Chaldean Voices

December invites reflection on the year that has passed and anticipation for the year ahead. It’s a time to appreciate the commitment and creativity that drive us all—whether through the artists and innovators in our communities or those whose devotion to faith, family, and country shapes the world around us.

As we approach the end of 2024, this November issue of Chaldean News is filled with inspiring stories and important updates that reflect the dynamic spirit of the Chaldean American community. We kick off with an exciting profile of Diana Alsindy, a remarkable Chaldean aerospace engineer whose story reminds us that “the sky is not the limit.”

It is always sad to say “goodbye” to summer; however, the U.S. presidential election is keeping things heated. While we didn’t address the race between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump in this issue, we plan to bring you a special digital election insert, so stay tuned!

As always, we begin this month’s publication with deep gratitude. In September, the Chaldean Community Foundation will honor Bishop Ibrahim Ibrahim for his lifetime of dedicated service to the Chaldean Catholic Church and its congregation.

There are many benefits to joining the Chaldean American Chamber of Commerce. There are many situations that may arise when you own a business, are an entrepreneur looking to grow and learn, or are simply a member of the community and may need help and certain connections.

The word “preparation” resonates with a myriad of meanings, spanning across various contexts and actions. In the realm of culinary arts, preparation embodies the meticulous planning and gathering of ingredients before crafting a dish, ensuring everything is in place to execute a recipe with finesse. It involves chopping, marinating, and seasoning—each step crucial to achieving culinary excellence.

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.

Recognition, as moral theologian James F. Keenan, S.J. asserts, serves as a fundamental ethical threshold. In his essay “The Great Religious Failure: Not Recognizing a Person in Need,” Keenan draws upon the timeless parable of the Good Samaritan to illustrate that the act of recognition is the pivotal first step towards helping others.

Chaldean News staff Dr. Adhid Miri was invited to speak at a “Storytellers on Sunday” event held May 19 at Palmer Park Log Cabin. The cultural neighborhood event included a book swap and discussion (stories) with four guests, including Dr. Miri.

Spring, with its gentle warmth and vibrant blooms, offers more than just a visual treat. It serves as a poignant metaphor for personal growth and renewal. Much like the earth awakening from its winter slumber, we can harness the energy of spring to embark on our own journeys of self-discovery and development.

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.

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.

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.

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.

When spring cleaning this year, take a little time to do some internal decluttering. Our minds, like our homes, become cluttered without regular scrutiny. Spring, with its fresh air and rising temperatures, is a great time to do some self-evaluation.

Being content (or not) is all about emotions. Emotionally sensitive people react to events quickly and with intense feeling. They have difficulty in getting their emotional reactions to go away. Finding ways to manage emotions effectively can minimize the non-physical pain they experience.

Based on my personal experience, I highly recommend that new parents who are fluent in Chaldean and/or Arabic use these languages when speaking to their young infants, babies, and kids. My wife and I have two kids. When they were young, we questioned whether to speak with them in Arabic (my wife does not speak Chaldean).

This March issue is all about the pursuit of excellence in sports, education, professional work – virtually all walks of life. Chaldean culture calls for distinction, for brilliance and superiority. It is what we have come to expect from the community.

In my first article published in October 2023, I wrote about dating as a Chaldean in America and discussed how dating has evolved from the village days until now. At the time, I was single and ready to use new methods offered by our community to find a suitable partner, like speed dating or personalized matchmaking. Less than a month after the article was published, however, I found that special person and committed myself to a relationship with her.

By Mena Hannakachl Redefining what it means to be a “progressive Chaldean” is long overdue. I respect the reasons why Chaldeans lean toward the right, especially considering the history of fighting to preserve the culture’s identity, religion, and language. I understand the challenges of keeping our traditions, beliefs, and behaviors alive amidst other communities.

By Samir Jamil, MD Recently, I attended my first silent retreat sponsored by the Eastern Catholic Re-Evangelization Center (ECRC). From the start, I felt that I did not belong to this crowd of mostly young devotees, especially after I noticed how much more spiritual they were. What I hoped for by attending this retreat was a true self-examination and to inch closer to God the Creator.

By Sarah Kittle. February is officially cuddle month, when frosty weather and frigid temperatures keep us confined to the great indoors. On the other hand, it is also a great date month, with Valentine’s Day smack dab in the middle. Lucky for you, dear reader, we have supplied some fantastic ideas for dating in Detroit—there are so many places to go, some that may even be new to you!

By Dr. Rena Daiza As the holiday season ends, days get shorter and the temperatures drop, it’s not uncommon for some of us to feel like bears contemplating hibernation. The winter blues, also known as Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), might be nipping at your heels, but I’ve got the perfect arsenal of coping mechanisms to turn that frown upside down.

It is with immense pride and joy that I extend my heartfelt gratitude to you as we celebrate a remarkable milestone — the 20th anniversary of the Chaldean News. Two decades ago, we embarked on a journey to amplify the voices, stories, and achievements of the Chaldean community. Today, as we reflect on this incredible journey, we are filled with gratitude for the unwavering support and encouragement from our readers, contributors, and the community at large.

I’ve been with the Chaldean News for going on four years, and the incredible growth I have seen in that time is nothing short of amazing. Chaldean community members are rising in the ranks of law enforcement, being appointed to positions of authority, affecting elections, creating business empires, and then turning around with a hand offered to help those that come after them. It is inspiring and uplifting to witness; I can only imagine the pride felt by those involved.

