIALITY AND PRIVACY: The CCF and Project Light is 

committed to your privacy and confidentiality and are sensitive to 

the stigma and stress that come with seeking mental health support. 

Therefore, all counseling records are kept strictly confidential. 

Information is not shared without client’s written consent. Exceptions 

to confidentiality are rare and include persons who threaten safety of 

themselves others or in circumstances of a court order. 

In therapy your therapist will help you to establish 

person centered goals and determine the steps you 

will take to reach those goals. Your relationship 

with your therapist is confidential and our common 

therapeutic goal for those we engage is to inspire 

healthy change to improve quality of life — no 

matter the challenge. 

We invite you seek out the Light of Project Light! 

Serving individuals ages 13 years and up. Please call 

to request a Project Light Intake at (586) 722-7253. 

Looking for a great opportunity to make a difference? 

NOW HIRING Behavioral Health Professional Therapists. 

— Apply at www.chaldeanfoundation.org 


3601 15 Mile Rd., Sterling Heights, MI 48310 


SPORTS 

Chaldeans and Golf 

BY MIKEY LOSSIA 

As we approach the end of fall, 

Danny Shaba, Nick Hermiz, 

and I reflect on another season 

of golf, full of intense competition, 

thrilling finishes, and memorable 

moments. This was a golf season 

that included winning, losing, and 

most importantly, creating experiences—experiences 

that we try to build 

on every year within the Chaldean 

community. For Chaldeans, that was 

not always the case. 

When I was a child, my father, 

Richie Lossia, was one of the few 

within the Chaldean community that 

pushed golf as a family recreation. My 

two older sisters, my older brother, 

and I grew up playing competitive golf 

throughout our childhoods and into 

high school. My brother played in college 

for the University of Michigan. 

During that time, even though 

golf has been a part of many cultures 

throughout the world, it was a foreign 

language for most Chaldean families. 

However, over the years, especially in 

the last ten years or so, we as a community 

have finally begun to embrace golf 

and its many longstanding traditions, 

traditions that our future Chaldean 

generations can embrace, expand on, 

and be proud of as a community. 

Tournaments 

As part of building legacies and traditions, 

we started three non-handicap 

team tournaments geared toward the 

top players in the Chaldean community: 

the Middle East Cup, the Chaldean 

Cup, and the East-West Cup. 

The Middle East Cup is a two-day 

team tournament, one day at Knollwood 

Country Club and one day at Wabeek 

Country Club. Team rosters are 

comprised of twelve of the top golfers 

in the Jewish community versus twelve 

of the top golfers in the Chaldean community. 

Although Team Chaldean has 

been the underdog on paper all three 

years, we are 3-0. Our name was permanently 

engraved on the trophy each 

of those years, something we as a team 

take a lot of pride in, not just for ourselves, 

but for the entire community. 

We started the Chaldean Cup three 

years ago and it has grown to fortyfour 

players this year. There are two 

teams, Team Black and Team White. 

This is a three-day team tournament 

each September with an opening dinner 

after day one’s matches. Rounds 

are held at Shenandoah Country Club 

and Wabeek Country Club. The tournament 

is full of back-and-forth matches, 

ups and downs, joy and sorrow. Above 

all, it is a weekend full of non-stop fun. 

The players bond with both teammates 

and opponents and grow relationships 

with other fellow Chaldeans that otherwise 

would not have existed. 

The third tournament, the East- 

West Cup, began last year. We traveled 

to San Diego to play some of the top 

Chaldean players living in California. 

We (Team Michigan) were victorious 

in year one, but one of the bigger accomplishments 

was expanding relationships 

in the Chaldean golfing community 

from Michigan all the way to 

California and building a foundation 

together in a cross-country tournament 

that will carry on as the years 

pass. 

Next year, the plan is to add a 

fourth tournament and commence 

the first-ever Chaldean Championship 

to crown the best male Chaldean 

golfer every year. It will be open to any 

Chaldean golfer with an index of 12 or 

below. The tournament will be played 

over three days gross stroke play, with 

a cut line after day 2. The courses have 

yet to be determined. 

PHOTOS COURTESY MIKEY LOSSIA 

Clockwise from top left: 2023 Chaldean 

Cup champions Team Black; 

2023 Middle East Cup champions 

Team Chaldean; 2023 East West 

Cup champions Team Michigan; and 

2023 East West Team Michigan and 

Team California. 

