Vol IV, Issue 7
Neesan 20, 6748 April 20, 1998
T H I S W E E K I N Z E N D A
ZENDA Says...
A few months back a student-reader from Australia asked us about
a new Assyrian organization she had recently heard about while listening
to the elders of her family: "It was something universal, like
the Assyrian universal movement or unity. I am interested to
learn more about this group." Her case is not unique. The organizers
of the most influential Assyrian political entity in this century
and the leaders of most other political groups are guilty of abandoning
the Assyrian masses in the chasm of disinformation. A college
Freshman in 1998 cannot possibly be expected to know about the
historic meeting which took place thirty years ago this month
in a small city in southern France. This week we come to the
rescue of such readers in dedicating this issue to the 30th anniversary
of the First Congress of the Assyrian Universal Alliance and celebrate
the events of the most unforgettable four days of an enchanted
April.
THE LIGHTHOUSE
PAU
On the 30th Anniversary of the First A.U.A. Congress
The year 1968 can easily be summed up in two words: revolutionary
& turbulent. The Czech liberation movement lead by Dubcek, the
civil rights movement in the U.S., the first manned landing on
the moon, Flower Power, the Sexual Revolution, Woodstock, and
the Beatles redefined our concept of freedom and individuality.
Meanwhile, the war in Vietnam, the Kennedy and King assassinations,
the Soviet troops invasion of Czechoslovakia brought us back to
the realities of the human intolerance and the Cold War. In the
Middle East, a year earlier, the catastrophe of the Six-Day War
had affected the psyche of the Arabs like no other event in their
Islamic history. The Israelis who had returned to their ancestral
homeland some 20 years earlier had been able to withstand the
combined forces of their Arab neighbors and gain over 26,000 square
miles of territory previously in the hands of their enemies.
Not even the Soviets could help their friends in Damascus and
Cairo to recover these losses.
A few hundreds of miles away in the city of Tehran a small group
of enthusiastic Assyrians looked upon these events as harbingers
of a new chapter in the history of the world's Syriac-speaking
Christians, particularly those in the Middle East. It was time
that they were united under a unique name and a single political
leadership and lived in their own ancestral homeland. With the
support of the Assyrian activists in the U.S., France, Australia,
Canada, Central Europe, and the Middle East a new political organization
under the name of the Assyrian Universal Alliance had formed in
1967. On 10 April 1968 the First Congress of the A.U.A. was held
in the French city of Pau.
No meeting held in this century had given greater promise of political
resurgence and international recognition than the meeting at Pau.
Some twenty Assyrian delegates attended this meeting. They were
welcomed by Louis Sallonavo, the Mayor of Pau, at l'Hotel de l'Europe
where this momentous meeting took place. One attendee, an old
man who had served in the Assyrian army of Agha Petros and Malik
Ismail d'Malik Yacou, arrived at the town hall wearing an Assyrian
tribal custom. Tears of joy and the deafening sound of hand clapping
were mercilessly but quickly shattering two thousand years of
silence. The French newspaper, Eclair-Pyrenees, wrote: "Their
rights have to be recognized and their sovereignty of the past
restored, which can only be proclaimed by regaining a territory."
Professor Erhaud of the Strasbourg University said that this "nationality
cannot be saved except by constituting a sovereign nation." La
Depeche Du Midi in a lengthy article on Friday 12 April wrote
"They are taking a great march toward a universal alliance and
perhaps toward a sovereign nation." La Republique noted that
"They are small in number, but their morale stands high among
the Near Eastern Christians and their heroic determination is
to survive. They are proud to be called the true descendants
of the Ancient Assyrians." Professor Pierre Pomdot of the Institute
of Political Sciences of Paris commented: "All the friends of
the Assyrian people, all those who believe in their cause and
have faith in their prospect, joyfully greet this realization
which should be the first act in a magnificent renaissance."
