Khziraan 3, 6746 Volume II Issue 17 June 3, 1996
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A Weekly Online Newsletter Serving the Assyrian
Communities Around the World
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THE L I G H
T H O U S E
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MESSENGERS OF LOVE
Monday May 20, 1996- Nearly 50 or more San Jose
Bay Area Assyrians
awaited the arrival of four cherished visitors.
Youkhana and his
mother Lydia Nano, Bernadit and her mother Khereya Jalal
were to
arrive from Detroit Michigan on an American Airlines
flight to
San Jose airport at 5:25 P.M.
Flight 603 was delayed. Anxious and eager Assyrians had
an additional
hour to spend together in the crowded arrival terminal
with hundreds
of questions on their minds and faces profound glowing
with excitement
and joy of seeing four of their brethren from the homeland.
Among those at the San Jose airport were Mr. Narsai David,
president
of the Assyrian Aid Society of America (AAS), Mr. Alphonse
Odisho,
president of the Assyrian American Association of San
Jose, Dr.
Lincoln Malik, ADM representative in the U.S. ,and
from the AAS were
present Mr. Sargon Shabbas and Mr. Ashur Youseph.
Also among those waiting arrival were Qasha Youshiya Sana,
pastor of
the St. Mary's Assyrian Chaldean Catholic Church, Mr.
George Zaya,
former president of the Assyrian American Association
of San Jose and
presently the president of the Assyrian Church
of the East, Mar Yosip
Parish's executive board. Mr. Edward Chalabi, President
of ADM San
Jose Chapter and member of the chapter, and supporters
of ADM and AAS.
>From the Santa Clara County Chapter of the Assyrian Aid
Society of
America, Vice President Esha Tamras, Neil Karaman and
Yooki Khenanya
and their families. Mr. Ed Tuman, host and producer
of the ATOUR T.V.
progrm of the Assyrian American Association was also
among the
welcoming crowd.
A group of 10 or more Assyrian Children as young as my
son Ramiel
(2 years old) and up to 12 or 13 years of age, their
little loving
and caring hands filled with flowers and presents, lined
up in front
of the door leading out of the aircraft into the waiting
area.
As I was attempting to capture this memorable and monumental
event
through the video camera viewer I missed out on the opportunity
of
witnessing the high emotions, and tearful eyes of all,
men and women
alike as the four guests walked out of the aircraft.
Our visitors were greeted by Mr. Narsai David, Dr. Lincoln
Malik at
the door and then the whole crowd approached them, shook
hands, hugged,
kissed and exchanged greetings. The flashing lights
of cameras or
Mr. Albert Gabriel and Neil Karaman were constant for
minutes as
everyone gathered around our guests and posed for photographs.
The crowd of 50 or more Assyrians later took the freeway
to the
Assyrian Hall of Mar. Yosip Assyrian Church of the East
just a few
miles from the airport. When I arrived at the church
at about 7:00
P.M. the lot was 90% full of parked cars.
As I walked inside I
could estimate over 100 Assyrians, young and adults gathered
and
anxiously waiting the arrival of their beloved guests.
Minuets later
Qasha Shmouel Dinkha, Pastor of Mar. Yosip Assyrian Church
of the East
and Qasha Youshiya Sana, Pastor of St. Mary's Assyrian
Chaldean Church
both welcomed the two families as they arrived to the
church.
When Yokhana, Lydia Nano, Bernadit and Khereya Jalal entered
the
Assyrian Hall, the crowd of over 100 Assyrians gave them
a breath-
taking ovation and a loud thunder of applause filled
the Assyrian
hall. Qasha Shmouel Dinkha invited the audience
to enter the Church
for a prayer session which was conducted by both Qasha
Shmoel Dinkha
and Qasha Youshyia Sana. After the short prayer
all present entered
the hall and took seats. Rabi Evelyn Bit-Badal
took the microphone
and delivered a warm welcome speech to our visitors and
all guests.
Rabi Evelyn later called Dr. Lincoln Malik to the podium
during which
time he expressed appreciation for the support of Assyrians
and non-
Assyrians in helping making this event possible.
