MARCH 2010_REPLACEMENT

VOL. 7 ISSUE II

METRO DETROIT CHALDEAN COMMUNITY MARCH 2010

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special section:

iraq’s election

soulful poetry

www.chaldeannews.com

Married!

our annual

wedding issue

CHALDEAN NEWS March 2010

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On the Cover:

Jonathan and

Rita Jabro

celebrate after

their ceremony

at St. Thomas

ChuRch on

March 22, 2009.

Photo by

Wilson Sarkis

CONTENTS MARCH 2010

THE CHALDEAN NEWS VOLUME 7 ISSUE II

32

on the cover: the wedding issue

departments

10 From the Editor

11 your letters

12 Point

By Martin Manna

We must grasp this opportunity

to vote in Iraq’s election

13 Counterpoint

By Mike Sarafa

Our participation is meaningless

14 Noteworthy

15 Community Bulletin Board

16 Chai Time

18 Halhole

20 Religion

21 Obituaries

22 Economics and Enterprise

By Ken Marten

Regency Manor: Chaldeans

transform Southfield facility

24 In the Kitchen With

By Mark Kassa

Salma Ajo: Fish Masgoof for Lent

50 High School Highlight

By Caroline M. Bacall

Walled Lake Central: Promoting

life-long learning and social values

54 Priestly Profile

By Weam Namou

Msgr. Zouhair Toma (Kejbou): Following a calling

56 Looking Back

By Joe Gasso

Despite arranged marriage, love flourishes

60 Classified listings

62 Event

Arabian Night at the MGM

28 What It All Means

By Weam Namou

Demystifying Chaldean wedding vows

32 What’s Hot?

By Joyce Wiswell

Tips from the experts

38 A Bride on a Budget

By Vanessa Denha Garmo

Spending less doesn’t necessarily mean getting less

39 Chaldean on the Street


What would you change about your wedding?

40 Chaldean for Kids

By Melody Arabo and Margaret Shamoun

Here’s to the happy couple!

special section: iraq elections

42 Fighting for the Homeland

By Joyce Wiswell

Hekkmat Hakeem seeks seat in parliament

43 Running from Afar


Sam Yono makes an historical run for parliament

44 One on One

By Martin Manna

Yonadam Kanna: ‘People are voting for unity’

features

48 A Poetic Performance


‘Sounds of the Soul’ inspires

52 Sports

By Steve Stein

Sports Roundup


from the EDITOR

Published By

The Chaldean News, LLC

Editorial

Editor in Chief

Vanessa Denha-Garmo

managing Editor

Joyce Wiswell

Contributing Writers

Melody Arabo

Caroline M. Bacall

Joe Gasso

Mark Kassa

Martin Manna

Ken Marten

Weam Namou

Mike Sarafa

Margaret Shamoun

Steve Stein

proofreader

Valerie Cholagh

art & production

creative director

Alex Lumelsky with SKY Creative

graphic designers

Zina Lumelsky with SKY Creative

Joseph Sesi

Photographers

Nora Bahrou Downs

Alex Lumelsky

David Reed

Ramiz Romaya

Wilson Sarkis

operations

Interlink Media

director of operations

Paul Alraihani

circulation

Paul Alraihani

CLASSIFIEDS

Joyce Wiswell

sales

Interlink Media

sales representativeS

Lisa Kalou

Crystal Oram

managers

Vanessa Denha-Garmo

Martin Manna

Michael Sarafa

subscriptions: $20 per year

The Chaldean News

29850 Northwestern Highway, Suite 250

Southfield, MI 48034


Phone: (248) 996-8360

Publication: The Chaldean News (P-6); Published

monthly; Issue Date: March 2010 Subscriptions: 12

months, $20. Publication Address: 29850 Northwestern

Hwy., Suite 250, Southfield, MI 48034; Application

to Mail at Periodicals Postage Rates is Pending at

Farmington Hills Post Office Postmaster: Send address

changes to “The Chaldean News 29850 Northwestern

Highway, Suite 250, Southfield, MI 48034”

Hit or miss

When we were deciding

on our editorial

content for

our wedding guide, I was

wishing I had a better video.

It was the one thing I would

change about my wedding. I

hate my video. We posed that

very question to our readers:

What would you change about

your wedding? I am sure any

answer would be acceptable,

of course with the exception

of “my spouse.” That is no

minor wedding faux pas.

My wedding video was a

definite miss.

No wedding is perfect, I

suppose. Something always

Photo by David Reed

goes wrong. Every year we

try to help brides-to-be by

featuring helpful tips. We

worked with many vendors

who helped make this issue

memorable. Peter Bajjoka

Mansoor did a magnificent

job demonstrating three

distinct looks with his hair

styling, and Allison Taylor

delivered lovely makeup applications.

Both work at Vanity

Hair in Birmingham.

Roma Sposa once again

supplied the fabulous wedding

gowns, perfectly suited

for our models who graciously

posed while our art director, alex

Lumelsky snapped away. veronica ann

babbie,

and ursula

rita Shayota smiled and sashayed.

ramiz romaya and Wilson Sarkis

supplied elegant photos of couples

they snapped at chaldean weddings.

Of course, none of it would be possible

without the coordinating

efforts of chaldean News Managing

editor Joyce Wiswell, who vows

every year never again to do a

photo shoot be-cause it is such a big

pain — but every

Vanessa

denha-garmo

editor in chief

year she does it and it turns

out just perfect.

We want your wedding to

be a hit whether you are planning

an extravagant event or

a budgeted soiree. It is your

day, after all. We want you to

sidestep those mishaps and

have a grand time expressing

your love.

We thank all of our vendors

for supplying us with the

dos and don’ts of wedding

Vanessa Denha Garmo (center) with her fellow judges at the Sounds of the Soul Poetry Slam: Florence

J. Dallo, Albert Bajjoka, Tom Thomas and Jibran “Jim” Manna.

day bliss — hair, flowers, bands and

venues. What to choose and what to

avoid. This year we included an article

about the Chaldean traditional wedding

ceremony. Writer Weam Namou gets

details about the prayers, vows and

music during the nuptials.

Even though this March issue is our

annual wedding guide, this issue is not

all about marriage.

I had an opportunity to judge this year’s

poetry slam and there were definitely more

hits then misses at this event. Brent Hermiz,

who made it to a finalist spot last year,

was the winner this year. We feature his

winning piece in this issue.

I truly enjoyed my time with my fellow

insightful judges. Congratulations to the

organizers for creating an opportunity for

fellow Chaldeans to express their view

and share their creative writing skills.

The event itself was a hit.

Coming up is the Iraq parliament

election. Joyce Wiswell and I both

contribute articles on two Chaldean

candidates in the race. As people contemplate

heading out to the polls, Co-

Publisher Martin Manna sat down with

Yonadam Kanna about the elections.

Will they be a hit or a miss for the

Chaldeans? We will soon find out.

Alaha Imid Koullen

(God Be With Us All)

Vanessa Denha-Garmo

vdenha@chaldeannews.com

Skinz • Rose Taft • San Carlin

St. John • Jovani & Many More

West Bloomfield

Phone: (248) 932-5253

10 CHALDEAN NEWS March 2010

your LETTERS

Slam Dunk

Wow! What a gathering! What an

event! What an honor! On January

29, I was privileged to be a judge in

the Second Annual Sounds of the

Soul Poetry Slam. I witnessed a remarkable

literary event. Eleven youthful

representatives of the Chaldean

community exposed their hearts and

souls to a very receptive audience at

the Royal Oak Music Theater.

Some of what I heard and saw

made me laugh. Some tugged so hard

at my heartstrings that tears filled my

eyes. Mostly, I was proud. As an English

teacher, I was proud of the talent

in our midst and of the wonderful and

artful use of very precise and well delivered

language (plus a few extraneous

sounds) and of the willingness of the

poets to share what was dear to them.

As a Chaldean, I was proud that our

Catholic faith and Chaldean culture was

such a vital aspect of their expressions.

I heard conviction and passion. I also

heard the pain and hurt and anger that

can come from trying to maintain reverence

and respect for their faith and

family, while living in a world that lunges

and tears at anything of lasting value.

Also, I cannot begin to say how

proud I am of the generosity and

wholesomeness of all those involved

in this venture. They donated all of the

proceeds from the event to help support

the Yatooma’s Foundation For the

Kids, a very vital and worthwhile community

service charity.

Finally, as a gray-haired but not-sosenior

citizen, I find myself especially

impressed by the energy and organization

of the program coordinators. I

was one those founding members of

the early 1970s Chaldean American

Youth Club. Sometimes, it seemed

that our greatest accomplishment was

to hold meetings where participants

would actually listen to each other for

a whole five minutes without 10 other

conversations erupting simultaneously.

But we loved each other, and we

had some great parties. But that was

then, and this is now. And for what

the young people have accomplished,

I wish to express a deep and heartfelt

appreciation and thanks. Can’t wait

for next year!

– Thomas Thomas, West Bloomfield

More on the Poetry Slam appears

on page 48.

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March 2010 CHALDEAN NEWS 11

POINT

We must grasp this opportunity to vote in Iraq’s election

For far too long the Chaldean

community has

been polarized because

of a lack of representation

both in Iraq and the U.S. government.

Clearly the invasion

of Iraq will go down in history

as one of the United States’

biggest political blunders, and

as a result, there is no community

suffering more than

Iraq’s indigenous people.

While it is not clear as to

why we here in the U.S. are allowed

to vote in Iraq’s elections, the fact remains

that those born in Iraq, and their

offspring, can participate. Some would

say that it’s pointless after years of persecution,

the bombings of more than

60 churches and the murders of hundreds

of our people — all in the name

of religion.

Many would argue that it’s best for

Christians to leave Iraq and start a new

life elsewhere. But a life elsewhere hasn’t

been much better for our refugees as they

struggle in Syria, Jordan and even here in

the U.S. Many countries neighboring Iraq

martin manna

CO-PUBLISHER,

CHALDEAN NEWS

Because Iraq is so

divided into different

sects, a small number

of votes can have a

big impact on Iraq’s

biggest issues.

do not classify Christian refugees

as citizens, allow them to work or

send their children to school. In

some dire situations, our women

have turned to prostitution simply

to keep their children fed. Here in

the U.S., the refugees are given

only up to $1,100 (just recently

boosted from $800) and eight

months of Medicaid to figure it

all out – learn English, secure

housing, get a car and find a

job. After that, they are cut off

to survive on their own.

It is true that the Iraq Constitution

is based on Sharia Islamic law and has

no tolerance for ethnic and religious

minorities. But that does not mean we

should give up and ignore this upcoming

election.

Too many times Iraqi politicians

have paraded through Southeast Michigan

and many of our community members

have used their visits as a photo

opportunity. What we should be doing

is protesting any time these officials

come to visit and demand that all Iraqis

be treated equally, that ethnic and religious

minorities be given the same

rights as their Muslim brethren and be

able to worship freely.

Metro Detroit has the largest Chaldean

community outside of Iraq. We

can make a real difference if we all take

it upon ourselves to vote in the upcoming

election. Because Iraq is so divided

into different sects, a small number

of votes can have a big impact on Iraq’s

biggest issues.

By voting we can control our own

destiny, at least in the Nineveh area,

home to many of our Christian villages.

By choosing candidates who represent

unity, protection and freedom, we can

advance the cause of preserving our

language, culture and identity.

Many of us don’t even vote in U.S.

elections, and this could be one of the

main reasons why the U.S. government

has taken very little action to support

us in Iraq. Less than 10 percent of our

community voted in Iraq’s election in

2005 – but Out of Country Voting helped

Yonadam Kanna, the only member of a

Christian party, get elected to parliament

and be a voice for Iraq’s Christians.

Several candidates are courageously

risking their lives to represent

us and our rights. We should listen to

our Church and community leaders in

making the best decision as for whom

to vote, including Hekkmat Hakeem,

Kanna and others. (See pages 42 for

articles on some of the candidates.)

Voters in Michigan have three days

(March 5-7) to vote. Given all that our

community is facing in Iraq, is it really

such a big deal for us to drive out to

Dearborn or Sterling Heights to vote?

How can we do any less for our brothers

and sisters who have chosen to stay

in Iraq to preserve our heritage?

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COUNTER point

Our participation is meaningless

The campaigns for Iraqi

elections have begun

and the apparatchiks

working on them are not just

in Baghdad and Mosul but

also here in Southeast Michigan.

As a general statement,

one could argue to vote early

and often in any seemingly

fair election, wherever it is

taking place and for whatever

purpose.

But as Chaldeans and

others of Iraqi nationality are

asked to get involved in an election of

a foreign government, are we sure we

know what we’re doing, who we’re

voting for and what they represent?

Most importantly, from where is the

authority for Americans to vote in the

Iraqi election derived? Over the long

term, is there a potential for a favorable

and stable quality of life for what

has become a tiny religious minority

in a part of the world hostile to Christians?

Frankly, the authority for Iraqi

Americans to vote is difficult to track

Michael G.

Sarafa

CO-PUBLISHER,

CHALDEAN NEWS

down at best and dubious at

worst. The Independent High

Electoral Commission for the

Republic of Iraq states that

“a voter must be an Iraqi citizen.”

Their source is Article

III of the Iraqi Constitution.

There are several countries

in the world that allow dual

citizenship with the United

States. But this usually

means dual passports. Are

Iraqi Americans getting Iraqi

passports or otherwise becoming

Iraqi citizens? That doesn’t

seem to be the case.

There is a fair amount of literature

and even an organization dedicated

to Out of Country Voting (OCV). All

of it points to facilitating the votes

of true Iraqi nationals living abroad.