The meeting was chaired by Demitri Elloff, a son of General Agha
Petros. After four days of meeting the following twenty points,
poorly written but rich in their scope and vision, were drafted
in what later became known as the Report of the First World Congress:
1. There will no longer be a variety of names as previously called,
Nestorians, Chaldeans, Jacobites, Maronites etc. to divide the
Assyrian people, but all factions will be referred to as Assyrians.
2. There should be two officially recognized Assyrian languages:
the Modern Assyrian (Swadaya) and Literary Assyrian (Sapraya).
3. To establish an academy to construct a uniform alphabet to
simplify the structure of each Assyrian letter for the common
use of all.
4. The protection of the right of our people to live with dignity
and freedom as provided for the United Nations "Charter of Human
Rights", or any other proper channels.
5. Providing schools and scholarships for our youth in order
to raise the standard of education.
6. Through all known means of communication to introduce and
expand the Assyrian culture in the world.
7. April 1st shall be designated the "Assyrian National Day"
throughout the world.
8. The establishment of 3 separate chapters, one in Asia, one
in Europe, and one in the United States of America, for the purpose
of gathering all the vital information regarding the needs of
our people, for the
second meeting.
9. To arrange for a second meeting to be held in London as requested
by the delegates from Great Britain delegates.
10. The organization of a National Assyrian political body.
11. All these decisions to be presented to the affiliates and
the people by their respective representatives.
12. To request the Patriarchs of the various churches and denominations
to come together for the purpose of uniting the Assyrian people,
also recommending that all religious services and sermons to be
conducted only in the Assyrian language.
13. The Assyrian World Congress wishes to express its gratitude
to all nations and governments that have given the Assyrian people
the freedom to teach our language in their countries.
14. The Assyrian World Congress expresses its deep appreciation
to the French Government and the officials of the City of Pau
for their sincere assistance in insuring the success of this Congress,
and we gratefully acknowledge the expressions of good wishes for
success from individual Assyrians, Assyrian organizations and
our many other friends in high places.
15. We recommend one flag for all the affiliates.
16. To purchase land and establish a home that shall be an Assyrian
national Home, in one of the free countries.
17. By extending economic aid to our people in the Middle East
we will stop Assyrian immigration to the other parts of the world.
18. When the chapters decide that they are ready, the second
Congress meeting will then be held.
19. Invited delegates will be the only ones to attend the meeting.
20. It was unanimously decided by all the delegates at this Congress
that this has now been establish as the: ASSYRIAN UNIVERSAL ALLIANCE
Since those historic days in April of 1968 the A.U.A. delegates
have held twenty more world congresses and have drafted hundreds
of other proposals and recommendations. The question remains:
Was the A.U.A. necessary? Today, the only A.U.A. delegate from
Pau who remains true to the 1968 vision of the A.U.A. is the old
and tired but optimistic man whose ideas essentially gave birth
to the concept of a universal alliance among all divided sectarian
and political Assyrian fronts. Dr. Ashur Moradkhan's latest work
is his "Manifesto", a prescription for change as unprecedented
as the social and political revolutions of the late 60's. To
this "Assyrian Dubcek" unable to bring about a Velvet Revolution
among his countrymen, and the thousands of Assyrian activists,
the A.U.A. provided an opportunity for world recognition to a
forgotten people and paved the way for the creation of the future
federations and movements burgeoning in the name of the Assyrian
people. Ironically, this year's Congress is to be held in the
city of Tehran, where thirty years ago this month, the new Assyria
was envisaged, but alas never realized.
ZENDA
GOOD MORNING BET-NAHRAIN
SYRIAN ORTHODOX PATRIARCH VISITS BAGHDAD
(ZNAF: Baghdad) The patriarch of the Syrian Orthodox Church, Mor Ignatius Zakka
Iwass I, arrived in Baghdad on his first visit to Iraq in 16 years.
As part of a month-long tour, Mar Ignatius has already been to
the northern city of Mosul, his birthplace. He travelled to Baghdad
by road on Monday, 13 April, and was to stay two weeks. The visit
-the Patriarch's first to Iraq since 1982 -has been made possible
by the reopening of the Syrian-Iraqi border last year.