Mr. Alphonse Odishoo,
President of the Assyrian American Association of San
Jose was next
to welcome our guests and also highlighted this enormous
and historical
event and stressed the need for all Assyrians to rally
behind the
Assyrian Aid Society in support of their efforts in providing
aid to
our Assyrian people in the homeland.
Rabi Evelyn later called Qasha Shmoel Dinkha to the microphone.
Qasha
Shmoel presented a fiery short speech in which he stressed
and highlighted
the great love Assyrians have for their nation and people
and how readily
they come to the calling during the time of need.
Qasha Youshyia Sana
followed with a moving speech on the same subject,
then Qasha Shemoel
said the Lord's prayer and blessed the evening dinner
that was prepared
by the ladies of the Assyrian Church of the East.
I want to mention at this time the number of Assyrians
in the hall
had gone past the 200 (estimate) from the original at
the beginning
of the event. Assyrians started to walk around
and talk with each
of the visitors one by one. A lot of them posed
for memorable
photographs, as well as many others that presented the
two children
Youkhana and Bernadit with gifts of toys. One thing stole
my attention
as I was in the side room where the tables and chairs
are kept. A
crowd of over 10 boys were playing American Football
and emulating
the hitting of baseball as two or three girls stood by
watched.
These kids were talking in English to each other but
as soon as
Youkhana walked in, they all turned towards him, started
to hand him
the ball and talked to him in Assyrian. They were around
him being
careful caring and more polite than they were to the
rest. I
couldn't help but think, that even though I sometimes
feel hopeless
when I see our children talking English to each other
and being mean
and disrespectful to each other, the witnessing of this
different
attitude of love, respect and care of the Assyrian children
born in
the U.S. toward their brother from the homeland brought
tears to my
eyes and I said, thank you LORD for instilling those
wonderful traits
in the hearts and souls of Assyrian parents that is evident
by what
I just witnessed with these children.
During this evening I had the chance to speak with several
Assyrians.
I expressed that for the first time in my life today
I saw a different
look on the faces of Assyrians present at this event.
I felt a
different air in the gathering of this evening.
I could only translate
it as a feeling of love, joy, togetherness and solidarity
among all
and towards each other. I asked a few of
those present if I may have
been putting too much into this feeling of aw, however,
and I believe
their honesty, all those who I asked, echoed the same
though and feeling
that I voiced.
It was past 10:30 P.M. when I and my daughter walked out
of the church
hall following another 10 or so Assyrians.
Esha Tamraz
Assyrian Aid Society of America
San Jose, California
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G O O D M O R N
I N G B E T - N A
H R A I N
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OIL FROM KIRKUK TO BRING HUMANITARIAN AID TO NORTHERN
BET-NAHRAIN
(ZNRU: Kirkuk) Iraq is expected to pump most of the oil
under its
May 20 agreement with the United Nations from the ancienct
Assyrian city
of Kirkuk, where oil was first discovered in Iraq nearly
seven decades
ago. The city was often targetted by Iranian warplanes
during the
1980-88 Iran-Iraq war. The Iraqi authorities built a
25 metre-high
artificial mountain to place anti-aircraft guns on and
to protect the
city. Neither the mountain nor the guns could guard the
oil fields
against laser-guided bombs which allied warplanes dropped
on the
city during the 1991 Gulf War over Kuwait. ``Damage was
massive,''
said Talal Ashour Kanaan, the Assyrian director general
of the
Northern Oil Company. Before the war with Iran,
Kirkuk, 255 km
(160 miles) north of Baghdad, produced up to 1.7 million
barrels per
day (bpd), about two thirds of Iraq's OPEC quota of 3.14
million bpd.
Iraq last week pumped 350,000 bpd to fill its twin pipeline
via Turkey,
idle since sanctions were clamped on it for the invasion
of Kuwait
nearly six years ago. Oil first gushed forth from Kirkuk
in huge
quantities in June 1927.
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S U R F S
U P !