None of it suggests that Americans

of Iraqi descent can vote in the Iraqi

elections. The rules, if there are any,

are loose by any standard. Apparently,

a representative of this organization

will be in Detroit soon to clarify

these rules.

As Chaldeans and

others of Iraqi

nationality are asked

to get involved in an

election of a foreign

government, are we

sure we know what

we’re doing, who

we’re voting for and

what they represent?

All of this begs yet bigger questions.

To what end will the Chaldean

vote in the United States truly matter?

Under Iraqi election law, eight seats

in the new parliament will be designated

for minority candidates and five

national seats will be designated for

Christians. There are 325 seats overall.

We are fooling ourselves if we

think we will have any influence at

all. We will continue to be subject to

the whims of the Kurds and the other

parties we align with, secondary players

reduced to groveling for even the

smallest of concessions.

Furthermore, some estimate that

less than 50 percent of Chaldean

Americans eligible to vote in the U.S.

elections bother to do so. That is for

presidential elections; by the time you

get down to local races the percentage

is even smaller. It would make

sense for the Church and other community

organizations to work towards

turning out greater numbers of our

people for American elections. This

should be the priority. Here, if we are

strong, we can develop relations with

politicians that can help us at home

and in the Old Country.

That way, we can probably be

more useful to our brethren in Iraq

than five out of 325 members of the

Iraqi parliament.


noteworthy

The Associated Food & Petroleum Dealers Inc. (AFPD) celebrated 100 years last month.

Refugees Get More Cash

New refugees to the United States will now

receive at least $1,100 each from the State

Department.

The funds go directly to the refugee

($1,100) and the network of local non-profit

affiliates that serve them in resettling (up to

$700). The money is vital for new arrivals

to secure housing and buy food and other

essentials. Before, refugees were only getting

$425 each. The Chaldean Federation of

America helped advocate for the change.

Congressman Gary Peters formally announced

the change at a refugee workshop

in Troy on February 8.

“This increase in resettlement funding

will ensure refugees fleeing from war-torn

lands are better able to become independent,

productive and assimilated members

of their new communities,” he said in a prepared

statement. “While this news is certainly

positive, we must keep fighting to help

ensure that refugees displaced by war have

the full means to survive and work to become

productive, respected members of society.

I am proud that Southeast Michigan is home

to many Iraqis who demonstrate hard work

and the drive to succeed every day.”

Special Visit

The Men of the Sacred Hearts is a 45-

year-old Apostolate that brings Our Lady

of Fatima statue to homes for a week and

encourages the family to pray the rosary.

They have Our Lady available March 2-8.

Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and

the Immaculate Heart of Mary is approved

and endorsed by the Archdiocese of Detroit

(since 1973) and has received an Apostolic

Blessing from the Holy See.

To register for home enthronement,

which consists of a half-hour on two visits,

call the Men of the Sacred Hearts’ office,

Monday through Thursday, at (586) 446-

3521, or email mosh@bbdetroit.com.

CFA Book Drive

Continues

Donations of books are still being

accepted for Operation Education,

a book drive benefitting scholarships

for Chaldean students.

The Chaldean Federation

of America program has raised

more than $2,000 so far and still

has more than 2,500 books to

sell, with another 4,000 books

pledged. Books are sold on-line

via CFA Book Sales, a book store

on Amazon.com. Scholarships are

awarded by the CFA at its annual

Chaldean Commencement.

Volunteers are needed to

help list books for sale and to

help pick up books from donors.

For additional information

and drop off locations, contact

Rula Yono at (248) 996-8384.

To view CFA books for sale, visit

www.chaldeanfederation.org

and click on CFA book store.

Sam Attisha

Influential

Sam Attisha has

been named one of

San Diego’s Top Influentials

by the Daily

Transcript. Attisha is

vice president of Business

Development

and External Affairs at

Cox Communications

in San Diego.

100 Years Strong

The Associated Food & Petroleum Dealers

Inc. (AFPD) celebrated 100 years as the

voice of the retail food, beverage and fuel

industries in Michigan and Ohio at a gala

event in February.

President/CEO Jane Shallal and

Chairman of the Board Jim Hooks welcomed

more than 1,000 people at the

annual gala at Rock Financial showplace

in Novi. Jerry Yono from

Southfield Funeral Home and

Earl Ishbia with Sherwood

Foods were co-chairs of the

event. Rev. Wendell Anthony

from the NAACP gave the

invocation and congratulated

the AFPD for reaching the

same milestone the NAACP

reached last year – 100 years

of service.

Language

Classes Offered

Free classes in English as a

second language and Arabic

as a second language begin

March 1. Offered by First

Needs Human Care Services,

the classes are for new refugees

and immigrants. They

will take place at Redemption

Lutheran Church in Sterling

Heights. To register, call (586)

268-1080 or (248) 912-8173.

photo by david reed

Five Iraqi

Christians

Killed

Iraqi police said they

found a Christian shopkeeper

shot to death in

the restive northern city

of Mosul on February

20, the fifth Christian killing

in a week thought to

be related to the March

elections.

Adnan al-Dahan,

a 57-year-old Syrian

Orthodox, was found

with bullet wounds to

his head in the northern

Mosul district of al-Belladiyat.

He had been

kidnapped from his grocery

shop the week before

in the neighborhood

of Al-Habda.

Dahan was the fifth

Christian to have been

killed during one week

in Mosul. Local leaders

had expressed concern

Christians could be

targeted ahead of the

March 7 parliamentary

election.

On February 17, 20-

year-old student Wissam

George’s bullet-riddled

body was recovered after

he went missing the

same morning. A day

earlier, a gunman killed

21-year-old engineering

student Zia Toma

and wounded 22-yearold

pharmacy student

Ramsin Shmael. Greengrocer

Fatukhi Munir

was gunned down inside

his shop in a drive-by

shooting late on February

15, and armed assailants

killed Rayan Salem

Elias outside his home

the day before.

– Assyrian International

News Agency, aina.org.

Correction

A production error led

us to misidentify Javon

Hindo in Chaldean on

the Street (February

2010). Our apologies.


Community Bulletin Board

Movie Makers

Local Chaldean Norman

Koza is the executive

producer of

the movie “Exit 33,”

which was filmed

in South Lyon. Four

Chaldeans are featured

in the horror

film, which has its

premier on March

11 at the Emagine

Theater in Novi with

several showings.

The movie stars horror

film actor Kane

Hodder, who has

played lead character

Ike. For tickets to the

premier, call (734)

775-7400 or visit

http://www.neptix.

com. For more about

the movie, check out

www.exit33movie.

com. We will have

more about this film

and Koza’s other

projects in the April

issue.

New Life

The Boji Group has opened a new 30,000-squarefoot

building, Woody Plaza, at 12140 Jos. Campau

in Hamtramck. The space will become home to a

new district service center for the state Department

of Human Services, housing more than 125 employees.

The site is the former home of the Woody

Pontiac automotive dealership, which drew customers

to downtown Hamtramck for 60 years until it

closed in 2000. On hand for the ribbon cutting were:

from right, Wayne County Executive Robert Ficano,

Michigan Department of Human Services Director

Ismael Ahmed, Boji Group Chairman Louie Boji,

Hamtramck Mayor Karen Majewski, Michigan Department

of Management & Budget Acting Director

Phyllis Mellon, State Sen. Martha Scott, Boji Group

President Ron Boji and James Butler III, director

of the Urban Revitalization Division of the Michigan

State Housing Development Authority.

C-h-a-m-p-i-o-n

Christian Marougi, a sixthgrade

honor roll student at Our

Lady of Refuge Catholic School,

is the Spelling Bee school

champion for the Scripps

National Spelling Bee. He stood

tall against 15 other students

in grades 5-8 and won with the

word “scholarship.” A member

of Ms. Karlowicz’s homeroom,

Christian admitted being a little

nervous but with a few prayers

and determination he emerged

as the champion.

What a Kick

Acoustic signer and songwriter

Steve Acho is a special guest

performer at the 7th Annual

Kicks for the Cure benefit for the

Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer

Institute at Powerhouse Gym on

March 7. A special kickboxing

class for $25 will be held from

8-11 a.m. The public is invited

to use the facility for free from

7 a.m.-6 p.m. to help promote

the event; donations to Kicks

for the Cure are encouraged but

not required. Powerhouse Gym

is located at 6750 Orchard Lake

Road in West Bloomfield.

Youth of the Year

Rita Maizy joined the Boys

& Girls Club of South Oakland

County when she was 8

— two years after coming to

the United States — so she

could make friends and improve

her English. She’s done

much more than that. The

17-year-old Royal Oak High

School senior has been a club

staff member since she was

15, and she’s the president of

the club’s Keystone leadership

group.

Her involvement hasn’t

gone unnoticed. Rita was

recently named the club’s

2010 Youth of the Year. The

club has named a Youth of

the Year since 1958, the year

it opened as the Boys Club of

Royal Oak.

“It’s a great honor,” Maizy

said. “Everyone who won the

award before I did set an example

for me on how to act.”

Maizy certainly knows how

to act in the classroom. She

has a 3.8 grade point average

and hopes to attend the University

of Michigan or Wayne

State University in her pursuit

of becoming a pediatrician.

“I love working with kids,”

she said. “I figured that out

through working at the club.”

The Maizy family left Iraq

and moved to Jordan when

Rita was 3. Three years later,

the family moved again to

Southfield. Mazin and Maha

Maizy and their three children

now live in Madison Heights.

Photo by www.domagalskiphotography.com

courtesy of Michigan Lottery

Happy Days

Congratulations

to David Alton

of Troy, who won

a cool $2 million

in the Michigan

Lottery’s “Make

Me Rich” Second

Chance Drawing

on February 10.

Have an item for the Bulletin Board? Send it to

Chaldean News, 29850 Northwestern

Highway, Southfield, MI 48034, or e-mail

info@chaldeannews.com.


CHAI time

chaldeans conNecting

community events in and around metro detroit MARCH 2010

[Monday, March 1]

Diet: “The Facts About Fats: Mediterranean

Style” is the topic of a nutrition

class by St. Joseph Mercy Oakland

Hospital. 7:15 p.m., Franco Communications

Center, 44405 Woodward

Avenue, Pontiac. $75 fee covers two

people. (248) 858-2475.

from the CIA and FBI will be on hand to

talk careers. Open to all; attendees are

encouraged to bring their resume. RSVP

to (248) 996-8340 or lkalou@chaldeanchamber.com.

Check out job openings

at www.cia.gov/careers and www.fbijobs.gov.

(This event is rescheduled from

February due to weather.)

[Wednesday, March 3]

Smokandoah: Monthly cigar club meets

at 7 p.m. at Shenandoah Country Club.

Guests are welcome with a member.

[Sunday, March 7]

Seventh Annual Kicks for the Cure,

presented by Omar’s Planet, includes

kick boxing class (8-11 a.m.), spinning

class (9:45 a.m.), demonstrations and

free use of Powerhouse Gym from 7

a.m.-6 p.m. The event raises funds for

the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute.

Minimum donation for classes is

$25. 6750 Orchard Lake Road, West

Bloomfield. (248) 539-3370.

[Wednesday, March 10]

Careers: A Night of New Job Opportunities

is presented by the Chaldean American

Chamber of Commerce. Officials

[Monday, March 15]

Retreat: Chaldean American Ladies

of Charity (CALC) hold a Lenten

Evening of Reflection at Manresa in

Bloomfield Hills. The event includes

mass, a candlelit service, silent time, a

presentation and dinner, and runs from

5:45-9:30 p.m. $40. (248) 538-8300

or (248) 752-2424.

[Monday, March 15]

Diet: “Protein Power … and Risks” is the

topic of a nutrition class by St. Joseph

Mercy Oakland Hospital. 7:15 p.m.,

Franco Communications Center, 44405

Woodward Avenue, Pontiac. $75 fee

covers two people. (248) 858-2475.

Annual awards dinner of

the Chaldean American

Chamber of Commerce

takes place on April 16

[Tuesday, March 16]

Basketball: The annual Chaldean Night

at the Palace includes a pre-game ceremony,

special events for kids and discounted

tickets to watch Detroit take

on Cleveland. Proceeds benefit the

Chaldean Community Foundation. Call

the Chaldean American Chamber for

tickets: (249) 996-8340 or visit www.

chaldeanchamber.com.

[Thursday, April 15]

Gallabia: Chaldean American Ladies

of Charity present an Arabian Gallabia

Night with dinner, music, dancing and

games. Regency Manor, Southfield.

Tickets are $50. (248) 538-8300.

[Friday, April 16]

Awards Dinner: Annual awards dinner of

the Chaldean American Chamber of Commerce

honors the year’s best businessperson

and humanitarian. Tickets are $150.

Shenandoah Country Club. (248) 996-

8340 or www.chaldeanchamber.com.



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Hours: Mon. • 9-6, Tu - Th • 9-9, Fr • 9-6, Sat • 8-4

Bombay Productions Presents

“2 nd Annual Bridal Show”

Sunday, March 28, 2010 • Noon to 4:00P.M.

Auburn Hills Marriott

3600 Center Point Park Way • Pontiac, MI 48341

HALHOLE!

[Births]

Grace Samie

Jacob & John Sawa, along with

their parents Salwan & Reem

Sawa, would like to welcome

the newest member of their

family. Grace Samie Sawa

was born on August 8, 2009,

at 10:24 p.m. at William Beaumont

Hospital. Grace weighed

in at 7 lbs., 6 oz. and was 20

inches long. She is the 14th

grandchild for Samie & Joseph

Sawa and the third for Sabah &

Amal Soka. Proud godparents

are Sarab & Slavro Najjar.

