RELIGION

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On June 18, 2025, history was made in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. For the first time, after decades of dreaming, the Chaldean Catholic community in that region walked into their very own church. The consecration of St. John the Apostle Chaldean Catholic Church was more than just a ceremony, it was the answer to years of prayers, hope, and countless sacrifices.

chaldean kitchen

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Torshi Girl

Thousands of Chaldean families reside in Metro Detroit, and there are likely almost as many torshi recipe variations. A pickled-vegetable staple in Middle Eastern homes, the crunchy treat livens up any meal and can even be enjoyed as a stand-alone snack.

Latest Issue: SEPTEMBER 2025

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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.

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Sister Act

State Champion siblings Alana and Lexa Hindo share insights on competition, school work and comparisons with the Williams sisters.

Sureth Language Classes Connect Teens to Their Heritage

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

Yezidi Tombs Resurface from Mosul Dam

Long ago, the lands around Mosul nurtured families whose fathers and mothers worked its fields and whose children’s laughter echoed across its soil. But that life was swept away in the 1980s, when the waters of the Mosul Dam rose, swallowing not only the land but entire chapters of unwritten history.

Features

2025 Content

It Takes a Village

Nestled in Detroit’s historic Corktown neighborhood, Kintsugi Village is more than just a school—it’s a living, breathing ecosystem built on the idea that education should nourish the whole child. Set to open in October, the nonprofit early childhood center blends learning with art, food, nature, and community connection.

A Family Affair

For one group of past, current, and future medical students at Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine, it’s definitely safe to say that the school is a family affair. Chaldean cousins Jackie, Julianne, and Jacob Thomas all officially begin attending OUWB as members of the Class of 2029 on Monday, August 18.

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From the Nineveh Plains to Kabul

For over 150 years, the remarkable story of a Chaldean woman from the Nineveh Plains who became part of the ruling dynasty during 19th-century Afghanistan was largely forgotten or perhaps intentionally concealed in my family’s historical narrative.

Seniors at Risk

With increasingly realistic deepfakes arriving by email, text, phone and even mail, everyone is vulnerable to fraudsters. Seniors, in particular, are prime targets. My wife and I—not quite seniors yet—learned this the hard way. A couple of years ago, while trying to sell a couch on Facebook Marketplace, we were scammed out of $300 through Zelle.

From Kitchen to Classroom

The Chaldean Community Foundation’s West location (CCF West) will soon unveil a robust slate of new programs designed to support seniors, families, and community members of all ages. From wellness classes to cultural workshops and intergenerational cooking lessons, the expanded offerings reflect CCF West’s mission of building connection, promoting health, and celebrating heritage.

A Legacy of Counsel

The legal profession often reflects the world it serves. At its most honest, it mirrors evolving stories of identity, justice, and perseverance. For many Chaldean American attorneys, entering this world is about more than building a career. It means standing on the strength of tradition while creating something new for future generations.

Mar Eliya Retreat Center

The story of Mar Eliya Retreat Center begins in 1928, when Detroit industrialist Arthur H. Buhl purchased a picturesque estate in Oxford, Michigan. Originally developed as Buhl’s private residence, the property eventually evolved into a place of peace and spirituality, serving various faith-based purposes for over half a century.

Not Done Yet

If a quick glance around the office reveals more silver hair and sensible shoes, it’s no illusion. Older workers are sticking around—and in greater numbers. Nearly 20% of people 65 and older are working, according to 2023 data from the Pew Research Center—double the share from 35 years ago. In that same period, wages for this demographic have nearly doubled.

Arabic Translations

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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.‬

