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NO LONGER AMONG US"Friends, maybe I took more time than I should. Forgive my prolixity.
Let it be known that when a nation's only goal is eating, drinking, and
dancing, when a people's only care is to jump at the din of every drum,
remember it is that nation's last hour; that people is breathing its last
breath. My fellow Assyrians, I want to ask you a fair question: What other
minority group in this land, or in any land, does this sort of foolish
thing? The Jewish people? Spanish? The Italian community? The Irish? The
German? The Swedish? Not a single one. That is why they have hospitals,
nursing homes, camps, cultural centers, schools, colleges, and churches.
There is no moral justification, my friends, for these useless and senseless
acts of ours." This has been a very sad month for us at Zinda Magazine. Reverend Dr. Talia, a respected vocal critic of our at-times purposeless existence in the West, a friend of books and a lover of the Assyrian language is no longer among us. No words can describe our sorrow, particularly when only a few days preceding his departure, we were informed of our dearest Rabbie Giwargis Arsanis' parting in Russia. The Assyrian nation has lost two of her most learned scholars in less than a few days apart. Both men represented the best of the U.S. and former Soviet Union's elite education, firmly founded in strong schooling in the Middle East. Both were greatly admired, teachers with enormous energy and warmth, whose flame burnt brightly until just days before the end of their lives. Both men will forever be missed. Zinda
Magazine A Review of Rev. Dr. Talia's Book: "Our Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow" Past Assyrian history and literature tends to deal with glories and great
achievements, while Assyrian literature of this century appears to deal
mostly with terrible loss, massacres, cultural and literary disappearance.
For Assyrians arriving recently from the troubled Middle East, with many
of their own problems- financial, educational, social etc.- the response
to such literature may well be "I have enough troubles of my own".
Assyrians living in the West for most of their lives and certainly for
second generation Assyrians who are far removed from the tumultuous Middle
East, reading such important works which deal with our difficult problems
seems almost a luxury which mustn't be missed. Such an important work
is by Dr. Peter Talia, "Our Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow- History,
Dilemma and Destiny of the Assyrian People". Dr. Talia's credentials
are certainly quite impressive- a Master of Divinity degree in Languages
and Theology, Doctor of Theology degree; he is "the ultimate polyglot"
knowing, besides Assyrian, Arabic, English, Hebrew, Greek, Ugaritic, Akkadian,
Syriac, Latin and German! "The Dilemma of Paralyzing Disunity", a disunity on a political,
social, religious, philosophical basis, "must absolutely be dissolved
once and for all", for as Benjamin Franklin said "We must all
hang together or we shall all hang separately". The psychological
constraint of being such a small group, an "orphaned nation"
so to speak, who is "abandoned, ignored and forgotten" and therefore
uninfluential, leads to "the Minority Phobia". Having no modern
force, not possessing one spot of land we can call our own upon which
we may begin a new enterprise, means we are unable to do anything to let
the world know about us "wandering Assyrians". We are lacking in the field of international politics, in which, before
world forums, "a people must be recognized, accepted as an existing
entity…a people must demonstrate its identity, must show it is there
to stay regardless of disadvantageous circumstances". Few people
have heard of us, few people realize this once great nation has a small
remnant still struggling to maintain its identity. The reason is simple,
Dr. Talia believes: "We do not publicize ourselves- we have no writers,
no publications, no educated people to write and produce…we are forgotten,
neglected by our own fate and mentally handicapped." Sennacherib
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THE FIRST SCHOOL OUTSIDE OF THE HOMELANDLater this month, the first Assyrian school outside of Bet-Nahrain will open its doors to its first students in Sydney, Australia. St. Hurmizd Assyrian Primary School will include two kindergarten classes, one first-grade and a second-grade class. The faculty is comprised of Principal and five teachers. The student body includes some one hundred students who will be matriculated in the regular Australian curriculum, in addition to Assyrian language, history and religious studies. The actual commencement of school on par with all other New South Wales State schools is Tuesday, 29 January 2002. The foundation stone of St. Hurmizd School was laid on Sunday, 20 August 2000. In December 1996, a committee set up by Mar Mellis Zaia, Bishop of the Church of the East for Australia, instructed Mr. Donald Maseh to design a building with fourteen classrooms, an area for the faculty, a library with a reading room, cafeteria, gymnasium, playground and parking lot. The first fully operational academic school year, Kindergarten through 6th grade, is expected to ring in the school year in 2007. Beginning with only two school-year programs this year, two additional classes will be introduced each year after. The administrators expect a total of 364 students enrolled in all classes by 2007.