Patrick Paul

God has blessed Samer & Rania

Mattia with a second son, and

Sonny is excited to announce

his brother Patrick Paul. He

was born on August 26, 2009

weighing 8 lbs., 10 oz. and

measuring 21 inches. Loving

godfather is Uncle Fadi Razouki.

Patrick is the 10th grandson

for both Samir & Souad Mattia

and Fouad & Amira Razouki.

Benjamin Sallim

Katherine would like to announce

the arrival of her baby

brother, Benjamin Sallim Shunyia.

He was born on April 24,

2009 at 11:46 a.m. at Crittenton

Hospital in Rochester Hills.

Benjamin weighed 9 lbs., 13 oz.

and was 22 inches in length.

Peter & Jennifer (Kasco) Shunyia

are his very happy parents.

Proud grandparents are

Sallim & Wafaa Shunyia and

Nancy J. Holmes. Joyful greatgrandmother

is Erminia Farinelli

Bailey. Loving godparents are

Souzanne Shunyia & Patrick Di-

Giovanni. We welcome you to

the world, habibi!

Grace Samie

Patrick Paul

Benjamin Sallim

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[Engagement]

Rocky and Jasleen

Rocky Jarbo & Jasleen Cholagh

celebrated their engagement on

October 25, 2009. Together

with friends and family, the couple

celebrated with a reception

at Farmington Manor. Rocky is

the son of Adil & Karima Jarbo

and Jasleen is the daughter of

Souad Cholagh & the late Khalid

Habib Cholagh. The couple

plans to wed in May 2010. May

God bless them as they begin

their lives together.

Rocky and Jasleen

share your joy with the community

Announcements are offered free of charge to paid subscribers.

Please email or mail announcements with a photo to the

Chaldean News at halhole@chaldeannews.com or:

Chaldean News; c/o Editor, Subject: Announcements

29850 Northwestern, Suite 250, Southfield, MI 48034

Please include your address and phone number to verify

your paid subscription. Hard copies of photos can be picked

up after the15th of the month. Photos are not mailed back.


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By Appointment • (248) 723-4300 • 708/722 N. Old Woodward •Birmingham • romasposa.com

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towards gift cards, pre-paid services or bill payment. Valid at participating locations

only. Not redeemable for cash. See store for details. Offer Expires 12/31/10.

Monday - Friday 9am-8pm

Saturday 9am-6pm

©2010 Wireless Toyz®. All rights reserved. Pricing and promotional offers are subject to change without notice. Offers valid at participating locations

only. Product selection and services may vary by store location. All promotions are for new two-year activations only. Offers good while supplies last.

Not responsible for printer errors. All franchises are independently owned and operated. SPRINT: **Monthly charges exclude taxes, Sprint Surcharges

[incl. USF charge of up to 14.1% (varies quarterly), Administrative Charge (up to $1.99/line/mo.), Regulatory Charge ($0.40/line/mo.) & state/local fees

by area]. Sprint Surcharges are not taxes or gov’t-required charges and are subject to change. Details: Sprint.com/taxesandfees. May require up to a $36

activation fee/line, credit approval & deposit. Up to $200 early termination fee/line applies. Phone Offer: Offer ends 4/17/10. While supplies last. Taxes

and service charges excluded. No cash back. Requires activation at the time of purchase. Business customers may have other plan options. Calls made

without a voice plan: airtime (0.20/min.) plus long distance ($0.40/min.). Mail-in Rebate: Requires purchase by 4/17/10 & activation by 5/01/10. Line

must be active 30 consecutive days. Allow 10 to 14 weeks for rebate. Upgrade: Existing customers in good standing with service on the same device for

more than 22 consecutive months currently activated on a service plan of $39.99 or higher may be eligible. See in-store rebate form for details. Everything

Data Plan: Base price and number of Anytime Minutes included; additional minutes (for calling landline, indirect, etc.) depend on specific plan selected.

Nights: Mon.–Thurs. 7pm–7am; Weekends: Fri. 7pm–Mon. 7am. Partial minutes charged as full minutes. Messaging: Includes text, picture and video

for domestic messages sent or received. International messages are $0.20 sent or received. SMS voice messages may incur an additional data charge

of $0.03/KB. Texts to third parties to participate in promotions or other may result in additional charges. International services are not included. Data:

Premium content/downloads (games, ringers, songs, certain channels, etc.) are additional charge. Usage Limitation: Sprint may terminate service if (1)

more than 800 minutes, (2) a majority of minutes or (3) a majority of kilobytes in a given month are used while roaming. 3G: Not all services or devices

are 3G and coverage may default to a separate network when 3G is unavailable. Other Terms: Coverage not available everywhere. Nationwide Sprint

Network reaches over 275 million people. The 3G Sprint Mobile Broadband Network reaches over 253 million people. Offers not available in all markets/

retail locations or for all phones/networks. Pricing, offer terms, fees & features may vary for existing customers not eligible for upgrade. Other restrictions

apply. BlackBerry®, RIM®, Research In Motion®, SureType®, SurePress and related trademarks, names and logos are the property of Research In Motion

Limited and are registered and/or used in the U.S. and countries around the world. See store for details. ©2010 Sprint. Sprint and the logo are trademarks

of Sprint. Research In Motion, the RIM logo, BlackBerry, the BlackBerry logo and SureType are registered with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and may

be pending or registered in other countries - these and other marks of Research In Motion Limited are used with permission. Other marks are the property

of their respective owners.


BMC Pharmacy

West Bloomfield

Dispensing a

Healthier Life!

Located inside the Beaumont Medical Center on Orchard Lake Road

RELIGION

places of prayer

chaldean churches in and around metro detroit

THE DIOCESE OF ST. THOMAS THE APOSTLE IN THE UNITED STATES

St. Thomas Chaldean Catholic Diocese

25603 Berg Road, Southfield, MI 48033; (248) 351-0440

Mar (Bishop) Ibrahim N. Ibrahim

www.chaldeandiocese.org

Heather C. Thomas-Gallozi, R.Ph

Registered Pharmacist

•

•

•

•

•

Chaldean/Arabic speaking employees

Complimentary local home delivery available

Centrally located in the heart of West Bloomfield

We BeAT All mAjor CompeTiTorspriCing inCluding:

• Kroger and meijer ($4.00 prescription programs)

• CosTCo

• sAm’s CluB

We accept All major insurances including mediCAre pArT-d

6900 Orchard Lake Road, Suite 104 • West Bloomfield, MI 48322

Fax: 248-855-5504 • Email: bmcrxwb@yahoo.com

TELEPHONE

248-855-5505

MOTHER OF GOD CHALDEAN CATHOLIC CHURCH

25585 Berg Road, Southfield, MI 48034; (248) 356-0565

Rector: Rev. Manuel Boji

Parochial Vicar: Rev. Wisam Matti

Mass Schedule: Weekdays except Tuesday, 10 a.m.; Tuesday, St. Anthony prayer

at 5 p.m. followed by mass at 5:30 p.m.; Saturday, 5:15 p.m. in English; Sunday:

8:30 a.m. in Arabic, 10 a.m. in English, 12 noon in Chaldean, 7 p.m. in English

SACRED HEART CHALDEAN CATHOLIC CHURCH

310 W. Seven Mile Road, Detroit, MI 48203; (313) 368-6214

Pastor: Rev. Jacob Yasso

Mass Schedule: Friday, 6 p.m. in Chaldean; Sunday 11 a.m. in Chaldean

MAR ADDAI CHALDEAN CATHOLIC CHURCH

24010 Coolidge Highway, Oak Park, MI 48237; (248) 547-4648

Pastor: Rev. Stephen Kallabat

Parochial Vicars: Rev. Fadi Habib Khalaf, Rev. Suleiman Denha

Mass Schedule: Weekdays, 12 noon; Sunday, 10 a.m. in Sourath and Arabic,

12:30 p.m. in Sourath

ST. GEORGE CHALDEAN CATHOLIC CHURCH

45700 Dequindre Road, Shelby Township, MI 48317; (586) 254-7221

Pastor: Msgr. Emanuel Hana Isho Shaleta

Assistant Pastor: Rev. Basel Yaldo

Mass Schedule: Weekdays, 10 a.m.; Saturday, 5 p.m.; Sunday: 8:30 a.m. in

Chaldean, 10 a.m. in Arabic, 11:30 a.m. in English, 1 p.m. in Chaldean. Baptisms:

2:30 p.m. on Sundays.

ST. JOSEPH CHALDEAN CATHOLIC CHURCH

2442 E. Big Beaver Road, Troy, MI 48083; (248) 528-3676

Pastor: Msgr. Zouhair Toma (Kejbou)

Parochial Vicar: Fr. Rudy Zoma

Mass Schedule: Weekdays, 10 a.m. in Chaldean; Saturday, 5 p.m. in English and

Chaldean; Sunday, 8 a.m. in Chaldean, 9:30 a.m. in Arabic, 11 a.m. in English, 12:30

p.m. in Chaldean, 2:15 in Chaldean and Arabic. Baptisms: 3 p.m. on Sundays.

ST. MARY HOLY APOSTOLIC

CATHOLIC ASSYRIAN CHURCH OF THE EAST

4320 E. 14 Mile Road, Warren, MI 48092; (586) 825-0290

Rector: Fr. Benjamin Benjamin

Mass Schedule: Sunday, 9 a.m. in Assyrian; 12 noon in Assyrian and English

ST. THOMAS CHALDEAN CATHOLIC CHURCH

6900 Maple Road, West Bloomfield, MI 48322; (248) 788-2460

Pastor: Rev. Frank Kalabat

Rev. Emanuel Rayes (retired)

Parochial Vicar: Rev. Jirgus Abrahim

Mass Schedule: Weekdays, 10 a.m. in Sourath; Saturday, 5 p.m. in English;

Sunday 9 a.m. in English, 10:30 a.m. in English, 12:30 p.m. in Sourath

ST. TOMA SYRIAC CATHOLIC CHURCH

2560 Drake Road, Farmington Hills, MI 48335; (248) 478-0835

Pastor: Rev. Toma Behnama

Mass Schedule: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday 6 p.m.; Sunday 12 p.m.

All masses are in Syriac, Arabic and English


obituaries

Kathie Hermiz Summa

Kathie Hermiz Summa, an Irish girl

who transformed into a Chaldean,

passed away on January 24, 2010 at

the young age of 61. She was born

on April 6, 1948 to Joseph and Marie

Casey in Roseville.

Raised as an Irish Catholic, Kathie

quickly embraced Chaldean culture

when she met her husband Sabah in

1968. The couple and their first-born

son, Laith, lived in a tiny apartment in

Detroit where they somehow made

room for many Chaldean relatives who

immigrated from Iraq. Kathie didn’t

speak a word of Arabic or Chaldean

and was brand-new to cultural traditions,

but immediately embraced all

Sabah’s relatives as her own family.

So many people always complimented

Kathie for the ways she followed the

Chaldean traditions – often saying she

was more Chaldean than most who

were born 100 percent Chaldean. She

learned to cook all the authentic Chaldean

foods and made Bamia better

than anyone; took Chaldean language

classes at Mother of God Church,

where she faithfully attended and taught

Sunday School; and learned how to say

prayers in Chaldean.

Top: Kathie Hermiz Summa

goes native in a kujma in Telkaif

in 1973. This more recent

shot was taken a year ago.

She could halhole louder than any of Sabah’s relatives. When

Laith walked across the stage to accept his law school diploma at

the Masonic Temple, she let out a halhole that echoed through the

entire hall. People thought the Indians were attacking.

More than once in her life, Kathie fought through illness. She

never complained about being sick and always pushed forward with

a positive attitude. She taught us how to be strong and to appreciate

life and the short time that we have with each other. Instead of focusing

on herself she worried about us. Instead of being concerned

with her own mortality, she prepared us for her eventual passing.

She gave us her most precious gift – her life – so that she could go

to heaven before us and prepare our place, so that when it is our

time we will not have to fear for she will be there to guide us.

Kathie was the family matriarch, our leader, mentor, teacher, confidant

and strength. Many relatives called her their second mom.

She is deeply missed by her loving husband of more than 40 years,

Sabah M. Hermiz (Summa); sons Laith, Faris and Shawn; grandchildren

Elaina and Julian; and many nieces, nephews and friends.

As a gift, Kathie made Sabah a framed picture of a Bible verse

that absolutely personifies her, Ruth 1:16:17: “Wherever you go, I

will go. Wherever you live, there shall I live. Your people shall be my

people. Your God will be my God too. Wherever you die, I will die,

to be laid down beside you. May the Lord hold me to this, until the

last breath of my life.”

In the Irish tradition, we leave Kathie with a toast. We say to you

in Gaelich, “Rah Ja Ort” (the grace of God be with you). We know

in return Kathie would say in Chaldean, “Po Sho Bish Lama” (I leave

you in peace). Kathie will always be with us as she goes on her

new journey.

Hana Awish

Hana Awdish, a loving wife, mother,

grandmother, aunt and friend, died

on January 21, 2010.

Hana was born on September

10, 1941 in Baghdad. She died at

her home in Milford.

Hana enjoyed working at Lord &

Taylor for the last 13 years, where

she made many friends and touched

many people’s hearts. Her greatest

interest was her family and caring for

them. She was a generous woman

with a loving heart.

She is survived by her husband, Mike Awdish; her son Sam and

his wife Kristen and their children, Adam, Emily, and Alex; her daughter

Connie; her son Brian and his son Jack; her daughter Sabrina;

and her son Michael. She is also survived by her siblings, Basima,

Ramzi, Harry, Mary, Hani, Raymond and Douglas.

The family has started a website in Hana’s memory to help fight

melanoma. Visit www.hanascure.com.

Aziz Franso Dallo

Aziz Franso Dallo, known for helping anyone

in need, died on February 3, 2010.