Creating Traditions 

We created and organized these tournaments 

to build on the golfing enthusiasm 

and momentum within our community 

and to create new traditions, 

especially for our children. Golf is a 

vehicle that allows traditions to grow, 

that live on for future generations, and 

a sport that our youth can aim to compete 

at high levels of competition. It 

is a sport that we as a community can 

achieve success at and be proud of. 

As a community, we should continue 

to encourage our youth to strive 

to excel, not only for continuing and 

creating new traditions for our children, 

but also for their personal ambitions. 

As more Chaldeans start playing 

golf at younger ages, the number 

of great players we have in the community 

will grow. 

The tournaments we have created 

reward mostly the top current Chaldean 

players; as we get older, it will be 

the next generation of younger Chaldean 

golfers that will take our place. 

For most of us, being one of the best 

players in the community and being 

part of Team Chaldean or being the 

Chaldean Championship winner is a 

great achievement, but for the younger 

golfing generations, I hope they grow 

to aspire not to just be part of Team 

Chaldean or the Chaldean Champion 

and one of the best players in our community, 

but one of the best in the sport 

amongst all cultures. 

Starting tournaments like we have 

will only fuel the motivation and determination 

amongst the future generations 

of Chaldean golfers and I 

strongly believe that golf, if started 

young enough, is the one sport that 

many future Chaldeans can compete 

at the highest level of competition. 

As a small community, Chaldean 

Americans have many accomplishments 

to be proud of, but we now have 

the momentum to incorporate golf as 

a fixture of our culture. Hopefully, we 

continue to embrace the sport of golf 

and maybe one day we will see our first 

Chaldean male playing in the Masters 

on a Sunday evening in April walking 

down the 18th fairway at Augusta or 

our first Chaldean female playing in 

the Women’s US Open. 

Editor’s Note: The Chaldean 

Community Foundation hosts an 

annual golf outing and has been doing 

it for two decades. The Chaldean 

American Chamber of Commerce 

added its own outing in 2020. 



Educational programs 

Registration now open! 

Please call for an appointment. 

All Nationalities Welcome! 

ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE 

GED (HIGH SCHOOL EQUIVALENCY DEGREE) 

Provides individuals English instruction 

at basic/beginner and intermediate/ 

advanced levels 

Small group instruction for 

individuals working towards their 

GED 

Sept. 11, 2023-Jan. 26, 2024 

Sept. 11, 2023-Jan. 26, 2024 

LITTLE SCHOLARS PRESCHOOL 

Prepares children for kindergarten 

through a variety of emergent 

literacy, early learning and 

development opportunities 

CITIZENSHIP PREPARATION 

Offers instruction and training for 

successful completion of the U.S. 

Citizenship and Immigration Services 

(USCIS) Naturalization interview 

Sept. 11, 2023 – June 28, 2024 Oct. 3, 2023 – Dec. 14, 2023 

We can’t wait to see you! 

Want to learn more? Please contact Rachel Rose at 

Rachel.rose@chaldeanfoundation.org or call (586) 722-7253 

3601 15 Mile Rd., Sterling Heights, MI 48310 


EVENT 

1. MotorCity Sound Board 

was packed for this 

annual business event. 

2. Detroit Mayor Mike 

Duggan took questions 

from the audience. 

3. Detroit Councilmember 

Coleman A. Young 

II presented CACC 

president Martin Manna 

with a Spirit of Detroit 

Award, for the Chamber’s 

20-year anniversary 

and for “not leaving the 

city when every other 

business did.” 

4. Attendees had the opportunity 

to win prizes; 

First State Bank offered 

cash and lottery tickets! 

5. Attendees were treated 

to an exciting 5-minute 

video of the Chaldean 

Community Foundation’s 

year in review. 

1 

2 3 

4 

17th Annual CACC 

Business Luncheon 

PHOTOS BY DANY ASHAKA 

The Chaldean American Chamber of Commerce 

hosted the 17th Annual Business Luncheon on Friday, 

October 13 with Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan as 

the keynote speaker. Approximately 300 attendees 

from the Chamber’s member businesses as well as 

invited dignitaries and elected officials enjoyed the 

opportunity to network and even ask questions of 

the mayor at the event at MotorCity Casino’s Sound 

Board Theater. During the program, Detroit City 

Councilman Coleman A. Young Jr. presented Chamber 

president Martin Manna with a Spirit of Detroit 

Award, acknowledging the Chamber’s 20-year anniversary 

and thanking the Chaldean community for 

keeping Detroit in groceries after most businesses 

fled the city following the 1967 riots. 