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"Can you tell me what is wrong with the Assyrian language
that you
choose to conduct your meeting in English? If that is
the case, then
I am not invited to your so called "English Spoken Networking
Conference". BTW, I speek English too."
Wilson Eashoian
California
[ZENDA's presentation at the Conference was conducted
in Assyrian.]
********************************
"I love your publication. I don't know where else
to find out about
the happenings in northern Iraq and it is all so important.
I am
writing today because I have a problem. I am 23
years old and I don't
know how to speak Assyrian. I have been looking
at the "pump up the
volume" section of Zenda but I just need more help.
I live in the San
Francisco Bay Area and I would be willing to commute
to San Jose or
even Modesto. I am looking for a class that would
teach someone my
age the language from the beginning. If there isn't
a specific class
I could take I was wondering if there would be a way
to ask for a tutor
through Zenda. I appreciate your assistance and
keep up the good work!"
Lena Malik
California
[Currently there are several Assyrian language classes
for adults
taught at the Assyrian Churches of San Jose (closest
to your residence)
and the Assyrian American Association of San Jose will
commence the
new Assyrian Language Classes for adults in September.
ZENDA will
publish dates and more accurate informatoin in its future
issues.]
********************************
"MY NAME IS SHAMIRAN SAFARO AN ASSYRIAN FROM MELBOURNE,
AUSTRALIA
WRITING TO YOU. I WAS SURFING THE INTERNET, AND HAVE
DECIDED I WOULD
LIKE TO SUBSCRIBE TO YOUR MAGAZINE, AS THE CONTENTS ARE
EXCELLENT.
CAN YOU PLEASE EMAIL ME ON ... AND INCLUDE ALL THE DETAILS
SUCH AS
FEES,(ANNUAL AND DELIVERY)AND/OR ANY OTHER INFORMATION.
HOWETON BASEEME!"
Shamiran Safaro
Melbourne, Australia
[ZENDA is emailed to over 300 accounts in 12 countries
free of charge.
We hope that you will support our efforts by submitting
news and
information regarding the activities of your local, regional,
and
national Assyrian communities in Australia. ZENDA
also reaches a dozen
other accounts in Australia and New Zealand.]
********************************
"I would like you to make the following changes in the
list of
activities. In the section Nisibis Assyrian school Toronto,
remove the
United Assyrian Youth name. UAYC only provides transportation
and does
not interfere with the school itself, ie. administration
etc. I believe
the Church personell will be unhappy to see the name
UAYC there. It is
unfortunate that in todays Assyrian Society (And I believe
it is the
case allover) doing for the sake of CREDIT, assuming,
acting based on
propoganda of a few (Who are usually the idiots
of the nation), is at
its highest. When we originally offered the use
of our bus with paid
driver for the school (Started and operated by the Church
of the East
(Assyrian) it was refused, fuinally it was accepted under
certain
circumstances. Last week the entertainment committee
of the Church
(Who's some of its members have refused to help in national
organizations
always claiming they do not have time) were upset and
expressed their
concern publicly against advertizing their dance party
in Nineveh newspaper
(So many kcheekheh in the workforce of the nation and
the church:))).
Instead of sending a thank you note, these kcheekheh
b'mookhah expressed
anger. many of such individuals truly believe that in
order that they be
good church members they must stand against the national
organizations.
Is there more idiotic thinking than this?, but it is
a fact that we have
to live with. Can we change this? Can you grow plants
on concrete?"
Ninos Younan
Toronto, Canada
********************************
"I am an Assyrian. I live in Tulock Ca. I
heard about your weekly
Assyrian On-line newsletter. Please add me to your
mailing list.
Thanks!"
Thomas Daniel
Turlock, California
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S U R F E R S
C O R N E R
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At the Assyrian State Convention of California, held last
week in
San Jose, California, Former State Senator John Nimrod
(R-Illinois)
endorsed ZENDA as an official newsagency of the Assyrian
nation.
Mr. Nimrod is the current Secretary General of the Assyrian
Universal
Alliance.