Aziz was born on July 1, 1922 in

Hilla, Iraq.

A business owner, he loved to

travel and he loved kids. His favorite

holiday was Halloween, because he

loved when kids came to the door.

He was a very helpful man; he was

always there and willing to help whenever

it was needed.

Aziz is survived by his wife, Terriz

Dallo; and their children and spouses,

Anam and Adel Michael, Saadi

and Mary Franso, Khaled and Dhalia

Dallo, Wishdan and Ghassan George, Adil Dallo, Hiyam and Namir

Michael, Ban and Nizar Mesi, and Ziad and Monica Dallo. He is also

survived by 19 grandchildren.

Recently

deceased

Community

members

Amal Samer

Kashat Kesto

February 17, 2010

Najeb Aboo Brikho

February 14, 2010

Jamel Dakho Bacall

February 11, 2010

Fotini Kyriazis

February 8, 2010

Nadir Sami Dabish

February 5, 2010

Basil David Boji

February 4, 2010

Aziz Franso Dallo

February 3, 2010

Danyal Patros Kriko

January 30, 2010

Hana Awdish

January 21, 2010

Janan Antoon Kareem

January 21, 2010

Submit your loved one’s

obituary to info@chaldeannews.com,

or send it to

Chaldean News, 29850

Northwestern Highway,

Southfield, MI 48034.

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economics & ENTERPRISE

Regency Manor:

Chaldeans

transform

Southfield facility

Photo by Nora Downs

By Ken Marten

Chaldeans planning a celebration have a

new venue to consider. As of New Year’s

Eve, Regency Manor & Banquet Center in

Southfield has been open for business.

“We’ve had more than 50 bookings in the first

month — communions, weddings, engagement

parties,” said Jason Najor, one of Regency Manor’s

four owning partners. “Our very first event, the

New Year’s Eve party, was nearly a sellout.”

Jason Najor handles accounting. His uncle,

Ameer Najor, and Laukman “Luke” Hakim are in

charge of operations. Saad Attisha, who also owns

Sahara restaurants, runs the kitchen.

The partners, all West Bloomfield residents,

bought the building in January 2009. It was the former

site of the Palace of Southfield. Prior to that, it

was a Knights of Columbus hall.

“We saw a need in the community,” Jason Najor

said. “My partners were looking for a banquet

hall for several years, and this is the perfect central

location for the community. You can’t do any better

than this. Once Southfield Manor closed, there

was no central location. You had to go either way

west to Shenandoah, or way east to Penna’s.”

Najor said he and his partners renovated “every

square inch” of the building with the exception of

the chandeliers in the main ballroom, which only

needed to be cleaned. The kitchen is state-of-theart.

The ballroom is luxurious for celebrating the

milestone events of life, and also equipped with

four hideaway projection screens to accommodate

corporate bookings like meetings and breakfasts.

New lighting and a sound system suits both needs.

The foyer, lobby, restrooms and bars glisten with

marble. Even the disco ball dangling above the

Owners Laukman Hakim, Ameer Najor, Saad Attisha and Jason Najor just bought the banquet hall in January.

dance floor is new, and there’s also a bridal room.

“We’re competing with the other locations, but

not for the larger parties,” Jason Najor said. “We

only have capacity for 500 sitting for dinner service.”

Renovation of the basement nightclub that will

feature live Middle Eastern music, complete with a

dance floor and an indoor waterfall, will be finished

this month. When the dividing wall in the main

ballroom is utilized, Regency Manor can host three

events at once.

“It’s exciting,” Jason Najor said. “Every day,

someone is coming in here with a new event.”

Rentals are based on a per-plate price starting

at $23, with the higher end including the liquor.

The menu encompasses classic elegant meals like

filet mignon and breast of chicken piccata as well

as traditional Mediterranean cuisine.

“We take pride in our food and service,” Jason

Najor said. “Our background is supermarkets and

restaurants, so we know how to serve customers,

and we’re here to accommodate any budget.”

This spring, the surrounding grounds will be

landscaped for perfect wedding photo backgrounds.

Next year, Regency Manor’s exterior will receive a

facelift.

Of Regency Manor’s 16 full-time employees,

four are Chaldean refugees.

“We wanted to help some of those families out,”

Jason Najor said. “The way I feel is, when my parents

came here someone helped them. We’re carrying

forward the helping tradition.”

Besides rentals, Regency Manor is open daily

for dinner. If the ballrooms are being used, diners

will soon be able to eat in the lower level nightclub.

Check It Out

For more information about hall rental, contact

banquet manager Jovann Dawood-Mihalian at

(248) 353-1133 or (248) 770-7773. Discounts

are available to members of the Chaldean American

Chamber of Commerce.

Yomah ta loukhoun

— May your wedding day come

Keeping the Chaldean culture and community alive by

confidentially connecting compatible Chaldeans

A service for marriage-minded Chaldeans of any age

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in the KITCHEN with

Fish Masgoof

Ingredients

1 Jumbo Whitefish

½ Stick of Butter or Margarine

2 Onions

2 Tomatoes

Salt, Black Pepper, Garlic Powder, Paprika (to taste)

2 Lemons

Instructions

Wash fish and pat dry before laying it on roasting pan.

Season the fish with salt, pepper and garlic powder.

Squeeze the juice of one lemon on top. Slice the butter

and spread throughout the top of the fish for color,

flavor and moisture while broiling. Finally, sprinkle

paprika evenly over everything. Quarter the onions

and tomatoes and line them around the fish.

Grill under broiler for 20 minutes. Serve with

rice and Amba and the extra lemon.

Key Lime Amba

Ingredients

1 Jar (24 oz.) Pickled Key Limes

1 Jar (12 oz.) Pickled Whole Hot Peppers

3 Tablespoons Pickling Marsala (found in Indian stores)

1 Cup Lemon Juice

1/4 Cup Olive Oil

Salt to taste

Salma Ajo shows off her beautifully boned Fish Masgoof to Mark Kassa.

Salma Ajo: Fish Masgoof for Lent

By Mark Kassa

While growing up

in Basra, Salma

Ajo (nee Marougy)

knew fish as a prevalent

natural resource. Basra was

conveniently located on the

Shat-Al-Arab River where

the Tigris and Euphrates meet

before ending up in the Persian/Arabian

Gulf. There the

famous grilled fish was Z’bur

(Shad). In Baghdad on the

banks of the Tigris in cafes on

hot summer evenings while

sipping Arak (Iraqi liquor),

relaxing patrons would handselect

the native Iraqi fish

Shaboot or Bunni to be fire

roasted to specification.

Wood from fruit trees is

ideal for fire roasting or smoking

fish; however in Michigan we can’t grow

figs, oranges or apricots. And certainly our yearround

climate and time-sensitive world does not

behoove hanging the fish by its bones and roasting

it upright in a Tanoora. Instead, we have hot

grills, hot ovens and in the summer, we Michiganders

might even feel cultured enough to create

our American version of the wood fire pit.

photos by DAVID REED

In this season of Lent,

the oven will have to do.

Fortunately, Ajo has figured

out a way to enjoy

fresh fish that’s just as delicious

with modern cooking

methods. She’s lucky to

have a great source: Great

Lakes Fish Seafood Company.

The Oak Park company

was founded in 1976

by her husband, Ramzi,

and is now owned by the

couple’s three sons, Faris,

Mahir and Ramzi Jr.

Ajo has a Ph.D. in

psychology and works as

a therapist at Henry Ford

in West Bloomfield. Her

educational accomplishments

reveal the cultural

advancement our community has made. In the

past, Middle Eastern culture thwarted women

from becoming independently advanced. Ajo

not only reached the highest educational pedigree

available in her field, but she did so while

adhering to the stringent Chaldean standards of

taking care of the family first. Otherwise how

would she have learned to prepare such amazing

Instructions

Empty the pickled limes in a bowl, reserving the pickling

liquid for later use. The jarred limes should have

four incisions. From the knife slits already started, slice

limes into four pieces and remove the seeds. Add the

whole peppers and pickling marsala. Mix well.

Transfer the mixture in layers to an appropriated-sized

jar. Make sure to have pickling marsala in

between each layer. Lastly, pour the lemon juice and

olive oil on top followed by the rest of the marsala. If

more liquid is needed, add some of the original juice

from the key limes jar.

Tightly secure the lid shut. Keep the jar upside-down

for three days, shaking it once a day to keep the ingredients

mixed well. It will be ready to serve in a week.

cuisine, not to mention develop an impeccable

sense of detail in the kitchen?

With the freshest jumbo Lake Superior

Whitefish and utilizing the pragmatic indoor

cooking method of the oven, Ajo prepared for

me the perfect Masgoof served with Key Lime

Amba (recipe above) and Mango Amba (found

in Arabic or Indian stores) at her West Bloomfield

home.

Having gone to culinary school and worked in

a fine dining restaurant, it has become apparent

to me that some of the best home chefs can not

conform and transfer their skills to an industrial

kitchen. Happily, Ajo’s culinary skills are transferable.

She has the traditional touch passed down

from her mother, yet encompasses a very progressive

approach with her cooking techniques.

“I enjoy learning to cook from others,” she

said. “If I see something new, I always ask for the

recipe.”

Here’s a dish that’s perfect for Lent. Once

the weather gets warmer, cook it outside atop a

Michigan cherry wood-fired grill.




the WEDDING issue

married!

Amanda and

Sandy Maizi

halhole on

November 1, 2009.

Photo by Wilson Sarkis,

Wilson Sarkis Photography


the WEDDING issue

what it all means

Demystifying Chaldean wedding vows

By Weam Namou

Many Chaldean couples who stand in front

of the altar do not understand half of the

ceremony taking place. The priests will

chant, the bride and groom will say their “I dos,”

the women do the halhole and people will clap, but

no one explains, before or after the ceremony, the

details of a Chaldean wedding mass.

For instance, women, did you know you are

promising to submit to your husband in everything?

Men, do you realize you are vowing to love

your wife as you do your own body?

The option of having a Chaldean ceremony

has not always been available in the United States.

According to Mary C. Sengstock, the author of 1982-

published Chaldean-American: Changing Conceptions

of Ethnic Identity, the first Chaldean marriage in

Detroit took place on May 10, 1914 between former

Mosul residents Naif Bella and Theresa Malkouh.

Former Telkaif residents George Essa and Susan

Yalda were the first from that village to get married

in Detroit on November 30, 1932 at St. Maron’s, a

Maronite church serving the Lebanese community.

Not until Mother of God was founded in 1947 were

couples able to have a Chaldean wedding ceremony

in America. Although Chaldeans follow the same

rules and hold the same beliefs as other Catholics, the

rituals used in their mass and other ceremonies are

quite different from those practiced in the Western

Church.

Here’s a detailed translated Liturgy of Marriage

according to the Rite of the Chaldean Church.

There are two types of vows from which couples

can choose. The first and less common in Chaldean

marriage ceremonies, is familiar to anyone who has

ever watched television:

Vows I

Priest: My dear friends, you have come together in

this church…

Groom: I, (name), take you (name) to be my

wife…

Bride: I, (name), take you (name) to be my husband…

Priest: You have declared your consent before

the Church…What God has joined, men must not

divide. Amen.

Vows II

Priest asks the groom:

You have come forward O faithful son (name) with

the intention to espouse (name). Do you freely

choose her to be your wife in a lawful marriage that

is permanent, inseparable, without force and with

your free will according to the law of Christ and

Photo by Ramiz Romaya, Rembrandt Photography

Robert and Susan Joseph exchange vows on August 25, 2007

at Mother of God Church in Southfield.

the rules of the Church?

Groom: I do.

Priest asks the bride the same question, then joins

the hands of the bride and groom and prays: May God

be your witness and bless you; bestow upon you His

blessings as He did to our forefathers; increase His

love in you; grace you with children, and make this

marriage a means for your salvation. May He join

you with the bond of love all the days of your life,

through the prayers of the Virgin Mary and all the

saints; now and at all times and forever, amen.

Prayer Over the Rings

Christ is the true Bridegroom Who has revealed

His reality to His faithful through the ring and

through it has betrothed Himself to the Church;

through Your grace O Lord, bless these rings that

we give. Through Your mercy, give joy to this couple

who receive them, through the prayers of Your

saints and Your priests; May Your name be glorified

in Your servants so that they may be blessed with

all the blessings of the Father, and of the son, and

of the Holy Spirit. Guard the groom and the bride

under the shadow of Your wings. Make them

worthy of the graces that You promised. Gladden

them in their fellowship of love as You have

given joy to the just who rejoice in You forever;

for You are the Groom of the beautiful Bride that

is adorned with spiritual radiance, O Lord of all;

Father, Son and Holy Spirit forever. Amen.

The bride and groom exchange rings, saying:

(Name) take this ring as a sign of my love and

fidelity. In the name of the Father, and of the

Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Prayer Before the Crowning

Before the priest blesses the crowns and places them

on the heads of the bride and groom, he says one of

three prayers:

Option 1: Give joy O Lord to these Your servants

with a wedding filled with blessings. Gladden

them through the crown of grace and make

them worthy to be united to each other with the

bond of love. Guard them under Your diligent

care and protect them with Your love O Lord of

all; Father, Son and Holy Spirit forever.

Option 2: Your blessing O Lord thunders the

earth, and Your praise rises to the heavens. May

Your glory be the crowning for Your faithful

to bring their deeds to fulfillment. Bless them

in Your Mercy so that they may raise to Your

praise, honor, thanksgiving and adoration at

all times, O Lord of all; Father, Son and Holy

Spirit forever.

Option 3: May God, who crowned the heavens

with stars and the earth with flowers, adorn

your heads with the crown of ages through His

blessings; May He keep your lives filled with goodness,

increase His peace and harmony between you,

grant you the blessings of children and enrich you

with goodness and graces. May He fill your hearts

with joys so that you may raise glory and honor, to

the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, forever.

