JULY 2024

METRO DETROIT CHALDEAN COMMUNITY VOL. 21 ISSUE VI JULY 2024 

Halhole! 

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Featuring: 

Mayor Saywish speaks 

Ron Acho: Uncommon Counselor 

The Rite of First Holy Communion

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METRO DETROIT CHALDEAN COMMUNITY | JULY 2024 | VOL. 21 ISSUE VI 

ON THE COVER 

20 Halhole 

There’s no wedding like a 

Chaldean wedding 

By Sarah Kittle 

FEATURES 

22 Stay Tuned 

CN TV/radio studio coming 

By Cal Abbo 

24 Growing Pains 

July covers through the years 


26 Syawish Speaks 

Interview with the Mayor of Ankawa 

By Cal Abbo 

DEPARTMENTS 

8 From the Editor 

Recognition & Acknowledgement 


40 Culture & History 

Plight of the Yazidis Part I 

By Dr. Adhid Miri 

20 

30 Uncommon Counselor 

A chat with Ron Acho 


32 No Sheetz 

Advocacy efforts pay off 

By Cal Abbo 

34 Growing in Faith 

First Holy Communion tradition & culture 

By Hayley Gappy 

38 Avant Language Assessment 

10 Foundation Update 

Scholarships, Immigrant Heritage Month, 

Early Voting & Summer Sports 

12 Noteworthy 

New Appointment & Oakland County 

Scholars 

14 Chaldean Digest 

Return to Iraq, Cardinal Sako’s return, 

Jonny “Magic” Mansour 

16 Iraq Today 

Oil Refinery Burns 

18 In Memoriam 

18 Obituaries 

Abdul Hammo and Showkat Mona 

44 Culture & History 

Plight of the Yazidis Part I (Arabic) 

By Dr. Adhid Miri 

48 Sports 

St. Mary’s Rowing Team 

By Steve Stein 

50 Health & Wellness 

Avoiding Sports Injuries 

By Neil Danial Jaddou, M.D. & Vojtech 

Parizek, M.D. 

52 Event 

CACC Golf Outing 

54 From the Archive 

Family Vacations 

34 


FROM THE EDITOR 

PUBLISHED BY 

Chaldean News, LLC 

Chaldean Community Foundation 

EDITORIAL 

EDITOR IN CHIEF 

Sarah Kittle 

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS 

Cal Abbo 

Hayley Gappy 

Neil Danial Jaddou, M.D. 

Sarah Kittle 

Dr. Adhid Miri 

Vojtech Parizek, M.D. 

Steve Stein 

ART & PRODUCTION 

CREATIVE DIRECTOR 

Alex Lumelsky with SKY Creative 

GRAPHIC DESIGNER 

Zina Lumelsky with SKY Creative 

PHOTOGRAPHERS 

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CLASSIFIEDS 

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Subscriptions: $35 per year 

CONTACT INFORMATION 

Story ideas: edit@chaldeannews.com 

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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: July 2024 

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” 

Recognition and Acknowledgement 

SARAH KITTLE 

EDITOR 

IN CHIEF 

Recognition, as moral theologian James F. 

Keenan, S.J. asserts, serves as a fundamental 

ethical threshold. In his essay “The 

Great Religious Failure: Not Recognizing a Person 

in Need,” Keenan draws upon the timeless parable 

of the Good Samaritan to illustrate that the act of 

recognition is the pivotal first step towards helping 

others. Once we acknowledge someone’s need, 

we become morally engaged — “hooked,” as the 

author puts it — compelled to respond and assist. 

This notion underscores the profound impact of 

recognition in prompting compassionate action. 

During an interview with Ron Acho, the significance of 

recognition was further underscored. Despite differences 

in cultural background—his Chaldean heritage contrasted 

with his wife Rita’s non-Chaldean (Maltese) identity—they 

share a profound bond rooted in their mutual recognition 

of Christ as their personal lord and savior. This recognition 

transcends cultural and religious boundaries, emphasizing 

a shared spiritual connection that unites them. 

Similarly, the power of recognition is highlighted in Dr. 

Miri’s article concerning the plight of the Yazidis. By shedding 

light on their struggles and bringing their situation into 

focus, Dr. Miri’s work aims to inspire action and advocacy 

to protect this vulnerable community in the future. Recognition 

here serves as a catalyst for awareness and intervention, 

urging readers to not only empathize but also to take meaningful 

steps towards justice and support. 

Recognition also takes on a celebratory role in our publication. 

In our Noteworthy section, exceptional students 

are acknowledged for their achievements, celebrating their 

hard work and accomplishments. Similarly, in the Sports 

section, athletes are recognized for their dedication and 

prowess in their respective fields. These forms of recognition 

not only honor individual achievements but also inspire 

others, fostering a culture of excellence and encouragement 

within the community. 

Acknowledgement, closely related to recognition, plays 

a crucial role in affirming the contributions and presence of 

others. It goes beyond mere awareness to actively validating 

and honoring individuals or groups for their 

achievements, experiences, or challenges they face. 

Acknowledgement of someone’s existence, validity, 

or legality is no small thing. It is a concession, 

an admission, acceptance. Whether acknowledging 

the resilience of marginalized communities or 

the achievements of outstanding individuals, acknowledgment 

serves as a cornerstone of respect 

and appreciation in fostering a more inclusive and 

supportive society. By acknowledging the efforts and 

realities of others, we not only recognize their worth 

but also cultivate empathy, understanding, and solidarity 

across diverse perspectives and backgrounds. 

Recognition in the form of acknowledgement can be a 

catalyst for action, too. As I have always said to my children, 

“You can’t change what you don’t acknowledge.” 

Recognition emerges as a potent 

force. It serves not only to 

acknowledge but also to validate, 

connect, and motivate. 

In all these instances, whether in acts of compassion, cultural 

understanding, advocacy, or celebration of achievement, 

recognition emerges as a potent force. It serves not only to acknowledge 

but also to validate, connect, and motivate, ultimately 

driving positive change and fostering a sense of solidarity 

and mutual respect among individuals and communities. 

As we continue to explore the myriad ways recognition 

shapes our interactions and perceptions, let’s remain mindful 

of its profound ethical implications and transformative 

power. 

Sarah Kittle 

Editor in Chief 

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PUBLISHER'S 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. 

In the last 5 years the Chaldean News has 

substantially increased its readership and social 

media following, introduced new digital and website 

content and expanded storytelling and video offerings 

with the help of small grant funding. 

The Publisher’s Circle is a unique opportunity for community 

members to support the Chaldean News and its continuing 

mission to be a voice for the community, wherever they 

may be. With the warmhearted help of individual and 

organizational supporters we can ensure that this important 

resource remains to educate and connect the community 

while evolving to meet the needs of future generations. 

The Chaldean News has recently launched a CN app 

and will continue 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 

We are grateful for the overwhelmingly 

generous support of our community. 

To learn more, visit chaldeannews.com 

or contact us at 248-851-8600 

Let’s grow the circle. 


FOUNDATION UPDATE 

Left: 2023 Scholarship Award 

Ceremony at the Chaldean 

Community Foundation 

Immigrant Heritage Month 

Celebrated in June 

The CCF’s 2024 Academic 

Scholarship Program is Now Open 

Through support from w3r Consulting, Drs. Nathima and Peter Atchoo Family Foundation, 

Yvonne Nona Memorial Scholarship Fund, Abdul Karim and Jameela Sesi Memorial 

Scholarship Fund, DA Advisory Group, the Karim and Bernadette Sarafa General 

Fund, and the Derek Dickow Scholarship Fund, the CCF will award nearly $70,000 in 

scholarships to college students this year. 

Candidates must submit all supporting documents with their application and essay 

questions. Winners will be awarded at a private celebration at the Chaldean Community 

Foundation on August 16. Application deadline is Monday, July 8, 2024, at 5:00 

p.m. To apply, visit chaldeanfoundation.org/scholarship-program 

Fadya, a remarkable refugee 

from Baghdad, Iraq, arrived 

in the U.S. in 2016 as a 

single mom, seeking growth 

and opportunity after the 

tragic loss of her husband. 

With the support of the CCF, 

Fadya found a second home. 

She received help with ESL 

classes, applying for citizenship, 

and much more. 

Fadya at the CCF. 

Now, Fadya’s son, a 

straight-A middle school student, is thriving. Inspired by her son’s 

academic success, Fadya is pursuing a college degree herself. 

Fadya extends her heartfelt thanks to CCF, especially Miss 

Jumhoria Kaskorkis, for the unwavering support and guidance. 

Fadya’s journey from asylum to U.S. citizenship is a testament to 

the power of community and support. 

“The Chaldean Community Foundation and staff have been 

a wonderful support throughout my past years as I embark on a 

journey from asylum to stability,” said Fadya. 

Join us in celebrating stories like Fadya’s and supporting refugees 

around the world. 

Early Voting at 

the CCF 

Sterling Heights residents have 

a new opportunity to vote! Residents 

can now vote in person at 

either of the Early Voting sites before 

Election Day (July 27-August 

4) from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., including 

weekends, for nine days before the 

election. 

The two locations include the 

Sterling Heights Community Center 

at 40250 Dodge Park Road, 

Sterling Heights, MI 48313 and the 


at 3601 15 Mile Rd, Sterling 

Heights, MI 48310. 

The Chaldean Community 

Foundation launched the “Hey U 

Vote” initiative in 2017 to aid individuals 

with voter registration and 

offers voter registration services in 

their office daily. 

For more information, visit the 


during business hours. 

The Chaldean Community Foundation and Sterling 

Heights to provide early voting. 

Scan for more 

information. 

Spots are still available for Girls Futsal. 

Summer Sports Camp 

Still Open 

6th and 7th grade girls and boys interested in futsal and pickleball 

can now sign up for a free summer sports program at the CCF. 

Girls Futsal will begin July 8-July 25 and 

the Boys/Girls Pickleball session starts on 

July 29 and runs until August 15. 

Cap your summer with some actionpacked 

fun at the CCF! 

For more information about our Summer 

Sports Sampling Camps, call Rachel 

Hall at 586-722-7253. 

Scan for more 

information. 


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NOTEWORTHY 

Top Scholars in Oakland County 2024 

Several Chaldean students were recognized 

this year as Oakland County 

Scholars. From Bloomfield Hills High 

School, Elena Elias, whose parents 

are Eid and Fahda Elias, made the 

list. A 4.43 GPA student, Elena was 

an AP Scholar with Honor and an International 

Baccalaureate Programme 

Candidate. A member of Model United 

Nations, National Honor Society, and 

Science Olympiad, Elena plans to attend 

Michigan State University. 

From Detroit Catholic Central, 

Francis Toma, whose parents are 

Leon and Angie Toma from Commerce 

Township, was recognized. Francis 

participated in the media team, student 

newspaper and a Linking Hearts 

Mentorship and was a member of the 

Spanish Honors Society and HOSA- 

Future Health Professionals. Francis 

plans to attend Michigan State University 

to major in pre-med Biology. 

There were three exceptional students 

from Marian High School who 

made the grade: Grace Bitti, daughter 

of Abdulkarim and Niran Bitti of Sterling 

Heights; Chloe Toma, daughter of 

Bruce and Mervit Toma of West Bloomfield 

Township; and Jazzelle Yaldo, 

daughter of Bashar and Dalia Yaldo of 

Bloomfield Hills. 

With a 4.372 GPA, Grace Bitti was 

named a valedictorian while pursuing 

all Honors and AP courses. She was 

recognized by the Archdiocese of Detroit 

with the Scholastic All-Catholic 

Award each year and has earned Marian 

awards for High Honors, Science, 

the Girardot Social Studies award and 

scholarship and the Joe and Marilyn 

Balous Scholarship. She is an AP Scholar 

with Distinction and National Merit 

Commended student. Grace has been a 

member of NHS, Spanish Honor Society, 

Chaldean American Student Association 

and Medical Club. In addition, 

Grace competed with Model United 

Nations and was the Marian team president. 

Grace has been a member of the 

JV Tennis and Varsity Bowling teams. 

She is a tutor and a volunteer for her 

church’s communion program. Grace 

plans to attend Princeton University. 

With a 4.367 GPA while taking all 

Honors and AP classes, Chloe Toma 

was named a valedictorian and earned 

awards for High Honors. She was recognized 

with the Scholastic All-Catholic 

Award by the Archdiocese of Detroit each 

year of high school and awarded the 

University of Rochester Bausch + Lomb 

Honorary Science Award her junior year. 

Chloe was president of National STEM 

Honors Society chapter, secretary of the 

NHS chapter, and a member of Spanish 

Honor Society, National Art Honor 

Society, Ambassador Club, and Project 

Care. Chloe served as a homeroom representative 

throughout high school and 

was captain of the JV tennis team her junior 

year. Chloe is the pianist for Mother 

of God Chaldean Catholic Church and 

a volunteer with World Medical Relief. 

Chloe plans to attend Oakland University 

to study Biology on a pre-med track. 

A 4.385 GPA student, Jazzelle Yaldo 

earned an AP Scholar Award, an American 

Citizenship Award, and Highest Honors, 

Science Honors, Mathematics Honors, 

Spanish Honors, Physical Education 

Honors, and Literature Honors. Jazzelle 

was founder and president of the school’s 

Pre-Med Club, participated in Leadership 

Council/Ambassador Club, was president 

of the Be Nice Club, NHS, Entrepreneurship 

Club, was Optimist Club office 

assistant at St. Joseph Mercy Oakland 

Hospital, a researcher of the study of the 

detrimental effects of Bulimia Nervosa on 

the epidermis, a head lifeguard at Forest 

Lake Country Club (Red Cross CPR/AED 

certified), Friendship Circle volunteer, 

student ambassador, varsity basketball 

player and team captain, and was on the 

swim team. Jazzelle plans to attend the 

University of Michigan. 

At Orchard Lake St. Mary’s Prep, 

Jonathan Kassab, son of Bianca and 

Clint Kassab of West Bloomfield Township, 

made top grades. A 4.27 student, 

Jonathan was a member of NHS and 

played multiple sports. Jonathan has 

had three jobs and takes care of his elderly 

grandmother and siblings while 

serving the community and volunteering 

at his church. 

Appointed to the Michigan Board of Optometry 

Dr. Rovetta Mattia was appointed to represent 

optometrists for a term commencing 

June 6, 2024, and expiring June 30, 

2026. Dr. Rovetta Mattia succeeds Teresa 

Seim whose term has expired. 

Dr. Rovetta Mattia, of Novi, is a licensed 

optometrist with Henry Ford 

OptimEyes. She holds a Bachelor of 

Science in bioengineering from the 

University of California at San Diego, 

and a Doctor of Optometry from the 

University of California Berkeley. 

Dr. Mattia is a first-generation 

Chaldean-American who was born 

in Southfield, Michigan. Her family 

later moved to California. She completed 

clinical rotations in surgical 

and pediatric centers in San Francisco, 

Phoenix, and San Diego. 

After graduating, she returned to 

Michigan and began working for Henry 

Ford OptimEyes. She enjoys taking 

care of patients of all ages, especially 

children. She has fluency in Modern 

Aramaic (Chaldean) and some Arabic. 

She and her husband enjoy cooking, 

traveling, and raising their four boys. 



CHALDEAN DIGEST 

Pope Francis received Cardinal Louis Sako in a private audience at the Apostolic Palace in the Vatican 

on Saturday, October 21, 2023. 

Celebrating Cardinal Sako’s return 

to the Chaldean Church in Iraq 

Cardinal Louis Raphael Sako has returned 

to Iraq after almost a year away 

from his patriarchal see in Baghdad. 

His return came after the country’s 

prime minister signed a decree reinstating 

the recognition of the cardinal 

as patriarch of the Chaldean Church, 

responsible for the church’s property 

and assets. 

The cardinal had left Iraq and 

moved to a monastery in Iraqi Kurdistan 

in July 2023 following a crisis in 

diplomatic relations between the Patriarchate 

and Iraqi leaders. 

Last year, the president of Iraq 

revoked the decree recognizing his 

ecclesiastical position among Iraq’s 

institutions. With his reinstatement, 

Cardinal Sako returned to the country 

and celebrated a Mass to express 

his gratitude. The local community as 

well as bishops, priests and nuns attended 

the Mass. 

– The Catholic Weekly 

PHOTO COURTESY VATICAN 

PHOTO COURTESY CBS8 

Jonny “Magic” 

Mansour wins 

pro boxing 

debut in San 

Diego 

SAN DIEGO — Jonny Mansour made 

San Diego boxing fans happy when he 

made his professional boxing debut 

with a resounding win at Pechanga 

Arena on a Saturday in late May. The 

fight was in the lightweight division 

at 135 pounds against a fighter who already 

had 8 professional bouts under 

his belt. 

Mansour’s nickname is “Magic,” 

because of his flare for footwork. 

“You know, I thank God for this 

victory,” Mansour said. “Thank you to 

my team, my camp for preparing me, 

and it’s the first of many. 