Mar Ignatius served as bishop of Mosul from 1963 to 1969 and as
bishop of Baghdad from 1969 until his election as patriarch in
1980. Syria has allowed Iraqi clergymen of the Syrian Orthodox
church to travel to the patriarchate in Damascus although its
relations with Baghdad have been cut since 1980. They have had
to travel via Amman, which was considered too long a journey for
the Patriarch to make, according to church officials. According
to Agence France-Presse Iraq's Assyrian Christian (Chaldean, Church
of the East, Syrian Orthodox) communities of Mosul and Baghdad
number around 750,000. The Assyrian activists believe that this
number is greatly understated. According to a report received
by ZENDA, the three Patriarchs of the Assyrian churches, Mor Ignatius
Zakka I of the Syrian Orthodox Church, Mar Dinkha IV of the Church
of the East, and Mar Raphael I Bidawid of the Chaldean Catholic
Church will hold an official meeting in Baghdad during the month
of May.
Northern Chronicles:
February 26
- Delegates from seven Assyrian political parties visit Mr. Filk
Al-Deen Kakahee, Minister of Cultural Affairs of the region. The
delegates presented their activities agenda for the coming months.
- The volleyball team of Syrian Arbaeelo School won the final game
of the tournament against Heeza School team of Enkawa. The final
game was held in the Akkad Stadium in Enkawa. It was attended
by the Assyrian regional leaders and people.
March 1
- Yacub Yousif and Yousif Petrous of the Assyrian Democratic Movement
return from Iran where they attended the Islamic Revolution's
festivities. They were invited by the Iranian government. The
delegates met with the leaders of the opposition parties to the
Iraqi regime.
March 3
- Yacub Yousif and Izhak Izhak meet with Al-Ameed Al-Rukin Tahseen
Bek, members of the Parliament and other military officers. Both
groups discussed issues related to the peace monitoring process
in the region (northern Iraq). Mr. Behnam Shaba, the movement
organizer, was among the delegates.
- Preparations to celebrate the 6th anniversary of the teaching
of Syriac language in northern Iraq begin in Enkawa. The Assyrian
television crew present a special program for the teachers in
Nohadra (Dohouk) and Arbil. Arba-Eilo Syriac School will celebrate
the 6th anniversary along with its teachers, faculty, and students.
Assyrian instructors of Syriac education attend the festivities
where prizes, donated by the the Assyrian Foundation of America
(Berkeley, California) are presented to the students and faculty.
SURF'S UP!
"Once upon a time, there was a great man; his name was Ashor.
Ashor planted a very large garden with a large variety of the
best flowers and all these flower smelled very nicely. Their
colors were as beautiful as the flowers of paradise. One day
Ashor called his daughter Ashoreena and said: "Dear Ashoreena
I feel that a strong storm will hit my garden and will try to
destroy it, so whatever happens to me must not shock you, dear
daughter. I will only ask you to take care of what will remain
of my flowers and my
beautiful garden." Ashoreena, a loyal daughter to her father,
promised him that she will take care of the garden. No one realized
that the storm that Ashor feared would in fact be so strong and
greedy. Ashoreena acted very quickly and bravely saved all that
she could from this nightmarish storm. She began to plant all
the flowers she had saved on the mountain top beyond the reach
of anyone. She thought that no one could destroy her father's
new beautiful garden anymore. But ass time passed strangers
came and with jealousy tried to disturb Ashoreena. Sometimes
they succeeded and at other times they failed .
Today, dear all brothers, Ashoreena's garden may be smaller due
to repeated attacks, but her flowers are always as beautiful as
the flowers of paradise. They are scattered in the world, but
you can recognize them; for they always say: 'We are the flowers
of the Great Ashor's Garden, and Ashoreena is looking after us
until the (Our and her) Father's return.'
Dear all brothers, if you want to continue this story or tell
it in a different way, please don't hesitate. I just wanted to
introduce Ashoreena to you. She is the (feeling) of our great
nation. The feeling of being Assyrians that has kept this nation
alive and ambitious to this day and will forever, Amen.