Prayer Before the Epistle

To You O wise guardian, O wonderful Caretaker

of His household; the great treasure Who pours

forth in His kindness all helps and blessings. We

beseech You Lord in Your mercy, to turn to us, to

forgive us and to have mercy on us as always, O

Lord of all; Father, Son and Holy Spirit forever.

Gospel Readings

Couples choose one of the following:

A Reading from the Letter of St. Paul to the

Ephesians (5:12-33):

Be subject to one another out of love for Christ

ceremony continued on page 30



the WEDDING issue

ceremony continued from page 28

… Wives should be subject to their

husbands as if to the Lord because

the husband is the head of the wife

as Christ is the head of His body the

Church, as well as its savior. As the

Church submits to Christ, so wives

should submit to their husbands in

everything.

Husbands, love your wives, as

Christ loved His Church and He

gave Himself up for her to make

her holy, purifying her in baptism

and faith, that He might present

the Church to Himself in splendor,

without spot or wrinkle or any such

thing, that she might be holy and

without blemish. Even so husbands

should love their wives as they do

their own bodies. He who loves his

wife loves himself. Observe that no

one ever hates his own flesh; but

nourishes it and takes care of it as

Christ cares for the Church. For we

are members of His body; from His

flesh and from His bones.

“For this reason a man shall

leave his father and mother, and

shall cling to his wife, and the two

shall be made one flesh.”

This is a great mystery and I

mean in reference to Christ and

the Church. In any case, each one

should love his wife as he loves himself,

the wife for her part showing

respect for her husband.

The word of the Lord. Thanks be

to God.

A reading from the first letter of

St. John (4:7-13):

Beloved, let us love one another; for

love is of God, and he who loves is

born of God and knows God. He

who does not love does not know

God; for God is love. In this the love

of God was made manifest among us,

that God sent His only Son into the

world, so that we might love through

Him. In this is love, not that we

loved God but that He loved us and

sent His Son to be the expiation for

our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us,

we also ought to love one another.

No man has ever seen God if we love

one another, God abides in us and

His love is perfected in us. By this we

know that we abide in Him and He

in us, because He has given us His

own Spirit.

The Word of the Lord. Thanks be

to God.

A reading from the first letter

of St. Paul to the Corinthians

(12:31-13:8)

Set your hearts on the greater gifts.

I will show you the way which surpasses

all the others. If I speak with

human tongues and angelic as well,

but do not have love, I am a noisy

gong, a clanging cymbal. If I have

the gift of the prophecy and, with

full knowledge, comprehend all mysteries,

if I have faith great enough to

move mountains, but have not love,

I am nothing. If I give everything I

have to feed the poor and hand over

my body to be burned but have not

love, I gain nothing.

Love is patient, love is kind. It is

not jealous, it does not put on airs, it

is not snobbish, Love is never rude, it

is not self-seeking, it is not prone to

anger, neither does it brood over injuries.

Love does not rejoice in what

is wrong but rejoices with the truth.

There is no limit to love’s forbearance,

to its trust, its hope, its power

to endure. Love never fails.

The word of the Lord. Thanks be

to God.

The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus

Christ According to St. Matthew

(19:3-8)

Some Pharisees came up to Jesus

and said, to test Him, “May a man

divorce his wife for any reason whatever?”

He replied, “Have you not

read that at the beginning the Creator

made them male and female and

declared, ‘For this reason a man shall

leave his father and mother and cling

to his wife, and the two shall become

as one’? Thus they are no longer two

but one flesh. Therefore, let no man

separate what God has joined.” They

said to Him, “Why then did Moses

command one to give a certificate of

divorce, and put her away?” Jesus said

to them, “Because of the hardness of

your hearts Moses allowed you to divorce

your wives, but from the beginning

it was not so.”

Glory to God forever, Glory to

Christ our Lord

Photo by Ramiz Romaya, Rembrandt Photography

Stephanie and James Kelly are crowned at St Thomas Church in West Bloomfield on

November 21, 2009.

The Holy Gospel of our Lord

Jesus Christ According to St. John

(2:1-11)

On the third day there was a marriage

at Cana in Galilee and the mother

of Jesus was there; Jesus also was invited

to the marriage, with His disciples.

When the wine finished, the

mother of Jesus said to Him, “They

have no wine.” And Jesus said to

her, “Woman, What have you to do

with me? My hour has not yet come.”

His mother said to the servants, “Do

whatever He tells you.”

Now six stone jars were standing

there, for the Jewish rites of purification,

each holding twenty or

thirty gallons. Jesus said to them,

“Fill the jars with water.” And they

filled them up to the brim. He said to

them, “Now draw some out and take

it to the steward of the feast.” So they

took it. When the steward of the feast

tasted the water now become wine,

and did not know where it came from

(though the servants who had drawn

the water knew), the steward of the

feast called the bridegroom and said

to Him, “Every man serves the good

wine first; and when men have drunk

freely, then the poor wine; but you

have kept the good wine until now.”

This, the first of His signs, Jesus did

at Galilee, and manifested His glory;

and His disciples believed Him.

Glory to God forever, Glory to

Christ our Lord.

The Holy Gospel of our Lord

Jesus Christ According to St. John

(15:12-15)

This is my commandment: love one

another as I love you. No one has

greater love than this, to lay down

one’s life for one’s friends. You are my

friends if you do what I command you.

I no longer call you slaves, because a

slave does not know what his master

is doing. I have called you friends,

because I have told you everything I

have heard from my Father.

Glory to God forever. Glory to

Christ our Lord.

The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus

Christ According to St. Matthew

(22:35-40)

A scholar of the law asked Jesus

a question to test Him, “Teacher,

which is the greatest commandment

in the Law?” And Jesus said to him,

“You shall love the Lord your God

with all your heart, and with all your

soul, and with all your mind. This is

the great and first commandment.

And a second is like it. You shall love

your neighbor as yourself. On these

two commandments depends all the

law and the prophets.”

Glory to God forever. Glory to

Christ our Lord.

Prayers before the Blessings

May Your grace bless our wedding

feast and Your gift dwell in it. Let the

peace and harmony of Your majesty

prevail in these Your faithful ones.

Protect and help all who have participated

in this wedding of Your

beloved ones. For through Your gifts

You give joy to Your faithful, O Lord

of all; Father, Son and Holy Spirit

forever.

Response: Bless us Lord

Another

Blessed are Your mercies; desirable

are Your graces; revered is Your compassion;

glorious are Your mysteries;

hidden are Your judgments; beautiful

is Your guardianship; wonderful is

Your glory and happy are those who

adore You. For You are the all good,

Who showers blessings to the faithful

who thirst for You, O Lord of all; Father,

Son and Holy Spirit forever.

The priest then lays his right hand

upon the head of the groom and he prays

the following blessings:

Blessings for the Groom

(from the blessings of St. Ephrem)

1. O groom who has bent his head.

Humbly before the priest,

May Christ raise your head

And grant you prosperity

in heaven and earth.

They respond after every verse: Amen.

2. May the blessing of the

Lord be upon you

As it is found in the Scriptures;

That you may be filled with graces

And be protected from all harm.

3. May Christ direct all your deeds,

And may He always be your guide;

Protecting you in your daily life,

And blessing you in all your works.


4. May the splendor of the Cross of light

Protect you day and night;

May your home be filled with blessings

To rejoice in them forever.

5. May your crown be holy

And this ceremony be filled with joy;

May your love be always pure

And your possessions be blessed.

6. May you advance from strength

to strength

And grow from glory to glory;

May your status rise by degree,

Progressing from virtue to virtue.

7. May the hand of God be upon you

To lead you in your labors;

May His grace shine upon you

To guide you in your life.

8. May our prayers for you be heard

And our pleading be accepted;

That your children be leaders

And from your offspring come priests.

9. May the good deeds that you do

Be known among the people;

May you have children in abundance

And be kept from all harm.

10. May the glorious Trinity

Bestow upon you all blessings;

In you may God be glorified,

Let us all say amen and amen.

Photo by Wilson Sarkis, Wilson Sarkis Photography

Blessings for the Bride (from the

blessings of St. Ephrem)

1. O God who blesses the just,

Bless our bride who has been crowned,

Adorn her soul with splendor,

And grant her grace and beauty.

They respond after every verse: Amen.

2. Like the house of Queen Helena,

Bless the home of this bride;

Make her chamber ring with joy,

Among the righteous women.

3. Protect her husband and family

And fill them with Your peace;

Increase her praise and honor

Among her relatives and friends.

4. Make her heart be filled with joy,

Make her vision straight and pure;

Grace her life with health and love,

And purify her soul from all sins.

5. O God from Your highest heavens

Bless this bride and her husband;

From Your right hand she was created

And in Your grace she is saved.

6. May Your right hand be upon her

And protect her under Your wings;

Save her from the evil one

To become a model of Your honor.

7. Like Sarah show her Your mercy,

And bless her children like Isaac;

Grant her the blessing of Rebecca,

And protect her children like Jacob.

Walking the aisle at St. George.

8. Fill her family with joy and peace

And her home with Your love;

And from her children come priests

And deacons from her fruits.

9. Bless your servant O Lord,

With these words of blessings;

Through the prayers of all Your saints,

All the days of her life.

10. May she proclaim thanks and praise,

To the Father, Son and Holy Spirit;

May God be glorified in her life,

Now and forever, amen and amen.

Final Prayer

To you O happy groom, delightful

rose woven into the crown of the

Heavenly Bridegroom. To you O gracious

and beautiful bride, adorned

with all the beauty of the Church.

To you O honorable best man, in the

likeness of John the Baptist. To you

O lovely and revered maid of honor;

and upon our assembly, may the love,

mercies, blessings and graces of our

God overflow upon you; now and at

all times and forever.

The priest blesses the people with the

sign of the cross.

Alternate blessing

O God, the Lord of all, Who blessed

our forefathers, raised and glorified

them in the world, blessed their matrimonial

beds and made them beloved

heirs of the inheritance of the

Only Beloved Son; may He bless this

wedding feast of His servants so that

they may remain in fellowship and

in love. Grant them to adorn their

children with good works of righteousness,

so that from us, from them

and from their blessed fruits, we raise

glory, honor, thanksgiving and praise,

to Him who grants the joyful matrimony

and pure fellowship; now and

at all times and forever.

The priest blesses the people with the

sign of the cross.

Note to the Groom and Bride

This is said at the very end of the

ceremony

Know that we are your witnesses; you

are both now standing before God,

His sacred Altar, the holy Gospel,

the blessed Cross and before the holy

Angels and this community here

present. And so now I entrust you

both to each other in the name of

the Father, and of the Son and of the

Holy Spirit. May God be with you

both to keep you. May the blessing

of our Lord Jesus Christ be upon you

both through the intercession of the

Virgin Mary, the Mother of God, and

of all the saints. Amen.


the WEDDING issue

HOT

TIP # 1

HOT

TIPS

Buyer Beware

Wait to choose a photographer before you locate a

videographer. If the two don’t flow together you can

kiss your video goodbye because the photographer

will just take over. Also, with the bad economy people

are tempted to use package deals that include

the video, limo, banquet hall, etc. This is a big nono

– they will subcontract out to any videographer

working out of his basement just to save a buck.

– Ivan George, Owner

Futurewave Images and RossoFilms.com,

Farmington Hills

Ursula Rita Shayota of Sterling

Heights goes for the princess

look with an Amelia Casablanca

drop waist silk French chantilly

lace gown. The Carla Ivory veil

has gold trim and scattered

gold sequins, and the Erin Cole

chandelier earrings are set in

gold with pearl accent.

HOT

TIP # 2

All from Roma Sposa

in Birmingham

photo by

Alex Lumelsky

Hair by

Peter Bajjoka Mansoor

Makeup by

Allison Taylor

Vanity Hair, Birmingham

Dazzling Diamonds

Diamond eternity bands are one of the nicest

pieces of jewelry to own today. They have a very

modern design yet they will never go out of style.

You can wear them with your wedding set or even

on your right hand. There are endless combinations

of carat weights and colors so they are great

for everyday wear..

– Jason Rose, Manager

Golden Sun Jewelry, Southfield


Weddings Iraqi-Style

HOT

TIP # 3

Manoel Tarik Hamama and Muna

Jajo cut the cake on February 20,

1975 in Baghdad. The day was a

success despite two power failures

– one at the church and the second

at the train station, where everyone

had gathered to see the couple off on

their honeymoon to Basrah.

Fabulous Fabrics

Linens are one of the first things your guests will

see upon entering your reception, and your choice

of linen is a direct reflection of your style. It’s time

to leave the subdued, quiet colors and textures

of this past year behind and look forward to more

expressive, dynamic and bold trends. Neutral colors

such as sage green, champagne and taupe can be

paired with some of the bolder colors and textures.

Color combinations are popular but the monochromatic

look is still a classy décor trend. The

rules are being tossed out the door and mixing and

matching odd color or design combinations is a fun

way to surprise your guests. We’re seeing more

clients wanting the silhouette of the chaivari chairs

to show through while adding a soft color to the

chair; the best way to get this effect is by adding

sparkly, sheer slip covers over your chiavari chairs.

– Loretta Habayeb, Owner

Linens and Beyond, Rochester Hills

HOT

TIP # 4

Nabil Cholagh and Samira Sebou were

married on September 16, 1978. As

the couple was entering the church for

the ceremony, an electrical fire erupted

at the altar, so the priest quickly called

another church and off everyone went.

Afterwards, nearly 1,000 guests came

to the reception at the Nadi al-Mashrak

in Baghdad. The 15-tier cake, a wedding

gift that cost 110 dinars ($330

U.S.), was quite the sensation.