The Assyrian-Australian community has to date expressed enormous interest in the growth plan of St. Hurmizd Assyrian School. While many issues need to be discussed in a timely manner, the fact that a Church-sponsored Assyrian school has finally broken ground in the West has many parents in Sydney feeling hopeful about the future of their children's education. The St. Hurmizd project will likely spur similar development plans in North America and Europe. When that happens, a more dependable plan to formulate a cohesive private educational infrastructure will become of concern to the bishoprics of the Church of the East in Diaspora.
The following are a few articles of interest related to the operation of St. Hurmizd Assyrian School: St. Hurmizd School's Vision To meet the requirements of the State of New South Wales education laws and to incoproate in the curriculum, appropriate to the ages of children attending a primary school, the teaching of Assyrian language, culrture, and Christian traditions in order to foster an understanding of and pride in Assyrian heritage, culture, traditions and history in all students and members of the school community. St. Hurmizd School Mission Statement St. Hurmizd Assyrian School will involve the whole school community in the running of a center of excellence for the implementation of the New South Wales Board of Studies registration requirements, including the teaching of Assyrian languges, culture and Christian traditions, in a safe, happy and supportive environment. Curriculum English The curriculum of the school is fully accredited by the New South Wales Board of School Studies. School Fees School fees are based on the number of children attending from each family: first child, Australian $650.00 per year; second child, $600.00; third child, $550.00; 4th child, $500.00. A charge of $100.00 is made in Term I to cover the cost of text books, exercise books, paper, art and craft material. 2002 Academic Year: Schedule of Terms Term I Monday, January 28 Teachers Start Term II Monday, April 29 First Day of Instruction Term III Monday, July 22 First Day of Instruction Term IV Monday, October 14 First Day of Instruction School Hours Supervision of Children 8:30 AM (children should not arrive before
this time) School Uniform All children are expected to wear the correct school uniform. Free Bus Travel All students living over a 1.6 kilometer radial distance from the St. Hurmizd School and those who will have to walk over 2.3 kilometers by the nearest direct route from their homes are provided free bus travel. Zinda Magazine congratulates His Grace Mar Meelis Zaia, the staff at the Church of the East in Australia, the Mar Hurmizd Assyrian School faculty, the School Council and the entire Assyrian community in Sydney for taking the boldest step toward preservation of the Assyrian culture and Christian faith. |
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PATRIARCH BARTHOMEW I VISITS CHRISTIANS IN IRAN Courtesy of Associated Press Writer (January 13); article by Ali Akbar Dareini
Bartholomew, who is based in Istanbul, spoke after celebrating a Mass at the Greek Orthodox church in central Tehran before members of Iran's Assyrian, Armenian, and other Christian minorities on the third day of his first visit to Iran. Wearing a white robe and speaking in Greek, Bartholomew blessed the worshippers in the candlelit church with holy water and vegetables that represented gifts of God. Congregants then lined up and kissed the patriarch's hand, and each was given a loaf of bread and a cross. Bartholomew later met President Mohammad Khatami. Neither man commented on their talks. During his visit to Iran, Bartholomew has said Christian, Jewish and Muslim leaders must promote dialogue and peaceful coexistence, especially since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in the United States. An official at the Greek Orthodox church in Tehran, Olca Xantopoulou, said Sunday was a ``historic day'' for Iran's Orthodox Christian community. ``It's the first time ever that the patriarch is leading a Mass in our church. History may not repeat it again,'' he said. Iran's population of 70 million includes about 150,000 Christians. Bartholomew is the spiritual leader of 14 autonomous Orthodox Christian churches, including those of Greece, Russia, Serbia, Albania, Bulgaria, and Romania. His trip ends today (Monday) after a trip to the ancient city of Isfahan.
