SPORTS

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When his time comes, Aiden Atisha will be ready. Ready to be the starting goalie for the Detroit Catholic Central High School boys soccer team next year when he’s a senior, if he’s selected. Ready to play college soccer, if he chooses to extend his career in the sport beyond high school.

chaldean kitchen

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Ancient ‘Processed’ Food

A growing interest in healthy eating has made Middle Eastern dishes like hummus and falafel commonplace in recent years.. However, one particular dish — a staple across the Middle East for literally thousands of years — remains far less known in the West: Bulgur is a grain dish that has sustained the human race for millennia. In Chaldean homes, it is known as Gurgur.

Latest Issue: NOVEMBER 2025

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Chaldean Kitchen with Jacob Bacall

Jacob Bacall prepares Gurgur, the classic Chaldean dish and ancient staple, cooked throughout Mesopotamia for thousands of years.

READ THE STORY

Inside the Studio with Ron Najor

CN editor, Sarah Kittle, speaks with Ron Najor about his new film, "Adjunct" and about Uncle Freddy Productions, the production company set-up with help from his uncle, Fred Najor.

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.

Sister Act: Dynamic Tennis Duo

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

Sureth Language Classes for Teens

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

Iraqi Church, German Scholars Strengthen Cooperation on Heritage Preservation

On October 20, 2025, Chaldean Patriarch Mar Louis Raphaël Sako received Dr. Margarete Van Ess, head of the German Archaeological Mission in Najaf, and Dr. Mohammed Hadi Badan, Director of the Najaf Antiquities and Heritage Inspectorate, at the Patriarchal Residence in Baghdad. Their meeting focused on protecting Iraq’s Chaldean–Syriac–Assyrian heritage, a key component of the country’s ancient and diverse identity.

Features

2025 Content

Painting History

“Art and architecture have long inspired one another, each shaping imagination, innovation, and cultural memory.” Visitors to the new Chaldean Community Foundation building in West Bloomfield, CCF West, are greeted by a vibrant collection of artworks celebrating faith, culture, and history. The walls feature depictions of the Freedom Monument, King Nebuchadnezzar II, the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, the Martyrs Wall, the Tree of Life, the Ishtar and Sennacherib Gates, and more. Many of these works were commissioned by the CCF and brought to life by artist Reni Stephan.

Coming to America

We may be thousands of miles away from our homeland, but the essence of who we are shouldn’t fade with distance. For Chaldean Americans including myself and many others – children of immigrants, either born or raised in a new world – our existence is defined by an ongoing struggle between embracing the culture we inhabit and holding on to our identity. We are fortunate to live in a country that has given us opportunity, safety, and freedom, and for that, we are endlessly grateful. Yet, amid the beauty of assimilation, we should always remember the subtle, strong reminders of our origins.

Faith and Justice

Long before a student steps into a courtroom or writes their first brief, there is a moment of realization that something within them is meant for this path. It might come from witnessing an injustice or from the understanding that words have power when used to defend what is right. Within the Chaldean community, that moment carries profound meaning. It grows from generations who built their lives on faith and perseverance, and who believed that success means nothing unless it uplifts others.

A Modern Saint for the Digital Age

On September 7, 2025, in Saint Peter’s Square, Vatican City, His Holiness Pope Leo XIV canonized a teenager laid to rest in a blue tracksuit and a pair of Nike sneakers. Saint Carlo Acutis—born in 1991 and returned to the bosom of the Lord at just 15—was declared a saint alongside now Saint Pier Giorgio Frassati.

Uniting the Next Generation

The Shenandoah Young Adult Committee (YAC) has become one of the most active sub-committees within Shenandoah Country Club. Established in 2021, the committee was created with a powerful mission to bring the youth of Shenandoah together and strengthen the bond of community among the next generation of members.

Silver Strong

After the COVID pandemic, career restauranteur Joe Sheena found himself stressed out and out of shape. His company, Pizza Papalis, had been bustling since 1986. But the pandemic slowed business and Pizza Papalis was forced to scale back some of its 20 locations and do “uncomfortable things” from a business perspective.