“All the fans from the Middle East 

community support me very heavily,” 

Mansour said. “I want to build more 

Families’ faith blossoms again on Nineveh Plains 

Chaldean Archbishop Bashar Warda 

of Erbil in Iraq says about 9,000 Christian 

families have returned to their 

homes on the Nineveh Plains after 

fleeing a decade ago, when ISIS took 

the region. 

In June 2014, the Islamist extremist 

group captured Mosul and the villages 

to the north and east of the city, 

prompting a mass exodus of Christians 

and Yazidis. 

Speaking to Aid to the Church 

in Need (ACN), Archbishop Warda 

noted the occupation of Mosul left 

other Christians on the Nineveh Plains 

vulnerable, and on August 6, 2014, 

prompted by further ISIS aggression, 

the entire Christian population fled to 

Iraqi Kurdistan. 

The archbishop told ACN that 

Archbishop Bashar Warda 

13,200 Christian families had fled to 

his archdiocese in Iraq’s autonomous 

Kurdistan region. 

He said he was grateful to the international 

community for providing 

emergency aid and helping to rebuild 

the destroyed villages, making it possible 

for thousands of Christian families 

to return to their native land, with 

“everyone working towards one goal.” 

MARCIN MAZUR VIA FLICKR 

The archbishop said the “churches 

were filled again” and many children 

were receiving catechesis and preparing 

for their First Holy Communion. 

He said that his community needs 

all the help it can get to “keep the 

flame of the Christian faith shining” in 

Iraq’s historic Christian heartland. 

“I ask my people just to be patient 

and persevere.” 

The international community 

should not forget Iraq’s suffering 

Christians “in the midst of so many 

crises around the world,” he urged. 

The archbishop said that he would 

love to see the UK government and other 

world leaders remind Iraqi politicians 

that they care about the minorities – 

“Christians, Yazidis, and the rest.” 

– cathnews.com 

Fans of boxer Jonny Mansour at his 

first pro fight in San Diego. 

faith and inspire the younger generation 

of the Middle East to come behind 

me [and] start boxing.” 

Mansour is one of only two current 

pro fighters of Chaldean ancestry. His 

cousin is the other. 

“You’re gonna start off you know, 

from scratch, it takes a lot of hard work 

… everyone’s gonna ask you ‘why you 

wake up early, why you sleep early, 

why do you avoid parties?’” 

Boxing analysts shared positive 

feedback for Mansour during the 

broadcast. “He’s a great spot for his 

first professional fight,” they said. “He 

lands crisp combinations to the head 

and body and has some nice little setups 

off his back foot. Beautiful.” 

– cbs8.com San Diego 


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IRAQ TODAY 

PHOTO BY BILIND TAHIR/RUDAW/AP 

An oil refinery burns outside Irbil, Iraq, Thursday, June 13, 2024. 

Firefighters battle massive fire 

at northern Iraq oil refinery 

BY SALAR SALIM AND ABDULRAHMAN ZEYAD ASSOCIATED PRESS 

Irbil, Iraq (AP) 

A 

team of 32 firefighters in 

northern Iraq was battling to 

put out a massive fire Thursday, 

June 13, a day after it broke out 

at an oil refinery, local officials said. 

The fire broke out late Wednesday 

at a large refinery in Irbil, in the semiautonomous 

Kurdish region of northern 

Iraq. 

Shakhawan Saeed, a spokesperson 

for the Irbil Civil Defense Department, 

said 14 firefighters were injured 

-- four with burns and the other due 

to smoke inhalation -- while battling 

the blaze, which also destroyed four 

fire engines. 

Saeed said the cause of the fire 

was not yet clear but that the facility 

appeared to be lacking in safety measures, 

including alarms and fire extinguishers. 

The owner of the refinery 

could not immediately be reached for 

comment. 

A regional government official, 

who spoke on condition of anonymity 

because they were not authorized to 

talk to the media, told the Associated 

Press that the fire appeared to have 

been caused by an electrical fault. 

Irbil’s Gov. Omed Khoshnaw said 

the financial damages caused by the refinery 

fire were estimated at $8 million. 

The Khazir refinery, owned by local 

private businessmen, is one of the 

largest in Irbil, producing gasoline, 

kerosene, and white oil. It had been 

a major supplier for the city of Mosul. 

Iraq’s Kurdish region produces 

hundreds of thousands of barrels of 

oil each day. Previously, much of the 

production was exported by way of 

In Iraq, summer 

fires are often 

fueled by scorching 

temperatures, 

unreliable electricity, 

and lax safety 

standards in 

many facilities. 

Turkey, but the exports have been 

halted for more than a year as a result 

of a ruling in an international arbitration 

case. 

The central government considers 

it illegal for Irbil to export oil without 

going through the Iraqi national 

oil company and won the arbitration 

case against such trade. 

In Iraq, summer fires are often fueled 

by scorching temperatures, unreliable 

electricity, and lax safety standards 

in many facilities. 

In May, a fire erupted in a bazaar 

in Erbil, burning at least 200 shops 

and four storage units and injuring at 

least 100 people. 

On Sunday, a massive fire engulfed 

commercial storage units in 

central Baghdad, covering a 3,000 

square meter area made of highly 

flammable materials, and killed four 

foreign Arab workers. 

Zeyad reported from Baghdad. 

Associated Press journalist Qassim 

Abdul-Zahra in Baghdad contributed 

to this report. 


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IN MEMORIAM 

OBITUARIES 

Adbul Masseh Yousif 

Abdulahad Rabi 

Hammo 

Namir Yahya 

Hillawi 

May 1, 1943 – 

May 22, 2024 

Juleit Yaldoo 

Dec 24, 1934 – 


George Michael 

Sheena 

Sep 17, 1934 – 


Salam Khadouri 

Farjo 

Sep 19, 1950 – 


Dia Habib Shina 

Jun 11, 1968 – 


Sargon Murad 

Jul 1, 1961 – 


Najib Patto Meram 

Mar 15, 1939 – 


Ghazala Jarbo 

Gaggo 

Jun 1, 1937 – 

Jun 1, 2024 

Sabah Zia Dakho 

Oct 15, 1937 – 


Younathan 

Nastros Younan 

Apr 3, 1949 – 


Salam Shaya 

Aug 2, 1956 – 


Isam Marooki-Rofa 

Hakeem 

Jul 5, 1963 – 


Adbul Masseh Yousif 

Abdulahad Rabi Hammo, 

beloved husband 

of the late Amira Shaona 

Dawood and father 

of Chaldean Community 

Foundation employee 

Hanaa Yousif, 

passed peacefully at 

his daughter Wafaa’s home in Berlin, 

Germany on Saturday, June 1, 2024. 

Abdul Masseh was born in Basrah, 

Iraq on July 27, 1934, and lived a long life 

as a good father to a large family (Sabah, 

Emad, Wafaa, Hanaa, Yousif, Hayfaa, 

Ramzi, Adel, Najlaa, Safaa, and Talal). 

He was a cherished brother of the late 

Jamil, late Bashir, Evlin, late Issam, late 

Fawzia, Farouq, and Ryadh. So many 

families and friends will cherish his 

memory, including his grandchildren. 

Showkat Peter Mona 

Showkat Peter 

Mona 

Aug 15, 1937 – 


Saliha Zaia 

Khosho 

Jul 1, 1934 – 


Alham Summa 

May 29, 1949 – 


Frankie Nabil 

Qaoud 

Sep 5, 1986 – 


Mouras Aessa 

Shamu 

May 1, 1949 – 


Bahija Toma Kirma 

Jul 1, 1932 – 


Faieza Hanna 

Alyas 

Nov 29, 1953 – 


Kevin Walid Jamil 

Apr 30, 1987 – 


Naser Sabri 

Madalo 

Jul 1, 1956 – 


Nadira Tobiya 

Jazrawi 

May 20, 1935 – 


Rejina Yousif 

Jul 1, 1942 – 


Karima Tobia 

Konja 

Jul 1, 1944 – 


Showkat Peter Mona 

was born on August 

15, 1937, and went to 

Heaven on June 6, 

2024. He was the loving 

son of the late Peter 

Mona and the late 

Najiyah Hanawi Mona 

and devoted husband 

to Evelyn Shamam 

Mona. He was also the cherished father 

of Peter (Olivia) Mona, Paul (Hilda) 

Mona, and Anthony (Saba) Mona 

and humble grandfather of Connor, 

Kyle, Aleena, Luke, Luciana, Lila, Leo, 

Avery, Eliana and Liam. He is survived 

by siblings Evelyn Mona-Bader, Nahidah 

Cholak, Aideh Deddeh, Talal 

Mona, and was preceded in death by 

sister the late Hana Potts. 

Thomas Gorial 

Shammami 

Oct 27, 1931 – 


Candace Jessica 

Yousif 

Feb 24, 1995 – 


Akil Yousif Mansour 

Jul 5, 1968 – 


Gorgis Elias Hannok 

(Hanna Kachel) 

Jul 1, 1937 – 


Christian David 

Karana 

Jul 9, 2000 – 


Altoon (Majeed) 

Hanna Attar Kas Mikha 

Oct 27, 1949 – 


Habeb Antoon 

Dickow 

Oct 3, 1935 – 


Zia George 

Jul 1, 1954 – 



OBITUARY 

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COVER STORY 

Laith, wearing the white bow on his arm, escorts his bride Merna. 

Halhole! 

There’s no wedding like a Chaldean wedding 

BY SARAH KITTLE 

PHOTOS BY EVAN YAQOO/YHY FILM & PHOTOGRAPHY 

Chaldean weddings are the stuff 

of legends in metro Detroit. 

They are “extra,” over-the-top, 

and everyone wants an invitation. 

From the Khigga dance lines to the 

Zaffa playing, Chaldeans know how to 

party. And don’t even get me started on 

the food! 

What many don’t know is those 

wedding traditions and more traveled 

here from Iraq with marriages that 

bridged countries, families, and even 

communities in a way that is difficult 

to understand without having experienced 

it. The first Chaldeans to marry 

in Detroit invited the whole community 

to the nuptials. The entire community 

was family. 

The whole town took part in Chaldean 

weddings in Iraq. Dowry was a 

big part of the preparations and the 

clothes and finery offered to the bride 

were a source of pride and were often 

displayed on donkeys and paraded 

through town. When the groom came 

to the bride’s home, her brothers and 

male cousins would block the door until 

an agreeable bride price was paid. 

While paying dowry or a “bride 

price” did not survive the migration 

to the United States, many other parts 

of a Chaldean wedding did make the 

crossing, such as the wearing of a 

white bow (Kalilla) on the groom’s arm 

to signify that the wedding ceremony 

is a blessed sacrament. Babies wear a 

similar bow when being baptized, another 

Catholic sacrament. 

Some parts of a Chaldean wedding 

in America were born here, like 

the crowning during the wedding 

Mass. The bride and groom are temporarily 

crowned to signify that much 

like Christ is the head of the Church, 

the groom is king in his family and 

the bride is the queen. The couple, in 

union with Christ, have formed their 

own kingdom. 

Unlike in Iraq, Chaldean weddings 

in America are full Masses, a Latin tradition 

adopted by the Diocese here. 

Unity candles are not unique to the 

culture, but kneeling as a couple during 

the marriage ceremony to pray in 

front of the Virgin Mary might be. 

In the early 20th century such as 

the 1930s and 1940s, marriage vows 

in Iraq were exchanged between the 

bride’s father and the groom’s father. 

Chaldean marriages were arranged 

until the 1970s and 1980s, and the engaged 

couple may not have ever even 

met before they wed. 

Sometimes, the age discrepancy 

was such that a child bride (ripe for 

childbearing) would wed a grown man 

(who was already established and able 

to provide for his family). Other times, 

two kids ended up as man and wife. I 

heard a story about a couple of teens 

who were wed in Iraq and spent the 

first week of wedded bliss playing card 

games at night. They didn’t know what 

else to do! 

Precisely for that reason, Iraqi 

tradition supported an “Ustath,” 

or instructor to assist the couple on 

their wedding night. Additionally, in 

Chaldean tradition, the best man was 

required to already be married so he 


PHOTOS BY EVAN YAQOO/YHY FILM & PHOTOGRAPHY 

Clockwise from top left: 1. According to Laith’s mom, Iraqi villagers pinned a cross on the back of the groom for protection against evil spirits. 2. The wedding 

party celebrates to the sound of the Tabol. 3. The procession is accompanied by the Zaffa. 4. The Zaffa continues in the reception hall. 

could offer advice and instruction to 

the groom. After all, the main purpose 

of the union was to produce offspring. 

Weddings in Iraq would last for 

days, sometimes even weeks. In towns 

like Tel Keppe, they celebrated from 

early morning until night with food, 

dancing, and singing in the streets. 

Chaldean weddings in the U.S. in the 

1960s and 1970s would last all day as 

well, although by that point, things 

had changed in Iraq. 

In previous decades, the whole 

Iraqi town would turn out to celebrate 

a wedding; on the wedding day, on 

route to the church, the groom, his 

wedding party and relatives would 

travel to the bride’s home on foot in a 

big procession. Men would head the 

line with Zorna and Tabol (drums and 

pipes/horns) and the women would 

follow with the vocal halhole (a very 

recognizable sound made with the 

tongue that goes back to Sumerian tradition). 

Everyone in town participated 

in the Begana, where they would take 

food from the bride’s house to the 

groom’s home. 

This tradition of meeting the groom 

and going en masse to the bride’s 

home to pick her up is still followed by 

today’s modern Chaldean Americans; 

however, the ride is now a limo rather 

than a donkey. Although I’m sure it is 

much more comfortable, it is not quite 

the display that the bride and her dowry 

would have been in the old country. 

Like historic nuptials in Iraq, in the 

U.S., the fathers remain the financiers 

and the mothers and female relatives 

do much of the planning. 

The Chaldean wedding reception 

in the U.S. goes until the wee hours of 

the morning, and sometimes dinner 

isn’t served until 10 p.m. or later. Chaldean 

wedding receptions are no place 

to rest or try to find a quiet corner; they 

are filled with energy from the intro to 

the end. The wedding party enters the 

reception hall dancing, and the dance 

continues all night long. Music is an 

integral part of Chaldean weddings, 

creating a festive and joyful atmosphere. 

Laith Amanoel was recently married 

and shared some of his insight 

and experience with the Chaldean 

News. When asked about the roles that 

family takes on in a Chaldean wedding, 

Laith said, “The elders play a 

significant role by advising and counseling 

the family. Their reputation and 

social status are important, and we are 

a close-knit community. 

“The reputation of the families 

goes a long way in establishing relationships,” 

Laith continued. “You are 

not just marrying one person; it is also 

about the union of two families coming 

together. Elders often take part in 

the matchmaking process, ensuring 

that both families are compatible and 

share similar values and traditions. 

They also provide guidance on the 

various rituals and customs that need 

to be followed, ensuring that the wedding 

adheres to traditional practices.” 

On the “traditional” note, Laith 

said, “Times have changed, but we 

still play traditional folk music from 

Iraq, particularly from Mosul and the 

villages. We also perform group dances 

such as the Khugga (also called Khigga), 

a traditional circle dance that 

symbolizes unity and community.” 

Laith and his beloved, Merna Korkee, 

also had Zorna and drums, as 

well as Zaffa at the groom’s and bride’s 

houses. As he explained, “The Zaffa is 

a lively procession that includes music, 

dancing, and singing, celebrating 

the bride and groom as they prepare 

for their new life together. This procession 

often involves family members 

and friends, enhancing the communal 

spirit of the wedding.” 

Pre-marriage counseling is a requisite 

for those seeking a Chaldean 

wedding. Rather than a burden, Laith 

found the mandatory counseling useful. 

“The pre-marriage prep was actually 

very helpful,” Laith stated. “It 

gave us a lot of advice and insight into 

being married. We did ours with ECRC 

(Eastern Catholic Re-Evangelization 

Center) and St. Joseph (Church). The 

church hosted classes for us, and we 

received advice from actual couples 

who have been married for a while. I 

would say it prepared us well for going 

into marriage.” 

One of the biggest impacts is the 

cost of weddings. They can cost anywhere 

from thousands of dollars to 

tens of thousands or even hundreds of 

thousands! In the old days, weddings 

were much simpler and less extravagant. 

Modern Chaldean weddings, 

however, can be quite elaborate, with 

significant attention to detail. 

“This includes flowers, bands, 

and venues that reflect the couple’s 

taste and the family’s social status,” 

explained Laith. “Despite the rising 

costs, many families still adhere to traditional 

practices, such as the engagement 

party and henna, which involve 

additional expenses.” 

The preparations for a Chaldean 

wedding often start months in advance, 

involving multiple ceremonies 

and gatherings that celebrate the 

couple’s engagement and upcoming 

marriage. 

A Chaldean wedding truly is a family 

affair. 