Who’s the Boss?

Make sure you interview potential photographers.

Hire the one you are able to get along with, because

you will be spending the day with him. Make sure the

photographer you interview with is the photographer

you are getting the day of your wedding. Having a

talented photographer is important but you must connect

with him and you must see eye to eye with him.

He must have a good attitude and make you feel

comfortable. The photographer must work around

you — and not you around him.

– Ramiz Romaya, Owner

Rembrandt Photography, Oak Park


the WEDDING issue

HOT

TIP

#

5

Magical Makeup

Makeup is just an enhancement to your

natural beauty. Stepping out of the box is

not a good idea as your wedding day has

a huge impact on how others will remember

you in photographs and videos.

The key to the right look is to accentuate

some of your best features such as your

eyes, lips or cheeks. One last key: lashes,

lashes, lashes. They will open your eyes!

Allison Taylor, Makeup Artist


Rochester Hills resident

Veronica Ann Babbie’s

sophisticated updo

compliments her Oscar De

La Renta gown, a criss-cross

sweetheart silk organza ruched

bodice with full ruffle swirled

skirt. Her veil is by Maria Elena

Russian and the Swarvoski

crystal drop earrings are by

Erin Cole.

All from Roma Sposa

in Birmingham

photo by

Alex Lumelsky

Hair by


Makeup by

Allison Taylor


HOT

TIP # 6

No Surprises

Be more organized so you can give an

accurate number of guests to your venue.

Otherwise the food is delayed because

the kitchen has to prepare more food on a

short notice and service becomes compromised.

Remember, we staff based on the

number of people you’ve booked. This is

a common problem – we’ve had weddings

with more than 40 extra guests we weren’t

expecting!

– Rhonda Foumia, Catering Director

Shenandoah Country Club,

West Bloomfield

HOT

TIP # 7

Locks of Love

Your wedding day hair could be a complete

fantasy come true or a nightmare.

Unfortunately, not all fantasies look

great. Remember brides, classic looks

will always be timeless while fashion

forward will always be fleeting. Stick to

what silhouette looks good on you, not

the latest hottest trend, and you won’t be

disappointed 10 years from now.

– Peter Bajjoka Mansoor, Stylist,




the WEDDING issue

HOT

TIP

#

9

Shop Around

Cut costs by planning ahead! If you get

started early, you’ll have time and flexibility

to shop sales and research. Do it

yourself and most importantly, comparison

shop.

– Jovann Dawood-Mihalian,

Banquet Manager

Regency Manor, Southfield

HOT

TIP

#

10

Keep It Simple

Everyone is looking for something

unique. Everyone wants something different

but what is different? Simplicity is the

key to separating yourself from the next

couple getting married. We all forget less

is more. We’re all trying to find that little

niche that will make our wedding day

spectacular — I believe simplicity

is the key.

– Wilson Sarkis, Owner

Wilson Sarkis Photography,

Farmington Hills

of West

Bloomfield is stunning in a

Europa Couture Exclusive drop

waist jewel- and lace-encrusted

ruched bodice with full pleated

silk taffeta skirt and lace accent

flowers. Both her hairpiece — a

leaf-shaped encrusted Swarvoski

crystal with feather accent

— and her Swarvoski crystal

necklace are by Maria Elena.

All from Roma Sposa

in Birmingham

PHOTO BY

Alex Lumelsky

HAIR BY


MAKEUP BY

Allison Taylor



6950 Rochester Rd • Troy, MI 48085

Located at Rochester Rd. and 19 1/2 Mile Rd.

(248) 879-1000

www.petruzzellos.com

Prices starting at

$39.00

per person


the WEDDING issue

a bride on a budget

Spending less doesn’t necessarily mean getting less


If there is such a thing as an average

cost for a Chaldean wedding,

it’s about $75 to $100 a person,

according to the experts. Of course,

some couples spend much more while

others look for ways to save.

Jeana Jamoua-Asmaro, wedding

planner with Beyond Words Events,

said there are many factors that affect

the cost of the reception. It

will cost the most to marry on a

Saturday so of course a weekday

is the cheapest way to

go. The time of the year

also affects price. “Typically

spring/summer will

be most expensive,” said

Asmaro, “with fall weddings

being the secondmost

expensive time.

In the winter months

vendors and services lower

their prices.”

The first thing couples

need to do is decide where

they want to spend the most

money. A typical wedding includes

venue, flowers, music,

food, transportation services, hair,

makeup and wedding attire. “Shop

around,” said Asmaro. “Wedding

coordinators usually know all the

discounted services.”

Keep in mind that the biggest

expense will most likely be flowers.

“Everyone wants to have an amazing

wedding, however, not everyone has

$20,000-plus to spend on flowers to

accommodate 500 guests,” said Asmaro.

“You can still have a beautiful

wedding with flowers, but do less on

flowers and more on lighting or even

on chairs and linens. The two make

a big difference in the hall and don’t

take a big chunk of your budget as

flowers alone do.”

Every bride wants to be the

princess for the day and that means

the best hair and makeup is a must.

Hairstylist Stephanie Denha-

McKee from Indigo Salon in West

Bloomfield said when thinking

of hair it’s all “location, location,

location.” If you want

your stylist to make

the drive to your location,

it could cost

you double if not

more, especially if

you plan to marry on

a Saturday. “Saturdays

are prime appointment

times in the salon. If you

want to save money, then

plan to make the trip to

the salon,” said McKee.

Another way to save

at the salon is to go

with the trend. “Simplify

your style,” McKee

said. “Styles have gotten

less ‘do-ey’ and more

natural. If you are wavering

between wearing a veil or not

then consider the latter; it will

save time for the hairdresser

and keep your cost down.”

Buy more and spend less by

booking a package if available. If

it’s not advertised by the salon,

ask. Many salons are willing to offer

a discount gift for getting more

services. Getting your manicure,

pedicure and hair done at the same

salon could save you 10 percent or

more. Bringing your friends and/or

bridal party along can also mean

discounts. Be sure to book as far in

advance as possible to take advantage

of packages and group rates.

Asmaro said not planning in

advance is not the only mistake

couples make. Some neglect to get

various quotes and instead book the

first person they meet. “It’s good

to ask people for references, but

it shouldn’t stop at that,” said Asmaro.

“There are many bands out

there, but it is most important to

bring a band that is going to make

you and your guests have fun. You

could spend a million dollars on

your wedding but if your entertainment

is boring, all anyone is going

to remember is that they were

bored at your wedding — and that

is the last thing you want.”

She recommends attending a

performance of the bands on your

short list, inspecting the arrangements

of the florists you’re thinking

of hiring, and asking to peek in on

a wedding reception before guests

arrive. Bakeries will often allow

couples to sample cakes.

“Shop around and ask questions,”

said Asmaro. “This is all part of the

planning process. Just booking the

same people all the time isn’t going

to save you money. If anything, you

may just get the same thing everyone

else does.”

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chaldean on the STREET

What would you change about your wedding?


After saying “I do,” it’s only natural for couples to immediately envision and plan what they might have

done differently on their wedding day. We asked eight couples married within the past 10 years, if

you could travel back to your wedding day and change a thing or two, what would it be?

Now that I plan events I would have

been more cost-efficient. I would

have not had a dessert table — the

money I spent on the dessert table

alone could have been put towards

my house, extra honeymoon days, or

even a special gift for my husband.

Otherwise, I enjoyed my day with my

husband and guests.

Janice and Chris Shamoun, Commerce

Married five years

The only thing I would change is an

outdoor reception. Other than that, we

really focused on being in the moment.

We enjoyed ourselves and everything

went better than planned. The marriage

itself is the most important and

that is what we have focused on after.

We have two wonderful kids; Helena

who is 8 and Anthony who is 6.

Marine and Shawn Hanaee, Rochester Hills

Married 10 ½ years

If I could, I would have changed the

amount of people I had. My husband

and I had about 850 people. It wasn’t

as personal as I would have liked because

there were so many people in

one place. I didn’t have enough time

to spend with each family member

and guest.

Clint and Bianca Kassab, Southfield

Married four years, 10 months

I wouldn’t change anything about my

wedding day; it turned out just as we

wanted. The only thing I regret is that a

few people could not be there to celebrate

with us. Two very important family

members from San Diego were too

sick to fly to Michigan. Also, I could not

invite all of my work friends because

we were limited in seating and space.

Other than that it was a beautiful day

filled with love and happiness.

Avita and Mark Bacall, Waterford

Married three years, six months

Looking back, I wish I would have been

more alert throughout the night. My

husband and I were both very excited

but also extremely nervous at the same

time. Looking back, we feel it was all

a big blur. It was definitely the most

amazing day of our lives and everything

turned out perfect; we just wish we

could remember more of the night.

Jessica & Jimmy Attisha, Sterling Heights

Married four months

I wish our wedding reception started

on time. It was supposed to begin

at eight, not after nine. All of our

guests were patiently waiting and unfortunately

we lost track of time. The

photographer wanted to make sure

he took all of the pictures he promised

us. I also wished my mother, who

passed away in 2004, was there with

me. I know she was present spiritually,

but it would have been nice if she

was there physically.

Salma and Majid Shedda, Southfield

Married eight months

If I could change one thing about my

wedding day, it would be not letting

my nerves get the best of me. I wish

I can go back and take in every moment

without being so nervous. I had

the wedding of my dreams with all the

people I love the most beside me. I

was blessed with a beautiful night — it

was just all over so fast.

Monica and Harry Zeer, West Bloomfield

Married two years, five months

I wish I took my time to shop around

for wedding décor. Although I liked the

way everything looked, I wish I made

better preparations and took advantage

of the unique styles and décor other

places had to offer. I remember having

seven or eight weddings in the same

year and I didn’t pay close enough attention

to my own. It is important for a

bride to consider the little details she

wants for her wedding. I wish I took

second opinions from others. Another

thing I would have changed was my

husband’s tux. Something ripped and

I didn’t see him for an hour!

Abby and Donny Bashi, Troy

Married four years, seven months


chaldean for KIDS

1208_0160 1/22/09 3:12 PM Page 53

chaldean

here’s

for KIDS

to the happy couple!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

What better way to celebrate Christmas than learning some

Chaldean words pertaining to the holiday?

BY MELODY ARABO AND MARGARET SHAMOUN

wedding

da’awa

By Melody Arabo and Margaret Shamoun

Snow:

bride tell-ga

kah-lloo groom

khith-na

Going to a family

wedding? Here are

some fun words to

show off with at

the big event.

flowers

wehrr-dih

may god

bless the

couple

a-lla-ha juhill-a

bree-khih

Chaldean for Kids is a series of books designed to teach the

Chaldean language through English. Available titles include

Volume 1 - Numbers, Colors, love

Parts of the Body, Prayers;

and Volume 2 - Animals, Clothing, Food, Nursery

Rhymes. All books are hardcover and include an audio CD

to ensure correct pronunciation. hoo-ba

Visit www.chaldeanforkids.com.

Copyright 2007. All rights reserved.

heart

llih-ba

PRONUNCIATION KEY

h =

s =

t =

th =

th =

hard h sound,

no English

equivalent

hard s sound,

no English

equivalent

hard t sound,

no English

equivalent

hard th sound

as pronounced

in THE

soft th sound as

pronounced

in THING

gh =

kh =

rr =

ll =

gurgling sound,

no English

equivalent

clearing of the

throat, no English

equivalent

rolling r sound,

similar to a cat

purring

soft l sound

often found in the

French language,

no English

equivalent

All other letters follow traditional sounds and patterns found

in the English language. All words were formulated by

breaking sounds apart into syllables and choosing the most

effective pattern for each to ensure accurate pronunciation.

Chaldean for Kids is a series of

books designed to teach the Chaldean

language through English. Available titles

include Volume 1 - Numbers, Colors, Parts

of the Body, Prayers; and Volume 2 -

Animals, Clothing, Food, Nursery Rhymes.

All books are hardcover and include an

audio CD to ensure correct pronunciation.

Visit www.chaldeanforkids.com.

Copyright 2007. All rights reserved.


2169 Pontiac Trail

(corner of Welch)

Commerce, MI 48390

248-960-7499

Groom’s

Free

per Tuxedo

• Hair Extensions

• Haircuts

• Styling

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• Make-up

• Mani

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• Eyebrow Shaping

Hours:

Tuesday – Saturday • Sunday by appointment only

of 4-paid rentals

Weddings & Special Events

248.865.6100

Orchard Lake Rd, South of Maple

at The Boardwalk, West Bloomfield


IRAQ elections

fighting for

the homeland

Hekkmat Hakeem seeks

seat on parliament

Hekkmat Hakeem:

“My role is to

ensure there will

be democracy and

based on that,

Iraqis will go back.”

By Joyce Wiswell

“

Very depressing” is how Hekkmat

Hakeem describes the

low participation of Michigan

residents in Iraq’s last election in 2005, in

which only about 2,000 local Iraqis voted.

“By voting, Chaldeans show they

believe in democracy,” he said. “The

constitution gave us the right and we

should exercise it.”

Hakeem hopes to see large numbers

this time around when American Iraqis

can vote March 5-7 here in Metro Detroit.

Hakeem, who has a PhD. in constitutional

law political systems and is a former

law professor, is running for a seat in parliament.

He’s part of the Chaldean National

Congress slate, No. 391, which consists of

six men and two women, all Chaldean. A

second Chaldean slate is called the UR

National Slate, and additional Chaldeans

are running on other slates.

Born in Telkaif in 1948, Hakeem

was educated in Baghdad and Russia.