5 


PROFESSIONALS PROFESSIONALS PROFESSIONALS PROFESSIONALS 

Authorized Agent for: 

Phone: (248) 851-2227 

(248) 851-BCBS 

Fax: (248) 851-2215 

rockyhpip1@aol.com 

ROCKY H. HUSAYNU 

Professional Insurance Planners 

Individual & Group Health Plans 

Medicare Supplement Plans 

31000 Northwestern Hwy. • Suite 110 

Farmington Hills, Ml 48334 

Over 44 years of experience. 

Gabe Gabriel 

Associate Broker, 

Certified ABR, SFR 

29444 Northwestern Hwy, ste. 110 

Southfield, Michigan 48034 

Office (248) 737-9500 

Direct (248) 939-1985 

Fax (248) 737-1868 

Email MortgageGabe@aol.com 

Angela Kakos 

Producing Branch Manager - VP of Mortgage Lending 

o: (248) 622-0704 

rate.com/angelakakos 

angela.kakos@rate.com 

2456 Metropolitan Parkway, Sterling Heights, MI 48310 

Guaranteed Rate Inc.; NMLS #2611; For licensing information visit 

nmlsconsumeraccess.org. Equal Housing Lender. Conditions may apply • Angela Kakos 

NMLS ID: 166374 

Experience • Knowledge • Personal Service 

Experience • Knowledge • Personal Service 

TOP 1% OF REALTORS 

2015 REAL ESTATE 

TOP IN OAKLAND 

ALL STAR - 

TOP 1% 1% OF OF REALTORS REALTORS IN 

2015 2022 REAL REAL ESTATE ESTATE 

OAKLAND COUNTY COUNTY 1993 – 2015 2022 

HOUR MEDIA ALL STAR – 

IN OAKLAND 

ALL STAR - 

HOUR MEDIA 

COUNTY 1993 – 2015 

Proudly servingHOUR Birmingham, MEDIA 

Bloomfield, Proudly Farmington serving Birmingham, Hills, Bloomfield, 

Each office Each office is independently 

is independently 

West Farmington Bloomfield, Hills, the Lakes West Bloomfield, the 

Proudly serving Birmingham, 

Owned Owned and Operated and Operated Brian S. Yaldoo and surrounding Lakes and areas. surrounding areas. 

Bloomfield, Farmington Hills, 

Associated Broker 

Each office is independently 

West Bloomfield, the Lakes 

Office (248)737-6800 Brian • S. Mobile Yaldoo 

Owned and Operated 

(248)752-4010 

Toll Associated Brian Free (866) S. 762-3960 Yaldoo and surrounding areas. 

Broker 

Email: brianyaldoo@remax.com Associated Websites: Broker www.brianyaldoo.com 

Office (248) www.BuyingOrSellingRealEstate.com 

Office 737-6800 (248)737-6800 • Mobile (248)752-4010 (248) 752-4010 

Email: Toll brianyaldoo@remax.net 

Free (866) 762-3960 

Email: brianyaldoo@remax.com www.BuyingOrSellingRealEstate.com 

Websites: www.brianyaldoo.com 

www.BuyingOrSellingRealEstate.com 

ELIAS KATTOULA 

CAREER SERVICES MANAGER 

Advertise 

JACQUELINE RAXTER, LMSW, LPC 

BEHAVIORAL HEALTH 

PROGRAM MANAGER 

in our business directory section! 