FEATURE 

Stay Tuned 

Chaldean News TV and radio station to open next year 

BY CAL ABBO 

For years, the Chaldean Community 

Foundation and the 

Chaldean American Chamber 

of Commerce have been planning one 

of their biggest projects yet: the grand 

opening of a new community center on 

the west side of metro Detroit, located 

in West Bloomfield near the corner of 

Walnut Lake and Inkster Roads. 

The property will serve as the 

headquarters of the CACC and will also 

house other affiliated organizations 

like the Chaldean Cultural Center, the 

Chaldean News, Chaldean Voice, the 

Bishop Ibrahim Library, and more. 

Chief among them will be the Chaldean 

News’ brand-new radio and TV 

stations. While CN currently produces 

podcasts and video, it’s hampered by 

its lack of a true studio and must use 

portable equipment for all of its multimedia 

efforts. 

Right now, the Chaldean News publishes 

a few different types of podcasts. 

Its primary focus is CN Radio, which 

usually features extended interviews 

with interesting subjects in the community. 

The CN is also planning a series 

on the history of the Chaldean Church, 

hosted by Father Marcus Shammami, 

and has recorded a few episodes of its 

Chaldean Pioneers series that takes the 

community back to its roots. 

CN has also contributed several 

reports on news in the community 

with TV reporter Michael Nafso. In addition, 

it publishes regular episodes 

of its Chaldean Kitchen series, which 

shows off different chefs in the community 

and their recipes. Finally, CN 

is planning a documentary-style film 

covering the Chaldean perspective on 

the 1967 Detroit Riots. 

CN staff toured other TV and radio 

studios, such as Audacy, to get ideas for 

the new studio. It will have to be easily 

adaptable and versatile for the many 

uses planned. When the renovations are 

completed for the CACC’s new headquarters, 

which will likely happen next year, 

the CN team can begin using the space to 

produce high-quality digital media for its 

audience. In addition, the station can be 

used by any of the organizations in the 

vicinity and will also serve as the recording 

station for the Chaldean Voice. 

The Chaldean Voice, led by its director 

Shoki Konja, has been the Chaldean 

community’s premiere radio station 

for more than 40 years. 



Growing Pains 

20 Years of July Covers 


In July of 2004, the Chaldean News 

covered Fr. Andrew Younan’s ordination. 

He is now the host of “FA 

Blog,” where he regularly discourses 

on subjects like suffering, parenthood, 

and calming down. 

In 2005, “Who Will Lead?” provided 

a detailed analysis of the Detroit 

mayoral election, exploring the candidates 

and issues shaping the city’s future. 

The candidates were Kwame Kilpatrick, 

Freman Hendrix, and Sharon 

McPhail. Kilpatrick, who was running 

for a second term, had created some 

issues for Chaldean business owners 

who operated in the city of Detroit. 

He resigned amid scandal in 2008 and 

ended up serving time in prison. 

In 2006, “Champions for Change” 

highlighted the influential roles of 

Senator Carl Levin, Senator Debbie 

Stabenow, attorney Steven Garmo, 

and Joe Kassab in advocating for 

change and progress. 

In 2007, the world received a 

“Wake Up Call” when Christians rallied 

for awareness after Fr. Ragheed 

Ganni and three deacons were gunned 

down outside the Church of the Holy 

Spirit in Mosul, Iraq. This cover story 

was a poignant reflection on the tragic 

assassination of the martyrs, a horrific 

story that caused global Christian 

communities to raise awareness and 

advocate for peace. 

2008’s cover story, “Bad Bets” investigated 

the impact of gambling addiction 

within the Chaldean community, 

shedding light on the personal and 

societal consequences. 

The 2009 issue featured “Our Canadian 

Cousins.” This issue explored 

the varied experiences and challenges 

faced by Chaldean immigrants across 

the river and their efforts to create 

community there. It highlighted their 

contributions to Canadian society and 

touched on their cultural adaptation, 

plus explored our relationship with 

them. 

The cover story published in 2010 

delved deeply into the profound humanitarian 

crisis unfolding as Iraqi immigrants, 

particularly Chaldeans, faced 

deportation from various countries. 

In 2011, we tackled a poignant and 

often overlooked subject within the 

Chaldean community with a cover 

story titled “Letting Go – Preparing for 

End-of-Life Issues.” This edition courageously 

dived into the sensitive topic of 

end-of-life care, offering profound insights 

and practical guidance that resonated 

deeply within the community. 

The 2012 Chaldean News cover 

story celebrating Independence Day 

prominently featured the Bank of 

Michigan, heralding its journey towards 

financial autonomy and its 

profound impact as the first Chaldeanowned 

bank. The article laid out the 

economic achievements that had 

propelled the bank to stand independently, 

highlighting its growth trajectory 

and the pivotal role it played in 

the community’s financial landscape. 

The cover story titled “The Question 

of Unity – Chaldeans and Assyrians: 

Are we really one?” in the 2013 

issue dug deep into the intricate dynamics 

shaping the relationship between 

two closely related yet distinct 

communities, the Chaldeans and Assyrians. 

At its core, the article explored 

the profound historical, cultural, and 

political factors that both unite and 

differentiate these groups within the 

broader Middle Eastern diaspora. 

Historically, both Chaldeans and 

Assyrians trace their origins to ancient 

Mesopotamia, sharing a rich heritage 

that includes language, traditions, 

and a legacy of resilience through 

centuries of challenges. However, the 

modern context has seen these communities 

dispersed across the globe, 

facing diverse influences that challenge 

their sense of unity. 

The 2014 cover story titled “Iraq 

in Tears – Will Christians Survive?” 

provided a poignant and in-depth exploration 

of the dire situation faced 

by Christians in Iraq during a period 

of intense violence and displacement. 

The article served as a stark reminder 

of the plight of religious minorities 

in the region, shedding light on their 

(still) uncertain future amidst escalating 

conflict. 

The cover story titled “Getting Social 

in Cyberspace” from the 2015 issue 

discussed how the Chaldean commu- 


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nity embrace and utilize social media 

platforms as powerful tools of communication, 

activism, and cultural preservation. 

It highlights a transformative 

shift where the medium itself became 

integral to the message conveyed by 

Chaldeans worldwide. 

The 2016 cover story titled “Super 

Sidekicks – Slim and Joey with Mojo in 

the Morning” explored the lives and impact 

of Slim and Joey, beloved personalities 

of Chaldean descent, alongside 

their colleague Mojo from the popular 

radio show “Mojo in the Morning.” This 

feature celebrated their significant contributions 

not only to local media but 

also to community engagement, making 

them cultural icons in the Chaldean 

community and beyond. 

The cover story titled “Fighting to 

Stay” in the 2017 edition highlighted 

the valiant efforts of community leaders 

who rallied to prevent the deportation 

of Chaldean immigrants and championed 

immigrant rights. At its core, the 

article delved into the legal battles and 

hurdles faced by these leaders as they 

navigated the complex landscape of 

immigration laws and new policies. It 

emphasized the resilience and unity of 

the Chaldean community in the face of 

adversity, emphasizing solidarity and 

collective action as vital tools in the 

fight for justice and human rights. 

The cover story in 2018, titled 

“Votes Count – Know who’s running,” 

exemplified the publication’s commitment 

to informing and empowering 

the Chaldean community during local 

elections. With comprehensive coverage, 

the Chaldean News dedicated its 

pages to spotlighting candidates, issues, 

and voting logistics crucial to the 

democratic process. 

In 2019, we featured a compelling 

cover story titled “Chaldean Town 2.0” 

and subtitled, “The Chaldean community’s 

historic housing development.” 

This landmark issue highlighted an 

ambitious and transformative housing 

project led by the vibrant Chaldean 

community in Macomb County. 

Nestled within the heart of Sterling 

Heights, this development, internally 

referred to as “Tigris Tower,” stands as 

a testament to resilience and community 

spirit, marking a new chapter in 

urban revitalization efforts. 

In 2020, our cover story titled “Freedom 

Rider – the Chaldean Flag Kid,” 

showcased the remarkable journey of 

a passionate young activist dedicated 

to preserving Chaldean heritage and 

identity. By prominently displaying 

the Iraqi flag in public demonstrations 

and community events, he symbolically 

asserted the Iraqi Christian community’s 

presence and contributed 

significantly to fostering a sense of 

unity among Chaldeans. 

The cover story in 2021 looked at 

the profound impact of the COVID-19 

pandemic on Chaldean businesses 

and community organizations, displaying 

their remarkable resilience 

in the face of unprecedented challenges. 

As the world grappled with 

the effects of the pandemic, Chaldean 

entrepreneurs demonstrated remarkable 

adaptability, navigating through 

a landscape fraught with uncertainty. 

The article examined the adaptation 

strategies employed by Chaldean businesses 

to sustain operations amidst 

lockdowns and restrictions. From swiftly 

transitioning to online platforms and 

implementing robust safety measures 

to reimagining business models, Chaldean 

entrepreneurs displayed ingenuity 

and determination. These adaptations 

not only enabled businesses to 

survive but also laid the groundwork 

for future growth and innovation. 

The 2022 cover story titled “New 

Americans – the Journey to Citizenship” 

provided an exploration into the 

lives of immigrants striving to attain 

U.S. citizenship. Through narratives 

and interviews, the feature captured 

the diverse journeys and experiences 

of individuals navigating the complexities 

of American immigration laws. 

In the 2023 cover story titled “City 

on Fire – 1967 Riots,” the CN examined 

the reverberations of the historic 1967 

Detroit riots, highlighting their implications 

for the Chaldean community that 

worked in the city. The destruction and 

subsequent rebuilding efforts reshaped 

neighborhoods where many Chaldeans 

lived and worked, prompting a reassessment 

of economic opportunities 

and community infrastructure. 

The story also underscores the resilience 

of the Chaldean community in 

the face of adversity. It spotlights personal 

narratives and collective memories 

that illuminate the community’s 

journey from displacement and loss 

to renewal and empowerment. Many 

lost everything, but they lived to tell 

the tale. 

CALL TODAY! 

313-896-6219 

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all special occasions! 

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REDFORD, MI 48240 


FEATURE 

Syawish Speaks 

Interview with the Chaldean Mayor of Ankawa 

BY CAL ABBO 

Ramy Noori Syawish, the Chaldean 

Mayor of Ankawa in Erbil, 

Iraq, visited Detroit’s Chaldean 

community in April. His goals were 

twofold: bridge the divide between 

homeland and diaspora and recruit 

well-intentioned Chaldeans to invest 

in their native country of Iraq. 

Syawish’s family is well-known in 

Ankawa. When he was born in 1985, 

his father was working in Baghdad for 

his own aluminum company, but his 

family returned to Ankawa when Syawish 

was 5 years old. Since then, he 

grew up in the area that he now governs. 

The young mayor is no stranger 

to the diaspora. He has four siblings, 

including one brother who lives in 

Phoenix, two sisters in Sweden, and 

one in Germany. “I’m the only one who 

remains in the homeland.” He resides 

in Ankawa with his wife Natalia and 

their three children. 

It’s this very experience that inspires 

much of Syawish’s action and 

policy. He is focused on making Ankawa 

a burgeoning city and avoiding the 

fate of so many towns and smaller cities 

previously occupied by Chaldeans. 

Ankawa has a distinct advantage 

over other traditionally Chaldean areas. 

It’s located in the outer ring of Erbil, 

an ancient city that today is home 

to 1.5 million people and represents 

the capital of the Kurdistan Regional 

Government. Whereas other Chaldean 

towns like Tel Keppe or Qaraqosh that 

are located near an unstable city like 

Mosul have been overrun in the past 

decades, Ankawa is part of one of the 

safest and most-protected cities in the 

region and has acted as a safe haven 

for Chaldeans fleeing persecution. 

In 2003, before the U.S. invasion 

of Iraq, about 10,000 people lived in 

Ankawa. Before the rise of ISIS, according 

to Syawish, closer to 50,000 

people lived there, showing massive 

growth. In that fateful summer of 2014 

when ISIS attacked and took control 

Mayor Ramy Noori Syawish 

of several Chaldean towns, Ankawa 

received more than 120,000 people as 

refugees from the Nineveh Plain. “After 

2017, when Peshmerga returned the 

land, people went back there. Unfortunately, 

many of them moved outside of 

the country,” Syawish said. 

Others sold their property and returned 

to Ankawa to live in safety and 

security. As a result of the increased 

population, Syawish now considers 

Ankawa a big city; it boasts more than 

80,000 residents. This large population 

would make Ankawa a top-15 city 

in Michigan, comparable to Farmington 

Hills or Troy. 

Syawish completed his entire education 

in Ankawa. After graduating 

high school, he earned a degree in 

law and political science in 2006. He 

also got a diploma in 2013 from the 

Chaldean Church’s Babel College for 

studying philosophy and theology, he 

said, in order to understand what the 

Church does. “I speak Chaldean Kurdish, 

Arabic, and English,” he said. 

On a daily basis, Syawish described 

his job as solving problems 

for the people of Ankawa, processing 

what they want and need, and acting 

on the government program. Appointed 

in 2020, he sees himself as a bridge 

between the KRG and the people of 

Ankawa. Of the 80,000 residents in his 

city, 92% are Christians, and the others 

are Muslim, Yazidi, or Mandaean. 

Syawish’s goals for the city involve 

finding investments, creating job opportunities, 

and modernizing the city. 

“We want to take the experience you 

have here,” he said, pointing to the 

secure and prosperous lifestyle most 

Chaldeans in America enjoy, “and duplicate 

it.” According to Syawish, more 

than 3,000 refugee families stayed in 

Ankawa even after their homes were 

reclaimed, and they need better opportunities 

if they want to avoid the 

lure of emigration. 

Only one farm remains in Ankawa, 

and its agricultural lands are shrinking 

year by year. “About 50 years ago,” 

Syawish said, “they built an airport, 

and they took a lot of our lands to 

build into a big city. This last farm is 

managed by a Chaldean family and 

produces the finest grapes in all Kurdistan.” 

This last farm has a small winery 

attached, and the mayor wants to 

build a large factory to aid the farmer 

in the production of other items as 

well. “The Ankawa administration 

prepares for him an annual festival,” 

Syawish said. “We help him with marketing. 

Thousands of people, foreign 

and local, visit the farm during the festival 

and buy his products.” 

In Ankawa, most of the people are 

busy with their own businesses, like 

cafes or restaurants. Others work for 

the government. Yet more are looking 

for a good opportunity and trying to 

find a reason to stay in the area. 

A large part of Erbil’s issue is the 

integration and direction they need to 

take from Baghdad. While the KRG is 

the local authority in the region, they 

have far less power than a country, 

and it’s technically not a sovereign nation. 

They need to rely on Baghdad for 

many things because of Iraq’s centralized 

government system. 

At the time of his visit, Syawish said 

that Baghdad only paid two months’ 

salary out of the last six. This kind of 

instability and inconsistency ruins the 

government’s credibility and punishes 

those who take government jobs and 

want to help their community. “We are 

under the mercy of Baghdad,” he said. 

Syawish’s dealings with the government 

are not like those in the United 

States. Here, there is a federated 

system of government. Most important 

positions are elected, and each structure, 

whether it’s city, state, or federal, 

has the power to levy taxes and create 

its own budget. It must also act on all 

its responsibilities with the money it 

raises. This type of system helps avoid 

the pitfalls of corruption while sacri- 

MAYOR continued on page 28 


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ficing efficiency and adaptability. 

In Iraq, the government is centralized 

and disperses money as it sees fit, 

according to its budget. Mayor Syawish 

does not have any legal power to raise 

money, but instead, he appeals to the 

KRG for assistance whenever he has 

a project. According to him, the KRG 

approves almost all his projects and 

treats his city with special consideration 

because of its unique Chaldean 

minority status. 

Syawish hasn’t thought of going 

for a higher position within the government. 

He is dedicated to his job. 

“I belong to Ankawa,” he said. “I still 

believe we can’t serve when we don’t 

have a position. Inside the government, 

you can affect things and do 

things for your people.” Even after he 

moves on or is removed from his position, 

he believes another Chaldean 

mayor will take his place. 

One specific area Syawish wants 

to improve in his city is schooling. 

“We have 21 schools in Ankawa,” he 

said. “Three of them are international 

schools that belong to the church or 

private sector. They are great schools 

with a great educational program.” Of 

all the different schools in Ankawa, 

they teach English, Arabic, Kurdish, 

and Sureth. One school is taught entirely 

in Sureth, supported by a KRG 

program that aids minorities and 

helps maintain their identity. 

In other schools, he said, although 

the program still has quality, the 

buildings and services themselves 

are very poor and unsuitable. This is 

something he’d like to change soon so 

that families can feel confident about 

raising children in Ankawa. 

The city also has one university, 

the Catholic University in Erbil, which 

belongs to the Chaldean Church. It was 

founded in 2015 by Archbishop Bashar 

Warda and offers degrees in many 

different areas such as international 

relations, English, information technology, 

computer science, accounting, 

architecture, pharmacy, nursing, digital 

media, business management, and 

more. 