Learning Sureth

One of the many ways we connect through our culture is through language. The Chaldean people have spoken Syriac, or Sureth, for thousands of years. Many of our words trace back to ancient times, when Akkadian and Sumerian were widely spoken across our ancestral communities.

Fighting for Heritage

Jonny “Magic” Mansour, 25, is a boxer on the rise. His Instagram account names him “God’s Chosen Warrior,” and he’s currently 5-0 in the ring. He recently had the opportunity to visit the land of his ancestors; his parents are both from Alqosh in the Nineveh Plains of northern Iraq.

Arabic Translations

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جسر دلالي - أسطورة الفتاة الضحية - دلال

تُعتبر‭ ‬الجسور‭ ‬والأقواس‭ ‬القديمة‭ ‬معالم‭ ‬تاريخية‭ ‬حية‭ ‬ومهمة‭ ‬في‭ ‬الأماكن‭ ‬التي‭ ‬شُيدت‭ ‬فيها،‭ ‬فهي‭ ‬ليست‭ ‬مجرد‭ ‬طرق‭ ‬للعبور‭ ‬والتنقل‭ ‬بين‭ ‬ضفتي‭ ‬نهر،‭ ‬بل‭ ‬لعبت‭ ‬دورًا‭ ‬مهمًا‭ ‬في‭ ‬تذليل‭ ‬العقبات‭ ‬أمام‭ ‬التواصل‭ ‬البشري‭ ‬بين‭ ‬الأصدقاء‭ ‬والأعداء‭ ‬على‭ ‬مر‭ ‬العصور،‭ ‬ولذلك،‭ ‬فهي‭ ‬تؤثر‭ ‬بشكل‭ ‬كبير‭ ‬في‭ ‬تشكيل‭ ‬الثقافة،‭ ‬والتاريخ،‭ ‬والجغرافيا،‭ ‬وكنز‭ ‬ثمين‭ ‬للأساطير‭.‬

أنبياء اليهود في بلاد الرافدين – مواقع ومراقد وقصص وأساطير- الجزء الثالث

ركزت‭ ‬المقالات‭ ‬حول‭ ‬المقامات‭ ‬اليهودية‭ ‬المقدسة‭ ‬في‭ ‬العراق‭ (‬الأجزاء‭ ‬الأول‭ ‬والثاني‭ ‬والثالث‭) ‬على‭ ‬تسليط‭ ‬الأضواء‭ ‬على‭ ‬تاريخ‭ ‬ومحنة‭ ‬الأقليات‭ ‬العرقية‭ ‬الأصيلة‭ ‬في‭ ‬العراق،‭ ‬التي‭ ‬كانت‭ ‬تمارس‭ ‬حقوقها‭ ‬المدنية‭ ‬والدينية‭ ‬في‭ ‬البداية‭ ‬وكذلك‭ ‬المؤامرات‭ ‬التي‭ ‬استهدفت‭ ‬الجالية‭ ‬اليهودية‭ ‬وأجبرتها‭ ‬على‭ ‬الهجرة‭ ‬إلى‭ ‬إسرائيل،‭ ‬فضلًا‭ ‬عن‭ ‬تهجير‭ ‬المسيحيين‭ ‬والمندائيين‭ ‬واليزيدين‭ ‬بعدهم‭ ‬وبعثرتهم‭ ‬حول‭ ‬العالم‭. ‬

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.‬

Voices

FROM THE EDITOR

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Attitude of Gratitude

November calls us to pause — to gather with loved ones, share a meal, and give thanks for the blessings that surround us. For the Chaldean community, gratitude runs deeper than a single season. It is rooted in faith, family, and tradition — values that have carried the community through hardship and continue to illuminate its future. This month, we celebrate that spirit through stories that reflect generosity, perseverance, and pride in heritage.

GUEST COLUMN

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On Immigration: The hidden costs of cruelty

The treatment of immigrants in the United States, whether legal or illegal, has become increasingly harsh. Policies have shifted from being pragmatic to punitive. There is an effort to dehumanize the undocumented. This cruelty carries negative consequences not only for immigrants, but also for their children, spouses, our society and ultimately, the moral and economic fabric of our nation.