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N E W S
D I G E S T
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ANKARA WELCOMES UN-IRAQ PIPELINE AGREEMENT
(ZNTN: Ankara) Turkey has welcomed the signing of
an agreement
between the United Nations and Iraq that en visages a
limited sale
of Iraqi oil. The accord allows Iraq, which has the world's
second-
largest oil reserves, to sell $2 billion worth of oil
over six months
to buy humanitarian goods, subject to renewal.
Iraq for years had
refused to accept a food-for-oil deal, saying it infringed
on its
sovereignty. But it accepted negotiations in February
with some
officials believing the deal would be the first step
toward getting
sanctions lifted. This is the hope of Turkey, which has
advocated the
reintegration of Iraq into the international arena. Local
businessmen
claim that the impoverished northern Bet-Nahrain lost
important income
when the cross-border trade with Iraq ended in 1990,
although no exact
figures were given. Some Turkish strategists also claimed
that, in
addition to the security risk caused by the power vacuum
in northern
Iraq, the economic decline in Turkey's border area has
made this region
an easy target for the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).
ARTIFACT SMUGGLERS SEIZED IN IRAQ
(ZNRU: Baghdad) A gang of smugglers of ancient artifacts
were arrested
in Iraq last Week. Iraq's television interviewed five
people who it said
were involved in the illicit trade and showed scores
of clay, stone and
bronze pieces, plus a Hebrew manuscript. Dony George
of Iraq's Antiquities
Department said the smugglers painted the pieces crudely
to conceal their
age. Many were museum pieces and one bronze item, George
said, was among
the rarest Assyrian artifacts in Iraq's possession.
Iraqi archeologists
complain they neither have the resources nor the personnel
to guard Iraq's
ancient antiquities and sites of which at least 10,000
need protection.
Smuggling of Mesopotamian artifacts has become a thriving
business in Iraq,
archeologists say. They said it mainly handles statuettes
and cylinder
seals which fetch tens of thousands of dollars at auction
houses in
Europe and America. Iraqi laws are harsh on artifact
smugglers and
those caught could face death if convicted.
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D I R E C T O R Y OF THE
N E W S S O U R C
E S
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ZNNQ (Nabu Quarterly)
ZNRU (Reuters): ClariNet Communications Corp.
ZNSC (soc.culture.assyrian) newsgroup
ZNTN (Turkish News Agency)
ZNUP (United Press International)
ZNDA (Zenda: zenda@ix.netcom.com)
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C A L E N D
A R OF E
V E N T S
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June 9-11 The ARAM
Conference
Harvard University
Cambridge, Massachusetts, U.S.A
July 1-5 RENCONTRE
ASSYRIOLOGIQUE INTERNATIONALE
Praque, Czech Republic
July 2-7 10th
Annual Assyrian Youth Convention
of the Assyrian Church of the East
Chicago, Illinois
July 4-7 Assyrian
Olympics of California
San Diego, California
Thru Aug 15 "Beirut: Uncovering
the Past"
Profiles recent UNESCO archeology efforts
The British Museum
London, England
August 12-14 SyrCOM-96: Second International
Forum
on Syrian Computing
Symposium Syriacum
Uppsala University
Dept of Asian and African Studies
Box 513
S-751 20 Uppsala
Sweden
Fax: +46 18 181094
Witold.Witakowski@afro.uu.se
Aug 29-Sept 2 AANF National Convention
Red Lion Inn Hotel
Modesto, U.S.A.
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R E G U L A R C L A S S E S &
M E E T I N G S
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Mondays
Assyrian History Class
"Assyrian History: 18th Century thru Present
Instructor: Wilfred Alkhas
BETA on 20000 Almaden Rd, San Jose, Calif
Class begins on June 3
Thursdays Nineveh
Choir: Maestro Nebu Issabey
BETA: AAA of San Jose, U.S.A.
7:30-9:00 pm
Fridays
Assyrian Educational & Cultural Club at
Modesto Junior College
1:00 pm
Founders Hall 108
Modesto, U.S.A.
