Time for Harvest
Sarah Kittle
Edior in Chief
By Sarah Kittle
As the leaves begin to turn and we enter the season of harvest, we find ourselves reflecting on what it means to preserve—and fight for—what we value most. Harvest is more than just a gathering of crops; it’s a moment of reckoning—a time to gather the fruits of labor, memory, and intention. This October, our issue centers on heritage, and the many ways individuals and communities are working to protect, revive, and celebrate it.
Our cover story, “The Rise of Jonny Mansour,” follows a young Chaldean-American boxer who’s spent his life in California but recently traveled to Iraq, the homeland of his parents. He shares what that experience meant to him—and to others like him—and offers honest reflections on identity, ancestry, and the question of what we owe to those who came before us. It’s a story about roots, and what grows when you return to them.
Dr. Adhid Miri once again unearths the buried layers of Iraqi history. In Part III of “Jewish Holy Shrines in Iraq,” he explores five religious sites that, though largely abandoned or in decay, bear witness to the 2,500-year legacy of Iraq’s Jewish community. These sites are remnants of a once-flourishing spiritual landscape—a harvest of memory struggling to survive the erosion of time and conflict.
We turn to the future in “The Next Generation,” spotlighting Chaldean youth who are making waves across industries. These are individuals sowing new seeds—blending faith, culture, and innovation in ways that nourish both commerce and community. They’re redefining what it means to make a living with purpose and integrity.
In “Hungary Helps,” we recognize an international humanitarian organization that, nearly a decade ago, took bold action to support the world’s most vulnerable communities. Their work—honored at the Chaldean Community Foundation’s annual gala—reminds us that true harvest comes from investing in others and cultivating hope where it’s most needed.
We also look unflinchingly at the past. “Soria, 1969: A Village Crucified” revisits a dark chapter of Iraq’s history, while the chilling legacy of “Devil’s Night in Detroit” reminds us that what is sown in fear or neglect can bear bitter fruit for generations.
But heritage is more than memory—it’s action. In “History Lesson,” we explore the renovation of Rudy’s, a restoration of both place and purpose. In “Reviving Nineveh,” Governor Al-Dakhil’s advocacy reminds us that even amid political instability, there are leaders who work to preserve cultural identity and rebuild what’s been nearly lost.
In “Stories That Matter,” filmmaker Ron Najor brings the theme of heritage into sharp, emotional focus. A Chaldean-American raised in a world of family businesses and tradition, Najor forged a different path: storytelling. His latest film, Adjunct, draws from his own experiences and cultural background, weaving a narrative that’s deeply human, socially aware, and unmistakably personal. It’s a reminder that storytelling itself is a form of harvest—one that gathers truth, memory, and meaning.
This month’s issue is a balance of remembrance and renewal—from the enduring significance of Jewish shrines in Iraq to the evolving marijuana industry, and from cultural storytelling to the inspiring success of Chaldean athletes.
Through it all, one thread remains: resilience.
As we gather with loved ones and celebrate traditions this fall, may we also take time to reflect on what we’re harvesting in our own lives—what we’ve nurtured, what we’ve lost, and what we’re choosing to pass on. Heritage isn’t just about what we inherit—it’s about what we tend to, protect, and ultimately, share.
Sarah Kittle
Editor in Chief