Syawish’s long-term vision for 

the city’s industry involves factory 

production. While Erbil has recently 

become a tourist destination and an 

international city, and Ankawa has 

certainly seen some of those benefits, 

Syawish wants to maintain his city’s 

independence and economy by producing 

goods. “I think if we made big 

factories there, especially food factories, 

it would be an amazing thing 

to support each other,” he said. “The 

people there love food so much.” 

Syawish invited anyone who is interested 

in Ankawa to contact him, the 

KRG office in Washington, D.C., or the 

board of investment. “All the channels 

lead to one point, which is to bring foreign 

investments to Ankawa,” he said. 

Over the last few years, the banking 

sector has come a long way, and 

Syawish expects it to continue as such. 

The KRG decided, for example, that all 

of its government salaries won’t be 

handed out but will go straight to a 

bank account in the employee’s name. 

“I belong to Ankawa 

… I still believe we 

can’t serve when we 

don’t have a position. 

Inside the government, 

you can affect 

things and do things 

for your people.” 

– Ramy Noori Syawish 

He also addressed any security 

concerns that someone might have. 

“We are living in one of the most secure 

areas of the world,” he said, speaking 

of Ankawa. “Even in the Middle East, 

I’m sure you won’t find a more secure 

area than Kurdistan. I guarantee that 

you can sleep several nights with an 

open door, and nothing will happen.” 

“Our vision for Ankawa,” Syawish 

continued, “is a big city while keeping 

the specialty of our people and 

our identity. We are talking about having 

a few universities. Instead of one 

hospital, we should have three or four. 

Instead of tired schools, they should 

be modern and civilized. Instead of 

unregulated daily life, we should have 

standards in our business and other 

economic activities. 

“I believe we cannot build all of 

that by ourselves,” Syawish concluded. 

“I believe that you, the community 

in Detroit, can play a big role to support 

our community.” 


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A TTORNEYS & C O UNSELORS AT LAW 


FEATURE 

Uncommon Counselor 

A chat with Ron Acho 


“ 

I 

help get justice.” That’s how 

Ron Acho, partner at Cummings, 

McClorey, Davis & Acho, P.L.C. 

describes his job. It wasn’t a straight career 

path for the counselor; he says he 

got into law by happenstance. 

Born in Baghdad in 1945, Ron came 

to the Unites States with his family in 

1949. His father, who was discriminated 

against because of his faith, only 

had a fifth-grade education and was 

subject to menial jobs in Iraq. Like most 

refugees, he dreamed of a better life for 

his children. “It was very difficult,” said 

Ron. “We didn’t have much. I remember 

at one point wearing my sister’s dress 

and shoes. They were red shoes.” 

After waiting 14 years for his visa, 

Ron’s dad came to Detroit and worked 

with his older brother Joe Acho in his 

store. According to Ron, they were very 

poor when they came here and were 

embraced by the immigrant community. 

His dad was able to save enough 

to buy his own store in 1951. 

Four years later, Ron was working 

there regularly. He grew up in the 

store, learning from his father and 

eventually running the store himself. 

It was doing well, and the family was 

prospering — until July 1967, when 

two men with torches burned down 

the store to the ground. With no insurance, 

the family lost everything. Ron 

says, “We went from poor to somewhat 

prosperous back to poor again.” 

It’s important to him that people 

understand the Detroit uprising of 1967 

was not about race. “Our customers 

were Black,” says Ron, “but it was not 

our customers who burned the store.” 

He wanted to own his own chain 

of grocery stores, to be the president 

of A&P. “I loved the grocery business,” 

says Ron. “I still do.” Many of his clients 

are in the business; that’s how he 

stays involved. 

With no store to operate, Ron got a 

job at Ford. When he was threatened 

with a layoff, he found out he needed 

a degree to have protection, so he applied 

to college. “I asked myself, ‘What 

is a secure occupation?’” Ron recalls. 

“I wasn’t smart enough to be a doctor 

or a scientist.” 

He was hired in the parts control 

department, and after 11 years of night 

school, he earned his law degree. The 

only problem was, there was nowhere at 

Ford Motor Company to use his degree. 

He was told by someone in human 

resources, “We would never hire anyone 

like you,” meaning someone who went 

to night school at a lesser college. Ford 

Motor Company lawyers were from Harvard 

and Yale, and occasionally U of M, 

but never Detroit College of Law. 

It didn’t matter that at Ford, Ron 

had won 6 promotions in 8 years and 

won 3 awards. He also graduated summa 

cum laude as an undergraduate 

and won an award in law school. He 

had to find his own way. 

This made Ron even more determined. 

He swore to himself that no matter 

how successful he became, he would 

never treat anyone like that. To this day, 

he reads every single resume personally 

and offers advice and encouragement to 

applicants, regardless of how qualified 

they are to work at the firm. 

“The Firm” is Cummings, McClorey, 

Davis & Acho. When Ron was first 

introduced 50 years ago, they were a 

two-person team, but they quickly became 

three with the addition of Davis. 

Ron worked there at night and built up 

his clientele, who at first, were mostly 

Chaldean. Within a year and a half, Ron 

was a partner/owner. That was 1976. 

He has never worked for another 

firm. Since then, he has handled over 

8,000 cases, tried over 200 and lost 8, 4 

of which were begun by a different law 

firm. He’s been offered 3 judgeships, 

including a federal appointment, and 

was asked to be a special prosecutor 

for Iraqi war criminals. But for Ron, 

the real thrill is helping people. 

Clients are like family. “Lawyers 

don’t win cases, clients do.” He believes 

that if a person has a good case, 

they should win. 

One of his most memorable cases 

was a client who had been trying in 

vain to get disability, despite having a 

claw for a hand. Ron asked the questions 

and agreed to help, not holding 

out much hope for a decision in his client’s 

favor. The client was Black, and 

the judge, an old white Southern man. 

“Racism still exists today,” says Ron, 

“but not like it did back then.” 

When the judge not only had a 

claw for a hand himself but received 

his injury the same way (fighting in a 

war), with the same outfit (82nd Airborne) 

and on the same day (Battle of 

the Bulge), Ron saw God’s hand in the 

outcome, which was in favor of his client. 

“That felt good,” remembers Ron. 

Ron never felt discriminated 

against. “I was lucky,” he recalls. 

He was treated well because of the 

reputation of his law firm. They were 

known to be honest and honorable. “I 

was treated better than most lawyers, I 


Ron and Rita with their children (from left) Jim, Stephanie, and Greg. 

Ron celebrates his birthday with grandchildren (from left) Anne, Mary, 

Meghan, and Michael. 

think,” he says with a laugh. 

And he never even considered 

leaving his firm. “I didn’t want to work 

for anyone else,” he says, “Chaldeans 

don’t like to work for anyone else.” 

Ron, who also participates in a free 

legal clinic, has noticed some changes 

in the field of law over the years. One 

very noticeable change is the number 

of lawyers. “There’s been a 300% percent 

increase in the profession,” says 

Ron, “and it’s more like 1,000% in the 

Chaldean community.” 

He figures he was the fourth or fifth 

to pursue a law career in the southeastern 

Michigan Chaldean community, 

and he believes there are more 

than 400 Chaldean lawyers today. But 

he doesn’t see many growth opportunities 

in the field now. Early Chaldean 

lawyers may have been trained to 

support and defend the family business, 

but he feels the romanticism has 

faded. The impassioned arguments 

you see in court on TV are deceptive. 

“It isn’t like that,” Ron states emphatically. 

Most lawyers are spending their 

time filing, writing, and researching. 

As far as Chaldean judges go, Ron’s 

hypothesis is that perhaps women excel 

at this position because they are 

empathetic, but they are not any different 

from their male counterparts. They 

have the opportunity now, and they 

didn’t before. “I tell my 3 granddaughters 

that they have opportunities that 

their mothers didn’t,” says Ron. 

His greatest accomplishment? 

“Marrying Rita,” Ron responds with 

no hesitation. And the funny thing 

is, if the store hadn’t burned down, 

he would have never attended college 

and would not have met her in line at 

University of Detroit or had the chance 

to make an impression. “I was never 

lacking for courage,” he says. 

Now they have 3 children and 4 

grandchildren. Their son Jim is a lawyer 

with the firm, daughter Stephanie 

runs The Detroit Chocolate Company, 

and son Greg is in PR and marketing. 

Ron’s children and grandchildren are 

his treasure. “A man’s wealth is his 

grandchildren,” says Ron. 

Ron’s legacy, his humility and his 

faith, are built on the foundation that 

his father prepared for him. While working 

the store, Ron’s dad would hold up a 

banana every day and tell him, “In the 

old country, only the rich could eat bananas.” 

“Yes, Baba,” Ron would reply. 

“Do you know why I’m telling you 

this?” his father would continue. “You 

have an opportunity. You can do whatever 

you want.” 

“Every time I see a banana,” says 

Ron, “I think of my father and that 

story.” 


FEATURE 

Left: Protestors at a 

hearing in Madison Heights. 

No Sheetz 

Madison Heights city council 

rejects 24-hour gas station 

BY CAL ABBO 

On May 13, the Madison Heights 

City Council moved to reject 

the latest special approval proposal 

by Sheetz for a new 24-hour gas 

station, citing several reasons why it 

denied the request. 

Among other items, the council 

noted that the plan proposed by Sheetz 

was inconsistent with the intent of the 

district as well as the city’s master development 

plan. The proposed gas station 

would also have environmental 

consequences and increase noise for 

the residents in the surrounding area. 

Sheetz, a national chain of gas 

stations and convenience stores, announced 

plans earlier this year to 

open dozens of locations in metro Detroit. 

Headquartered in Pennsylvania, 

the company owns and operates more 

than 700 stores throughout Pennsylvania, 

West Virginia, Maryland, Ohio, 

Virginia, and North Carolina. As of last 

year, according to a Forbes list, Sheetz 

is the 27th largest privately-owned 

company in the United States, posting 

$14 billion in revenue. 

The chain is known mostly for its 

made-to-order convenience restaurant 

and its 24-hour service that is available 

at every single location. For this reason, 

it often needs special approval from the 

cities in which it plans to build. 

“When we deny something, there 

are very specific reasons that we can 

deny,” said Madison Heights Mayor 

Roslyn Grafstein in an interview. 

“We need some kind of development 

there, and I would love to put in a restaurant 

or maybe a grocery store, but 

we don’t need another gas station.” 

One of Grafstein’s biggest issues 

was the environmental damage this 

could cause. She pointed out that as 

electric cars become more available 

and popular, gas stations will become 

obsolete, and eventually they might 

want to build something else on that 

property. The cleanup required can 

cost millions of dollars. 

According to Grafstein, people 

stretched wall to wall at the meeting. 

Most of them opposed the Sheetz 

proposal for one reason or another, 

although not everyone spoke. “I 

couldn’t even walk into the council 

chamber,” she said. 

The fact that so many attended the 

meeting is due to the advocacy and 

action of several Chaldean store owners 

located in Madison Heights as well 

as Sharkey Haddad and the Chaldean 

American Chamber of Commerce. 

“Several gas station owners in the 

area reached out to me and asked for 

help stopping Sheetz from coming to 

Madison Heights,” said Sharkey Haddad, 

who works with the Chamber on 

CACC’s Sharkey Haddad speaks at 

hearing. 

special projects. “They explained to 

me that Sheetz, as a national chain, 

has more power and their business 

can suffer if it opens close to them.” 

Before these small business owners 

came to Haddad, he was unaware 

of Sheetz’s plans to open so many 

stores in metro Detroit. The chain has 

already gotten approval in some cities 

on the outskirt suburbs of metro Detroit 

and is seeking many more. 

To the initial store owners who 

came to him for help, Haddad advised 

that they begin canvassing the 

area, collecting signatures and distributing 

flyers to their customers. 

Clearly, they took Haddad’s instruction 

to heart and turned out a large 

PHOTOS COURTESY SHARKEY HADDAD 

crowd at the city council meeting a 

few weeks later. 

“Over the past 30 years, I have 

noticed that big corporations like 

Walmart, Costco, or Sam’s Club come 

into a city and put a lot of mom-andpop 

shops out of business,” Haddad 

said. “Because of their purchasing 

power and high traffic, the small guys 

always end up getting the short end 

of the stick.” 

In a statement, Sheetz PR Manager 

Nick Ruffner said the company is 

disappointed by the decision in Madison 

Heights. “We always welcome the 

opportunity to share our story with 

the community and local officials,” 

the statement said. “We also appreciated 

the passion and enthusiasm displayed 

by the wider community, and 

we are looking forward to constructive 

dialogue on shared interests. We 

will continue our expansion with the 

goal of bringing our brand of fresh 

made-to-order food and 24/7 convenience 

to southeast Michigan.” 

Allowing Sheetz to open a chain 

of stores in metro Detroit comes with 

several advantages and disadvantages. 

Economic winners and losers can 

be found throughout the Chaldean 

community, but owning and operating 

small convenience and grocery 

stories remains its bread and butter. 

For Michigan in general, several 

effects would take place if Sheetz 

opened a large number of locations. 

Like Haddad noted, smaller stores 

would get less business, and with 

that, more profits would be taken 

out of the community by larger companies 

and spent elsewhere. In addition, 

customer service would suffer as 

employees paid minimum or low wages 

would run these stores instead of 

owner-operators who are much more 

motivated to satisfy their customers. 

On the other hand, the area would 

experience dozens of new construction, 

bringing economic activity, and 

more options for food, gas, and convenience, 

which would increase competition 

and potentially lower prices 

on these items in general. In addition, 

opening this many stores will create 

thousands of jobs for Michiganders. 

Only time will tell how many locations 

Sheetz can get up and running 

and which cities will allow the 

chain to operate its signature 24/7 

model. 


& 

Chaldean Community Foundation in collaboration with the Jewish Federations of North America 

BALANCE 

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FOR ACTIVE AGERS 

OLDER ADULTS AND CAREGIVERS 

MAY 13TH - SEPTEMBER 6TH 

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586-722-7253 


FEATURE 

Growing in Faith 

First Holy Communion tradtion and culture 

BY HAYLEY GAPPY 

2024 First Holy Communion program at Saint Thomas Chaldean Catholic Church in West Bloomfield. 

“ 

To grow as a community, we 

have to start with the children,” 

says Sandy Sesi, director 

of the First Holy Communion 

program at Saint Thomas Chaldean 

Catholic Church. First Holy Communion, 

also referred to as First Holy Eucharist, 

is one of the early sacraments 

in the Catholic Church and an important 

step in a Catholic’s spiritual journey. 

The Chaldean Catholic Church 

celebrates Mass in the Eastern Rite. 

It traces its origins to conversion by 

Saint Thomas the Apostle and follows 

the traditions and bishops of the 

Church of the East. In union with the 

Roman Catholic Church, both recognize 

the authority of the Pope. 

Sacraments are important rituals 

for Catholics because they are symbols 

of grace established by Christ Himself. 

They help individuals connect with 

God and the Church community. There 

are seven sacraments in the Catholic 

Church. These include baptism, confirmation, 

reconciliation or confession, 

Eucharist or Communion, Holy 

Matrimony, Holy Orders, and Anointing 

of the Sick. 

First Holy Eucharist, in the Chaldean 

tradition typically received by children 

in third grade, marks a child’s first reception 

of the Body and Blood of Christ. 

This practice involves receiving bread 

and wine, which Catholics believe are 

transubstantiated during Mass into the 

actual Body and Blood of Jesus Christ. 

It is a profound moment that signifies a 

deepening relationship with Jesus and 

the Church community. It is rooted in 

the biblical teachings of the Last Supper 

where Jesus instructed His disciples to 

“Do this in memory of me” (Luke 22:19). 

This sacrament, established by 

Christ, is a source of spiritual unity 

between Him and the Church. “The 

significance of the Eucharist is beyond 

something that we would even be 

PHOTO BY SANDY SESI 

able to recognize,” says Father Rodney 

Abasso, parochial vicar of Mart 

Mariam Chaldean Catholic Church. 

“The Church refers to it as the ‘Source 

and Summit’ and that is because the 

Eucharist is one of the most important 

things in the Christian life.” 

The sacrament marks this in the 

children’s lives. 

The Chaldean Diocese’s First Communion 

program slightly differs from 

the program that most children go 

through in the Latin rite. In preparation 

for their First Holy Communion, 

children undergo seven months of formation 

classes taught by catechists. 

Over the years, the Chaldean Diocese 

program developed its own book, 

beginning more than a decade ago 

when Bishop Francis, formerly Father 

Frank, served as pastor of Saint Thomas. 

He felt that the existing books for 

Communion preparation were not comprehensive 

enough to meet the expectations 

for what children receiving their 

First Holy Communion should know. 

In recent years, the program has 

authored a new book to address complex 

theological topics, entitled “First 

Holy Communion” It is written in a 

way that is understandable and digestible 

for children 8 to 9 years old. 

This involves simplifying the concepts 

for the children while retaining the key 

terminology they need to learn. 

“We teach the children about everything 

from creation to salvation,” 

says Sesi, sharing her experience 

leading this program and stressing its 

importance. “This includes all seven 

sacraments and the Ten Commandments. 

