Diving Deeper
Startling news out of Iraq caught many off-guard mid-July; the Chaldean patriarch has removed himself from the capital of Baghdad and is now in a monastery in northern Iraq. Tensions had been brewing between Cardinal Louis Sako and the military leader who goes by Rayan al-Kildani for months, but the latest move by none other than the president of Iraq, Abdul Latif Rashid, threatens to strip the patriarch of any power over the Church’s holdings in the country. It is such a big story that all major international news outlets have covered it in depth, and so have we.
Dr. Adhid Miri goes into detail on the history of al-Kildani and why the patriarch so strongly opposes any connection of Rayan to the Chaldean Church in his Culture & History article, “Cardinal Sako Stands Against Conquest and Confiscation.” Unfortunately, that struggle is not the only one facing Iraqis currently, as water supplies are shutoff despite unbearable heat due to climate change. Read about it in Iraq Today.
We also explore Chaldean cultural roots in our inaugural piece for the “Chaldean Story,” a brand-new series made possible by a grant from Michigan Humanities Grants’ “Great Michigan Stories” initiative. This first story in the series stretches back to ancient Mesopotamia, where many of civilization’s ‘firsts’ were recorded. Look for follow-up stories on Chaldean entrepreneurship, culture, and spirituality in future issues.
Speaking of spirituality, on our Event page, we bring you photos of the recent ordination of Father Namir Narra, courtesy of the Chaldean Catholic Diocese. And on this 90th anniversary of the Semele Massacre, we mourn those that lost their lives to this undeniable tragedy. Chris Salem pens a heartfelt plea that we remember this historical event and gives a framework to the treasure of stories that was likely lost in its aftermath.
In Chaldean Digest, we report on a youth group meeting in Ankawa and on protests regarding a film scheduled to run on Disney+ about the founder of modern-day Turkey, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk. Protesters say he is portrayed in the film as a hero, while to the Greeks, Armenians, Assyrians, Chaldeans, Aramaeans, Maronites, and other Christians of his time, he was anything but.
Previously, we brought you stories of Chaldean Town, the stretch of 7 Mile that was an early home to the community. On the passing of Bahi Jarbo, the “Kabob King,” Crystal Kassab Jabiro paints a beautiful picture of a life well lived.
In “Beyond Borders,” Dr. Rena Daiza blesses us with her own personal account leading a recent medical mission trip to Iraq, which was, in the author’s own words, “transformative.” The purpose of the visit was not only to give medical care to the needy in Iraq, but to educate people about the importance of obtaining proper care, including dental care and mental health checkups, and how crucial it is to follow a healthy diet. The team from the U.S. met with government officials and health ministers and toured medical schools and universities, all the while feeling a connection to the land as well as the people.
In the next installment of Chaldean Kitchen, reporter Z. Z. Dawod takes us into the kitchen of Samira Cholagh as she prepares Pikota Habbia Kashka, a traditional cooked barley dish. Samira is a food artist, however, and her take on the dish is anything but traditional.
Also earning the label ‘untraditional’ is Christina Roki, a young woman who has made a name for herself as an influencer on social media in the niche market of automotive engineering and aesthetics, as reported by Cal Abbo in oaur Economics & Enterprise section. Fittingly, this first-generation Chaldean American dynamo taught herself about cars by watching videos on You Tube.
Rounding out our August issue, we have articles on gearing up for school (“Getting Back in the School Mindset” and “Identifying Options for Our Students”), a terrific story about three terrific tennis players (“Terrific Tennis Trio”), a short piece about a 90-year-old who recently gained citizenship through the Chaldean Community Foundation (“New Americans”), and tips on beating the late-summer heat (“Family Time”).
We hope you enjoy this latest edition as much as we enjoyed putting it together for you.
Sarah Kittle, Editor in Chief