for As little As $ 85 

to place your ad, contact us today! 3601 15 Mile Road 

Sterling Heights, MI 48310 

TEL: (586) 722-7253 

FAX: (586) 722-7257 

phone: 248-851-8600 fax: 248-851-1348 

jacqueline.raxter@chaldeanfoundation.org 

30095 Northwestern Highway, Suite 101 

www.chaldeanfoundation.org 


Jaguar Land Rover Troy 

Sammi A. Naoum 

1815 Maplelawn Drive 

Troy, MI 48084 

TEL 248-537-7467 

MOBILE 248-219-5525 

snaoum@suburbancollection.com 

CHALDEAN 

AMERICAN 

CHAMBER OF 

COMMERCE 

CHALDEAN COMMUNITY 

FOUNDATION 

CHALDEAN 

AMERICAN 

CHAMBER OF 

COMMERCE 

CHALDEAN COMMUNITY 

FOUNDATION 

SANA NAVARRETTE 

DIRECTOR OF MEMBERSHIP DEVELOPMENT 



CELL (248) 925-7773 

TEL (248) 851-1200 

FAX (248) 851-1348 

snavarrette@chaldeanchamber.com 

www.chaldeanchamber.com 


3601 15 Mile Road 


TEL: (586) 722-7253 

FAX: (586) 722-7257 

elias.kattoula@chaldeanfoundation.org 


MARIAM ABDALLA 

BEHAVIORAL HEALTH STACY THERAPIST BAHRI 

STRATEGIC INITIATIVES MANAGER 

3601 3601 15 15 Mile Mile Road Road 

Sterling Sterling Heights, Heights, MI MI 48310 48310 

TEL: 

TEL: (586) (586) 722-7253 722-7253 

FAX: 

FAX: (586) (586) 722-7257 722-7257 

mariam.abdalla@chaldeanfoundation.org 

stacy.bahri@chaldeanfoundation.org 



LANGUAGE continued from page 25 

forts to use Hebrew in meetings and 

public activities; finally, people began 

to use it for general purposes, and it 

grew exponentially from there. Jews 

around the world learn Hebrew to stay 

connected to their culture. 

The Jewish example offers a roadmap 

for reviving a language, but there 

are some important differences between 

our communities. The Jewish 

diaspora began thousands of years 

ago, but the Chaldean diaspora is less 

than 200 years old. Zionism called 

Jews back to Israel after they were 

persecuted in other lands. This is not 

SANA NAVARRETTE 

DIRECTOR OF MEMBERSHIP DEVELOPMENT 



CELL (248) 925-7773 

TEL (248) 851-1200 

an option for Chaldeans, FAX (248) 851-1348 as our plight 

is reversed; snavarrette@chaldeanchamber.com 

we struggle with violence 

www.chaldeanchamber.com 

and persecution www.chaldeanfoundation.org 

in our homeland, 

but Chaldeans are generally accepted 

and prosperous in the places we have 

moved to since leaving Iraq. Our traditional 

Catholic religion is well-suited 

for the western world compared to 

the vast differences between Judaism 

and western Christianity. In addition, 

Israel was granted statehood, autonomy, 

and legitimacy by the global 

community, but a state or province for 

Chaldeans in northern Iraq and eastern 

Turkey has been denied time and 

time again. 

Many Chaldeans recognize the patterns 

and are dedicated to changing 

them by making life easier for Sureth 

speakers. Just this year, the Assyrian 

community in Chicago reached 

a historic win by implementing a basic 

Sureth course, which students 

can take for credit, in their local high 

school. In Detroit, the Chaldean Community 

Foundation is developing a 

language assessment that bilingual 

high school students can take for a 

language credit. 

Other efforts aim to fully reestablish 

the use of Sureth in our community. 

Among the clergy, knowledge 

of Sureth is required, and Chaldean 

Mass in our native language happens 

weekly. Throughout Detroit, many organizations 

put on Sureth language 

classes, including the University of 

Detroit Mercy, the Chaldean Cultural 

Center, and St. Thomas Chaldean 

Catholic Church. When the Chaldean 

Community Foundation completes its 

facility in West Bloomfield, it plans to 

hold Sureth classes as well. 

“Our parents’ generation is a dying 

breed,” according to Chris. “Once 

they’re gone, they’re gone. It’s not like 

we have a massive influx of people 

coming into our community. All roads 

lead to Sureth in terms of community, 

unity, building bonds, and cultural 

significance.” 


$500 

$1,000 

$250 

$500 

$125 

$250 

https://www.chaldeanfoundation.org/national-civics-bee/ 

State Finalists who advance 

to the national competition 

will compete for prizes worth 

more than $50,000. 


3601 15 Mile Rd 


info@chaldeanfoundationg.org 

EST 

The National Civics Bee is presented by the Chaldean Community 

Foundation and the Chaldean American Chamber of Commerce with 

support from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation.

NOVEMBER 2023

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