VATICAN INTERVIEW WITH CHALDEAN ARCHBISHOP FROM IRAQ (ZNDA: Rome) The following is the complete text of the interview conducted by Vatican's news bureau, Fides, with Chaldean Archbishop Jacques Isaaq, Secretary General of the Synod of Chaldean rite Bishops in Baghdad, in late December. Archbishop Isaaq works closely with His Holiness Mar Raphael Bidawid, Patriarch of the Chaldean Catholic Church. Archbishop Isaaq was interviewed on his five-yearly visit to Vatican where he presented a report to the Pope. When asked if the Christians in Iraq fear the possible attacks on Iraq in the near future Archbishop Issaq replied: "The fact the United States could attack Iraq does not frighten us. They have been bombing us for eleven years. We are used to it." Fides: The Chaldean Bishops have just met with the Holy Father: what indications emerged? Did you speak of the embargo? We came to Rome for our Ad Limina visit. With the Patriarch we were 15 Bishops from Iraq, Iran Turkey and the United States. We were deeply moved by the Holy Father's questions which revealed that he follows closely every Particular Church and carries in his heart concern for all Christians everywhere. He is informed not only of religious events but also civil concerns regarding each of our countries. This visit has given us new strength with which to carry out our mission. The Patriarch thanked the Pope for the courageous position he has always taken against the UN embargo. He thinks of everyone not only Christians, and he would like to see the sanctions lifted immediately. In Iraq in front of the government and the Muslim citizens we Christians are proud of the Holy Father's position. There is even a book in Arabic explaining the Pope's firm position for peace and his commit to put an end to the suffering of the Iraqi people. This means that we are strong because we feel we belong to the Church of Jesus Christ. Aren't you afraid that Iraq could be the next target in the war against terrorism? We have been a target for the past eleven years and we have survived worse situations. In 1991, 33 countries attacked Iraq with 100 days of bombing on Baghdad and other cities. A new attack could not be worse than this. What is more, since 1991 the US and UK have bombed us continually. We are used to living with danger. Are there terrorists or fundamentalists in Iraq? The government is against Islamic fundamentalists. When the United States first attacked Afghanistan, the government gave precise orders to punish any violence against Iraqi Christians. We have good dialogue with Muslims. There are none of the problems found in other countries such as Egypt for example. I think that the reasons adopted by the Western powers regarding Iraq's connections with terrorism are only a pretext. The Europeans give no importance to the presence of Christians in these countries. There are thousands and thousands of Christians in Iraq. Their presence dates to the first century. The task of the Church is to announce the gospel of Jesus everywhere. In Baghdad there are 100 churches and a theology faculty for all Christians (Catholics, Orthodox, Nestorians), and were have many books, 400 Christian publications. But all this does not seem to interest Catholic western nations.