شُكرٌ‭ ‬وأمتنان

نُقدم‭ ‬انا‭ ‬وأولادي‭ ‬كلٌّ‭ ‬من‭: ‬جبران‭ ‬وعلاء‭ ‬وقيس‭ ‬ومارتن‭ ‬وروبرت،‭ ‬وبناتي‭ ‬كل‭ ‬من‭: ‬مي‭ ‬وڤيني‭ ‬وليلى،‭ ‬جزيل‭ ‬الشكر‭ ‬والإمتنان‭ ‬لأبناء‭ ‬الجالية‭ ‬الكلدانية‭ ‬من‭ ‬الرجال‭ ‬والنساء‭ ‬والشباب‭ ‬والشابات،‭ ‬وكل‭ ‬الذين‭ ‬حضروا‭ ‬القداس‭ ‬التأبيني‭ ‬للمرحومة‭ ‬والدتنا‭ ‬’هناء‘‭ ‬في‭ ‬كنيسة‭ ‬أم‭ ‬الله‭ ‬وفي‭ ‬مقدمتهم‭ ‬سيادة‭ ‬المطران‭ ‬مار‭ ‬ابراهيم‭ ‬ابراهيم‭ ‬الجزيل‭ ‬الاحترام‭ ‬والتقدير‭ ‬وكل‭ ‬الذين‭ ‬شاركوا‭ ‬في‭ ‬مراسيم‭ ‬وأد‭ ‬المرحومة‭ ‬في‭ ‬مثواها‭ ‬ألأخير‭ ‬وكل‭ ‬الذين‭ ‬حضروا‭ ‬مجلس‭ ‬العزاء‭ ‬من‭ ‬الرجال‭ ‬والنساء‭ ‬والشباب‭ ‬والشابات‭.‬

يوسف ميري الشماس والمؤلف والمُعلِم

جيلًا بعد جيل، وزمناً بعد زمان يصح القول وتثبت الأحداث بان التعليم هو من أسس التقويم الثابتة والتربية المهمة إذ عندما يتعلم الناس، فإنهم يتقدمون فكريًا، ويتلقون دروسًا في الحياة، وينضمون إلى أجواء العالم الحديث. وهذه لمحة عن التعليم وتاريخ وإسهامات الشماس الكلداني والمؤلف والمعلم والمربي يوسف منصور ميري (ماري).

الراعي‭ ‬الصالح‭ ‬الذي‭ ‬غادرنا‭ ‬بصمت

في‭ ‬صباح‭ ‬الثلاثاء،‭ ‬الثامن‭ ‬عشر‭ ‬من‭ ‬حزيران‭ ‬2025،‭ ‬خيّم‭ ‬الحزن‭ ‬على‭ ‬بلدة‭ ‬ألقوش،‭ ‬وامتدّ‭ ‬إلى‭ ‬كل‭ ‬بيت‭ ‬كلداني‭ ‬في‭ ‬العراق‭ ‬والمهجر،‭ ‬بعد‭ ‬أن‭ ‬أعلن‭ ‬عن‭ ‬وفاة‭ ‬سيادة‭ ‬المطران‭ ‬مار‭ ‬بولس‭ ‬ثابت‭ ‬حبيب‭ ‬المكو،‭ ‬راعي‭ ‬أبرشية‭ ‬ألقوش‭ ‬الكلدانية،‭ ‬عن‭ ‬عمر‭ ‬ناهز‭ ‬49‭ ‬عامًا،‭ ‬قضاه‭ ‬في‭ ‬خدمة‭ ‬الإيمان‭ ‬والكنيسة،‭ ‬ورافق‭ ‬فيه‭ ‬شعبه‭ ‬في‭ ‬السراء‭ ‬والضراء‭.‬

Voices

FROM THE EDITOR

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Taking Care of Family

As the days grow cooler and shorter, many of us take time to reflect on what matters most—and for Chaldeans, that often begins with family. Our cover story is a true family affair: five cousins from the Thomas family have all chosen to pursue medicine at Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine.

GUEST COLUMN

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What is a Sanctuary City?

There is a persistent misconception that sanctuary cities allow “criminal illegal aliens” to roam freely and hide after committing crimes. Basic logic suggests this is not the case — regardless of party affiliation, elected officials generally care about the public and work to protect it.

GUEST COLUMN

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Honoring Our Elders

If you ever find yourself driving down Jamacha Road in San Diego, you might notice a modest wooden sign that reads: Good Samaritan Retirement Center. Tucked into a quiet residential neighborhood, this Spanish-style building, surrounded by well-kept landscaping, may seem like a hidden gem—and it is.

Departments

CULTURE & HISTORY

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Jewish Shrines in Iraq: A Shared Heritage

For 2,600 years, Jewish life flourished in Mesopotamia—modern-day Iraq—stretching back to the time of Babylon, where the Jews composed the Babylonian Talmud, and to the city of Ur, birthplace of the Prophet Abraham.

sports

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Noah’s Arc

Noah Manna joined the new Walled Lake Central High School boys volleyball team when he was a sophomore with very little experience in the sport. “I’d only played volleyball in gym class,” he said. “The girls in my gym class when I was a freshman who had played volleyball before were amazingly good at it, and the sport looked like fun, so I gave it a try. I’m so glad I did.”

Health & Wellness

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Back to the Roots

If you grew up in Telkaif, Alqosh, Batnaya, Karamles, Qaraqosh, Tesqopa, Duhok, or other villages near the Nineveh Plain, you were familiar with many families maintaining their own agriculture and livestock. And if you were American-born like me, you heard stories from your loved ones about the happy, church-centered, simple life back home, back then.

IRAQ TODAY

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Empowering Iraqi Healthcare

University of Detroit Mercy’s College of Health Professions has formed a new partnership with the American University of Iraq Baghdad (AUIB) to create educational opportunities in healthcare, public health and healthcare administration for students in the Middle East.

CHALDEAN KITCHEN

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Torshi Girl

RELIGION

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A Dream Fulfilled

Foundation Update

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Rising to the Occasion

Nana Bernadette Sarafa’s Kitchen at CCF West buzzed with excitement as young aspiring bakers gathered for a hands-on baking class led by Genevieve Kashat, a standout contestant from Food Network’s Kids Baking Championship.

Coming Soon

Tigris Tower’s on-site office is now open, Monday-Friday, 9:00am-5:00pm. Tours for the public are now available. All interested applicants are encouraged to fill out the form at tigristower.com/contact or visit Tigris Tower in person at 43700 Van Dyke in Sterling Heights.

Preserving Our Heritage

CCF recently celebrated the completion of the teen Chaldean (Sureth) Language Course at CCF West. Over the past six weeks, Michael Antoon and Patrick Kakos taught students how to speak Sureth – the language spoken by Jesus Christ.

Exploring Our Culture

CCF West welcomed New Detroit’s Multicultural Leadership Program participants for an immersive experience, focusing on the history, culture, and socioeconomics of Chaldean Americans.

Noteworthy

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Developer Doraid Markus Acquires Prime Birmingham Office Building for $18M

A Chinese government-affiliated company, SAIC Motor Corp., sold its largely vacant 41,000-square-foot office building at 322 N. Old Woodward Ave. in Birmingham, Michigan, for $18 million to local developer Doraid Markus. The July 15 sale, at approximately $439 per square foot, marks one of the highest per-square-foot real estate deals in downtown Birmingham in 15 years.

Born in Detroit Launches Restaurant and Retail Space at Metro Airport

Born In Detroit LLC, a family-owned lifestyle brand, opened Born in Detroit Kitchen + Bar on June 27 at the McNamara Terminal of Detroit’s airport near Gate B6. The new space combines a restaurant and retail shop, offering Detroit-inspired cuisine, Great Lakes Coffee, cocktails made with 8 Mile Vodka, and Born In Detroit-branded apparel.

Lawrence Kajy Named to National Trial Lawyers “Top 40 Under 40” in Michigan for 2025

Lawrence Kajy, founder and managing partner of Kajy Law, PLLC in Southfield, has once again been named to The National Trial Lawyers Civil Plaintiff “Top 40 Under 40” list for Michigan. The honor recognizes outstanding young attorneys for their leadership, trial skills, and dedication to justice.

Butzel Expands Immigration Practice with Addition of Senior Attorney Christopher J. Ammori

Butzel has added Christopher J. Ammori as a Senior Attorney in its Detroit office, strengthening the firm’s immigration practice. Ammori brings extensive experience in complex corporate immigration, advising both multinational and closely held companies on visa strategies and compliance. His expertise includes a wide range of nonimmigrant and immigrant visa categories such as O-1, E-2, L-1, H-1B, EB-1, PERM, and EB-5.

Obituaries

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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.

Louie George Herfi

Louie George Herfi was born on May 31, 1963, and passed into the fullness of life on March 22, 2025. Louie was the beloved husband of the late Sue Kassab Herfi and father to John, Andrew, Patrick, and Randy Herfi.

Jamila Mansour Oram Herfi

Jamila Mansour Oram Herfi was born on July 1, 1929, and entered her Heavenly reward on March 25, 2025. Jamila was the beloved wife of the late George Hermiz Herfi and loving mother to 8 children, proud grandmother to 27 grandchildren and loving great-grandmother to 25, with 1 on the way.