Youkhannan Siamando Khzyran Bet-Dodo
Toulouse, France
"I love reading ZENDA and look for new issues every Monday. My
grandmother lived in Armenia and tells us about life in the Assyrian
villages of Armenia. I'm just wondering if you know how many
Assyrians live in Armenia today. Keep up the excellent job you
do with zenda every week."
Atorina Odisho
California
According to the 1989 official census in Armenia, there were 5963
Assyrians living in that country.
SURFERS CORNER
ASSYRIAN HERITAGE MUSEUM
Come, see, and learn about the history, culture, customs, language,
and religion of the contemporary Assyrians at the Assyrian Heritage
Museum of the Assyrian Universal Alliance Foundation. The exhibits
displaying lives of yesterday and today include:
- Arts & Crafts
- Military Heroes
- Assyrian Food Cellar
- Paintings & Sculptures
- Costumes (Urban & Rural)
- Religious & Political Leaders
- Pictorial Tour of Last 100 Years
- Home & Life of 19th & 20th Century
- Literary Tour of Ashurbanipal Library
The museum is located at 7055 North Clark Street in Chicago.
For more information call (773) 274-9262.
NEWS DIGEST
U.N. REPORT NOTES CONCERN FOR WELL-BEING OF ASSYRIANS IN IRAQ
(ZNDA: New York) In a report (document E/CN.4/1998/67) on the
situation of human rights in Iraq, submitted last week by the
United Nations Special Rapporteur, Mr. Max van der Stoel, the
Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights expresses concerns
about reports of discrimination against members of minorities,
including the Assyrians in Iraq. The report was presented during
the 54th session of the U.N. Commission on Human Rights which
is being held between 16 March until 24 April. A representative
of Iraq charged that Mr. Van Der Stoel's report was a repetition
of allegations and false accusations from the past, carried out
in harmony with a hostile campaign against Iraq led by the United
States and Great Britain. The Committee also expressed concern
"about the deteriorating situation of economic, social and cultural
rights in Iraq. The Committee noted, inter alia, reports of discriminations
against members of certain minorities (the Kurds, the Marsh people,
the Assyrians, the Shi'a Muslims and the Turkomans) with respect to their enjoyment
of fundamental rights as reflected in the Covenant. With regard
to gender equality, the Committee expressed concern about discrimination
against women, both in law and in practice. Here again, the Committee
on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights reached the conclusion
already expressed by the Special Rapporteur, i.e. that sufficient
measures had not been taken to date by the authorities to alleviate
the extremely difficult living conditions of the Iraqi population
and the deprivation of their basic economic, social and cultural
rights." The Special Rapporteur recommends that U.N. human rights
monitors be sent throughout Iraq to verify information on the
conditions of the minorities in Iraq.
SUSPECTED MILITANTS KILL TWO COPTIC EGYPTIAN FARMERS
(ZNRU: Cairo) Suspected Moslem militants shot dead two farmers
in southern Egypt late last Sunday. Moussa Shehata Youssef, 36,
from Ibshadat village near Mallawi, about 260 km (160 miles) south
of Cairo, was gunned down while, Fadl Zaki Ishaak, 55, was shot
after trying to stop the gunmen as they fled. Security sources
believe the attackers belonged to the Gama'a al-Islamiya (Islamic
Group), Egypt's largest Moslem militant group which has been fighting
since 1992 to transform the country into a strict Islamic state.
The group is particularly active in the south. Nearly 1,200 people,
mostly militants and policemen, have died in the political violence.
The Coptics in Egypt with a population of over six million comprise
the largest Christian minority group in the Middle East.
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
| April 21 |
SOUTHFIELD, MICHIGAN
AN EVENING IN THE MIDDLE EAST
Sponsored by the City of Southfield & the Chaldean Federation
of America
Entertainment: The Bells
Southfield Civic Center Pavilion & International Cafe
26000 Evergreen Road
6:45-9:00 PM
Reservations Required.