In addition, the kids learn their 

prayers in Chaldean and the order and 

hymns included in the Mass, in both 

English and Chaldean parts.” 

In the Latin rite, the children preparing 

to receive Eucharist only learn 

about 2 sacraments, reconciliation and 

Eucharist, as well as two commandments. 

The program that the Chaldean 

Diocese follows takes a deeper dive. 

Children are taught common 

prayers in Chaldean, including the Glory 

Be, Hail Mary, and Our Father. Unlike 

the traditional Latin Rite preparation, 

which often begins in second grade, the 

Chaldean program starts in third grade. 

This shift is because they are slightly 

older and better able to understand the 

immense significance of the sacrament. 

The structured approach of the Chaldean 

program not only prepares children 

for their First Holy Communion 

but also lays a foundation for ongoing 

faith development, helping them grasp 

the concept to its full extent. 

Parents and families play a crucial 

role in the child’s preparation for First 

Holy Communion. As the children undergo 

the process to prepare to receive 

the Sacrament of Eucharist, their parents’ 

faith is reignited as well. The program 

includes mandatory parent retreats 

to deepen their faith as they engage in 

spiritual growth alongside their children. 

Following Communion classes each 

Saturday, students are required to attend 

Mass to help them understand 

and learn the order of the Mass and the 

hymns. Parents and families are also expected 

to attend this Mass weekly and 

participate in their children’s religious 

education, enforcing the lessons they 

are learning throughout the program. 

COMMUNION continued on page 36 


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Join our ever expanding team! 

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For More Information 

HR@chaldeanfoundation.org 

586-722-7253 

www.chaldeanfoundation.org/careers 


PHOTOS BY RITA BENIAMIN 

These photos show the 2004 First Holy Communion at Sacred Heart of Jesus Chaldean Church in Baghdad, Iraq. 

COMMUNION continued from page 34 

By modeling a life of faith, parents 

help their children internalize the 

teachings of the Church. Additionally, 

children must receive the Sacrament of 

Reconciliation before their First Holy 

Communion, allowing them to seek 

forgiveness for their sins and approach 

the Eucharist in a state of grace. Parents 

and godparents are crucial in this 

preparation; they are required to model 

a life of faith, participate in religious 

instruction, and engage in spiritual 

discussions with the child. 

After receiving their First Holy 

Communion, children are encouraged 

to continue their religious education, 

deepening their understanding of the 

faith and preparing for future sacraments. 

The memories and significance 

of this sacrament often remain with 

individuals, shaping their spiritual 

identity and guiding their relationship 

with God. It serves as a reminder of the 

importance of the Eucharist and encourages 

regular participation in Mass 

and other sacramental practices. 

“When we look at the Eucharist, 

we’re not just looking at a thing, we’re 

looking at a person,” says Father Rodney. 

“We’re looking at the person of 

Jesus Christ, who is love, who is our 

Lord, who is our creator, and who became 

one of us to be with us and reveal 

the Father’s love.” 

The Chaldean Diocese’s First 

Communion program in the United 

States today exhibits significant 

cultural and ceremonial differences 

compared to how it was conducted 

in Iraq, particularly in 2004 at the 

Sacred Heart of Jesus Chaldean 

Church in Baghdad. 

In Iraq, only nuns and priests 

were permitted to teach Communion 

classes. The choir leaders and 

musicians assisted in teaching the 

children the hymns that make up 

the Mass. In the U.S., in contrast, 

catechists—the majority lay people—teach 

these classes. 

On Communion Day in Iraq, children 

were not allowed to hold Mass 

books, but had to memorize the 

entire Mass, both in Chaldean and 

Arabic. Additionally, girls were not 

permitted to wear anything resembling 

a wedding dress. Instead, boys 

dressed like monks and girls like nuns. 

This is similar to the Chaldean Diocese 

program in America today. The 

children, boys and girls alike, are fitted 

and wear gowns special-ordered 

from Italy. The girls also wear veils on 

their head. It promotes modesty within 

Church and allows the focus to be on 

the sacrament and not comparison of 

Bishop Francis Kalabat dispenses the Eucharist to a new 

communicant. 

who had the most expensive or bestlooking 

outfit. 

A significant difference is the observance 

of the second day of Communion, 

known as the Thanksgiving Mass, 

in Iraq. On this day, the children serve 

the entire Mass with some standing at 

the altar where a table with the Bible is 

placed. During this Mass, all the children 

publicly renounce Satan and renew 

their baptismal vows. This level of 

PHOTO BY SANDY SESI 

involvement and the specific 

ceremonial acts highlight a 

unique cultural and religious 

expression that was integral 

to the ceremony in Baghdad. 

First Holy Communion 

is a significant sacrament 

in the Catholic faith, rich in 

theological, spiritual, and 

cultural meaning. It marks 

the beginning of a deeper relationship 

with Jesus Christ 

and a fuller participation in 

the Church community for all 

the children who receive the 

sacrament. 

The celebration of First 

Holy Communion, with its 

varied customs and traditions, 

highlights the universal 

celebration within the Catholic 

Church while also honoring 

cultural traditions. Ultimately, 

the sacrament of First 

Holy Communion has a lasting impact 

on children and their families, shaping 

their faith journey and their commitment 

to the faith. 

“I think a lot of us can take for 

granted how readily accessible the Eucharist 

is,” says Father Rodney, “but 

rather than taking it for granted, we 

should take advantage of it and be with 

Him and allow Him to be with us.” 


AYDA SAGMAN 

Administrative Support 

MARYANA SHABO 

Behavioral Health Therapist 

SOUZAN VANLERBERG 


MARIAM ABDALLA 


JACKIE RAXTER 

Behavioral Health Program Manager 

Therapy can be a big step toward being the 

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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. 


3601 15 Mile Rd., Sterling Heights, MI 48310 


FEATURE 

Avant Stamp 

Chaldean Language Assessment 

CHALDEAN NEWS 

APP IS HERE 

Share your feedback at chaldeannews.com/app 

Everyone who participates is automatically entered 

to win a limited edition Made in Nineveh gift box. 

Winner will be notified by email on March 31. 

BY CN STAFF 

High school students in our 

state are required to meet the 

Michigan Merit Curriculum 

guidelines for graduation, which includes 

2 credits in a language other 

than English. Most students meet this 

requirement though formal coursework, 

but it is possible to “test out” by 

demonstrating proficiency on a commercialized 

assessment. 

The Chaldean Community Foundation 

has collaborated with Avant Assessment 

to create a Chaldean speaking test, 

which provides the opportunity for our 

children to earn high school credit and 

the Michigan Seal of Biliteracy for Chaldean 

(Sureth). If any school requests a 

Chaldean language test, CCF can support 

and provide testing for them. 

For the first time, there will be data 

on how well students are progressing 

in their study and acquisition of the 

Chaldean language. The Avant STAMP 

(STAndards-based Measurement of 

Proficiency) assessment can be given 

at any time along the learning path to 

measure proficiency in speaking an 

other-than-English language. 

What is the Avant STAMP? 

Avant STAMP assessments are webbased 

and computer-adaptive, with realworld 

questions, scenarios, or prompts 

that engage students to actively determine 

their individual proficiency levels 

in communication skills such as speaking. 

The Avant STAMP is unique in that 

it measures what students can communicate 

“on the spot” as they would have 

to do in possible real-life situations. 

These assessments have been validated 

by statistical analysis and expert 

reviews and are the most widely 

recognized method for measuring proficiency 

in the U.S. school system. The 

STAMP WS for Chaldean is designed 

for students in grade 7 and above. 

There are three major proficiency 

levels assessed: novice, intermediate 

and advanced. There are three sublevels 

within the first two levels: low, 

mid, and high, and two (low and mid) 

for the highest 

Avant STAMP scores are reported 

at proficiency benchmarks aligned to 

nationally recognized standards from 

Novice through Advanced. Speaking responses 

are scored externally by Avant 

Certified Raters and typically made 

available within 10-12 business days. 

Reports are downloadable for flexible 

analysis and distribution to test takers. 

Avant STAMP scores 

are reported at proficiency 

benchmarks 

aligned to nationally 

recognized standards 

from Novice through 

Advanced. 

Why Choose the Avant STAMP WS 

Test for Chaldean? 

Avant was chosen after careful review 

because they are leaders in the field 

of language assessments and have approval 

from the Michigan Department 

of Education. They also had a pre-existing 

partnership with Oakland Schools. 

It also offers an accessible online 

format. With convenience in mind, the 

test is administered online, allowing 

learners from anywhere to demonstrate 

their proficiency. Specifically designed 

to assess speaking proficiency, 

this test honors the unique characteristics 

of the Chaldean language. 

Finally, Avant is rigorously rated. 

Upholding Avant’s high standards, the 

test ensures reliable and meaningful 

assessment results. 

The Foundation was originally approached 

by Oakland Schools regarding 

this opportunity; Dr. Christina 

Kozlowski and Jennifer Howe from 

Oakland Schools served as advocates 

and helped support the CCF in the 

communication with Avant. 

If you have any questions about Avant 

testing, call the Chaldean Community 

Foundation at 586.722.7253. 



CULTURE & HISTORY 

PHOTO BY HADI MIZBAN/AP 

Relatives react near the bodily remains of people from the minority Yazidi, who were killed by Islamic State militants, after they were exhumed from a mass 

grave in Sinjar during a funeral ceremony in Baghdad, Iraq, Monday, Jan. 22, 2024. 

Our Threatened Brethren 

The Plight of Yazidis in Iraq 

BY ADHID MIRI, PHD 

Part 1 

The Yazidi (or Yezidi) are a Kurmanji-speaking 

minority group 

who are indigenous to northern 

Iraq, Kurdistan, and a geographical 

region in Western Asia. This includes 

parts of Iraq, Syria, Turkey, and Iran. 

Most Yazidis remaining in the Middle 

East today live in Iraq, primarily in the 

governorate of Nineveh and Duhok. 

Estimates put the global number 

of Yazidis at around 700,000 people, 

with most of them concentrated in and 

around Sinjar, west of the city of Mosul. 

It also includes the Sheikhan community, 

the religious center of the sect, 

located northeast of Mosul. There are 

small Yazidi communities in Turkey, 

Iran, Armenia, and Syria. 

Isolated geographically and accustomed 

to discrimination, the Yazidis 

forged an insular culture. Iraq’s Yazidis 

rarely intermarry with other groups, and 

they do not accept religious converts. 

Yazidis have historically shared the 

same political fate as Iraq’s Kurds. In the 

late 1970s, Iraqi president Saddam Hussein 

launched brutal Arabization campaigns 

against the Kurds in the north. 

At the same time, he razed traditional 

Yazidi villages and forced the Yazidi to 

settle in urban centers, disrupting their 

rural way of life. Hussein constructed 

the town of Sinjar and forced the Yazidi 

to abandon their mountain villages and 

relocate in the city. 

The story of the ISIS conquest of 

the Yazidi homeland in August 2014 is 

essential for understanding the plight 

of this endangered community which 

has faced centuries of what can only 

be described as a genocidal assault. 

It is a tragic tale of the followers of a 

peaceful religion whose very existence 

is threatened by a combination of fanaticism 

on the part of ISIS and indifference 

on the part of Western powers. 

Yazidis often say they have been 

the victim of 72 previous attempts at 

genocide. Memory of persecution is a 

core component of their identity. 

Identity and Ethnicity 

There is disagreement among scholars 

on whether the Yazidi people are 

a distinct ethnoreligious group or a 

religious sub-group of the Kurds, an 

Iranian ethnic group. There is even 

disagreement among the Yazidi. Some 

modern Yazidis identify ethnically as 

subset of the Kurdish people. Others 

view themselves as having a distinct 

ethnic identity as Yazidi. 

Yazidi cultural practices are observed 

in the Kurmanji language, 

which is also used by almost all their 

orally transmitted religious traditions. 

Kurmanji is the northernmost of the 

Kurdish languages. 

In Armenia and Iraq, the Yazidi 

are recognized as a distinct ethnic 

group. In Georgia and Germany, they 

are regarded as ethnic Kurds. The 

Soviet Union (Russia) registered the 

Yazidi and the Kurds as two different 

ethnic groups for the 1926 census but 

grouped the two together as one ethnicity 

in the censuses from 1931-1989. 

Religious beliefs 

Yazidism is the ethnic religion of the 

Yazidi people and is monotheistic in 

nature, having roots in a pre-Zoroastrian 

Iranic faith. The word Yazidi means 

“the servant of the creator.” Followers 

colloquially are called “the people of 

the peacock angel.” 

YAZIDIS continued on page 42 



CITIZENSHIP 

PREPARATION CLASSES 

July 9, 2024 – September 12, 2024 

Instruction and preparation for the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration 

Services (USCIS) naturalization interview. 

Tuesday and Thursday 

Morning Session: 9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. 

Evening Session: 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. 

$40 REGISTRATION FEE 

Books and materials included 

To register, call Ninive at 586-722-7253 

3601 15 Mile Rd., Sterling Heights, MI 48310 | www.chaldeanfoundation.org 


YAZIDIS continued from page 40 

Starting from the 14th century, 

Yazidis built up their own internal 

religious and political apparatus in 

the lands they inhabited. The Yazidi 

territory was divided into seven administrative 

centers, each having its 

own Sincaq, or bronze peacock idol, 

which serves as a symbol of power for 

each administrative center. 

Yazidi tradition uses many terms, 

images, and symbols of Sufi or Islamic 

origin, while to a larger extent preserving 

pre-Islamic mythology, symbology, 

rituals, festivals, and traditions. 

While some Yazidi practices resemble 

those of Islam—refraining from 

eating pork, for example—many practices 

appear to be unique in the region. 

Yazidi society is organized into a rigid 

religious caste system. In addition to 

venerating the sun, Yazidis, like Zoroastrians, 

consider fire to be sacred and 

are not allowed to extinguish it with 

water or to speak rudely in front of it. 

Yazidis do not believe in eternal 

damnation. Instead, they believe in reincarnation 

or transmigration of souls 

through a gradual purification cycle. 

The souls of sinners are reborn as animals 

for a probationary period before 

passing into human form again. Ultimately, 

their souls ascend to heaven. 

Yazidis celebrate the new year 

in April with colored eggs and have 

a Feast of Sacrifice, when a sheep is 

slaughtered by the Baba Sheikh and 

torches are lit throughout the valley of 

Lailish, a holy place in their faith. 

Yazidis do not accept conversion 

into their faith and those who marry 

outside of the community are banned. 

Excommunication, therefore, has dire 

implications. 

Yazidis are forbidden from wearing 

the color blue, eating lettuce, and saying 

the word “Shaytan.” 

Melek Tawus 

While the Yazidi believe in one God, 

a central figure in their faith is Melek 

Tawus (AKA Tawusi Melek or “Peacock 

Angel”), an angel who defies God and 

serves as an intermediary between 

Him and man. Yazidis are dualists—believing 

in a Creator God, now passive, 

and Melek Tawus, executive organ of 

divine will. Some traditional myths 

say that the Yazidi were the children of 

Adam alone and not of Eve, and thus 

separate from the rest of humankind. 

To Muslims, the Yazidi account of 

the defiant angel often sounds like the 

Quranic rendering of Shaytan—the 

devil—even though Melek Tawus is a 

force for good in the Yazidi religion. 

The Yazidis’ God is known as Khude 

and is all forgiving and merciful. God- 

Khude created himself and seven archangels 

led by Melek Tawus. The Peacock 

Angel was sent to Earth to create life 

from the primordial chaos and act as an 

intercessor between man and God. The 

first human had been created without a 

soul, so Melek Tawus blew the breath of 

life into him. He then turned Adam towards 

the Sun, symbol of the Supreme 

Creator, which Yazidis, like ancient Mesopotamians, 

still worship. 

But it is the sad fate of the Yazidis 

that the story of Melek Tawus has eerie 

parallels with the story of Shaytan, 

the fallen jinn (genie) of Islam who is 

known in English as Satan. 

Yazidis began to face accusations 

of devil worship from Muslims beginning 

in the late 16th and early 17th 

centuries. To this day, Iraqi Yazidis 

push to put an end to the devil worship 

stereotype and accusations. 

Persecution 

The history of the Yazidi community 

in northern Iraq is laden with oppression 

and violence. For almost six 

centuries, Yazidis suffered the persecution 

of the Ottoman Empire (1299 

– 1922). After the dissolution of the 

Ottoman Empire in the early 20th century, 

the British Army targeted Yazidis 

and other ethnic groups in northern 

Iraq. The violent campaigns against 

Yazidis continued during the Baath 

regime that was in power in Iraq from 

1968 to 2003. 

In the wake of the March 2003 

invasion of Iraq, Yazidis faced increased 

persecution by religious extremists 

who incorrectly regarded 

them as ‘devil worshippers’ due to a 

misinterpretation of their religion. 