An opponent of Saddam Hussein’s regime,

he became persecuted after speaking

strongly against a forum at which

he was to participate. Called “Democracy

in the Arab World,” Hakeem insisted

the correct title was “There is No

Democracy in the Arab World.” That

outspokenness led him to seek asylum

in the United States, which he was

granted just 15 days later, arriving in

Michigan on September 25, 2001 – the

first Iraq refugee admitted after the 9/11

terrorist attacks.

After settling in Warren with his

wife and four children, Hakeem was invited

by the U.S. government to meet

in Washington, DC to help write new

laws and regulations for a post-Saddam

Iraq. The meeting concluded on the

very day Saddam fell, and a few weeks

later, Hakeem was asked to return to

Iraq to help in the rebuilding efforts

as an academic. He spent the next few

years on the Iraq National Assembly

and, in 2005, became an advisor to

then-president Jalal Talabany.

He was also on the committee to draft

the new Iraq Constitution. “Unfortunately,”

he said, “the government did not listen

to the committee and wrote their own

constitution with their own agenda.”

Iraq’s constitution is inherently

flawed, Hakeem said, because it says first

and foremost that no law can go against

Islam rules — but it also forbids any laws

that contradict democracy. “We know

that Islam is not democracy,” he said.

In the election, being held March

7 in Iraq, a total of 325 people will be

elected to parliament. Christians are

guaranteed only five of those seats in a

quota system, though others could get in

if they are elected on their own right.

Hakeem said he once considered

establishing the Nineveh Plain as an

autonomous region for Christians the

top priority. Though he still favors that

plan, he believes that staunching the

flow of Christians out of the country is

now the biggest concern.

“If forced immigration of our people

continues for three more years, there

will be no Christians in Iraq,” he said.

Hakeem said he hopes to see “huge”

numbers of Michigan’s Chaldeans vote

in March, whoever they choose to support.

“But I still hope my people will

elect me because of my services to this

community,” he added.

The current Iraqi parliament only has

two Christian representatives, both who

are ineffective in advocating for their

people, Hakeem said. While one Chaldean

holds the high position of Human

Rights Minister, Hakeem said she “has no

significant role” and that the department

is really run by her Islamic deputy.

Hakeem’s family still resides in

Warren while he goes back and forth to

Iraq, where he hopes to one day bring

them back. “I love the people of America

— but I love Iraq more,” he said.

Concerns of personal safety come

second to helping his homeland, he

said. “My wife knows I love Iraq so

much that I will die for Iraq.”


Sam Yono says he’ll

open two offices in

Mosul, Iraq and one in

Washington if he wins.

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running from afar

Sam Yono makes an historical run


Local businessman Masoud

Asso Yousif Yono, known

to many as Sam, is making

history as the first Chaldean in

Diaspora to be nominated for a

political position in Mosul.

Yono is part of the No. 27

Al-Iraqia slate headed by Eyad

Alawi, the former prime minister

of Iraq.

“I strongly believe the civil

rights of Iraqi people are sacred

and they must be preserved,”

said Yono. “History has shown

that minorities have been treated

unfairly. Every Iraqi shall be

equal under the law and a fair

constitution. It shall be the responsibility

of the parliament

to protect those rights and to

provide for the safety, prosperity

and well-being of every citizen.”

Yono said he made the decision

to run in order to improve

the lives of the Iraqi people as a

whole and the minorities in particular.

He said he has reached a

pivotal point in his life where he

wants to make a difference and

use his business and political

experiences in America for the

good of the community.

“Sam also believes that Dr.

Alawi, at this point in Iraq’s history,

is the right person to move

the country forward in a secular

direction and a true independent

Iraq with no outside influence,”

said his campaign manager,

Ramzi M. Dalloo. “Mr. Yono

strongly believes that Iraq is in

a desperate need of the talent of

people in Diaspora. He will work

hard to open the doors to those

who want to use their experience

to do business in Iraq. For

our community in Iraq Sam will

be fighting for the rights of all

minorities, for economic development

for the Nineveh province,

and for the rights of those

who want to return to have a

safe environment.”

Yono is focused on five areas

that be believes need major improvements

in Iraq: economic

development, security, education,

health and the environment.

“This election will determine

whether Iraq will move to stability,

true democracy and independence,

start rebuilding to better the lives

of all Iraqis, or instability,” said Dalloo.

“We applaud all of our Christian

brothers who are running for

parliament. We believe that stronger,

more expanded representation

is good for our community, and it is

not the intention of our campaign

to take away from our Christian

community list.”

Yono is running on a separate

slate from other Chaldeans. If he

wins he would the sixth Christian

in parliament and vows to

establish offices in Mosul, Baghdad,

and Washington, DC.

Yono’s bid for parliament is

not without controversy. Some

community members feel he is

mainly focusing on business and

not the interests of the community

and that being a part of a

non-Christian slate will take away

votes from those whose main focus

is the protection of minorities

in Iraq’s constitution.

Learn more about the campaign at

www.yonoforiraq.com.

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IRAQ elections

Yonadam Kanna: ‘People are voting for unity’

Yonadam Kanna is the secretary

general of the Assyrian

Democratic Union and the

Iraqi Parliament’s only elected member

on the Assyrian/Chaldean slate.

He is running for another term in the

March election on Slate No. 389.

Kanna paid a visit to the Chaldean

News office on February 8, where he

sat with Co-Publisher Martin Manna

for an interview on Christian unity

and the future of Iraq.

Chaldean News: There are a lot of

misunderstandings here in Detroit about

what the Assyrian Democratic Movement

(ADM) is and what Zowaa stands for.

Yonadam Kanna: The name Assyrian

Democratic Movement has no

relation with the Assyrian Church of

the East. But the Assyrian name is the

name of our historic country –Athir-

Babil or Babil-Athir – which means

all of our people in Mesopotamia, today’s

so-called Assyrians Chaldeans

Syriacs or any other names.

In addition to being one nation in

this country, a second part of our principle

is that we have to live in peace

and dignity in our homeland. Our

destiny is to live with Arabs, Kurds

and Turkmen. ADM was established

in 1979 and we struggled for democracy

and freedom in Iraq; for recognition

of our name in the Constitution

as well as for our rights. So today after

31 years we are glad that most of our

demands at that time are now being

achieved in the constitution.

CN: In 2003, the ADM sponsored

a conference in Baghdad in which our

people came together in a very united

way. But since then the unification situation

has turned worse. Does that disappoint

you?

YK: We are expecting that because

sometimes outsiders don’t want

us united as a nation but want us divided

as sects and tribes, so this has

been pushed by outsiders. In our eyes

we are divided but in my opinion

people are voting for unity, not for

division. The election is an answer

to those who say we are not one, but

two or three.

CN: Are you going to be proposing

a similar conference?

YK: Maybe not the exact same,

but something similar with the same

Martin Manna and Yonadam Kanna meet in the Chaldean News office.

targets and principles. This is something

to focus on after the elections.

CN: While here in the U.S., did

you make efforts to meet with the two

Chaldean Catholic Bishops?

YK: We are very open; we asked

them.

CN: But did they meet with you?

YK: Not yet. I am ready and will

be ready at any time for their cooperation.

CN: There is a sense that many of

the Chaldean parties and specifically

the Chaldean Catholic Church do not

support your mission and work. Why

is there so much distrust amongst these

groups and Zowaa?

YK: Zowaa consists of mostly

Chaldeans. I disagree with you because

the Chaldean community supports

us and is pushing us and voting

for us to represent them in Iraq and

the KRG [Kurdish Regional Government].

Some of it is competition; this

is why they are not that happy — we

are getting the votes.

CN: Many people describe ADM

as opposition to the Kurds. Is this something

the ADM encourages?

YK: No, never. We were founders

of the good relations and ties between

the communities from the beginning

and this is our principle. We were

also one of the founders of the KRG

itself. We are against any corruption;

where there are problems we oppose

them, but are not opposing KRG or

the Kurds. Sometimes we have disputes

but the word “opposing” is too

exaggerated; we are opposed to some

individual officials’ policies.

CN: Our understanding is that you

have publicly opposed the movement for

autonomy [in the Nineveh Plain] and

have said that outsiders are planning

things. What do you mean by outsiders?

YK: I do respect the will of the

people, the demands of my community

all over the world. We have a

lot of organizations, dignities, people

and national leagues that are trying

for the good of our people, but this is

sometimes very badly abused by people

inside the country. For example,

going for autonomy on a religious basis

is a big mistake. This is a kind of

discrimination, and pushing this way

would not serve in a positive way.

Article 125 in the constitution guarantees

our rights, all the rights which

are under autonomy.

CN: The KRG insists our rights are

protected in their constitution. What are

your thoughts on that?

YK: Generally speaking, the constitution

of KRG has much better minority

rights than the central federal

constitution. But at the same time it

[proposes autonomy] in the locations

where we are a majority. We have

no locations where we are a majority,

which means we have nothing.

We need much more to be added to

that constitution and I hope that the

incoming parliament of KRG will

accept our demands, which have already

been prepared as a draft.

CN: You have always asked for our

people all over the world to support you

when it comes to voting, yet there have

been statements you’ve made in Arabic

that you oppose the idea that Chaldeans

ONE ON ONE continued on page 46



IRAQ elections

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Rochester/Main

ONE ON ONE continued from page 44

Assyrians can form their own opinions

and have agendas. This Christmas

you stated that people in Chicago cannot

push their own agenda on people in

Iraq. What does this mean?

YK: I gave Chicago as an example.

Most of them are supporters. At

times, however, we received illogical

slogans either from America or from

Europe from some good people, but

they are not on ground, they don’t

know what is going on. They have to

live with us to understand what is going

on in Iraq. That’s why I said they

cannot export solutions for me when

I am on ground in Baghdad and Mosul

city.

CN: What do you see as a difference

between autonomy and an administrative

area? And have you argued for

either in parliament?

YK: No. This was never discussed

in parliament. In the constitution

Article 125 mentions local administrations,

not autonomy. There is so

much sensitivity of the KRG so we

were sure that if it spoke of autonomy

they would just refuse it.

CN: Have you, at any time, heard

opposition to the idea of autonomy for

our people?

YK: Don’t ask me this way. Put

it in a different way — is there anybody

that agrees with that? No, none

of the political entities in parliament

agree with that because it is not constitutional.

Our people are sometimes

emotional saying “autonomy for

Christians.” This is creating hatred

and sensitivity, making things much

worse. You cannot do something on

an ethnic or religious basis.

CN: You have a chance here to talk

directly to about 45,000 people, most

of whom are second generation and not

really involved in politics. What do you

want to say to them?

YK: I am disappointed in our institutions

here for not having youth

involved. In our community there is

a big gap between those who came

from Iraq and those who are born

here. This is a big mistake. We have

to fill this gap to bring our sons and

daughters with us. Yes they have

their lives but at the same time they

have to understand that they have a

nation back home and they have a

right to have dual citizenship.

CN: What do you tell a family that

has lived in Iraq their whole lives and

Where to vote

Everyone who is of Iraqi

descent, either born in Iraq

or born in the U.S. to Iraqi

natives, can vote in the Iraq

Parliament election on March

5-7. In the U.S., voting will

take place in Michigan, California,

Illinois, Tennessee, and

Arizona.

Michigan has two polling

places: Bella Banquet Hall,

4100 E. 14 Mile Road in Warren,

and Dearborn Tree Manor,

5101 Oakman in Dearborn.

There will also be voting in 15

other countries: Syria, Jordan,

Lebanon, UAE, Egypt, Turkey,

Sweden, Germany, the Netherlands,

Denmark, Australia,

Austria, Canada, Iran and the

United Kingdom.

Learn more at www.ihec.iq

now is stuck in Syria or Jordan? And

what do you think about the refugee

situation?

YK: We are very disappointed

about some countries’ policies with

the refugees. Those countries who

are receiving them are encouraging

them to flee Iraq. They are not dealing

with refugees by their national

criteria and standards, which is a big

mistake and goes against their principles.

We are trying our best in the

Iraqi parliament to take much better

care of them and to make it easy for

them to come back, for example, offer

job opportunities.

CN: Do you think they will come

back?

YK: If the country’s situation is

good, more peaceful and stable and

they can have a prosperous life without

violence, sure they will come

back. But some of them have decided

on immigration. It is a disaster to

leave your country and live [abroad]

in a bad way. But we are in the transition

period; we hope the position in

Iraq will improve and then we will

take care of them.

CN: In a hundred years from now,

what do you want people to say about

Yonadam Kanna?

YK: I am only a soldier trying the

best for my nation and my country.


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1

1. The poets

2. Event organizers Heather

Sinawe and Salim Gasso

3. Master of Ceremonies Rob Kassa

4. Preston Atisha, Nick Goryoka, Tim

Garmo, Perrin Atisha, Chris Rabban,

Alex Goryoka and Dillon Atisha

5. Melanie and Sara Samona

poetic

a

performance

5


4

‘

Sounds

of the

Soul’

inspires

Rhythmic words conveying stories

about Iraq, faith in God

and life as a teen were heard

by the more than 300 people who attended

the second annual Sounds of

Soul Poetry Slam at The Royal Oak

Music Theater on Januay 29.

The event was founded and presented

by Heather Sinawe, who recited

two of her own poems, and Salim

Gasso. DJ David B from 955 was

a special guest and Rob Kassa was the

evening’s master of ceremonies.

Brent Hermiz, 26 was this year’s

winner. He currently resides on the

west side of the state and, as he says,

that doesn’t mean West Bloomfield.

Hermiz owns two hookah lounges,

one in Grand Rapids and one in Kalamazoo

where he hosts open mic poetry

called Smokin’ Spoken Word!

The street slang featured in Hermiz’s

poetry is his signature language

and allows him to convey prevalent

and timely issues related to the community.

