Recent Stories
The motorcade stretched a mile long down Walnut Lake Road to Shenandoah Country Club (SCC) on Thursday, April 18. Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ Al Sudani was in town to speak with the Iraqi American community and its leaders, having first traveled to Houston to speak with Iraqi immigrants there and visiting the Islamic Institute in Dearborn before coming to West Bloomfield.
Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani met at dawn on Friday (Baghdad time) with a number of members of the Iraqi community, who met at the Iraqi Chaldean Center in Detroit, Michigan, USA.
The Detroit Police Department’s 10th precinct is partnering with the Chaldean American Chamber of Commerce to network with store owners and discuss new strategies to reduce crime, ethnic tension, and negative perceptions.
Once Elia graduated, he worked hard to support his family. It was this goal that led to his downfall. He was introduced to Adderall, which he used to stay awake and alert through his long days at school and multiple jobs. “That’s what our culture is, we work hard and try to help each other and support one another,” Elia said about the Chaldean community.
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.
Names and naming practices in other cultural areas show a strong similarity in basic trends. Among the ancient Babylonians and Assyrians, names are theophoric designations (having the name of a god embedded in something, such as a name) such as Nebuchadnezzar of the Bible, translated as “Nabu (a god) protected the estate.” And Ashurbanipal, meaning “Ashur (a god) created a son (heir).”
Until I watched the movie “Sister Cabrini,” I never thought a story could capture the issues of humanity and immigration so well as to rank among the best movies I have watched in my lifetime. The movie is the true story of a girl, Cabrini, living in the 19th century with poor health, envisioning missionary work to open orphanages, hospitals, and accommodations for the poor world-wide, long before anyone thought of social services.
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.”
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.
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.
May is a favorite month for many people. The weather is warming, everything is green, flower shoots are peeping out of the ground and tree buds are popping out all around us. It is the month of hope, of promise, of new beginnings. Let’s look back at May cover stories over the last two decades.
We believe that mothers should be honored every day. In these archival photos provided by the Chaldean Cultural Center, we celebrate the countless moments of tenderness, sacrifice, and resilience that define the journey of motherhood.
The YAC kicked off the Spring season with a professional development and networking event held on the evening of Thursday, April 11, at Shenandoah Country Club. The event was moderated by the charming and witty Paul Jonna, a real estate and business attorney and former COO of the Chaldean Community Foundation.
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.
The Chaldean Community Foundation will be hosting additional sports sampling camps for both boys and girls this summer. Camps include Boys and Girls Basketball, Boys and Girls Futsal, Boys and Girls Pickleball and Girls Volleyball.
The partnership with the Anthony L. Soave Family Mobile Mammography and Health Screening Center helps provide accessible breast health services for all women, regardless of their financial situation.
The CCF’s H.E.A.L. (Hard of Hearing, E.S.L., American Sign Language, Life Skills) Project is hitting the road in a new direction. The first two participants in the Drivers’ Training program have passed both written and road tests, officially becoming licensed drivers in Michigan.
On April 13, the CCF hosted its inaugural National Civics Bee local competition in Sterling Heights. Middle school students from around southeast Michigan showcased their civics knowledge in a groundbreaking competition.
April has been a crazy month in the CN offices. The Iraqi Prime Minster’s visit included a whirlwind of pre-activity, planning, logistics, and protocol – all for a few hours of time spent with him. It was a historic visit, and we were lucky enough to have a front row seat. We hope you enjoy the photos and story.
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.
من المؤكد أن هناك الكثير من الأسماء التأريخية والقاب شهيرة لعامة الناس للعوائل في العراق وعادةً ما يتم تمرير الاسم الأخير، والمعروف أيضًا باسم العائلة أو اللقب من جيل إلى جيل. ولكن هل تساءلتم يوما من أين جاءت كل هذه الأسماء؟ وكيف حصلتم على اسم ولقب عائلتكم؟ ربما التسمية جاءت من والديك، ولكن من أين حصلوا عليه؟
The Chaldean Community Foundation and the Chaldean News are honored to be selected by the Library of Congress to preserve the Chaldean culture and contribute to the archival collections to be preserved at the American Folklife Center in Washington, DC.
Heart disease has consistently been the leading cause of death in the United States for several decades. As a primary care physician deeply invested in patient well-being, I’ve seen the toll it takes on patients. But here is the good news: preventive measures can truly make a difference.
My relationship of friendship, admiration, and deep mutual understanding with the Chaldean-Iraqi American community goes back to 1984, when I first arrived in the state of Michigan as an immigrant, or more accurately, an exile. I began my professional life with a weekly newspaper that I called Today.
SYDNEY (AP) — Australian police say a knife attack in Sydney that wounded a bishop and a priest during a church service as horrified worshippers watched online and in person, and sparked a riot was an act of terrorism.
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.
A new decision by the Federal Supreme Court of Iraq strips minorities of quota representation in the Kurdistan Parliament and sets a dangerous precedent, signaling a return to discriminatory policies against those who are ethnically, religiously, racially, and linguistically different from the majority in Iraq. By targeting smaller minority groups first, this decision could escalate to affect larger minorities in Iraq. Ultimately, it threatens to revive central political authoritarianism and the majority dictatorship that the Iraqi people fought hard to overcome through decades of struggle and sacrifice. For these reasons, the U.S. Government should urge the Prime Minister of Iraq to introduce legislation in the Parliament to reverse the impact of this decision and to reiterate that the Federal Supreme Court of Iraq is limited by the principles of federalism in Iraq’s Constitution from interfering in matters related to the function of the Kurdistan Region’s parliament. Read the full story
Al-Nahr Street in central Baghdad runs along the Tigris River with extravagant feminine elegance. Here dressmakers display their fabrics in luxurious colors, and goldsmiths and antique sellers show off their wares. In days past, every engaged girl had to visit this street to choose her bridal jewelry.