This initiative was in the same direction as our customary behaviour here Iraq. On many occasions, for example the commemoration of Iraq's martyrs, we pray in mosques and churches. Fasting is not a way to save money it is an occasion to share the suffering of others and to help them. In Iraq, because of the embargo, we have been fasting for a long time. For example a family with four children once told me: "we have not eaten meat for at least three or four years!" The fast called by the Holy Father was for us an occasion to forget our own misery and remember that there are others who suffer more than us. Perhaps Christians around the world should fast for the Iraqi people… Yes certainly. We are victims of a war which has lasted eleven years. Thousands of Iraqi children have died for lack of food and medicine. This cannot be allowed to continue. Our suffering is endless. They have destroyed hydroelectric power centres and water supply. The great powers want things to remain as they are. What hope is there? I am not a pessimist. Despite the war and sanctions, Christianity in Iraq is not dead. On the contrary, even under these circumstances there are positive signals. In the years of suffering we have opened a faculty of theology and we have many new vocations for whom we need to build at least 40 new rooms to accommodate them all. We also have religious vocations, Dominicans and other congregations. The piety of Iraqi Christians impresses even the faithful in the west. Loyalty to the faith has cost Iraqi Christians a dear price: persecution, martyrdom. Since it costs a lot to remain faithful to Christ, we know the value of Jesus Christ. Despite persecution Iraqi Christians have remained faithful to Christ with their own culture, their own liturgy. They do not want to lose them in the West. The Patriarch tries to ensure them assistance sending priests. Various initiatives have been undertaken in Iraq in these years of war: the Patriarchate has started its own magazine Etoile de l'Orient (Star of the East), every parish in Baghdad produces its own monthly news-letter. Our churches are overflowing for Sunday liturgies. There are many children for catechism and not enough priests but our laity are doing a wonderful job. We also have girls who want to devote their lives to helping the handicapped: they have a centre for the handicapped called Bethany House open to Christians and Muslims. Jesus is the source of these vocations, not us. These are signs of His presence in our country. The Iraqi Church continues to exist thanks to Him. It is He who calls and guides all these vocations, not our intelligence or our activity. |
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REVEREND DOCTOR PETER TALIA PASSES AWAY IN CHICAGO (ZNDA: Chicago) On January 5, Rev. Dr. Peter Talia passed on in Chicago, where he had served the Assyian community since 1979. Rev. Dr. Talia was a scholar of Assyrian language, Eastern Theology, and a social reformist. His books, namely "Assyrians in the West", "Between Hope and Hopelessness" (1985) and Our Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow" (1980), are considered two most important literary criticisms of the present stipulations of the Assyrians in the West. http://www.zindamagazine.com/html/archives/2000/zn050200.htm#TheLighthouse http://www.zindamagazine.com/html/archives/1999/may10_1999.htm#Anchor-LITERATUS
Rev. Dr. Talia enjoyed reading books from his days of youth and a keen interest in Theology and History. Later he received undergraduate training in philosophy and theology at Haigazian College, American University of Beirut, and the Near East School of Theology. He came to the United States in 1966 to complete his education; earning a Master's degree in theology. He entered South Carolina University and received a M.A. degree in 1968. Rev. Talia received a Master of Divinity in Languages and Theology at Covenant Theology Seminary and a Master of Sacred Theology degree at Concordia Theology Seminary. In 1978 he completed the Doctor of Theology degree at Concordia. Rev. Talia has three times received the World Mission Grant of the Lutheran Church. In 1971 he won the Homiletics prize at Covenant Seminary. Dr. Talia was a true polyglot, fluent in Arabic, Aramaic, Hebrew, Ugaritic, Akkadian, English, German, Greek, and Latin. He taught high school in Lebanon, at the Zahleh Junior College, and at Washington University in St. Louis. In 1979 he came to Chicago and began teaching at North Park University. In the same year he established the Assyrian Evangelical Covenant Church of Chicago along with a few founding members. He continued in this capacity as Senior Pastor of the church until his passing last week. The most notable of his achievements is the new Assyrian translation
of the New Testament. He began this work with Honor. Homer Ashurian
and Aramaic Bible Translators program of the Wycliffe Bible Translators
in the mid 1980s. A Passage from New Testament in Rev. Talia's own words: http://www.wycliffe.org/seedco/projects/aramaic.wav Another notable achievement was dubbing the Jesus film into Assyrian language, which he completed in Lebanon. Rev. Dr. Talia was himself the narrator of the film, which now can be found in almost every Assyrian home. For many years he taught Bible Study at the Assyrian Evangelical Covenant Church in Chicago. He pastored for 23 years in the Assyrian Evangelical Covenant Church of Chicago.
(ZNDA: Vatican) Pope John Paul in his Christmas message to the world last month greeted Syriac-speaking Christians of the World with a few words in Aramaic and hence recognized this ancient language as a spoken tongue of the Christian world. In his "Urbi et Orbi'' message the Pope urged all people to "open your hearts to the message of peace.'' Speaking to the world on a throne from the central balcony of St. Peter's Basilica, he made a ringing appeal for social and economic justice and wove his message around the image of the baby Jesus. ``In him we can recognize the face of every child who is born, of whatever race or nation: the little Palestinian and the little Israeli; the little American and the little Afghan; the child of the Hutu and the child of the Tutsi...,'' he said. ``Today my thoughts go to all the children of the world: so many, too many are the children condemned from birth to suffer through no fault of their own the effects of cruel conflicts,'' he said in a trembling voice and sounding weaker than he did at midnight mass. At the end of his Christmas message the Pope read the words "Breekha Eadokhon, Shoowkha l'Maran" in Aramaic.
