The second edition of the Old Alqosh Bazaar Festival was inaugurated by the bishop and a group of residents in Alqosh on March 27. This festival’s mission is to uphold and preserve the rich traditions, culture, and ancient crafts of the region. Participants engage in traditional dances and patronize traditional food and handcrafted items, contributing to the rehabilitation efforts of this historic bazaar, once a vital commercial center in the area.

Dating back to ancient Mesopotamia, the Epic of Gilgamesh stands as one of the oldest known works of literature in human history. This epic poem, written on clay tablets in cuneiform script, tells the story of Gilgamesh, the legendary half-god king of Uruk, and his quest for immortality. Through its portrayal of heroic deeds, friendship, and the inevitability of mortality, the Epic of Gilgamesh reflects the concerns and values of society in ancient Mesopotamia.

At the young age of four, Omar Jarbo began playing the zurna, following in his father’s footsteps. It’s a woodwind instrument with a double reed, just like an oboe. Different versions of it are widely played in the Middle East, Central Asia, and the Balkans. When Jarbo was only eleven years old, he entertained audiences in Tel Keppe during events, even at weddings that went on for two to three days. “We would travel from store to store, home to home, playing music,” he explained with emotion. “Life there was absolutely beautiful.”

“Geography informs your fate,” says Dr. Adhid Miri. What he means by that is our environment has an immense influence on our chosen trade or livelihood. The Silk Road—interwoven passages, caravan routes, and byways that stretched from China to the eastern Mediterranean—connected with other important trade routes in ancient Mesopotamia, giving rise to a culture adept at trade.

Back in 1937, a group of Chaldean Iraqi Christians traveled from Telkaif to Mosul, then to Adana to board a cargo ship bound for America. However, the United States was not their final destination. Upon reaching Ellis Island, New York City’s famous point of entry, they would board another ship, this one bound for Veracruz, which was then the main port of entry into Mexico.

April is National Cannabis Awareness Month, so we wanted to take the opportunity to give you an update on the industry and on the status of the opposition to legalized marijuana. The legal industry is still young; we know that many Chaldeans have gotten in on the ground floor, capitalizing on their shrewd business skills. But others are not happy with the new legal status.

Part I Few members of the Chaldean community in Detroit still survive and remember what the village was like in the early 1900s, when our pioneers made the brave and challenging journey to America. What drove them to accomplish such a feat? To understand the enormity of such a journey, it’s necessary to recall the reality of village life and its simplicity.

The culinary traditions of the Chaldean community are as rich and diverse as our ancient history. Originating from the cradle of civilization, Chaldean cuisine boasts a plethora of flavors that narrate our cultural heritage. As the Chaldeans found a new home in Detroit, Michigan, we brought along our cherished recipes, crafting a unique food narrative that melds ancient traditions with the modern-day food landscape of the Motor City.

Detroit is home to a unique Middle Eastern community who call themselves Chaldeans. This article attempts to illuminate the Chaldean heritage and religion, tracing its journey from the grand civilizations of ancient Mesopotamia to the culturally rich villages of Northern Iraq. We will explore the profound legacy of the Chaldeans and examine the integral role of the Church of the East in their identity.

Each Chaldean Hockey League season concludes with the crowning of the league champion and produces a treasure trove of interesting personal stories. One of the major story lines this season in the six-team league was written by Team Gold star and captain Andrew Roye. Playing in his first Telga Cup championship series, Roye led Team Gold to the title and was named the Most Valuable Player of the playoffs. He had five goals and four assists in six playoff games.

After the attack on Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel and others at Christ the Good Shepherd in Sydney Australia on April 15, more than 20 faith leaders across the area joined together to prepare a public statement, which was supported by Archbishop Amel Shamon Nona, head of Catholic Chaldeans in Australia.

Baltimore — 2024 — Sylvan Learning, the leading provider of supplemental and enrichment education for K–12 students with more than 710 locations worldwide, awarded 10 new and three existing territories in the greater Detroit, Michigan area to new franchise owners and cousins Ed Bahoura and Natalie Yasso.

Rocky “Rockman” Salem Somo has been boxing for seven years. His professional career started in 2023 with a May 26 win by unanimous decision over Carlos Escobedo in the fourth round. He fought for the first time in his home area of San Diego on March 2 of this year at the Four Points Sheraton and won by knockout in the second round.

Juliana Rabban, a local Chaldean artist, was commissioned by City Walls Detroit to create a 5’ 8” tall football cleat sculpture to be displayed for the NFL Draft and auctioned off in May. Juliana calls her cleat “Unite & Ignite,” which she said embodies the shared human struggle as it relates to cancer.

Sabah Shaou Pattah was born in 1938 and passed on March 30, 2024. Sabah was the loving son of the late Shaou and Hannia Pattah, and the beloved husband of Haifa Pattah. He was the cherished brother of the late Tawitha (the late Mikhail) Hami, Sam (Bushra) Pattah, Sabiha Pattah, Mark (Shatha) Pattah, and Jerry (Niran) Pattah. Sabah was a devoted father to Sudad (Salam) Hami, Kais (Linda) Pattah, Layla (Amil) Yono, the late Zuhair Pattah, Lana Pattah, and Anthony Pattah and the humble grandfather of Michael, Michelle, Ashley, Felicity, Antonio, Marcus, Faith, Alexa, Angel, Miranda, Adriana, and Ashton.

John Mikha Mackay was born in Iraq on July 10, 1948, and passed to the fullness of everlasting life in America on March 15, 2024. Arriving in America from Iraq with a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of Baghdad in 1971, John attended the University of Detroit and earned a master’s degree in business in 1972. He was an executive at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan for over 20 years. John was the director of the Chaldean Federation of America as well as one of the founding members. He became the first Chaldean councilman of Lathrup Village in the 1990s and opened a path for future Chaldean generations to run for political office.

Thair Samir Dado was born on June 23, 1980, and died on February 4, 2024. Thair, 43, was killed at work, gunned down in the parking lot of All Stars Beverage Liquor Store in the city of Detroit while attempting to stop the theft of his vehicle. Thair leaves behind a wife, Zina Francis, and 16-year-old son, Steven. The Chaldean American Chamber of Commerce and Chaldean Community Foundation have engaged the Waad Murad Advocacy Fund in support of Thair. The Fund, working with the Detroit Police Department and Crimestoppers, will award $10,000 to the supplier of information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the culprits of the murder, bringing justice to the perpetrators and hopefully, some small semblance of relief to the victim’s families.

Professor Malik Yousif Mansour Francis (Fransi) Gorgees Yousif Francis Mary was born in Baghdad, Iraq, on August 24, 1931. He passed peacefully at his home on October 3, 2023, surrounded by his wife Amira, son Raed, daughters Raghad, Rand, and Rana, brother Adhid, and sister Suha. Malik was educated in England and the United States and received a master’s degree (MA) from Ohio State University. He had a long academic career and served as Professor of English Language and Literature at Al-Mustansiriyah University (1976-1999), Baghdad University (1964-1976) and the Department of Education in Iraq (1954-1960).