2022 Stories
“The play is expressing many things that are sensitive to the culture and holding them in a loving way,” said Heather Raffo, writer and actor. “It’s expressing taboos but working through them in open-hearted, familial ways, so the young women felt very represented and challenged by the piece.”
Marian High School’s Chaldean population is nearly 30%. As the all-girls Catholic school rises in popularity among Chaldeans, its connection with our community has become deep and inextricable.
In today’s world of constant consumerism, it can be challenging to teach children the value of giving. It is an extremely important to lesson to teach, however; the feeling you get when you gift something truly thoughtful and appreciated transcends the satisfaction of receiving and may change a person’s whole outlook on the season and the reason for giving.
Michigan Democrats stole the show in the 2022 midterm elections, but success at the ballot box might not signal continuing Democratic dominance in future elections.
In Alqosh, the old village is designed to be used as a tourist attraction. The intention is to bring more business to Alqosh city and create a stronger economy. It is a perfect location to create movies reflecting that era, and an educational tool for teaching people about the old ways.
On Saturday, November 5, the Chaldean Cultural Center held a half-day conference for writers of Mesopotamian ancestry at Shenandoah Country Club.
Last month, several small retailers located in the City of Southfield received letters from various code enforcement agents on behalf of the city. The letters asked these retailers, which tended to be independently-owned gas stations, to move any “outside storage containers” inside.
The Chaldean Community Foundation (CCF) officially has boots on the ground in Alqosh, Iraq. For the past 6 months, it has had a working relationship with two local surveyors, Ghazwan and Hanan, who will begin taking a full census of the state of the Chaldean villages and remaining families following the destruction and chaos of the ISIS invasion just a few years ago.
On Friday, October 14, the Chaldean American Chamber of Commerce (CACC) hosted its 16th annual Business Luncheon at the MotorCity Casino Hotel in downtown Detroit. Approximately 250 community leaders, businesspeople, and dignitaries filled the tables inside the Sound Board Theater and prepared for a discussion about politics and the upcoming elections in Michigan.
Pollster Steve Mitchell had Republican veteran and businessman John James leading by nine points over former state Circuit Court Judge and Macomb County Prosecutor Carl Marlinga in an August poll. Mitchell said the Detroit News had James ahead by eight points in mid-October.
Michigan’s gubernatorial race is getting tighter as the candidates head into the final turn and bread-and-butter issues like the economy and jobs close the gap with abortion and women’s rights as voters’ top concerns.
The rhetoric of the 2022 election season has made clear — even to the most casual observer —that Republicans and Democrats have some intractable differences of opinion when it comes to hot-button issues.
September 14 has become known as “Chaldean Day” at the National Shrine of the Cross in the Woods in Indian River, Michigan. For roughly 30 years, crowds of Chaldeans have headed to the shrine on that day to celebrate Holy Cross Day.
Storms have no borders; dust storms show no mercy or dust, diplomacy. Dust storms over Iraq and the Middle East have become a huge problem for the countries involved as well as their citizens, impacting their health, the economy, the environment, and agriculture.
Tesqopa, sometimes called Tel Skuf, is an ancient village located in the Nineveh Plain of northern Iraq. Targeted first by Mongols and then by ISIS, Tesqopa has remained a village of the Assyrians who proclaim the Christian faith.
Continued from September 2022 issue: In January 2017, the Trump administration announced its so-called Muslim ban, which was challenged by the ACLU and was revised and reissued a few times before being finalized in March 2017. Iraq was on the initial list and then was dropped from the final declaration, after confidential negotiations that Secretary of State Rex Tillerson called an example of “close cooperation” between the two governments. In return for being dropped from the travel ban, Iraq’s government agreed to repatriate Iraqis that the United States wanted to deport. Suddenly, the decades-old mutual understanding about Iraqi deportation was over.
The stage is set for November’s general elections, and the race in Michigan’s state House 20th District promises to be a close one.
The Chaldean Community Foundation (CCF) in Sterling Heights honored Akram Kareem (aka Hermiz) at their 4th annual Gala on September 29 as Humanitarian of the Year.
These were two of more than 300 Iraqi-born Detroit-area men arrested in a surprise ICE raid back on Sunday morning, June 11, 2017. They both have criminal records, for which they’ve served time.
Apostle means “one who is sent off.” It was the name Jesus gave to the twelve disciples he chose to go into the world and preach the kingdom of God and heal the sick.
For Vincent Sitto, politics is not a career choice. The Oakland County businessman and father just wants people like himself to be heard and to have a voice — something he is not finding within the Oakland County Commission.
Prior to the first Gulf War in the early 90s, Iraq’s educational system was considered to be “one of the most advanced in the region,” according to UNESCO. Primary school enrollment was at 100% and literacy levels were high. Education in Iraq has suffered greatly since, struggling with the fallout of war, international sanctions, occupation, and general instability. Major problems include the politicization of the educational system, uneven emigration, internal displacement of teachers and students, security threats, corruption, and a severe lack of resources.