OBITUARY: SHIRLEY OSHANA HALL (ZNDA: Michigan) Shirley Oshana Hall, 77, of Kalamazoo, Michigan., and winter resident of Bradenton, died Jan. 8, 2002, in Blake Medical Center in Bradenton. Born in Yonkers, N.Y., Mrs. Hall came to Manatee County as a winter resident since 1995. She was a retired elementary school teacher for the public school system in Kalamazoo. She attended Christ Episcopal Church and was a member of Saint Luke's Episcopal Church in Kalamazoo. She was a member of the American Legion Post No. 158 Auxiliary in Clio, Mich., the Michigan Education Association, and the Maryville College Alumni Association in Maryville, Tennessee. Memorial service were held in Kalamazoo. Brown and Sons Funeral Homes, 43rd Street Chapel, Bradenton, was in charge of arrangements. Memorial contributions may be made to Christ Episcopal Church, 4030 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton, Fla. 34205. Survivors include her husband, Richard A.; two daughters, Nancy Lynn Elmer of Kalamazoo, and Susan Mencarelli of Manistee, Michigan.; a sister, Julie Oshana of Philadelphia; and five grandchildren.
OBITUARY: KATI BET MIKHAEL Kati Bet Mikhael was born on June 15, 1916 and died on Jan. 11, 2002 at Turlock's Elness Convalescent Hospital. |
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AANF NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETINGEastern
Region Host: Beth Nahrin Assyrian Organization of Massachusetts The Assyrian American National Federation convenes four meetings annually
to discuss and decide the cultural, educational and informational activities
with the Affiliates of the Assyrian American National Federation and the
Assyrians in the United States of America. Two out of four dates and locations
are pre-set: at the California State Convention held over Memorial Day
Weekend, hosted by the Assyrian United Organizations of California, and
the annual AANF convention held over Labor Day Weekend, hosted by one
of the three geographic regions. The other two meetings of the National
Executive Committee float. Their time and place are decided at the discretion
of the President of the AANF with a view to offering opportunities for
each region, and as many affiliates are wish it, to The Eastern Region is hosting the winter meeting under the sponsorship of the Beth Nahrin Assyrian Organization of Massachusetts. Planned originally for the fall, it was delayed by the crisis generated as a result of the 11 Sept. events. The event is planned as an all day activity which is divided into business and cultural components. The new date is set for Saturday, January 19, 2002. The program is as follows: ? 10 AM - 2 PM Business meeting chaired by the President of the AANF
- The meeting NEC is open to all members of AANF affiliates. Each affiliate
should send at least one delegate to the meeting in order to deal with
agenda items related to the San Jose convention, expenditures and plans
for the Detroit convention, among other items. Refreshments will be available as well as a buffet luncheon served compliments of the host affiliate. ? 7PM - 1AM Dinner and Dance with Entertainment Program Tickets may be reserved ahead of time at $15 per person (Children &
Students $5 each) by e-mail (Gstifo@aol.com), or at the door at $20 per
person (Children and Students - $5). COME AND EXPERIENCE ASSYRIAN HOSPITALITY IN NEW ENGLAND Driving Directions: From Boston & Worcester: From Connecticut, New Jersey and New York: Beth
Nahrin Assyrian Organization
ASSYRIAN INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE IN MOSCOW The Editorial Board of "Melta" Bulletin and a stirring group
of the Assyrians of Russia are holding an International Scientific Conference
titled "The Assyrians Today: Issues and Perspectives". The Conference
will take place in Moscow on May 10 - 11, 2002. - The issues of the Assyrians in the Middle East. Those who wish to take part in this Conference (except special guests) must send Registration Form to the Organizing Committee. REGISTRATION FORM Family name: _____________________ First name(s): _____________________ Title/ Profession: ____________________________________________________ Company/ Institution: ________________________________________________ Address: ___________________________________________________________ Postal code: ___________ City: _______________ Country: _______________ Fax: _________________________ E-mail: _____________________________ Hotel accommodation: Single room (per night) - 50 US$ Date: __________________________ Signature: _________________________ *Exclusive trips to Saint Petersburg, Vladimir and Republic of Georgia may be organized. Language The official Conference languages are English, Russian and, first of all, Assyrian. Simultaneous interpretation will be provided. Important date