Community members were regularly 

targeted by extremists. A July 2008 

report from Iraq’s Ministry of Human 

Rights estimated that between 2003 

and the end of 2007, a total of 335 Yazidis 

had been killed in direct or indirect 

attacks. 

The effect of these and later attacks 

on the community were often 

far reaching. During the year 2013, for 

instance, there were numerous attacks 

on Yazidi students attending Mosul 

University. By the end of the year, approximately 

2,000 Yazidi students had 

stopped attending the university. 

Most recently, the 2014 Yazidi 

genocide that was carried out by 

the Islamic State (ISIS) saw over 

5,000 Yazidis killed, with thousands 

of Yazidi women and girls forced into 

sexual slavery and the flight of more 

than 500,000 Yazidi refugees. 

It’s not only Yazidis that faced the 

wrath of ISIS. In the last two decades 

Iraqi Christians have been reduced by 

over 80%, from 1.5 million to a couple 

of hundred thousand. Iraq has no 

Jews after over two millennia. 

Sources: Wikipedia, Yazda.org, Pari 

Ibrahim, Free Yezidi Foundation, Byavi 

Asher-Schapiro, National Geographic 

News, the Guardian, The Yazidis 

Narrative by Zuhair Kadhum Abood, 

Le Yezidis in Syria and Mount Sinjar by 

Roger Lescot, Brian Glyn Williams. 


ARE YOU 

HIRING? 

PLEASE CONSIDER INVESTING IN ONE 

OF OUR NEW AMERICANS. 

WHAT WE DO 

The Career Services Department at the Chaldean Community Foundation offers one-on-one assistance to help 

clients identify goals and develop careers. 

• Career Fairs 

• Employer Referrals 

• Job Application Completion 

• Training Opportunities 

• Resume Building 

• Mock Interviews 

• Cover Letter Writing 

• FAFSA Completion 

To inquire about adding your open positions to our job bank and hiring one of our 

clients, please call or email Elias at 586.722.7253 

or elias.kattoula@chaldeanfoundation.org 

Chaldean Community Foundation | 3601 15 Mile Rd., Sterling Heights, MI 48310 


CULTURE & HISTORY 

نكبات ومأيس ومحن األزيدية يف العراق ‏)الجزء األول(‏ 

بقلم د عضيد مريي 

من بني سلسلة مقاالت مجلة اخبار الكلدان حول 

محن املكونات األصيلة واألقليات العرقية والدينية 

يف العراق سبق وأن كتبنا عن أبناء خالتنا الصابئة 

املندائيني ‏)عدد شهر أكتوبر 2022 ص 38-36(، 

وسنتناول يف هذا العدد مكون عراقي اخر هو 

أألزيديون،‏ وبدورنا نأمل أن يلقي هذا املقال 

الضوء وملحات عىل التاريخ العميق لهذا املكون 

األصيل وبعض مام يحتاجه القارئ ملعرفة تاريخ 

وعقيدة ومعيشة ومحنة ومأساة املجتمع األزيدي 

يف القرن الحادي والعرشين.‏ 

استندنا يف هذه املقالة اىل مصادر وكتب وجهود 

متميزة قام بها كتاب وباحثني ومؤرخني من اجل 

توضيح حقيقة من هم أألزيديون ودراسات تبحث 

يف معتقداتهم وكتبهم الدينية وعشائرهم وعاداتهم 

والبيئة االجتامعية واخبارهم التاريخية يف الشيخان 

وسنجار.‏ ومن بني هؤالء الكتاب واملؤلفني املرموقني 

نذكر املؤرخ عبد الرزاق الحسني وكتبه ‏)عبدة ابليس 

وكتاب اليزيديون يف حارضهم وماضيهم 1951( ، 

وكتاب ‏)عبدة ابليس(‏ ملؤلفه نوري باشا وايل املوصل 

ونقله محمود فخري عام 1913( والكاتب املوصيل 

صديق الدملوجي ‏)اليزيدية 1949(، وعباس العزاوي 

‏)تاريخ اليزيدية واصل عقيدتهم 1935( وسعيد 

الديهوجي ‏)اليزيدية وتأريخ املوصل ) والقايض زهري 

كاظم عبود ‏)ملحات عن اليزيدية 1994( والدكتور 

سامي سعيد األحمد ‏)اليزيدية ‏-احوالهم ومعتقداتهم 

1971( و)اليزيدية يف سوريا وسنجار – ملؤلفه روجيه 

ليسكو - ترجمة احمد أمني(.‏ ان النصوص الرشقية 

واملرتجمة املتوفرة وكذلك قلة وندرة التدوين اليزيدي 

ال تسمح مبأل الفراغ املوجود يف املصادر سيام وأن 

املأثور الديني انتقل إليهم وفيام بينهم كان شفهيا،‏ 

وهناك كتيبات قليلة تُعترب األدب املقدس للطائفة 

أهمها كتاب الجلوة ‏)كتاب الوحي(‏ واملصحف األسود،‏ 

وال أحد يعرف مصري ومكان وجود هذين الكتابني 

الذي اعيد كتابتها وتغريت نصوصها ومضمونها 

ومصداقيتها ويُعتقد ان أصولها تعود اىل كتابات 

رهبان ميزوبوتاميا العليا.‏ 

مقدمة 

األزيديون ‏)أو اليزيديون(‏ هم مجموعة أقلية 

ناطقة باللغة الكًرمانجية وهم السكان األصليون 

يف شامل العراق وكردستان ومناطق جغرافية يف 

غرب آسيا تشمل أجزاء من العراق وسوريا وتركيا 

وإيران وأرمينيا وروسيا ويتجمع معظم األزيديني 

املتبقني يف الرشق األوسط اليوم يف العراق،‏ خاصة 

يف محافظتي نينوى ودهوك.‏ 

وتشري التقديرات إىل أن العدد العاملي 

لألزيديني يصل إىل نحو 700 ألف شخص،‏ يرتكز 

معظمهم يف الشيخان وسنجار وما حولهام قرب 

مدينة املوصل،‏ وتضم املنطقة أيضاً‏ املركز الديني 

للطائفة وأقدس بقعة يف العامل عندهم هو مجمع 

املعابد الحجرية يف اللش التي تقع يف واد ضيق يف 

تالل منطقة الحكم الذايت يف كردستان العراق.‏ 

بقيت هذه البقعة املقدسة مغلقة أمام الغرباء 

لعدة قرون،‏ وبسبب عزلتهم جغرافياً‏ فهم اعتادوا 

عىل مختلف أنواع التمييز،‏ ولكوّنهم يعيشون عموما 

ثقافة انعزالية فهم نادراً‏ ما يتزاوجون مع مجموعات 

أخرى،‏ وال يقبل أألزيديون التحول الديني إىل 

عقيدتهم ومُيُ‏ نع ويرفض أولئك الذين يتزوجون من 

خارج املجتمع فالزواج من خارج املجتمع محظور 

والحرمان له عواقب وخيمة إذ يتزاوج اليزيديون 

فقط مع اليزيديني اآلخرين ويُطرد أولئك الذين 

يتزوجون من غري األيزيديني من مجتمعهم وال يُسمح 

لهم بأن يطلقوا عىل أنفسهم اسم األيزيديني وال مُيكن 

للمرء العادي أن يصبح إيزيدياً.‏ 

أغلبية األزيديني هم من الناس البسطاء 

واملزارعني غري املتعلمني وال يعرفون شيئاً‏ عن 

الدنيا أبعد من مناطق سكناهم ’ واليزيدي يعترب 

كريم متواضع ومضياف ويتمتع بأخالق عالية 

وشهامة وقيم متوارثة وهو شعب محب للعمل 

والزراعة ويهتم باأللوان والرقص واألهازيج 

معتمداً‏ عىل البساطة وحب املرح وتقديس الربيع 

وحب الزهور والشمس ويحرتم الظواهر الكونية.‏ 

ومن املثري لالهتامم تشابه الرموز الثقافية بني 

الكلدان واآلشوريني واألزيديني ومناطق تواجدهم 

وسكنهم تاريخيا،‏ باإلضافة فيام يتعلق األمر 

باألسامء التي تنتهي بحرف الواو،‏ فمثال نجد عند 

األزيدين أسامء مثل قدو،‏ حدو،‏ حمكو،‏ سفو،‏ 

رشو،‏ عتو،‏ مسطو،‏ مندو،‏ قولو،‏ وجوكو،‏ وسيدو،‏ 

ومسطو،‏ إلخ ‏)طالع مقالتنا عن أصول األسامء 

الكلدانية يف عدد شهر أيار 2024 ص 39(. 

الهوية والعرق واللغة 

اختلف الكتاب والباحثني يف نسب واصل 

اليزيدين،‏ هناك خالف بني األراء حول ما إذا كان 

الشعب اليزيدي مجموعة عرقية دينية متميزة 

أو مجموعة فرعية دينية من األكراد،‏ أم هم 

مجموعة عرقية إيرانية.‏ 

فقسم يعتربهم عرب النسب واألصل وأنهم من 

قريش وسموا باليزيدية نسبة اىل ‏)يزيد بن معاوية 

بن ايب سفيان(،‏ بينام ارجعهم البعض األخر اىل انهم 

من الكرد وأن عقيدتهم تعود اىل األشورية والبابلية 

والديانات الرافدينية القدمُية.‏ بينام ربطهم البعض 

مبجيء ‏)الشيخ عدي بن مسافر األموي(‏ الذي جاء 

اىل منطقتهم ومناطق نفوذهم مصلحاً‏ ومرشداً‏ 

ومتصوفاً،‏ فتبعه وامن بطريقته كثريون.‏ 

وهناك من يرجع اصولهم ومعتقداتهم اىل 

بقايا دين قديم جذوره املجوسية والزرادشتية.‏ 

إذ اجمع الباحثون ان كلمة ‏)أيزد(‏ تعني إله 

الخري كام ان كلمة ‏)أيزدين(‏ تُعرب عن مدينة 

فارسية كانت مركزا للديانة الزرادشتية.‏ وكل 

هذه الفرضيات ال سند لها يف التأريخ،‏ إذ مل يذكر 

التأريخ كون األزيدية كانت يوما ما طائفة مسلمة 

او مسيحية،‏ أما أألزيديون أنفسهم فيقولون ان 

هذه االستنتاجات تتباين باختالف املصادر وال 

تستند عىل النصوص الدينية األزيدية وعىل ما 

مُيارسونه من طقوس يف الخفية تجري بصمت يف 

مرقد الشيخ عدي يف اللش ويعترب التكتم يف اظهار 

املعتقد فرضا عقائديا عىل كل ازيدي.‏ 

وهناك خالفًا بني اإلزيديني أنفسهم،‏ إذ 

يُعرف بعض األزيديني املعارصين أنفسهم عرقياً‏ 

بأنهم مجموعة فرعية من الشعب الكردي.‏ ويرى 

آخرون أنفسهم عىل أنهم يتمتعون بهوية عرقية 

مميزة مثل األزيديني.‏ وتتم مالحظة املامرسات 

الثقافية األزيدية يف اللغة الكرمانجية،‏ التي 

تستخدمها جميع تقاليدهم الدينية املنقولة 

شفهيًا.‏ والكرمانجية هي أقىص شامل اللغات 

الكردية القريبة من إيران،‏ ولغتهم أملت عليهم 

أن يطلقوا عىل أنفسهم وطريقتهم يف العبادة 

‏)عبدة الله(‏ فيقولون بالفارسية ‏)يزد-ان(‏ التي 

تعني الخالق بالفارسية وتطور ذلك فيام بعد 

ليصبح يزيدية.‏ 

وبعض رجال الدين أألزيديون يعتربون 

أن أصل تسميتهم الصحيح هو ‏)عدوييوون(‏ 

نسبة اىل ‏)الشيخ عدي بن مسافر(‏ ودينهم 

‏)بالدين العدووي(،‏ كام وانهم يسمون أنفسهم 

‏)بالداسنية(‏ وهي كلمة تعني عابد اإلله،‏ وأن 

الطائفة موجودة منذ األزل وهي من نسل ادم 

وحده وان األديان األخرى هي من نسل أدم 

وحواء.‏ ولكن اثناء حكم العثامنيون نسبت إليهم 

تسمية ‏)يزيديون(‏ وليس أزيديون لينسبوهم 

اىل يزيد ابن معاوية من أجل تأليب املسلمني 

ومعتنقي املذهب الجعفري ضدهم.‏ 

يف أرمينيا والعراق،‏ يتم االعرتاف باألزيديني 

كمجموعة عرقية متميزة.‏ ويف جورجيا وأملانيا،‏ 

يُنظر إليهم عىل أنهم أكراد ويف سجالت االتحاد 

السوفييتي السابق ‏)روسيا(‏ يعترب األزيديني واألكراد 

كمجموعتني عرقيتني مختلفتني يف تعداد عام 1926، 

لكنه جمعهام معًا كعرق واحد يف التعدادات 

السكانية يف الفرتة من 1931 إىل 1989. 

ولكن ما هو مؤكد أن أألزيديون يتكلمون 

اللغة الكردية وهم منترشون يف اسيا الصغرى كلها 

وأن تجمعاتهم الكربى موجودة يف العراق كتجمع 

الشيخان ‏)املركز الديني للطائفة(‏ شامل رشق 

املوصل وتجمع سنجار غرب مدينة املوصل.‏ 

املعتقدات الدينية والتقاليد 

غالباً‏ ما يُساء فهم الديانة األزيدية،‏ ألنها ال تتناسب 

متاماً‏ مع الفسيفساء الطائفية يف العراق.‏ فاألزيدية 

هي الديانة العرقية للشعب األزيدي وهي دينية 

YAZIDIS continued on page 46 


PK3 

PK4 


توحيدية بطبيعتها،‏ ولها جذور يف العقيدة اإليرانية 

ما قبل الزرادشتية.‏ وكلمة يزيدية تعني ‏“خادم 

الخالق”.‏ ويطلق عىل أتباعهم بالعامية اسم ‏“أهل 

الطاووس ملك”.‏ وتقول بعض األساطري التقليدية أن 

األزيديني كانوا أبناء آدم وحده،‏ وبالتايل منفصلني 

عن بقية البرشية.‏ 

ويف حني أن أصول املعتقد الدقيقة هي مَحل 

خِ‏ الف،‏ يبدو أن األصول القدمُية لليزيدية هي 

مزيج من العنارص الوثنية والزرادشتية واملانوية،‏ 

واليهودية،‏ واملسيحية النسطورية،‏ واملسلمة.‏ 

هناك العديد من الجوانب القدمُية األخرى 

للعقيدة التي تشري إىل أنها قد تكون من بني 

األقدم يف العامل ويعود تاريخ تقومُيها إىل 6756 

عامًا.‏ ما يقرب من 5000 سنة أبعد من التقويم 

املسيحي أو الغريغوري وما يقرب من 1000 سنة 

أبعد من التقويم اليهودي.‏ 

ظهرت اليزيدية يف القرن الثاين عرش 

عندما أسس الشيخ عدي،‏ بعد دراسته 

يف بغداد،‏ طريقة خاصة به تسمى 

العدوية.‏ مذكور يف املصادر العربية 

يف العصور الوسطى باسم أكراد 

عدوية ‏)عدوية األكراد(.‏ ويعتقد 

بعض العلامء أن اليزيدية تشكلت 

عندما استقر الزعيم الصويف الشيخ 

عدي بن مسافر يف كردستان يف 

القرن الثاين عرش وأسس مجتمعًا مُيزج 

عنارص اإلسالم مع معتقدات ما قبل 

اإلسالم املحلية،‏ وحني استقر يف وادي 

اللش قدّم مذاهبه إىل األكراد املحليني وكان 

مُيارس عقيدة إيرانية قدمُية كانت منفصلة عن 

الزرادشتية عىل الرغم من تشابهها معها وكانت 

من أصل ما قبل الزرادشتية.‏ وبعد وفاته عام 

‎1162‎م،‏ مزج تالميذه وخلفاؤه مذاهبه وتعاليمه 

مع التقاليد اإليرانية املحلية والقدمُية.‏ 

اعتنقت العديد من القبائل واإلمارات الكردية 

الديانة اليزيدية.‏ وتحتوي املخطوطات اليزيدية،‏ 

التي تسمى ‏)ميشور(‏ التي تم تدوينها يف القرن 

الثالث عرش،‏ عىل قوائم بالقبائل الكردية التي كانت 

تابعة لبري اليزيدين،‏ ولكن مل يتم نرش سوى اثنتني 

فقط من إجاميل املخطوطات األربعني حتى اآلن!‏ 

ابتداءً‏ من القرن الرابع عرش،‏ بنى أألزيديون 

أجهزتهم الدينية والسياسية الداخلية الخاصة بهم يف 

األرايض التي يسكنونها،‏ وتم تقسيم األرايض اليزيدية 

إىل سبعة مراكز إدارية،‏ لكل منها سنجق خاص بها 

‏)أي منطقة إدارية(،‏ ورمزها هو الطاووس الربونزي 

الذي يعد مبثابة رمز القوة لكل مركز إداري.‏ 

املجتمع اليزيدي منظم يف نظام طبقي ديني 

صارم.‏ وباإلضافة إىل تبجيل الشمس،‏ فإن األزيدية،‏ 

مثل الزرادشتية،‏ يعتربون النار مقدسة وال يجوز 

إطفاؤها باملاء أو التحدث بوقاحة أمامها،‏ وهم 

ال يؤمنون باللعنة األبدية،‏ ويؤمنون بالتناسخ أو 

تناسخ األرواح من خالل دورة تطهري تدريجية،‏ 

حيث تولد أرواح الخطأة من جديد كحيوانات 

لفرتة اختبار قبل أن تتحول إىل الشكل البرشي 

مرة أخرى ويف النهاية تصعد أرواحهم إىل السامء.‏ 

يستخدم التقليد اليزيدي العديد من 

املصطلحات والصور والرموز ذات األصل الصويف 

أو اإلسالمي،‏ مع الحفاظ إىل حد كبري عىل 

األساطري والرموز والطقوس والتقاليد ما قبل 

اإلسالم.‏ ويف حني أن بعض املامرسات اليزيدية 

تشبه مامرسات اإلسالم – االمتناع عن أكل لحم 

الخنزير،‏ عىل سبيل املثال – إال أن العديد من 

املامرسات تبدو فريدة من نوعها يف املنطقة.‏ 

يحتفل أألزيديون بالعام الجديد يف أبريل 

بالبيض امللون ويقيمون عيد األضاحي،‏ حيث يتم 

ذبح خروف عىل يد بابا شيخ ويتم إضاءة املشاعل 

يف جميع أنحاء وادي اللش،‏ وهو مكان مقدس 

يف عقيدتهم.‏ كام مُيُ‏ نع أألزيديون من لبس اللون 

األزرق واألخرض وأكل الخس والفجل النهام رفضا 

إخفاء الشيطان بني أوراقهم ملا طرده الله من 

مملكة السامء واجربه عىل الهبوط لألرض ونطق 

كلمة ‏“شيطان”‏ كام وان لحوم الديكة محرمة 

لكونها تشابه يف ألوان ريشها الطاووس.‏ 

ويفضل االزيديون اللون األبيض يف ملبسهم 

الذي يعتقد بانه اللون املفضل عند اهل الجنة 

ويرمز اىل مالك النور،‏ ومن النادر ان تجدهم يرتدون 

املالبس الخرض او الزرق فهناك من يعتقد ان هذين 

اللونني مقدسان ومحرتمان،‏ إذ ان احرتام عنرص الرش 

الذي يرمزون اليه بالطاووس واجب وألن ألوان 

الطاووس البارزة هي األزرق واألخرض فأصبحت هذه 

األلوان محرمة عىل عامة الناس.‏ 

ومام يزيد فهم املسألة الدينية لألزيدية 

تعقيداً‏ أن األمور الدينية للطائفة ال يعرف بها 

أبنائهم بشكل مفصل وواضح وهي حكراً‏ عىل 

رجال الدين وهم أنفسهم ال يتفقون بينهم عىل 

كافة أمور العقيدة ألن ارسار العقيدة محفوظه يف 

الصدر ال يف الكتب،‏ وهذا الحفظ بالطبع معرض 

لألهواء واآلراء وحكم الزمان وتباعد املناطق 

الجغرافية للطائفة املبعرثة يف ارجاء العامل مام 

يجعلها عرضة للتفسري واالجتهاد والنسيان.‏ ويشري 

الكثري من الكتاب اىل كتاب مصحف روز ‏)الجلوة(‏ 

الذي هو أساس االعتقاد عند األزيدين.‏ 

وهناك بني طبقة املثقفني واملتعلمني ‏)وهم 

قلة(‏ مجموعة من األساطري املتداولة والخرافات 

التاريخية املزروعة يف عقولهم ومازالوا يعيشون 

عقد الخوف واالضطهاد وقصص من وحي الخيال 

ال سند لها يف التأريخ ويتمسكون بخيط واهن من 

الحجج يعتقدونها محفوظة يف الصدور وان الناس 

ال تفهمهم،‏ والتاريخ مل ينصفهم،‏ وان قصصهم 

تحيك الحقيقة املطلقة.‏ 

أألزيديون وعبادة الشمس 

إن الثابت واملؤكد ان اليزيدية تؤمن بالله الواحد 

األحُد ‏)خُدا(‏ الذي خلق الساموات واألرض ويجلس 

عىل الكون ‏)الدرة(‏ وفجر هذه الدرة بأمره وتفجرت 

معها ينابيع املاء ومن بخارها صارت البحور واألنهار 

وبعدها السحاب والسامء ومن نور الله تكونت 

الشمس والنجوم والقمر وكان املالئكة السبعة 

موجودين وهم ‏)عزازيل ودردائيل وارسافيل 

وميخائيل وعزرائيل وشمنائيل ونورائيل(.‏ 

ويعتقد األزيديون ان الله خلق املالئكة 

السبعة من نوره فيوم االحد خلق ‏)ملك شمس 

الدين وهو عزازيل(‏ ويوم االثنني خلق ‏)ملك 

دردائيل وهو ملك فخر الدين ويعني القمر(‏ 

ويوم الثالثاء خلق ‏)ملك ميخائيل وهو أمادين(‏ 

ويوم األربعاء خلق ‏)ملك إرسافيل(‏ ويوم الخميس 

خلق ‏)عزرائيل وهو سجادين(‏ ويوم الجمعة خلق 

‏)شمنائيل الدين(‏ ويوم السبت خلق ‏)ملك 

نورائيل وهو يزدا(.‏ 

وعزازيل هو أحد أسامء الشيطان 

يف امليثولوجيا الدينية القدمُية ويجسد 

نزعة الرش يف اإلنسان ويعترب كبري 

وطاووس املالئكة ورمز مقدس 

عند االزيدية مثلام الصليب عند 

املسيحيني والهالل عند اإلسالم.‏ 

الشمس وطقوس الصالة 

قبلة األزيدي هي الشمس وتتخذ 

األزيدية من الشمس رمزا عىل أبواب 

دورها الدينية ومعابدها،‏ فالشمس هي 

نور الله وهي داللة عىل بزوغ الحياة ويوم 

جديد،‏ ولهذا يتجه األزيدي صوب املرشق ويدعو 

قبل طلوع الشمس ويرتل املصيل بعد رشوق 

الشمس وبعد غياب الشمس.‏ 

وعادة يصيل منفردا وحيدا ويغسل يداه ووجهه 

باملاء ويشد عىل بطنه ما يشبه الحزام ويضع قامشا 

عىل رأسه ويشبك يديه مع بعضها وينزوي بعيدا عن 

اعني الناس منحنيا تبجيال للشمس وطهارة الكون 

وبعد االنتهاء من الصالة والدعاء يركع اىل األرض عىل 

ركبتيه ويقبلها ثالث مرات عوضا عن الشمس ومُيسح 

يديه عىل جبينه او لحيته وشواربه ان كان مسنا 

ويرجو املصيل األزيدي اثناء الصالة يف الصباح من الله 

ان يديم نوره عىل كافة الناس ويشكر رب الشمس 

ويدعوا منه الرحمة والغفران والخري واألمان مللته 

ولكل البرش الطيبني.‏ 

ويف الظهرية عندما تتوسط الشمس منتصف 

السامء يتوجه املصيل نحو اللش الذي هو أقدس 

مكان عنده،‏ وعند املساء يتجه املصيل نحو 

الغروب حيث مغيب الشمس ويكرر طقوس 

صالة الصباح بشكل انفرادي يف ركن من محل 

تواجده بعيدا عن اعني الناس.‏ 

طاووس مَلَك 

بينام يؤمن أألزيديون بإله واحد،‏ فإن الشخصية 

املركزية يف عقيدتهم هي ملك طاووس ‏)املعروف 

أيضً‏ ا باسم طاووس ملك أو املالك الطاووس(،‏ وهو 

املالك الذي تحدى الله ولذلك فإنه اول املوحدين 

ومل يسجد لغري الله وأنه كان يف الفردوس قبل خلق 

اإلنسان ولذلك فإن األزيدية تحرتم وتبجل وتهاب 

طاووس ملك وتعتربه وسيطاً‏ بني بني ادم وبني الله.‏ 

يُعرف إله األزيديني باسم ‏)خودا(‏ وهو غفور 

ورحيم.‏ وخلق الله خودا ومعه سبعة رؤساء مالئكة 

بقيادة ملك طاووس،‏ وتم إرسال مالك الطاووس إىل 

األرض ليخلق الحياة من الفوىض البدائية ويكون 

مبثابة الشفيع بني اإلنسان والله.‏ لقد خلق اإلنسان 

األول بال روح،‏ فنفخ فيه ملك طاووس روح الحياة 

ثم وجه آدم نحو الشمس،‏ التي تعترب رمز الخالق 

األعظم،‏ الذي ال يزال اإلزيديون،‏ مثل سكان بالد ما 

بني النهرين القدماء،‏ يعبدونه.‏ 

واليزيدية ال تعبد متثال الطاووس وال تؤلهه 

فهذا يتضارب مع كونهم يُقرون بوحدانية 

الله الخالق االزل وخالق املالئكة وهو املعبود 

األول وكل املالئكة دونه مبا فيهم طاووس ملك.‏ 

ويعتربون ملك طاووس،‏ الجهاز التنفيذي لإلرادة 

اإللهية.‏ 

وكلمة طاووسً‏ هي كلمة يونانية األصل 

‏)تاووس(‏ تعني اإلله ويعد اكرث الطيور جامال 

وحسنا ولونا وعىل ذنبه ريش فيه دوائر لها ضوء 

كضوء الشمس،‏ ويذكر أألزيديون اسمه احرتاما 

وتبجيالً‏ وتقديساً‏ له باعتباره من املقربني وأن 

الله خلق األنسان األول ‏)ادم(‏ من طني وأمر 

كافة املالئكة ان يسجدوا ألدم ، فسجد الجميع 

إال ‏)عزازيل ) الذي قال لله ‏“كيف اسجد ملخلوق 

صنعته من طني وأنا صنعتني من نار”‏ فكرر عليه 

الله أمر السجود فرفض وقال “ انا ال اسجد إال 

للخالق الذي ال يساويه هذا املخلوق األدمي”‏ ، 

فسخط عليه الله وانزله اىل الجحيم أوال ولكنه 

غفر له بعد هذا االمتحان وريض عنه وأعاده اىل 

الفردوس.‏ 

بالنسبة للمسلمني،‏ غالبًا ما تبدو الرواية األزيدية 

عن املالك املتحدي تتضارب مع الرتجمة القرآنية 

للشيطان الرشير ‏)ابليس(‏ عىل الرغم من أن ملك 

طاووس هو قوة من أجل الخري يف الديانة اليزيدية.‏ 

لكن املحزن لليزيدين هو أن لقصة ملك 

طاووس تشابهات مخيفة مع قصة الشيطان الجن 

الساقط ‏)الجني(‏ يف اإلسالم والذي يعرف باللغة 

العربية باسم الشيطان ‏)ابليس(.‏ وبسبب ذلك 

يواجه أألزيديون اتهامات بعبادة الشيطان من 

املسلمني بدءًا من أواخر القرن السادس عرش 

وأوائل القرن السابع عرش،‏ وحتى يومنا هذا 

يسعى اليزيدين العراقيني إىل وضع حد للصورة 

النمطية واالتهامات العدوانية بعبادة الشيطان.‏ 

إن نكبات ومأيس ومحن األزيدية يف العراق 

مازال يلفها الحزن واألىس وأن نفي اإليزيديني 

من املزارات القدمُية لشعبهم يهدد بإضعاف 

هويتهم كشعب ومكوّن متميز،‏ وال يسعى 

األزيديون يف العراق إىل الحفاظ عىل تقاليدهم 

فحسب،‏ بل يسعون أيضً‏ ا إىل مكافحة املعلومات 

الخاطئة والقوالب النمطية حول عقيدتهم وهناك 

تحديات وصعوبات أمام اإلزيديني الستعادة األمن 

واالستقرار واألمن املجتمعي يف منطقة نينوى/‏ 

سنجار،‏ سيام وان معظمهم تشتتوا بعيداً‏ عن 

أراضيهم املقدسة،‏ وانضم العديد منهم إىل جمع 

الالجئني إىل أوروبا.‏ 

يف الجزء الثاين من املقالة سنتناول مأساة 

داعش والهجوم عىل سنجار واإلبادة الجامعية 

واالضطهاد واالختطاف والعبودية ودمار البلدات 

واملصري املجهول لهذا املكوّن العراقي األصيل.‏ 

املصادر:‏ ويكيبيديا،‏ يزدا ، املؤسسة األزيدية 

الحرة،‏ ناشيونال جيوغرافيك،‏ الغارديان اللندنية،‏ 

باري إبراهيم ، بيايف أرش شابريو،‏ براين كًلني 

ويليامز وكتب الكتاب املذكورة يف املقدمة أعاله.‏ 

YAZIDIS continued from page 44 


PK3 

• For children ages 3 and 4 

• Helps young children to develop academically, socially, 

and emotionally 

• Teaches them new skills that will help later on, when they learn 

to read, write, and do math 

• Teaches phonemic awareness, communication and social skills 

• Encourages curiosity, creativity, and independence 

• Center-based activities that allow children to play, while still 

connecting them to the area of learning 

2 OR 3 DAYS A WEEK BASED ON CHILD’S AGE 

Morning Session 8:45 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. 

or Afternoon Session 12:45 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. 

Little 

Scholars 

PRESCHOOL AND PRE-KINDERGARTEN 

September 9, 2024 – June 13, 2025 

PK4 

• Helps young children transition into Kindergarten 

• Enhances the academic, social, and emotional skills learned 

in preschool 

• Learn concepts in reading, writing, math 

and science 

• Teaches specific phonics instruction and reading ageappropriate 

books 

• Encourages curiosity, creativity, and independence 

• Center-based activities, small group, and 

one-on-one instruction 

MONDAY – FRIDAY 

Morning Session 8:45 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. 

or Afternoon Session 12:45 – 4:15 p.m. 

$100 

REGISTRATION 

FEE 

WANT TO LEARN MORE? 

Please contact Rachel Hall 

at rachel.hall@chaldeanfoundation.org or call (586) 722-7253 

3601 15 Mile Rd., Sterling Heights, MI 48310 | www.chaldeanfoundation.org 


SPORTS 

Row Your Boat 

Mario Marougi and Roman Kalasho help make St. Mary’s rowing history 

BY STEVE STEIN 

Left: Roman Kalasho rows and plays football for Orchard Lake St. Mary’s High School. Right: Mario Marougi recovered 

from a back injury to help the Orchard Lake St. Mary’s High School rowing team make history this spring. 

Neither Mario Marougi nor Roman 

Kalasho had done any competitive 

rowing before they joined 

the storied Orchard Lake St. Mary’s High 

School rowing team as they entered their 

freshman year at the school. 

Their only experience in the sport 

was the annual Learn to Row camp put 

on by St. Mary’s rowing coach Chris 

Czarnecki and St. Mary’s rowing team 

members in the summer before they 

became freshmen. 

Marougi and Kalasho have been 

quick learners. Each contributed to a 

historic season this spring for St. Mary’s. 

In addition to winning their 27th 

Scholastic Rowing Association of 

Michigan boys state championship, 

the Eaglets won their first boys and 

girls combined SRAM state title. Girls 

have been attending St. Mary’s for 

only four years. 

Marougi, who will be a junior this 

fall, was in the boys varsity 8 boat that 

earned a silver medal and boys junior 4 

boat that earned a bronze medal at the 

state competition. Kalasho, who will be 

a senior this fall, was in the second boys 

varsity 8 boat that earned a silver medal. 

The competition was held in May at 

Kensington Metropark. 

Even though they haven’t rowed 

very long, Marougi and Kalasho said 

they like the sport. 

“I like my teammates and my coaches. 

My teammates have become my best 

friends,” Marougi said. “It’s a great 

sport because everyone in your boat 

relies on each other. If you’re not doing 

well, everyone pushes you to do better. 

“I knew I’d like rowing. I’m surprised 

how much I actually like it. I 

even enjoy practices.” 

Kalasho also plays football for St. 

Mary’s. He’s a running back and linebacker, 

which has helped make him 

one of the strongest members of the 

rowing team. 

He listed two main reasons why he 

likes rowing. 

“It creates a bond with your teammates 

like no other sport,” he said. 

“Everyone in your boat has to be in 

synch with each other on every stroke. 

You’re accountable to each other. 

“Also, I love to work out. In rowing, 

you have to give everything you’ve got 

during a race. I know I exert so much 

energy that I’m dead at the end of a 

race.” 

Kalasho doesn’t think rowing makes 

him a better football player, or playing 

football makes him a better rower. 

“But doing both sports keeps me in 

shape year round and reinforces what it 

means to be a good teammate,” he said. 