We chose our cover carefully to convey the great sorrow and anguish felt after a recent tragic fire in the Nineveh Plain province of Iraq. It was the happiest of occasions, a wedding between two lovers, a marriage of families, which turned into one of the most heartbreaking events a family can endure.

The unprecipitated yet coldly calculated terrorist attack by Hamas on innocent Israeli citizens, that also included Americans and other nationalities, has upended the fragile peace in the Middle East. Semi-neutral arbiters in the long simmering Palestinian - Israeli conflict have chosen sides—the United States lining up squarely and fully behind Israel—while countries like Egypt and Jordan, with their own peace treaties with Israel, are being forced to stand with the “Arab Street.”

The topic of dating is highly debated and ever changing; this comes as no surprise because it is a universal experience. Most of us have dated, will date, or are currently dating. However, this idea of dating is rather new to the Chaldean community, when compared to the “courting” our parents experienced.

Autumn is a time of contemplation; it is when we take stock of where we are and perhaps re-evaluate and adjust our trajectory for the future. For many, it seems like an end – the end of summer, the end of the season, the end of the year drawing to a close. Early next month, on the 5th of November to be exact, our clocks will turn back for perhaps the last time, if opponents of Daylight Savings Time (DST) have their wish.

With the school year about to begin, the Chaldean News decided to explore the issue of whether our Chaldean kids are making the best of the opportunities offered to them in school. To assist us in this endeavor, we sought the opinion of two prominent educators.

This month’s Chaldean News has so many inspiring and uplifting stories, beginning with our cover story. Thomas Denha was a man who dreamed big; he had dreams not only for himself and his family, but for the entire Chaldean community.

If you follow the news, you may have heard about drug-resistant infections caused by an organism called ‘Candida auris.’ This kind of news can create concern; the goal of this article is to help readers understand the infection—who is at risk, how it spreads, associated symptoms, and treatment.

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.

This month as we celebrate our country’s independence, it is a good time for Americans to reflect on where we came from as well as where we are going. Many efforts are underway to preserve Chaldean culture, and most visibly, the language. Some call it “Chaldean Aramaic,” and others call it “Sureth,” but what is indisputable is that the language of our forefathers connects us to the past.

It was day two in Iraq. We were still jet lagged. Several in our delegation were born in Iraq but had never been back. We stepped off the van and into a tiny village that appeared to be unchanged from a couple hundred years ago. While modernity and progress had passed it by, war and destruction did not. Maybe 250 families live here, we were told. It was the Christian village located in the Nineveh Plain just a short mile from Telkaif. For this group, it was our first opportunity to see what had become of our ancestral homeland. Emotions were raw.

Many Chaldeans immigrate to the United States and aspire to obtain a green card for themselves and their families; however, sometimes they forget or neglect to apply for U.S. citizenship once they qualify. This could be a huge mistake.

Traditionally, it has been rather difficult for the U.S. government to take away a green card, but more recent Acts of Congress have made it easier for them to do so.

This edition of the Chaldean News has been a special pleasure to put together. The Chaldean community here in Michigan is such a vibrant and generous group and reliving some of the history of Chaldean Town’s “glory days” has been a particular treat. Everyone has memories, it seems, that they’d like to share.

Although the history of the community here has its heartache, sometimes a painful past can lead to immeasurable joy. I have personally had that experience recently, and I can tell you that it is worth it. Tears of pain can be transformed into those of gratitude and when the wounds heal, the heart rejoices!

April is Stress Awareness Month, an ideal time to check in on how we are doing and to set some healthful goals as we ‘spring forward.’ Stress is a term that people often use to describe a feeling of pressure, strain, or tension. People often say that they are “under stress” or feel “stressed out” when they are dealing with challenging situations or events. Everyone encounters stressful situations.

Ahhh, spring in Michigan. We love our state and all its personalities, especially in May. Spring flowers and Mother’s Day make the month a celebration, and we are here for it. In this month’s Family Time, Valene Ayar shares some benefits that come along with gardening with kids. It teaches them respect for nature and introduces them to the satisfaction that comes with having a purpose. Plus, it may help them enjoy vegetables at the dinner table. It could happen.

When I accepted my job as palliative care nurse practitioner eight years ago, a Chaldean colleague told me I was crazy for taking the position and that I will not be able to get any Chaldeans into hospice. Although this was never my objective, I am glad to say he was wrong. 

March is International Women’s Month, which means not only here in the U.S., but in the United Kingdom and Australia, people are celebrating us! We also happen to feature a few articles about the fairer sex in our current issue. Our March cover is the remarkable Genevieve Kashat, who competed in the Kids Baking Championship on Food Network.

Colorectal screening saves lives. Part of raising awareness is helping people understand the value and importance of getting regular cancer screenings for early detection. As a primary care doctor, a large part of my role is preventive medicine. The goal of preventive medicine is to ultimately prevent disease, disability, and death. Colorectal cancer screening is one way of implementing this.

Integrity. It’s an old-fashioned concept; you sort of know it when you see it, or sometimes feel it. I’ve seen integrity. I’ve seen it in action, at Joe Yatoma’s Dash Diamonds in West Bloomfield. Diamond buyers in the know are drawn to Dash for its selection, its quality, its value, and its guarantee that each diamond selling for more than $1,000 is certified by the Gemological Institute of America—the jewelry industry’s authority on geological research and authenticity.