The Organizing Committee Members: Address: P.O. Box 18, Moscow, 129642, Russia Telefax: (7-095)-935-0155. |
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VIRGINS? WHAT VIRGINS? Based
on an article which appeared in The Guardian on 12 January 2002; article
written by Ibn Warraq. In August, 2001, the American television channel CBS aired an interview
with a Hamas activist Muhammad Abu Wardeh, who recruited terrorists
for suicide bombings in Israel. Abu Wardeh was quoted as saying: "I
described to him how God would compensate the martyr for sacrificing
his life for his land. If you become a martyr, God will give you 70
virgins, 70 wives and everlasting happiness." Wardeh was in fact
shortchanging his recruits since the rewards in Paradise for martyrs
was 72 virgins. But I am running ahead of things.
One should note that most translations, even those by Muslims themselves such as A Yusuf Ali, and the British Muslim Marmaduke Pickthall, translate the Arabic (plural) word Abkarun as virgins, as do well-known lexicons such the one by John Penrice. I emphasise this fact since many pudic and embarrassed Muslims claim there has been a mistranslation, that "virgins" should be replaced by "angels". In sura 55 verses 72-74, Dawood translates the Arabic word " hur " as "virgins", and the context makes clear that virgin is the appropriate translation: "Dark-eyed virgins sheltered in their tents (which of your Lord's blessings would you deny?) whom neither man nor jinnee will have touched before." The word hur occurs four times in the Koran and is usually translated as a "maiden with dark eyes". Two points need to be noted. First, there is no mention anywhere in the Koran of the actual number of virgins available in paradise, and second, the dark-eyed damsels are available for all Muslims, not just martyrs. It is in the Islamic Traditions that we find the 72 virgins in heaven specified: in a Hadith (Islamic Tradition) collected by Al-Tirmidhi (died 892 CE [common era*]) in the Book of Sunan (volume IV, chapters on The Features of Paradise as described by the Messenger of Allah [Prophet Muhammad], chapter 21, About the Smallest Reward for the People of Paradise, (Hadith 2687). The same hadith is also quoted by Ibn Kathir (died 1373 CE ) in his Koranic commentary (Tafsir) of Surah Al-Rahman (55), verse 72: "The Prophet Muhammad was heard saying: The smallest reward for the people of paradise is an abode where there are 80,000 servants and 72 wives, over which stands a dome decorated with pearls, aquamarine, and ruby, as wide as the distance from Al-Jabiyyah [a Damascus suburb] to Sanaa [Yemen]'." Modern apologists of Islam try to downplay the evident materialism and sexual implications of such descriptions, but, as the Encyclopaedia of Islam says, even orthodox Muslim theologians such as al Ghazali (died 1111 CE) and Al-Ash'ari (died 935 CE) have "admitted sensual pleasures into paradise". The sensual pleasures are graphically elaborated by Al-Suyuti (died 1505 ), Koranic commentator and polymath. He wrote: "Each time we sleep with a houri we find her virgin. Besides, the penis of the Elected never softens. The erection is eternal; the sensation that you feel each time you make love is utterly delicious and out of this world and were you to experience it in this world you would faint. Each chosen one [ie Muslim] will marry seventy [sic] houris, besides the women he married on earth, and all will have appetising vaginas." One of the reasons Nietzsche hated Christianity was that it "made something unclean out of sexuality", whereas Islam, many would argue, was sex-positive. One cannot imagine any of the Church fathers writing ecstatically of heavenly sex as al-Suyuti did, with the possible exception of St Augustine before his conversion. But surely to call Islam sex-positive is to insult all Muslim women, for sex is seen entirely from the male point of view; women's sexuality is admitted but seen as something to be feared, repressed, and a work of the devil. Scholars have long pointed out that these images are clearly drawn pictures and must have been inspired by the art of painting. Muhammad, or whoever is responsible for the descriptions, may well have seen Christian miniatures or mosaics representing the gardens of paradise and has interpreted the figures of angels rather literally as those of young men and young women. A further textual influence on the imagery found in the Koran is the work of Ephrem the Syrian [306-373 CE], Hymns on Paradise, written in Syriac, an Aramaic dialect and the language of Eastern Christianity, and a Semitic language closely related to Hebrew and Arabic. This