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.
Read MoreFor 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.
Read MoreIn 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.
Read MoreCardinal 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.
Read MoreSAN 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.
Read MoreDr. 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.
Read MoreSeveral 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.
Read MoreShowkat 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.
Read MoreSterling 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 Chaldean Community Foundation at 3601 15 Mile Rd, Sterling Heights, MI 48310.
Read MoreAdbul 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.
Read More6th 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.
Read MoreThrough 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.
Read MoreMembers of the community who have recently passed on.
Read MoreFadya, 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.
Read MoreRecognition, 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.
Read MoreAah, 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.
Read MoreOn 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.
Read Moreمن بين سلسلة مقالات مجلة اخبار الكلدان حول محن المكونات الأصيلة والأقليات العرقية والدينية في العراق سبق وأن كتبنا عن أبناء خالتنا الصابئة المندائيين (عدد شهر أكتوبر 2022 ص 38-36)، وسنتناول في هذا العدد مكون عراقي اخر هو ألأزيديون، وبدورنا نأمل أن يلقي هذا المقال الضوء ولمحات على التاريخ العميق لهذا المكون الأصيل وبعض مما يحتاجه القارئ لمعرفة تاريخ وعقيدة ومعيشة ومحنة ومأساة المجتمع الأزيدي في القرن الحادي والعشرين.
Read MoreThe 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.
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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.
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