SPORTS

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The Chaldean Hockey League is a delicate balance of fierce competition, camaraderie and community. Games in the weekly league are hard-fought, and emotions run high—especially in the playoffs, when the coveted Telga Cup, the league’s version of the NHL’s Stanley Cup, is on the line.

NOTEworthy

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Public School Teacher Earns Her Doctorate

Dr. Crystal Kassab Jabiro successfully defended her dissertation titled “Ethnic Identity Development of Chaldean American Youth” at Indiana Wesleyan University on Friday, November 21, 2025.

Latest Issue: DECEMBER 2025

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Adoption Story

Dawn Pullis shares her family's adoption journey.

Chaldean Kitchen with Jacob Bacall

Jacob Bacall prepares Gurgur, the classic Chaldean dish and ancient staple, cooked throughout Mesopotamia for thousands of years.

Inside the Studio with Ron Najor

CN editor, Sarah Kittle, speaks with Ron Najor about his new film, "Adjunct" and about Uncle Freddy Productions, the production company set-up with help from his uncle, Fred Najor.

Chaldean Kitchen with Linda Abbo

Linda Abby's unique torshi recipe brings on the heat.

This episode of Chaldean Kitchen is proudly sponsored by Jim Manna, the Residential & Vacant Land Expert with Real Estate One.

Sureth Language Classes for Teens

Chaldean Community Foundation's new center in West Bloomfield kicks off its programming series with language classes designed to introduce Sureth to Chaldean teens.

Online Exclusive

2025 Content

Chaldean Chamber Participates in Distribution of Meals

The City of Oak Park partnered with first responders, the Chaldean American Chamber of Commerce, and Forgotten Harvest to distribute full Thanksgiving meals to more than 250 local households facing increasing food insecurity.

Features

2025 Content

Gift Guide 2025

Celebrate the spirit of Detroit with gifts that bring hometown pride and nostalgia. Featuring Better Made Snacks, Ink Detroit, Create My Rosary, Urban Air Adventure Park, Golden Gal Fine Jewelry, Chloe’s Treasures, English Gardens, and the Detroit Chocolate Company.

IMG_4455_Allos family, Christmas 2004.jpeg

A Season of Gratitude

The holiday season is a time where many people have a whirlwind of emotions. Over the two or so months, there are a variety of holidays from Thanksgiving to Hanukkah, to Christmas and New Year’s Eve. Oftentimes, we find ourselves reflecting on the past year, and how we’ve gotten to this point. Feelings of gratitude always seem to revolve around the holiday season.

Deck the Halls

The holiday season always brings cheer and joy to those who celebrate. Festive outings, meals with loved ones, and joyful gatherings fill the coming months. One of the best parts of the season is making cherished memories with family. A great way to do that is by finding fun activities and places to visit that spread holiday cheer. Christmas shopping, visiting light displays, taking the kids to see Santa, and caroling are just a few traditions that help make the season so special.

Shall This Nation Die?

In 1915, before the word genocide existed, the people of the Ottoman borders already lived its meaning. Armenians, Assyrians, and Chaldeans were driven from their homes, pushed into the desert, and slaughtered by the hundreds of thousands. Out of that darkness rose one Chaldean priest’s question, “Shall this nation die?”

Wrapped With Love

Long before the holiday music plays and the last gift is wrapped, a small army of volunteers gathers in a Macomb County space to sort, wrap, and organize presents. Each package is assembled with care so that a child in foster care will open something personal and know they are not forgotten. For nearly 20 years, that work has been centered around one woman and a simple promise: to make sure no child in foster care goes without at Christmas.

Echoes of Ancient Gates

The history of doors in ancient civilizations—and especially in the Middle East—is remarkable. Gates and wooden doors have existed since the dawn of civilization. According to the Bible, King Solomon commissioned olive wood doors for his temple. Ancient Mesopotamians and Egyptians also used wooden doors in their homes and temples.

Parliamentary Elections 2025

The Chaldean Community Foundation (CCF) Iraq Mission has been closely monitoring the 2025 national parliamentary elections. With permanent staff in the Nineveh Plain and ongoing work and visits in the region, the CCF has established strong relationships with political leadership.

Telleskuf: Between Past and Present

Telleskuf (Tel Keppe) is a Chaldean name composed of two parts: Tella Zqeepa — Tella meaning “hill” and Zqeepa meaning “upright” or “cross.” The town’s origins date to the mid–second millennium B.C. Ancient manuscripts reference Telleskuf. In the archives of the Chaldean Diocese of Kirkuk, there is a manuscript written in 1582 by Abraham bin Bid‘a of Telleskuf.

Arabic Translations

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تللسقف بين الماضي والحاضر

تللسقف‭ ‬لفظة‭ ‬كلدانية‭ ‬تتكون‭ ‬من‭ ‬مقطعين‭ (‬تلا‭ ‬زقيپا‭) ‬وتلا‭ ‬تعني‭ ‬التل،‭ ‬وزقيبا‭ ‬تعني‭ ‬المنتصب‭ ‬أو‭ ‬الصليب‭. ‬يعود‭ ‬تاريخ‭ ‬تأسيسها‭ ‬إلى‭ ‬حوالي‭ ‬منتصف‭ ‬الألف‭ ‬الثاني‭ ‬قبل‭ ‬الميلاد‭. ‬وهناك‭ ‬مخطوطات‭ ‬قديمة‭ ‬تتحدث‭ ‬عن‭ ‬بلدة‭ ‬تللسقف،‭ ‬ففي‭ ‬خزانة‭ ‬الأبرشية‭ ‬الكلدانية‭ ‬في‭ ‬كركوك‭ ‬مخطوطة‭ ‬كلدانية‭ ‬قديمة‭ ‬كتبها‭ ‬أبراهام‭ ‬بن‭ ‬بدعة‭ ‬التللسقفي‭ ‬سنة‭ ‬1582‭.‬

جسر دلالي - أسطورة الفتاة الضحية - دلال

تُعتبر‭ ‬الجسور‭ ‬والأقواس‭ ‬القديمة‭ ‬معالم‭ ‬تاريخية‭ ‬حية‭ ‬ومهمة‭ ‬في‭ ‬الأماكن‭ ‬التي‭ ‬شُيدت‭ ‬فيها،‭ ‬فهي‭ ‬ليست‭ ‬مجرد‭ ‬طرق‭ ‬للعبور‭ ‬والتنقل‭ ‬بين‭ ‬ضفتي‭ ‬نهر،‭ ‬بل‭ ‬لعبت‭ ‬دورًا‭ ‬مهمًا‭ ‬في‭ ‬تذليل‭ ‬العقبات‭ ‬أمام‭ ‬التواصل‭ ‬البشري‭ ‬بين‭ ‬الأصدقاء‭ ‬والأعداء‭ ‬على‭ ‬مر‭ ‬العصور،‭ ‬ولذلك،‭ ‬فهي‭ ‬تؤثر‭ ‬بشكل‭ ‬كبير‭ ‬في‭ ‬تشكيل‭ ‬الثقافة،‭ ‬والتاريخ،‭ ‬والجغرافيا،‭ ‬وكنز‭ ‬ثمين‭ ‬للأساطير‭.‬

أنبياء اليهود في بلاد الرافدين – مواقع ومراقد وقصص وأساطير- الجزء الثالث

ركزت‭ ‬المقالات‭ ‬حول‭ ‬المقامات‭ ‬اليهودية‭ ‬المقدسة‭ ‬في‭ ‬العراق‭ (‬الأجزاء‭ ‬الأول‭ ‬والثاني‭ ‬والثالث‭) ‬على‭ ‬تسليط‭ ‬الأضواء‭ ‬على‭ ‬تاريخ‭ ‬ومحنة‭ ‬الأقليات‭ ‬العرقية‭ ‬الأصيلة‭ ‬في‭ ‬العراق،‭ ‬التي‭ ‬كانت‭ ‬تمارس‭ ‬حقوقها‭ ‬المدنية‭ ‬والدينية‭ ‬في‭ ‬البداية‭ ‬وكذلك‭ ‬المؤامرات‭ ‬التي‭ ‬استهدفت‭ ‬الجالية‭ ‬اليهودية‭ ‬وأجبرتها‭ ‬على‭ ‬الهجرة‭ ‬إلى‭ ‬إسرائيل،‭ ‬فضلًا‭ ‬عن‭ ‬تهجير‭ ‬المسيحيين‭ ‬والمندائيين‭ ‬واليزيدين‭ ‬بعدهم‭ ‬وبعثرتهم‭ ‬حول‭ ‬العالم‭. ‬

انبياء‭ ‬اليهود‭ ‬في‭ ‬بلاد‭ ‬الرافدين‭ ‬–‭ ‬مواقع‭ ‬ومراقد‭ ‬وقصص‭ ‬واساطير‭ - ‬الجزء‭ ‬الثاني

سجلات‭ ‬التاريخ‭ ‬في‭ ‬بلاد‭ ‬ما‭ ‬بين‭ ‬النهرين‭ (‬العراق‭) ‬تبيّن‭ ‬انه‭ ‬بعد‭ ‬2600‭ ‬عام‭ ‬من‭ ‬الاستيطان‭ ‬اليهودي‭ ‬المتواصل‭ ‬في‭ ‬المنطقة‭ ‬التي‭ ‬وُلد‭ ‬فيها‭ ‬النبي‭ ‬إبراهيم،‭ ‬وسُجل‭ ‬فيها‭ ‬عهد‭ ‬بابل‭ ‬حيث‭ ‬كَتبَ‭ ‬اليهود‭ ‬التلمود‭ ‬البابلي،‭ ‬انتهى‭ ‬وجود‭ ‬المكون‭ ‬اليهودي‭ ‬العراقي‭ ‬في‭ ‬وطن‭ ‬اجدادهم‭ ‬بعد‭ ‬احداث‭ ‬الفرهود‭ ‬واسقاط‭ ‬الجنسية‭ ‬العراقية‭ ‬عن‭ ‬هذا‭ ‬المكّون‭ ‬الأصيل‭ ‬في‭ ‬النصف‭ ‬الثاني‭ ‬من‭ ‬القرن‭ ‬العشرين‭. ‬ورغم‭ ‬ذلك،‭ ‬لا‭ ‬يزال‭ ‬هناك‭ ‬تراث‭ ‬مادي‭ ‬وتاريخي‭ ‬يستحق‭ ‬التذكير‭ ‬به‭ ‬ومواقع‭ ‬دينية‭ ‬وأثرية‭ ‬مقدسة‭ ‬مهملة،‭ ‬ومتروكة‭ ‬لمعول‭ ‬الزمان‭ ‬ومهددة‭ ‬بالانقراض‭ ‬تنتظر‭ ‬الرحمة‭ ‬والعناية‭ ‬والترميم‭. ‬لقد‭ ‬حددت‭ ‬أبحاث‭ ‬أجراها‭ ‬أثريون‭ ‬وأكاديميون‭ ‬27‭ ‬موقعًا‭ ‬في‭ ‬العراق‭ ‬لا‭ ‬تزال‭ ‬قائمة،‭ ‬ولكنها‭ ‬معرضة‭ ‬للخطر‭ ‬والاندثار‭ ‬وهي‭ ‬في‭ ‬حالة‭ ‬بالغة‭ ‬السوء‭.‬

Voices

FROM THE EDITOR

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The Power of Belonging

As we close out the year, this December issue invites us to pause, reflect, and reconnect—with our heritage, our families, and the communities that sustain us. The end of the year has a way of drawing us back to what matters most, and across these pages you’ll find a theme that carries through each story: the power of belonging, whether expressed through gratitude, service, shared history, or the simple joy of being together.

GUEST COLUMN

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“Mr. Ambassador… Sayyid al-Safeer”

One of the great privileges of my work with the Iraqi Embassy over the years has been meeting and collaborating with remarkable Iraqi diplomats who have become brothers to me—as we call one another. Recently, Iraq’s Parliament approved a long-delayed slate of new ambassadors, and I was thrilled to see at least five of these colleagues elevated to the rank of ambassador.

GUEST COLUMN

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End of Life Issues

In addressing this difficult subject, I must first make a clarification: I am not a theologian or an ethicist. I am a physician who has faced end-of-life issues many times over my 37-year career in pediatric oncology. This article is guided by the teachings of the Catholic Church—its Catechism and moral tradition—and by the Catholic Medical Association, of which I was a member. If I have made any errors, I welcome correction and comment.

Departments

CULTURE & HISTORY

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Telleskuf: Between Past and Present

health & wellness

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When the Seasons Change

There’s a reason our hearts feel different when the seasons change. It’s not weakness, it’s rhythm. As the days get darker, our bodies slow down too. The holidays can bring joy, but they can also overwhelm and bring stress. In Chaldean homes, this season is full of warmth and family, but that doesn’t mean it’s always easy. Many people find themselves pushing to stay okay when what they really need is a little space to rest and reset.

EVENT

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Voting booths were assembled just outside the Mar Ibrahim Library in Thomas Denha Main Street at CCF West.

CACC Annual Meeting & Board Election

The 2025 Chaldean American Chamber of Commerce Annual Meeting & Board Election was held on Wednesday, November 12 at CCF West, drawing nearly 150 attendees for an evening of networking, community engagement, and member connection. Guests explored exhibit booths from nine corporate members before participating in the Annual Meeting and voting for eight open Board seats from thirteen candidates.

NOTEWORTHY

Featured

Public School Teacher Earns Her Doctorate

Dr. Crystal Kassab Jabiro successfully defended her dissertation titled “Ethnic Identity Development of Chaldean American Youth” at Indiana Wesleyan University on Friday, November 21, 2025.