naturally leads to the most fascinating book ever written on the language of the Koran, and if proved to be correct in its main thesis, probably the most important book ever written on the Koran. Christoph Luxenberg's book, Die Syro-Aramaische Lesart des Koran, available only in German, came out just over a year ago, but has already had an enthusiastic reception, particularly among those scholars with a knowledge of several Semitic languages at Princeton, Yale, Berlin, Potsdam, Erlangen, Aix-en-Provence, and the Oriental Institute in Beirut. Luxenberg tries to show that many obscurities of the Koran disappear if we read certain words as being Syriac and not Arabic. We cannot go into the technical details of his methodology but it allows Luxenberg, to the probable horror of all Muslim males dreaming of sexual bliss in the Muslim hereafter, to conjure away the wide-eyed houris promised to the faithful in suras XLIV.54; LII.20, LV.72, and LVI.22. Luxenberg 's new analysis, leaning on the Hymns of Ephrem the Syrian, yields "white raisins" of "crystal clarity" rather than doe-eyed, and ever willing virgins - the houris. Luxenberg claims that the context makes it clear that it is food and drink that is being offerred, and not unsullied maidens or houris. In Syriac, the word hur is a feminine plural adjective meaning white, with the word "raisin" understood implicitly. Similarly, the immortal, pearl-like ephebes or youths of suras such as LXXVI.19 are really a misreading of a Syriac expression meaning chilled raisins (or drinks) that the just will have the pleasure of tasting in contrast to the boiling drinks promised the unfaithful and damned. As Luxenberg's work has only recently been published we must await its scholarly assessment before we can pass any judgements. But if his analysis is correct then suicide bombers, or rather prospective martyrs, would do well to abandon their culture of death, and instead concentrate on getting laid 72 times in this world, unless of course they would really prefer chilled or white raisins, according to their taste, in the next. |
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British
Museum's COMPASS Database The
50 Million Victims Of The Orthodox Christian Holocaust |
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AUA
ANNUAL GALA VIP DINNER Best Achiever in Assyrian Arts Award His tremendous talent and professional experience is evident through his work. Some of his work includes:
On behalf of the Assyrian Universal Alliance, we congratulate all award recipients for 2001 on their important accomplishment and encourage them to continue on this successful path that they have set for themselves. Hermiz
Shahen |
(2000 B.C.)A woman, Ana-e (c. BC 2000-1800), was one of history's first recorded female business executives. Her job was to manage the Assyrian-based weaving business of her husband, who spent most of his time engaged in cross-border trade missions. Biographical Dictionary of Management, Morgen Witzel (1989 A.D.) An ancient Mesopotamian tablet was taken by astronaut Sonny Carter, an Emory University alumnus, on the November 1989 mission of the space shuttle Discovery as part of NASA's Object in Space Program. Representing the oldest human artifact to have traveled in space, the cuneiform writing on the tablet lists rations for 6 messengers undertaking a journey:
Courtesy of theplumber.com |
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Share your local events with Zinda readers. Email us or send fax to: 408-918-9201
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 Wednesday January 16 |
CANADIAN SOCIETY FOR SYRIAC STUDIES LECTURE La Societe Canadienne des Etudes Syriaques "Women in Syriac Christian Tradition"
University of Toronto
[Zinda Magazine is a proud Corporate Sponsor of CSSS.] |
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Wednesday January 16 |
LECTURE AT THE BRITISH MUSEUM "The Rise and Decline of the Nestorian Church in Arabia"
6:00 PM Stevenson lecture theatre, British Museum. Society for Arabian Studies Contact 01372 842788 |
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Sunday |
FUNDRAISING DINNER FOR PETE DAGHER Candidate for the 5th Congressional District of Illinois Time: 6:00 p.m. For ticket information, please contact: |
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Wednesday March 6 |
CANADIAN SOCIETY FOR SYRIAC STUDIES LECTURE La Societe Canadienne des Etudes Syriaques "Resafa-Sergiupolis: From
A Roman Desert Castle to A Christian Metropolis" University of Toronto
[Zinda Magazine is a proud Corporate Sponsor of CSSS.] |
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March 11-13 |
THE NIMRUD CONFERENCE Clore Education Centre, British Museum.