Saturdays Nisibis
School
10:30-1:30
The Church of the East
Toronto, Canada
Nisibin School
Ages 4 thru 14
Assyrian Language, History, & Arts
9:00 am - 12:00 pm
BETA on 20000 Almaden Rd, San Joe, Calif
Classes begin on June 15
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A S S Y R I A N
S U R F I N G
P O S T S
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ASSYRIAN PAGE
http://www.ing.hb.se/users/kemi/KE9512/homepage/assyrian/assyrisk.htm
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P U M P UP THE V O L U
M E
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ENGLISH
ASSYRIAN
Star
kokhva [M]
Planet
pal-lee-tda [M]
Gravity
naa-tow-poo-taa [F]
Note: pronounce td as in tdlaa (number three)
___________________________________________________________________
F = Feminine M = Masculine
P = Plural
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B A C K TO THE
F U T U R E
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B.C. (2371) Sargon of Akkad succeeds as the first builder
of a
Mesopotamian empire. It is written that he was
a gardner who
became cupbearer to a king of Kish, built the city
of Agade,
and finally became a king reigning for 56 years.
<< Babylonians, Saggs >>
A.D. (1890) dies, Shooshan Oshana, the first Assyrian
Woman-
Principal of a school, in Salamas-Iran.
<< Soorgada Sheeta Mshikheta, Hannibal Givargiz
>>
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L I T E
R A T U
S
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****An Inscription from the Palace
of Ashur-Nasir-Pal II****
883-859 B.C.
I am the king who caused the lands from the other bank
of the Tigris
to the Lebanon and the Great Sea, the whole of Laqu,
and Suhu as far
as Rapiqu, to submit; who himself conquered the territory
from the
source of the Subnat River to Urartu.
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T H I S W E E K
I N H I S T O R
Y
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June 7, 1914: A group of Assyrian youth in New Britain,
Connecticut
organize the Tiglath-Pilasar Society to assist Assyrian
immigrants
to the United States.
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B R A
V O
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The Assyrian Students Club of Modesto Junior College-
Modesto,
California- was recently selected as the "1995-96 Club
of the Year"
from among 22 students clubs at MJC. "We were so
active, organized,
loyal, and participated at all the events at MJC and
helped ASMJC
(Assoicated Students of Modesto Junior College) to celebrate
the
International Fair" said Shemiram Kouchoei, president
of the ASC-MJC.
Assyrian dance performances with the Assyrian Dance Group
of Turlock
High School,food/bake sales, and lectures (i.e. Mr. Wilfred
Alkhas'
lecture on the politics of Northern Bet-Nahrain) were
a few of the
activities scheduled during the current academic year.
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W E L C O M
E T O Z E
N D A
===================================================================
Zenda welcomes our new on-line subscribers from:
CORPORATE ACCOUNTS
Stratacom, Inc
VLSI
UNIVERSITY ACCOUNTS
None
PERSONAL ACCOUNTS
San Jose, California
Melbourne, Australia
Turlock, California
San Francisco, California
Berlin, Germany
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A C K N O W
L E D G E M
E N T S
===================================================================
Zenda wishes to thank the following individuals &
organizations
whose contributions appear in this issue:
Esha Tamraz
San Jose, California
Dani Daniel
Sweden
Christoph
Aktas Sunny
Mazin Enwiya
Skokie, Illinois
__________________________________________________________________
ZENDA prints your comments and suggestions free
of editing, as they
appear in our mailbox. All letters will be printed
in our SURFS UP!
section unless directed otherwise.
We urge you to submit the activities of your local and
national
Assyrian communities, personal accomplishments, and meeting/school
events to ZENDA no later than Sunday, 12:00 PM, Pacific
Standard Time.
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IN OUR NEXT ISSUE: Extensive
Coverage of the Assyrian State
Convention of Califronia - San Jose
Report of the Assyrian Community Networking
Conference held in San Jose, California
Historic Concert of the Nineveh Choral Group
Our Next Issue will
appear on Monday, June 10, 1996.
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