CHALDEAN KITCHEN

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Ancient ‘Processed’ Food

A growing interest in healthy eating has made Middle Eastern dishes like hummus and falafel commonplace in recent years.. However, one particular dish — a staple across the Middle East for literally thousands of years — remains far less known in the West: Bulgur is a grain dish that has sustained the human race for millennia. In Chaldean homes, it is known as Gurgur.

Economics & enterprise

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Family Foundations

Every family has its own story, but some stand out because they’re built on quiet strength and shared purpose. For brothers Rami and Noor Yasi, their path in real estate and mortgage lending grew from early lessons that shaped them long before they entered the industry. What began as a simple desire to help others find stability has become a lifelong calling rooted in compassion and hard work.

Foundation Update

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What’s Cooking at CCF West

Last month, guest chefs Samira Cholagh and May Denha guided participants through the art of making Kleecha, Kahi, and Maa’Kacha. Hands-on sessions offered more than just recipes, they fostered connections, cultural pride, and delicious memories. Each session invites you to team up with fellow food lovers, learn from talented Chaldean community members, and create authentic dishes in a welcoming, hands-on environment.

Supporting Our Seniors

In partnership with MDHHS and Ageways Michigan, CCF West hosted a meaningful community dialogue with Chaldean seniors to help shape the Michigan Plan on Aging. Participants shared personal experiences about aging in Michigan, highlighting key needs around transportation, mobility, food access, and overall well-being. Tammy Lemmer from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) facilitated the discussion.

Learning Proper Nutrition

Last month, our B.E.A.M. Project participants attended nutrition classes at CCF West presented by Amy Safaoui, a Michigan State University Extension Community Instructor fluent in Arabic. Amy works closely with Arab and Chaldean communities across Oakland, Macomb, and Wayne Counties, helping families build lasting healthy habits.

Feeding Those in Need

The Chaldean Community Foundation (CCF) has partnered with the city of Sterling Heights for the 47th Annual Ken Stempowski Memorial Food Drive, providing food assistance to families in need this holiday season. Now through December 17, a donation bin will be available at the CCF (Sterling Heights location) to accept non-perishable food donations during office hours.

Noteworthy

Featured

Public School Teacher Earns Her Doctorate

Dr. Crystal Kassab Jabiro successfully defended her dissertation titled “Ethnic Identity Development of Chaldean American Youth” at Indiana Wesleyan University on Friday, November 21, 2025.

Pomegranate Screening

Winner of over 50 international film awards and now streaming in 25 countries, Pomegranate by Weam Namou comes to the big screen at Emagine Theater in Royal Oak (200 North Main Street) on December 7 from 3pm to 6pm EST.

Pastry Guru Back on Food Network

Jonathan Elias, Metro Detroit’s own “Pastry Guru,” recently returned to the national spotlight with a new appearance on Food Network’s Sweet Empire: Winter Wars. Competing among a select group of top dessert artists from across the country, Elias showcased his signature creativity, precision and larger-than-life pastry imagination in this high-stakes holiday competition.

Female Chaldean Officer Sworn In

Sterling Heights formally welcomed four new police officers and four firefighter/EMTs in October 2025. These officers were officially sworn in on October 7 by Police Chief Andrew Satterfield before the Sterling Heights City Council, marking the beginning of their careers serving the community. The four officers (as introduced) were Tyler Secluna, Miranda Diaowd, Adam Mays and Andy Cafritzas.

Obituaries

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Lewis Yaldo

Lewis Yaldo, devoted husband, father, grandfather, and beloved uncle, passed away on November 1, 2025. Born in 1928, he overcame early family hardships to build a successful plumbing and import business with his brother and cousins.

John Mansour

John Mansour, cherished son of Emanuel and Antoinette Mansour, was born on December 29, 1968, and went to Heaven on September 17, 2025. The loving husband of Ann “Ahlam” Mansour, John was a faithful father to Adriana, the late Alexander, and the late Gabrielle Mansour and caring brother of Steven (Zenia) Mansour and Marvin Mansour.

Hana Yousif Manna

Hana Yousif Manna, devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, passed away on August 22, 2025. Born in Iraq on April 6, 1943, she married Frank (Fouad), in 1959. Ten years later, they immigrated to the US, where they built a life rooted in faith, family, and service. Hana worked for the Oak Park School District, where she was known as a second mother to many, always offering kindness, guidance, and love.

Laith Joseph Manni

Laith Joseph Manni was born on July 2, 1964, and peacefully entered the gates of Heaven on July 12, 2025. He was the cherished husband of Suhair Katoola Manni for 31 years and the devoted father of Brandon, Brenda, Dylan, and Destiny. Laith’s greatest joy in life was his family, whom he loved unconditionally. May he rest in peace.