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 Through March 17, 2002 |
AGATHA CHRISTI & THE ORIENT Revealing Agatha Christie the archaeologist and how her discoveries in the Near East influenced her detective writing. The hitherto unknown interests and talents of the great crime writer are told through archaeological finds from the sites on which she worked with her husband Max Mallowan at Ur, Nineveh and Nimrud. Important objects from these sites in the Museum's collections are combined with archives, photographs, and films made by Agatha Christie herself. Personal memorabilia and souvenirs of travel in a more leisurely age are only some of the exhibits which range from first editions of those novels inspired by her other life to a sleeping compartment from the Orient Express, from a lethal 1930s hypodermic syringe to a priceless first millennium ivory of a man being mauled to death Admissions £7, Concessions £3.50 West Wing Exhibition Gallery Room 28 |
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April 15-19 |
Third International Congress on the Archaeology of the Ancient Near East 3 ICAANE Purpose: To promote cooperation and information exchange between archaeologists working in the ancient Near East, from the eastern Medi-terranean to Iran and from Anatolia to Arabia, and from prehistoric times to Alexander the Great. Contact: Victoria de Caste, Secretariat, |
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Wednesday May 1 |
CANADIAN SOCIETY FOR SYRIAC STUDIES LECTURE La Societe Canadienne des Etudes Syriaques "Bar-Hebraeus & His Time:
The Syriac Renaissance & the Challenge of a New Reality"
University of Toronto
[Zinda Magazine is a proud Corporate Sponsor of CSSS.] |
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May 10-11 |
ASSYRIAN INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE The Editorial Board of "Melta" Bulletin and a stirring
group of the Assyrians of Russia decided to hold an International Scientific
Conference "The Assyrians Today: Issues and Perspectives". The Conference
will take place in Moscow on May 10 - 11, 2002. - The issues of the Assyrians in the Middle East.
[see Zinda Magazine's 14 January 2002 issue] February 28, 2002 - deadline for submission of Abstracts and Registration Forms. Address: P.O.
Box 18, Moscow, 129642, Russia Telefax:
(7-095)-935-0155. |
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July 1-4, 2002 |
48TH RENCONTRE ASSYRIOLOGIQUE INTERNATIONALE http://www.let.leidenuniv.nl/rencontre/ "Ethnicity in Ancient Mesopotamia" Registration Form: http://www.let.leidenuniv.nl/rencontre/mailform.html
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Zindamagazine would like to thank: Moneer Cherie Jan Picton Dr. Bailis Shamun Sam Shalalo Vasili Shoumanov |
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(ZNDA: Tehran) Christian,
Muslim and Jewish leaders will meet next month to talk about the role
of faith in fighting terrorism, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I,
the spiritual head of the world's Orthodox Christians, said Sunday during
a visit to Iran. Representatives of the faiths will meet in Istanbul,
Turkey, "to discuss the role religion can play in countering terrorism.''
He said the clerics would meet again in May in Athens, Greece. 
POPE
JOHN PAUL'S CHRISTMAS MESSAGE CARRIES ARAMAIC WORDS
Lewis
Batros a well known Assyrian artist, was born on 1961 in Kirkuk- Iraq.
Here is
the translation:
