Last month, guest chefs Samira Cholagh and May Denha guided participants through the art of making Kleecha, Kahi, and Maa’Kacha. Hands-on sessions offered more than just recipes, they fostered connections, cultural pride, and delicious memories. Each session invites you to team up with fellow food lovers, learn from talented Chaldean community members, and create authentic dishes in a welcoming, hands-on environment.
Read MoreIn partnership with MDHHS and Ageways Michigan, CCF West hosted a meaningful community dialogue with Chaldean seniors to help shape the Michigan Plan on Aging. Participants shared personal experiences about aging in Michigan, highlighting key needs around transportation, mobility, food access, and overall well-being. Tammy Lemmer from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) facilitated the discussion.
Read MoreLast month, our B.E.A.M. Project participants attended nutrition classes at CCF West presented by Amy Safaoui, a Michigan State University Extension Community Instructor fluent in Arabic. Amy works closely with Arab and Chaldean communities across Oakland, Macomb, and Wayne Counties, helping families build lasting healthy habits.
Read MoreThe Chaldean Community Foundation (CCF) has partnered with the city of Sterling Heights for the 47th Annual Ken Stempowski Memorial Food Drive, providing food assistance to families in need this holiday season. Now through December 17, a donation bin will be available at the CCF (Sterling Heights location) to accept non-perishable food donations during office hours.
Read MoreAs we close out the year, this December issue invites us to pause, reflect, and reconnect—with our heritage, our families, and the communities that sustain us. The end of the year has a way of drawing us back to what matters most, and across these pages you’ll find a theme that carries through each story: the power of belonging, whether expressed through gratitude, service, shared history, or the simple joy of being together.
Read MoreOne of the great privileges of my work with the Iraqi Embassy over the years has been meeting and collaborating with remarkable Iraqi diplomats who have become brothers to me—as we call one another. Recently, Iraq’s Parliament approved a long-delayed slate of new ambassadors, and I was thrilled to see at least five of these colleagues elevated to the rank of ambassador.
Read MoreIn addressing this difficult subject, I must first make a clarification: I am not a theologian or an ethicist. I am a physician who has faced end-of-life issues many times over my 37-year career in pediatric oncology. This article is guided by the teachings of the Catholic Church—its Catechism and moral tradition—and by the Catholic Medical Association, of which I was a member. If I have made any errors, I welcome correction and comment.
Read MoreThe Chaldean Community Foundation (CCF) Iraq Mission has been closely monitoring the 2025 national parliamentary elections. With permanent staff in the Nineveh Plain and ongoing work and visits in the region, the CCF has established strong relationships with political leadership.
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Every family has its own story, but some stand out because they’re built on quiet strength and shared purpose. For brothers Rami and Noor Yasi, their path in real estate and mortgage lending grew from early lessons that shaped them long before they entered the industry. What began as a simple desire to help others find stability has become a lifelong calling rooted in compassion and hard work.
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Telleskuf (Tel Keppe) is a Chaldean name composed of two parts: Tella Zqeepa — Tella meaning “hill” and Zqeepa meaning “upright” or “cross.” The town’s origins date to the mid–second millennium B.C. Ancient manuscripts reference Telleskuf. In the archives of the Chaldean Diocese of Kirkuk, there is a manuscript written in 1582 by Abraham bin Bid‘a of Telleskuf.
Read Moreتللسقف لفظة كلدانية تتكون من مقطعين (تلا زقيپا) وتلا تعني التل، وزقيبا تعني المنتصب أو الصليب. يعود تاريخ تأسيسها إلى حوالي منتصف الألف الثاني قبل الميلاد. وهناك مخطوطات قديمة تتحدث عن بلدة تللسقف، ففي خزانة الأبرشية الكلدانية في كركوك مخطوطة كلدانية قديمة كتبها أبراهام بن بدعة التللسقفي سنة 1582.
Read MoreThe Chaldean Hockey League is a delicate balance of fierce competition, camaraderie and community. Games in the weekly league are hard-fought, and emotions run high—especially in the playoffs, when the coveted Telga Cup, the league’s version of the NHL’s Stanley Cup, is on the line.
Read MoreThere’s a reason our hearts feel different when the seasons change. It’s not weakness, it’s rhythm. As the days get darker, our bodies slow down too. The holidays can bring joy, but they can also overwhelm and bring stress. In Chaldean homes, this season is full of warmth and family, but that doesn’t mean it’s always easy. Many people find themselves pushing to stay okay when what they really need is a little space to rest and reset.
Read MoreLewis Yaldo, devoted husband, father, grandfather, and beloved uncle, passed away on November 1, 2025. Born in 1928, he overcame early family hardships to build a successful plumbing and import business with his brother and cousins.
Read MoreThe 2025 Chaldean American Chamber of Commerce Annual Meeting & Board Election was held on Wednesday, November 12 at CCF West, drawing nearly 150 attendees for an evening of networking, community engagement, and member connection. Guests explored exhibit booths from nine corporate members before participating in the Annual Meeting and voting for eight open Board seats from thirteen candidates.
Read MoreCommunity members who have recently passed away.
Read MoreThe City of Oak Park partnered with first responders, the Chaldean American Chamber of Commerce, and Forgotten Harvest to distribute full Thanksgiving meals to more than 250 local households facing increasing food insecurity.
Read MoreThe Chaldean-American community in Metro Detroit is grappling with profound grief following the tragic November 7 shooting at Star Auto Sales in Shelby Township. Marvan Talal-Razooqi Batoo, the dealership owner, and his friend Ghaith Baban were killed in what authorities describe as a targeted attack. Both men were cherished members of the Chaldean community, whose loss has left a deep void among families and friends across the region.
Read MoreChaldean Patriarch Mar Louis Raphaël Sako has urged Iraq’s Chaldean-Syriac-Assyrian community to unify their political voice following recent parliamentary elections in which Christian quota seats were influenced by major Shia and Kurdish blocs. Frustrated by what he describes as the ongoing manipulation of the Christian quota and the internal weakness of his own community, Mar Sako calls for the creation of an independent, clergy-free council composed of political parties, trustworthy MPs, activists, and experts from inside and outside Iraq.
Read MoreDOHUK, Iraq (AP) — Members of Iraqi security forces and displaced people living in camps, including minority Yazidis, cast their ballots Sunday in early voting ahead of this week's parliamentary election in Iraq. The election, which will help determine whether Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani gets a second term, comes against the backdrop of fears of another conflict between Israel and Iran, and Iraq’s balancing act with Tehran and Washington.
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