GUEST COLUMN

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jacob bacall_photo by wilson_web copy.jpg

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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Mesopotamian Myths

Old bridges and arches are living monuments that carry the weight of history. They are not merely structures to cross rivers and roads—they have facilitated communication, trade, and human interaction between friends and foes alike. Over time, they have shaped culture, geography, and historical memory. Few bridges illustrate this as vividly as Pira Dalal, or the Dalal Bridge, in Zakho, northern Iraq.

sports

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Fearless in the Net

EVENT

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7th Annual Chaldean Community Foundation Gala

On Friday, September 26, the CCF celebrated their 7th Annual Awards Gala at the Palazzo Grande in Shelby Township. With more than 700 guests in attendance, the CCF celebrated an evening dedicated to service, culture, and unity. Hungary Helps was presented with the Humanitarian of the Year Award for their steadfast commitment to persecuted Christians worldwide, including those in Iraq and the Chaldean community.

NOTEWORTHY

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Female Chaldean Officer Sworn In

Sterling Heights formally welcomed four new police officers and four firefighter/EMTs in October 2025. These officers were officially sworn in on October 7 by Police Chief Andrew Satterfield before the Sterling Heights City Council, marking the beginning of their careers serving the community. The four officers (as introduced) were Tyler Secluna, Miranda Diaowd, Adam Mays and Andy Cafritzas.

CHALDEAN KITCHEN

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Ancient ‘Processed’ Food

Economics & enterprise

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A Rising Flood of Challenges

With Southeast Michigan slammed by an unusually wet summer and record-setting storms, many homeowners are finding themselves knee-deep—literally—in basement water. For Thomas Kejbou and Gus Aboona, co-owners of a small restoration company launched in 2023, this flood season has brought more than just business. It’s brought purpose.

Foundation Update

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A Taste of Home

Nana Bernadette Sarafa’s Kitchen came alive with the aromas of Takhratha during the CCF West’s first cooking demonstration with Anmar Sarafa. In each class, students team up with fellow food lovers, learn from talented Chaldean community members, and create authentic dishes in a fun, hands-on environment.

Balance and Breathe

Balance and Breathe classes for caregivers and adults 60 years and up takes place on Mondays and Fridays from 11:30am-12:15pm at CCF in Sterling Heights (3601 15 Mile Rd.) now through March 2026. Participants are encouraged to arrive by 11:00am.

Lights, Camera, Action!

CCF West hosted a special Movie Night for adults with special needs and their families — featuring Disney’s Hocus Pocus! Guests enjoyed a cozy theater experience with friends, snacks, and lots of laughter.

Cultural Awareness

On October 10, the CCF in Sterling Heights welcomed Turning Point for an all-staff training focused on the cultural aspects of the Chaldean community. Turning Point empowers survivors of domestic violence, sexual violence, and human trafficking through comprehensive services and resources while advocating for community action to end oppression and violence.

Noteworthy

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Female Chaldean Officer Sworn In

Breathing New Life into Asthma Awareness

High school students Charlize Sitto and Elinor Jwaydah turned their personal experiences with asthma into an innovative awareness campaign for kids and families. What began as frustration and confusion over a misunderstood condition became Lung Quest—a colorful board game that teaches asthma management through play—and Breathe Boost, a digital platform and app offering kid-friendly tips, demos, and resources.

Chaldean Detroiter Appointed as Trump’s Special Envoy to Iraq

When President Donald Trump appointed Mark Savvaya as Special Envoy to the Republic of Iraq, it sent ripples through the Chaldean Community. Savaya is a familiar face in the Detroit area, in part because of his businesses’ billboards that included his own likeness. As an entrepreneur, Savaya’s Chaldean roots and outspoken nature have made him a visible part of Michigan’s business—and more recently, political—landscape.

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.

Obituaries

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John Mansour

John Mansour, cherished son of Emanuel and Antoinette Mansour, was born on December 29, 1968, and went to Heaven on September 17, 2025. The loving husband of Ann “Ahlam” Mansour, John was a faithful father to Adriana, the late Alexander, and the late Gabrielle Mansour and caring brother of Steven (Zenia) Mansour and Marvin Mansour.

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.