$20.00 per person:
Southfield City Hall Main Reception Desk Mon-Fri 8AM-5PM
Parks & Recreation Building Mon-Fri
5PM-7PM
Saturdays 9AM-2PM
For more information: (248) 354-4854 |
| April 24 |
SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA
ANNUAL DANCE & COCKTAIL PARTY
St. Mary's Assyrian Chaldean Catholic Church
Entertainers: Edmond & Assyria DJ's Emil & Jimmy
Lou's Village
1465 West San Carlos
San Jose
Admission: $20 in advance/$25 at the door
To purchase tickets:
Nancy Kaldani 408-448-2806
Hannibal Menashy 408-363-6950
Khalid Elias 408-972-544
Ramil Esho 510-713-0980
No Children under 12 allowed |
| April 25 |
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS
FOUNDING OF ZOWAA 'S 19th ANNIVERSARY GATHERING
Assyrian Democratic Movement
Assyrian Social Club
6313 North Polaski Street
7:30 p.m. |
| May 1 |
BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA
Lecture: "Assyrian Americans at the Threshold of the 21st Century"
Speaker: Dr. Aryan Ishaya
Alumni House Lounge, UC-Berkeley
7:30 PM
Refreshments Provided
Sponsored by the Assyrian Foundation of America & University of
California at Berkeley's Center for Middle Eastern Studies |
| May 2 |
SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA
ASSYRIAN AID SOCIETY DANCE PARTY
Entertainers: Walter Aziz
Time: 8 p.m.
AWANA of the Church of the East
680 Minnesota Avenue
(209) 538-9801
Contribution: $20 per Adults/ $5.00 Children under 12
|
| May 2 |
SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA
ASSYRIANS FOR RON GONZALES
Personally meet Mr. Gonzales, a candidate for Mayor in the City
of
San Jose, register to vote, and obtain useful information about
the City of
San Jose and its services.
Time: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Beta of the Assyrian American Association of San Jose
20000 Almaden Road in San Jose
Contribution: $20 per person (includes a kabob sandwich & drink)
|
| May 9 |
SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA
UNITED WAY/ASSYRIAN AID SOCIETY "WALK-A-THON"
|
| May 17 |
CERES / MODESTO, CALIFORNIA
"BEN ELIAS FOR CALIFORNIA STATE ASSEMBLY" DANCE PARTY
Entertainers: Albert Mansour, Ashor Farhadi & the Harout Band
Time: 6 p.m.
Bet-Nahrain Hall
3119 South Central, Ceres
(209) 538-9801
Contribution: $10 per person
|
| May 22 |
HAMBURG, GERMANY
AN ASSYRIAN EVENING
A Cultural Exchange Event Organized by German Cultural Organizations/Radio&TV
- Lectures & Interviews with Several University Professors , Students,
& Representatives of Assyrian Organizations from Hamburg, Wiesbaden,
Paderborn, Berlin, and & other German Cities are Expected to Attend
- Assyrian Dance Groups from Wiesbaden & Hamburg
- Appearance on Hamburger Fruehstueckfernseher Television Program
An Event Organized by Elizabeth Karamian |
| May 22-25 |
TURLOCK-MODESTO, CALIFORNIA
ASSYRIAN STATE CONVENTION OF CALIFORNIA
Sponsored by the Assyrian United Organizations of California
Host: Assyrian American Civic Club of California |
| May 23 |
MODESTO, CALIFORNIA
4th ASSYRIAN COMMUNITY NETWORKING CONFERENCE
Organized by: Nineveh On Line
1:00 PM
DoubleTree Hotel (Formerly Red Lion Inn)
Center Plaza, Modesto |
| July 4 |
SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA
ASSYRIAN OLYMPIC GAMES
|
| Sep 2-7 |
WATERBURY, CONNECTICUT
ASSYRIAN AMERICAN NATIONAL CONVENTION
Sponsored by the Assyrian American National Federation
|
ASSYRIAN SURFING POSTS
MAKING OF THE MODERN ASSYRIAN FLAG
PUMP UP THE VOLUME
|
ENGLISH
|
MODERN ASSYRIAN
|
GENDER
|
EXAMPLE
|
|
Box
|
a/ro/na
|
Masc.
|
arona yaaqoora: heavy box
|
|
Basket
|
qal/ta
|
Fem.
|
qalta qaloolta: light basket
|
KHUDRA
|
DATE
|
FEASTS & MEMORIALS
|
|
April 5
|
Palm Sunday
|
|
April 10
|
Good Friday
|
|
April 12
|
Easter
|
|
April 17
|
All Martyrs Day
|
|
April 19
|
Easter (Old Calendar), New Sunday & Festival of Mar Auraha
|
|
April 24
|
Mar Givargiz (St. George the Martyr)
|
|
April 27
|
Rabban Hormizd & Mar Pethon
|
BACK TO THE FUTURE
BC (1531)
Mursalis I, the Hittite king from Anatolia (modern Turkey) attacked
Babylon and destroyed Hammurabi's Dynasty. On his return to Anatolia
he was murdered by his brother-in-law. The time between the Hittite
attack on Babylon and 1400 is known as the "Dark Age" of Babylonian
history. There is hardly any information available about this
period of the Mesopotamian history.
The Ancient Orient, von Soden
AD (498)
Patriarch Babai (Bawai) of the Assyrian Church abolished the practice
of celibacy, allowing all bishops and priests to marry. His successor,
Silas, was married to a woman whom according to Bar-Hebraeus [ruled
her Patriarch-husband with her tongue].
The Nestorian Churches, Vine & History of the Assyrian Church,
Wigram
TALMIDU
|
Location
|
Class
|
Instructor |
Date
|
Time
|
Location
|
|
Chicago
|
Introductory Classical Assyrian
alphabet and the vowel system, basic literacy skills & vocabulary
|
Saad Sadi
|
APR 4 JUN 27
|
Saturdays
3-5 PM
|
North Park Univ Carlson Tower
Room C44 |
|
Chicago
|
Introductory Modern Assyrian I
alphabet and the vowel system, basic literacy skills & vocabulary
|
Zaia Kanoon |
APR 9 JUN 25
|
Thursdays
7-9 PM
|
North Park Univ
Sohlberg
Room B-3 |
|
Chicago
|
Introductory Modern Assyrian II
reading & writing, & elementary grammar.
|
Zaia Kanoon |
APR 4 JUN 27
|
Saturdays
3-5 PM
|
North Park Univ
Carlson Tower
Room C42 |
LITERATUS
LETTER FROM DIMETRY PETROS ELIOFF
The First Secretary General of the Assyrian Universal Alliance
April 1968
To my countrymen:
I have the honor in thanking my countrymen for the interest they
have accorded the First Assyrian World Cultural Congress, which
was held in Pau, France, April 10-13, 1968.
I thank the delegates who have participated in our work in a fraternal
environment to preserve the voice which we have chosen, which
is unity of action for the salvation of our nation.
I thank all those who have supported us during our work in sending
us messages or telegrams. I apologize for not replying to them
individually, there were so many of them and I am not mentioning
any of them; their patriotism is equal to that of ours concerning
our Fatherland- the Assyrian nation.
I, sincerely, thank those who did not attend this conference,
although they would have liked to have joined us , but various
circumstances have kept them apart from us. Better conditions
will bring them closer to us.
The Assyrian Nation also thanks the French authorities for their
friendly reception. Also the pressmen and people of the city
of Pau for their discreet friendliness.
At the conclusion of this conference, we have proclaimed the Assyrian
Universal Alliance, which will be present anywhere the Assyrian
interests are concerned.
Three delegates will represent us, one from the Middle East, one
from the United States and one from Europe.
From now on our countrymen should direct their organizations to
help their representatives organize for another conference whose
date will be fixed in a short time. During this second conference,
a program will be established to put into application by the general
approval of our delegates which will constitute a responsible
National Committee.
My countrymen have given me an honor in appointing me as their
delegate from Europe and selecting me as a Secretary General of
the Assyrian Universal Alliance. My role will consist of centralizing
the activities and assuring the coordination among us.
I shall commit myself to fulfill my mission in all fairness and
to work in the interest of our nation and only for its interest.
To better realize our plan, I urge the civil and religious personalities
which constitute the elite of our nation to join us, if they have
not already done so, for our nation is in need of everyone of
us.
Our countrymen who are still divided by their useless quarrels
of the past, or by the matter of sterile disagreements, should
each one of them share in this effort for our community as a whole
will benefit from the union of all of its members. We also hope
that those are still divided to forget their useless quarrels
at this time of urgent national unity and without delay, give
a magnificent example of reconciliation.
A great hope which we should support is born, so that we will
fulfill our mission of transmitting our national heritage to our
children, the same as our fathers have transmitted to us.
Hoping to meet again very soon, and in larger numbers, I have
the honor of conveying to my countrymen my true and devoted sentiments.
Signed: B. Petros-Elloff
THIS WEEK IN HISTORY
April 23, 1990: The 16-year old Assyrian violinist, David Yonan, of Germany performs
Bach's Concerto accompanied by the California State University
at Stanislaus in Turlock, California.
BRAVO
GEORGE BAR ANTON D'BETH KIRAZ Ph.D.
If there is a conference or seminar on Syriac language held anywhere
around the world, it is quite possible that George Kiraz' name
is either on the list of the presenters or the organizers of the
event. Born in 1965 in Bethlehem Kiraz learned Syriac at the
local Syrian Orthodox Church and at St. Mark's Monastery. He
moved to Los Angeles in 1983 and in the next few years obtained
a Bachelor of Science in Engineering (California State University,
1990), a Master's degree in Syriac Studies (Oxford University,
1991), a Master's degree in Computer Speech and Language Processing
(Cambridge University, 1992), and a Ph.D. degree in Computational
Linguistics (Cambridge University, 1996). He is the author of
two books: Computer-Generated Concordance to the Syriac New Testament (6 Volumes; August 1997) & Comparative Edition of the Syriac Gospels, Aligning the Sinaiticus,
Curetonianus, Peshitta and Harklean Versions (4 volumes; 1996). In the mid-80's George Kiraz founded Alaph
Beth Computer Systems in Los Angeles where he developed the earliest
computer fonts for the Syriac language. Today, he lives in New
Jersey where he works at the Language Modeling Department of Bell
Laboratories (Lucent Technologies) and directs the Syriac Computing Institute and Co-Edits the Syrian Orthodox Resources website and Hugoye: Journal of Syriac Studies.
WELCOME TO ZENDA
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SALUTE!
This Week's Contributors:
| Frederick Aprim |
San Jose, California |
Calendar of Events |
Thank You For Referring ZENDA to a Friend:
| Doris Oshana |
Chicago |
| Martin David |
California |
| Touma Issa |
Perth, Australia |
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ZNAA (Assyrian Academic Society-Chicago)
ZNAD (Assyrian Democratic Organization)
ZNAF (Agence France-Presse)
ZNAI (Assyrian International News Agency)
ZNAK (American Kurdish
ZNAM (Archeology Magazine)
ZNAP (Associated Press International)
ZNBN (Bet-Nahrain Inc/ KBSV-TV "AssyriaVision")
ZNCO (
ZNCN (ClariNews)
ZNIF (Iraq Foundation)
ZNDA (Zenda: zenda@ix.netcom.com)
ZNIN (Iraqi National Congress)
ZNLT (Los Angeles Times)
ZNMN (San Jose Mercury News)
ZNMW (Mideast Newswire)
ZNNQ (Nabu Quarterly)
ZNNV (Nineveh Magazine)
ZNQA (Qala Atouraya- Moscow)
ZNRU (Reuters)
ZNSH (Shotapouta Newsletter)
ZNSJ (San Jose Mercury News)
ZNSM (Shufimafi Lebanese News)
ZNSO (Syrian Orthodox News "SOCNews")
ZNTM (Time Magazine)
ZNUP (United Press International)
ZNUS (US News & World Report)