Marougi and Kalasho each had to 

overcome adversity this past season. 

For Marougi, it was a back injury 

suffered during winter training. 

How important is the back to a 

rower? 

“You have to trust your back to 

row effectively,” said St. Mary’s varsity 

coach Don Wright. 

Marougi fought his way back to 

health. He couldn’t row on the school’s 

rowing machines in January and February. 

Meanwhile, he rested, went 

through physical therapy and rode an 

exercise bike. 

“I was scared at first that I couldn’t 

compete because of my back,” Marougi 

said. “That kept me focused on 

recovering. My back is 100% now, but I 

still get some pains sometimes.” 

Kalasho’s mountain to climb 

wasn’t physical. It was dealing with 

disappointment. 

After competing in St. Mary’s boys 

varsity 8 boat as sophomore, he was 

relegated to the second boys varsity 8 

boat as a junior. 

That was mainly because he was 

playing football during the fall and 

not practicing with the rowing team. 

Kalasho was still disappointed. Then 

he had a heartfelt conversation with 

one of the rowing team’s captains. 

“He told me I needed to make my 

boat my own, so I did,” Kalasho said. 

“I feel I’m a good teammate. I’ll do 

anything for my team.” 

That change of heart didn’t surprise 

Wright. 

“Both Roman and Mario are good 

kids. They’re respectful and great 

teammates,” he said. 

Kalasho was back in the boys varsity 

8 boat for the Canadian Secondary 

Schools Rowing Association meet 

in June is St. Catharines, Ont., and 

contributed to a sixth-place finish. 

Marougi won two silver medals at the 

Canadian nationals. 

Two weeks earlier, Marougi competed 

in the Scholastic Rowing Association 

of America National Championship Regatta 

in Pennsauken, N.J. His boys junior 

4 boat placed 14th among 25 boats. 

Marougi is 16. He has two sisters, 

Maria, 17, and Maya, 13. Their parents 

are Joey and Shelly Marougi. The family 

lives in West Bloomfield. 

Kalasho turned 17 in early July. He 

has two brothers, Preston, 15, and Julian, 

13. Preston, who will be a sophomore 

at St. Mary’s in the fall, was on 

the school’s rowing team this past 

season. Ray and Brenda Kalasho are 

the parents of the three teenagers. The 

family lives in Keego Harbor. 

PHOTOS COURTESY MARIO MAROUGI AND ROMAN KALASHO 


ATTENTION K-12 SCHOOLS & DISTRICTS 

NOW AVAILABLE! 

Avant STAMP (STAndards-based Measurement of Proficiency) WS Speaking test for the Chaldean language. 

The Chaldean Community Foundation has collaborated with Avant Assessment to create a Chaldean speaking test. 

For the first time, we will have data on how well students are progressing in their study and acquisition of Chaldean. 

The STAMP WS for Chaldean is designed for learners in grades 7 and above. 

What is the Avant STAMP? 

Avant STAMP assessments are web-based and 

computer-adaptive, with real-world questions, 

scenarios, or prompts that engage students to 

actively determine their individual proficiency 

levels in communication skills such as speaking. 

Avant STAMP is unique in that it measures what 

students can communicate “on the spot” as they 

would have to do in possible real-life situations. 

These assessments have been validated by 

statistical analysis and expert reviews and are the 

most widely recognized method for measuring 

proficiency in the US school system. 

Why Choose the Avant STAMP WS Test for Chaldean? 

• Tailored to Chaldean Speakers: Specifically designed to 

assess speaking proficiency, this test honors the unique 

characteristics of the Chaldean language. 

• Accessible Online Format: With convenience in mind, 

the test is administered online, allowing learners from 

anywhere to demonstrate their proficiency. 

• Rigorously Rated: Upholding Avant’s high standards, the 

test ensures reliable and meaningful assessment results. 

• This makes the opportunity to earn high school credit and 

the Michigan Seal of Biliteracy for Chaldean now possible. 

Ready to Get Started? 

Discover more about the Avant STAMP WS Speaking test for 

Chaldean by visiting www.avantassessment.com/stamp. 

To request a quote or purchase test credits, contact Stacy Bahri at 

stacy.bahri@chaldeanfoundation.org or call 586.722.7253. 


HEALTH & WELLNESS 

Summer Sports 

Be vigilant about injuries 

Every year, millions of people 

are treated due to sports injuries, 

especially in the summer. 

As a family doctor trying to keep my 

patients as healthy as possible, I have 

witnessed the severe consequences 

sports injuries may have. Fortunately, 

there are reliable ways we can prevent 

them. In the following interview, my 

extern, Dr. Vojtech Parizek, answers 

questions about the prevention of 

sport injuries. 

Dr. Jaddou: What injuries are 

considered sports injuries? 

Dr. Parizek: By the term “sports injuries”, 

doctors mean such injuries 

that are usually caused during various 

sports. However, you can also get a 

“sports injury” while participating in a 

non-sporty activity, such as gardening. 

Sports injuries can be divided into 

two major groups: acute and chronic. 

Acute sports injuries happen immediately, 

like concussion after a fall. 

Chronic injuries need some time to develop, 

such as stress fractures. 

Dr. Jaddou: Are there any other types 

of sports injuries besides the abovementioned 

fractures and concussions? 

Dr. Parizek: There are many. In addition 

to fractures and concussions, there 

are, for example, dislocations, sprains, 

strains, or tendinitis. Dislocations happen 

when bones that form a joint are 

separated. Sprains are damage to the 

connective tissue that join one bone 

with another while strains are damage 

to the muscles or tendons. Tendinitis is 

an inflammation of a tendon. 

Dr. Jaddou: Can you mention any 

common examples of sports injuries? 

Dr. Parizek: Starting with the most 

critical part of the body, concussion 

is a common injury of the head. It is 

caused by a blow to the head, which 

makes the brain shake. Its symptoms 

can include headache, dizziness, confusion, 

and vomiting. 

Another common group is injuries 

to the big joints of the arm, shoulder, 

NEIL DANIAL 

JADDOU, M.D 

SPECIAL TO 

THE CHALDEAN 

NEWS 

VOJTECH 

PARIZEK, M.D. 

SPECIAL TO 

THE CHALDEAN 

NEWS 

and elbow. Shoulder injuries include 

rotator cuff injuries or shoulder instability. 

A rotator cuff is a group of muscles 

that stabilize the shoulder joint. 

Its injuries tend to happen in people 

who repeatedly reach upward like tennis 

players or swimmers. Examples of 

elbow injuries are tennis elbow or golfer’s 

elbow. Tennis elbow is located on 

the outside of the elbow, while golfer’s 

elbow causes pain in the inner part. 

The leg is another major location 

of sports injuries. A hamstring strain 

causes pain in the back of your thigh, 

often seen in basketball, football, and 

soccer. The knee is injured very often. 

A torn knee ligament is typical for 

athletes who change directions suddenly 

or land from a jump. Meniscal 

cartilage tear can be a consequence of 

a complete tear of the knee ligaments. 

Last but not least, ankle sprain is common 

when playing volleyball, soccer, 

or basketball. 

Dr. Jaddou: How can someone prevent 

sports injuries? 

Dr. Parizek: There are many ways you 

can prevent sports injuries. Avoid sports 

that involve heavy collisions, use quality 

safety equipment, warm up with 

stretching before every workout, and 

cool down with stretching after every 

workout. Drink plenty of water to help 

prevent headaches or heatstroke. Most 

importantly, patients should pay attention 

to their bodies and progress stepby-step 

without straining to reach their 

goals too quickly. Finally, play sport 

based on your ability. For example, if 

you are in your 60s don’t play sport or do 

activities the same way you were when 

you were in your twenties or thirties. 

Dr. Jaddou: When should patients see 

a doctor due to their sports injury? 

Dr. Parizek: When things don’t get 

better or when in doubt, then you 

should not wait to see a doctor. Serious 

injuries are usually those that 

cause severe pain, create an obvious 

deformity, or are not getting better 

after a few days. If an injury is minor, 

they should try the RICE method: rest, 

ice, compression, and elevation. 

To prevent sports 

injuries, avoid sports 

that involve heavy 

collisions, use quality 

safety equipment, 

warm up with stretching 

before every workout, 

and cool down 

with stretching after 

every workout…Most 

importantly, pay attention 

to your body 

and progress step-bystep 

without straining 

to reach your goals 

too quickly. 

Dr. Jaddou: I have a lot of patients who 

have osteoporosis. Do you have any 

advice related to sports injuries for them? 

Dr. Parizek: Osteoporotic patients 

should focus on osteoporosis prevention 

in general, as stronger bones 

will help them prevent injuries. They 

should stop smoking, limit alcohol 

consumption, increase physical activity, 

and get other medical conditions 

under control to eliminate other 

risk factors for osteoporosis. 

It is also recommended that patients 

increase their calcium and vitamin 

D levels. Patients can get calcium 

from dairy products, spinach, broccoli, 

or from foods with added calcium, 

like orange juice and other sources. 

Vitamin D can be obtained from sun 

exposure (be careful not to sunburn!) 

or from many types of fish, egg yolk, 

vitamin D-fortified foods, and others. 

If patients have or think they may 

have osteoporosis, they should limit 

their fall risk by not doing any jumping 

moves, checking the list of their medications 

with a doctor (as some of them 

can cause dizziness), and placing railings 

and non-slip carpets at home, 

among other safety measures. 

Dr. Jaddou: You mentioned vitamin 

D. Are there any other benefits to 

supplementing? 

Dr. Parizek: There are many. Vitamin 

D is an interesting substance that is 

both a vitamin and a hormone at once. 

Its character supports immune health, 

muscle function, and brain cell activity. 

It gives you energy and decreases 

muscle pain and depression. 

Dr. Jaddou: Is there anything else you 

would like to tell patients? 

Dr. Parizek: I would like to tell them 

that prevention really works and that 

the health benefits of sports strongly 

outweigh their risks. I also think that 

having a solid primary care physician 

who will not hesitate to guide them 

through a potential treatment plan in 

case of injury is extremely important. 

Dr. Neil Jaddou is a professor of Family 

Medicine and Community Health 

at both Wayne State and Oakland 

Beaumont Medical School. He also 

sees patients at Somerset Family 

Medicine (SFM) in Troy and Sterling 

Heights, Michigan. More information 

can be found at www.drjaddou.com. 

Dr. Vojtech Parizek is an aspiring family 

physician from the Czech Republic and 

is doing his rotation at SFM. 


PROFESSIONALS PROFESSIONALS PROFESSIONALS PROFESSIONALS 

Authorized Agent for: 

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(248) 851-BCBS 

Fax: (248) 851-2215 

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Individual & Group Health Plans 

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Office (248) 737-9500 

Direct (248) 939-1985 

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Email MortgageGabe@aol.com 

Advertise 

for As little As $ 85 

in our business directory section! 

to place your ad, contact us today! 

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

30095 Northwestern Highway, Suite 101 


Advertise 

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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 

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NMLS ID: 166374 

CHALDEAN 

AMERICAN 

CHAMBER OF 

COMMERCE 

CHALDEAN COMMUNITY 

FOUNDATION 

SANA NAVARRETTE 

DIRECTOR OF MEMBERSHIP DEVELOPMENT 

JACQUELINE RAXTER, LMSW, 30095 LPC Northwestern Highway, Suite 101 

BEHAVIORAL 

for As little As $ HEALTH Farmington Hills, MI 48334 

PROGRAM 85 MANAGER 

CELL (248) 925-7773 

in our business directory section! 

TEL (248) 851-1200 

FAX 

to place your ad, contact us today! 

(248) 851-1348 

3601 15 Mile Road 

Sterling Heights, MI 48310 snavarrette@chaldeanchamber.com 

TEL: (586) 722-7253 www.chaldeanchamber.com 

FAX: (586) 722-7257www.chaldeanfoundation.org 

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

jacqueline.raxter@chaldeanfoundation.org 


www.chaldeanfoundation.org 


CHALDEAN 

AMERICAN 

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 


ELIAS KATTOULA 

CAREER SERVICES MANAGER 

3601 15 Mile Road 

Sterling Heights, MI 48310 

TEL: (586) 722-7253 

FAX: (586) 722-7257 

elias.kattoula@chaldeanfoundation.org 


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 2023 REAL ESTATE 

OAKLAND COUNTY COUNTY 1993 – 2015 - 2023 

HOUR MEDIA ALL STARS – 

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Proudly servingHOUR Birmingham, MEDIA 

Bloomfield, Proudly Farmington serving Birmingham, Hills, Bloomfield, 

Each office Each office is independently 

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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 

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 



Attorney Alexander R. Karana 

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• Patent Law 

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New York Life Congratulates 

Gabriel H. Sinawi CLU®, ChFC® for 

46 years of Service & Life member of MDRT 

Life Insurance, IRAs, SEPs, Fixed and Variable Annuities # , Mutual Funds # , 

Health Insurance/Medicare ** 

CONTACT: 

Agent, New York Life Insurance Company 

Registered Representative of NYLIFE Securities LLC 

Member (FINRA/SIPC), a Licensed Insurance Agency 

and a New York Life company 

EMAIL: gsinawi@ft.newyorklife.com 

PHONE: 248-357-8971 

CELL: 248-420-2632 

ADDRESS: 27777 Franklin Dr, Suite 2220, Southfield, MI 48034 

#Securities offered through NYLIFE Securities LLC (member FINRA/SIPC). **Products available through one or more carriers not affiliated with 

New York Life, dependent on carrier authorization and product availability in your state or locality. *Awarded by New York Life Insurance Company 

for outstanding sales achievements. Council is an annual company recognition program based on agent production from July 1-June 30. 


EVENT 

Annual CACC 

Golf Outing 

PHOTOS BY DANY ASHAKA 

On Thursday, June 13, the Chaldean American 

Chamber of Commerce (CACC) hosted its annual 

community Golf Outing at Shenandoah Country 

Club. The day started out wet and breezy but warm 

winds prevailed, and the outing was ultimately a 

success. The Farbman Group foursome took home 

the trophy. Many CACC members supported this 

event, including MotorCity Casino, Citizens State 

Bank, and Absopure. 

Clockwise from top left: An aerial view of Shenandoah Country Club; The trophy has the winners’ names 

from the last two decades; Tommy Hajji ran the putting contest. Mike DiLaura won this year’s pot; The 

winning foursome of Gavin Mills, Nick Daprai, Harry Barash, and Ryan DiCarlo represented Farbman 

Group; Golfers enjoy lunch before the noon shotgun scramble; This women’s foursome includes Diane 

Kello, Carol Loussia, Michelle Saroki, and Sandra Lousia. 


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GENERAL ADMISSION $ 45 

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REGISTER NOW! WWW.ALEXANDGABBY.COM 


FROM THE ARCHIVE 

Family Vacations 

Aah, the family vacation! Perhaps it was an 

annual road trip to Carey, Ohio, or a couple 

weeks at the cottage, but it seems the family 

vacations of yesteryear are tinted with 

nostalgia. These beauties were pulled from 

the archives of the Chaldean Cultural Center. 

Cass Lake was a popular destination for 

summer fun, as evidenced by the Matti boys 

playing in the water in the 1940s and Tom 

Matti in his boat on the lake in the 1950s. The 

group photo was also at Cass Lake, taken 

probably sometime in the late 1940s and 

featuring Shamamta Dickow standing on 

the left with Dorothy Najor on the right, and 

sitting left to right were Zarifa Saroki, Ruby 

Najor, and Jalila George. It seems to have 

been submitted by Josephine Sarafa. Another 

favorite getaway was Belle Isle, where Katu 

Matti is pictured with Jamila Binno, who’s 

holding a baby. The photo is dated 1937. 

Clockwise from top left: 1. Katu Matti and Jamila Binno with a baby at Belle Isle, c. 1937. 2. The Matti boys 

playing in Cass Lake, c. 1940s. 3. At Cass Lake in the late 40s: Standing left to right: Shamamta Dickow, 

and Dorothy Najor. Sitting left to right: Zarifa Saroki, Ruby Najor, and Jalila George. 4. Tom Matti with a 

boatful on Cass Lake in the 1950s. All photos are courtesy of the Chaldean Cultural Center. 

The Chaldean Cultural Center and Museum owns a collection of captivating images from our vibrant community that 

we are delighted to share with the Chaldean News. If you have photographs that you would like us to incorporate into 

our archive, kindly reach out to us at info@chaldeanculturalcenter.org or call 248-681-5050. 


From the Office of Wayne County Treasurer 

Eric R. Sabree 

If you are facing foreclosure and need assistance in starting 

a Wayne County Probate Court Case because a property is 

in the name of a deceased family member, please contact 

one of the following community partners for assistance: 

Michigan Legal Services: 313-774-1527 | 313-725-4890 

United Community Housing Coalition: 313-405-7726 

Legal Aid & Defender: 313-967-5800 

Contact the Wayne County 

Probate Court by calling: 

313-224-5706 

We are here to help! 

www.Treasurer.WayneCounty.com 

313-224-5990

JULY 2024

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