“Poetry is all about releasing

the burden and learning, making sure

you pay attention very carefully; ya

might learn something,” said Hermiz.

The judges included Chaldean

News Editor in Chief Vanessa

Denha Garmo; Tom Thomas, a history

and English teacher at Sterling

Heights High School; Jibran

(Jim) Manna, who has performed

in various live productions and feature

films; Albert Bajjoka, a clinical

pharmacist at the Henry Ford

Health System; and Florence J.

Dallo, Ph.D., a professor at Oakland

University.

All proceeds benefited Yatooma’s


A friend went to church

By Brent Hermiz

A friend came to me and said,

“B, I’m conflicted in my faith.”

He said all he does is work so he made a pledge that last Sunday,

he was gonna take a day off for his relationship with God and go to church.

He wanted that feeling he once felt in simpler times, he wanted to say sorry

so he knelt down tryin’ to give thanks and escape his hurt.

2

He looked to God

but on his way up he caught a glimpse of a Chaldean girl’s panties under her mini skirt....that she was wearin’ at church.

Her face was all made up,

caked up in what looked like clown makeup

and she still had an X on her hand from last night at the night club.

He said he turned his head quickly to the right as his cheeks turned red

and he saw an infant focused on the priest breakin’ bread.

He said it seemed like the kid heard every word in the sermon he was learnin’

so he refocused tried to get back to his prayers

when two boys to his left started chattin’ about who had better spikes in their hair.

3

photos by David Reed

From there they carried on a full convo, they took Miriam Athra’s name 1000 times in vein between every “yea cuz” and “ha bro.”

They spotted little Ms. Miniskirt and talked about how they took her back from the bar last night to their Condo

which is really in daddy’s name, and how they drove drunk from the D to West B with her in the back of mama’s Volvo.

He said he tried not to listen because he was there on a faithful mission

but the details of their story had his mind cheatin’ on the Lord, flirting with Satan in hell’s kitchen.

But he was in the home of God.

So he closed his eyes and opened them to see a lady with that baby stage right. She was about 65.

She was consumed in prayer, one of those beautiful veils coverin’ her hair.

When she opened her eyes there was an energy burning...he saw her faith it was tangible, it was there and seeing that

put him back on the right track, so again he tried to pray before the end of the mass, when he heard a female

in front of him cry and as she leaned her head back he saw a bruise on her eye.

She started to pray softly but out loud, she seemed in despair as she spoke to God about the man her parents forced her

to marry who hits her, cheats on her and resents her love for the lord,

... all because he has money.

My friend told me, “Man...These days mama and baba cold as a Detroit winter!

I guess true love doesn’t matter anymore when we’re ready to ship our daughters off to a doctor or lawyer,

just because they’re the highest bidder.”

Foundation for the Kids.

“Many people doubted that we

would have the same success as last

year’s show but with God’s graces, Salim

and I have once again been able

to successfully help another great

charity in need, Yatooma’s Foundation

For The Kids,” said Sinawe.

“Without our generous sponsors, volunteers,

the powerful poets, our families

and friends, this would not have

been possible. So thank you all from

the bottom of our hearts. God bless

and we’ll see you next year!”

He said he heard her beg,

she said she was willing to burn down the lake house her husband bought her,

trade in the hummer he got her,

she would love to leave but she doesn’t wanna be looked at badly by our community... for the sake of her daughter...

because if she got a divorce one day her baby girl might not be able to get married to the man she loves.

She thought about leavin’ without a trace drop the riches to go be comfortable

with the man who was once the love of her life and she prayed for some sort of amazing grace and she told God every day

she saw his face... in her daughter because he was her little girl’s daddy anyways.

A friend came to me and said,

“B, I’m conflicted in my faith

cuz as I was leavin’ church

with all that goin’ on,

I heard the priest talking about not judging people

and yes I might’ve been,”

but he said that day he left church that day without talking to God cuz “I was distracted now you tell me...what’s the bigger sin?”


HIGH SCHOOL highlights

Walled Lake Central: Promoting life-long

learning and social values


They say “don’t judge a book by

its cover,” but with one look

at Walled Lake Central High

School it’s safe to assume that students

have a learning environment

and resources most high schools do

not offer. Ranked as one of the top

5 percent of all high schools in the

nation by Newsweek, Central is also

one of the few high schools in Oakland

County to be designated a Blue

Ribbon Exemplary school by the

U.S. Department of Education.

Senior Anthony Samona has

earned a 3.5 GPA and participated

in track and field his junior year. He

was nominated twice by teachers to

be a Positive Peer Influence member,

a selected group who mentor others

with issues inside and outside of

school.

“I have seen that it is successful

in helping students solve their problems,”

said Samona.

As a Michigan DECA state qualifier

for two years, Samona has found

many advantages in being involved

with the program. “It’s a great corporation,

a learning experience and

a big plus on resumes or college applications,”

he said.

Senior Miranda Ayar has participated

in swimming since the

sixth grade, including the Lady Vikings

high school team. She also

has maintained a 3.7 GPA through

challenging moments. “At times, it

would get frustrating only because I

would feel like my time to study and

do homework was limited, but I still

managed to keep up good grades with

effort and hard work,” she said.

Averaging a 4.2 GPA, senior

Alexander Yaldo is president of the

National Honors Society (NHS),

secretary of his senior class in student

council, editor of two sections in the

school yearbook, and a member of

the Parent-Teacher-Student Association.

“NHS and student council are my

favorite,” Yaldo said. “I enjoy organizing

and planning student activities

and school events.”

Junior Shannon Azzo has participated

on Central’s basketball

and volleyball teams her freshman

and sophomore years, and has been

photo by david reed

Alex Yaldo, Miranda Ayar, Shannon Azzo and Anthony Samona chat it up at school.

in the Spanish Club for three years.

She is enrolled in AP Environmental

Science, AP World History and

Pre-Calculus, a 12th-grade math

class. As president of the Interact

Club, a Rotary-sponsored crew that

just began this year, her role is to

raise awareness of the world’s current

issues and encourage community

service among students. “Students

can take shifts at local hospitals and

receive community service hours for

it,” Azzo noted.

Central students are known for

giving back. During the 2008-2009

school year, some $100,000 in goods

and cash was donated thanks to the

annual canned food drive, holiday

gifts for the needy and fundraising

events like a volleyball marathon.

Nancy Attisha, a Spanish teacher

and an educator at Central for 11

years, has been seen by Chaldeans

and non-Chaldeans alike as an involved

teacher and instrumental

in the annual Canned Food Drive

event. “Last year, she was Teacher

of the Year and definitely earned it,”

Samona added.

Walled Lake Central High School

features an extensive technology department

with classes on computer

management and networking. A

career lab is available for students to

sign up for college visits and a career

cruising program is required for students

to utilize. “The program builds

a resume for you that you have to

turn in before graduating,” Samona

said.

Students also like the on-site admissions

option that can be arranged

through a counselor in which they

can learn about schools before officially

applying. “I really liked being

able to find out specifics of the universities

beforehand,” Azzo said.

Post high school plans vary among

students. Azzo is thinking of attending

U of M Ann Arbor but is hesitant

about leaving her family. “The

thought scares me,” she said. “With

the requirement of dorming for the

first year, it will be very hard for me to

not see my family every day.” Yaldo

views college life as turning a new leaf.

“I can’t wait,” he said, “to potentially

move out and see what opportunities

are waiting for me.” ”

Walled Lake Central High School

1600 Oakley Park

Walled Lake, MI 48390

(248) 956-4700

TOTAL POPULATION:

1,731 students

CHALDEAN PERCENTAGE:

6.9 percent

NOTEWORTHY CHALDEANS:

Anthony Samona, Miranda Ayar,

Shannon Azzo, Alexander Yaldo,

Ashline Hermiz, Emilio Aboo,

Danielle Azzo, Jena Yaldo, Haley

Dickow and Daivin Bacall


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SPORTS roundup

Izak Yaldo (in green) gets the better of an opponent.

Cancer kicks wrestler

off mats — but attitude

stays strong

By Steve Stein

Izak Yaldo didn’t wrestle during his senior season at West

Bloomfield High School.

He was pinned by a late September diagnosis of Hodgkin’s

lymphoma, a form of cancer that attacks the lymph

nodes, followed by energy-draining chemotherapy and radiation

treatments.

There is no good time to get cancer, of course, but this

case seems incredibly cruel.

After taking his lumps as a freshman and sophomore then

finishing 30-8 as a junior 103-pounder, Yaldo was setting his

sights on qualifying for the state tournament in his senior year.

Unfortunately, cancer turned his dream into a nightmare.

“I cried when I found out I couldn’t wrestle,” he said. “I

was heartbroken.”

Once the reality of the situation set in, Yaldo set out to

make the best he could of the season. He coached the lighter

weight wrestlers on the West Bloomfield team, kept score at

matches, and did whatever else he could to stay involved.

The 17-year-old also gained a perspective on life that

most teenagers never get.

“I try to enjoy every day now,” he said. “Good days are

a perk of living. Bad days make you who you are.”

Who is Yaldo? Besides a wrestler, he’s a 3.2 grade-point

average student who plans to go to college. If he wrestles

in college, it’ll be for a club program.

Coaching wrestling also could be in his future. In addition

to his work this season at West Bloomfield, he’s helped

out with the Orchard Lake Middle School wrestling team

for a few years.

There are myriad reasons why Yaldo loves wrestling

and he may stay involved with it.

“I’m a very competitive person who likes challenges,

and wrestling isn’t an easy sport,” he said. “You don’t pick

things up right away. You have to work at it.”

His family — parents Ronnie and Nadira and four

siblings — is proud of the way he’s fought the Hodgkin’s

lymphoma and grateful for the support he’s received from

West Bloomfield coaches, teammates and teachers.

“Everyone has been wonderful, and I’d like them to

know that,” Nadira Yaldo said.

Half the proceeds from an annual flag football tournament

at the high school were donated to cancer research

in Izak Yaldo’s name.

Kronk boxer ready

for a good fight

By Steve Stein

Teenage boxing star Zachariah Kas Shamoun

is one of the headliners in a Team Kronk

vs. Team Mexico amateur show March 13 at the

Southfield Pavilion, 26000 Evergreen.

Kas Shamoun, 16, a Beverly Hills resident

and Birmingham Groves High School sophomore,

will fight in the 119-pound division for

the Kronk Gym team. There will be 11 bouts,

each with three, two-minute rounds, in the international

showdown.

Team Camel celebrates their win over the West.

Detroit gridiron

heroes win

in California

By Steve Stein

Team Camel had an absolutely perfect time

at the fourth annual Chaldean Flag Football

Tournament in San Diego, California.

The players from Detroit’s Chaldean Football

League flew across the country, then flew

past four opponents to win the eight-team,

one-day tournament.

Team Camel beat the two-time defending

tournament champion from San Diego 24-6 in

the title game.

More than 800 fans watched the January 31

tournament, which raised funds to help build a

new Education Center at St. Peter’s Chaldean

“This should be the best amateur boxing

show held in Detroit in 25 years. We’re looking

for a sellout crowd [of about 2,000],” said

Connie Kas Shamoun, Zachariah’s mother and

the event coordinator for the Kronk Gym.

Thanks to help from the Chaldean American

Chamber of Commerce, the visiting Mexican

boxers will stay for free at a Southfield hotel.

Doors open at 5 p.m. March 13, with boxing

beginning at 7 p.m. Tickets are $12 at the

door and at the Southfield Parks and Recreation

Department.

Proceeds from the show will help send Kronk

amateur boxers to the Junior Olympics (where

Zachariak will compete) and Golden Gloves nationals

later this year.

Catholic Church in El Cajon.

Team Camel spokesman Tony Attisha said

tournament organizers gave the team $750 to

help cover its traveling expenses, but the players

donated the money to St. Peter’s Church.

Even though Team Camel contained many

of the top players from the CFL, the odds were

stacked against the Detroiters in their first appearance

at the tournament.

Besides the three-hour time difference, they

had to adjust to different game rules.

“Linemen were ineligible to catch passes, and

a quarterback couldn’t run past the line of scrimmage.

That hurt us because Natham [Karrumi],

our quarterback, is a great runner,” Attisha said.

Besides Attisha and Karrumi, the Team

Camel roster included Timmy Abbo, Anthony

Acho, Joey Foumia, Fadi Guli, Mark Hajjar,

Sean Matiya, Dylan Patrus, Jordan Rassan,

Dino Samona, Lance Samona, Chris Sesi and

Danny Shaba. Abbo is a former CFL player

who now lives in San Diego. Marvin Hermez

went on the trip, but didn’t play.


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PRIESTLY profile

Msgr. Zouhair Toma (Kejbou):

Following a calling

By Weam Namou

Forty-two years after being ordained a

priest, Msgr. Zouhair Toma (Kejbou) is

today more committed to his vocation

than ever.

“The day of my ordination was only the

beginning,” he said with a smile. “It’s like in

marriage. If your wedding day is the best and

happiest day of your life, what of the thousands

of days that follow? Love, appreciation and a

deeper understanding should grow stronger

over time.”

In August 1978 Monsignor Kejbou became

the first Chaldean priest to arrive in Australia

to establish a parish for the Chaldeans of

Sydney. After serving the Chaldean Church in

Australia and New Zealand for 28 years and

establishing three parishes in that region, he

sought to transfer to the Diocese of St. Thomas

the Apostle in Michigan.

“It was time for me to move on,” he said.

“I have all my family and relatives in the U.S.

and after all the years of separation I wanted to

reunite with them.”

In October 2006 he was incardinated and

appointed pastor of St. Joseph in Troy.

“There are more than 50,000 people attached

to this church,” he said. “As they are

entrusted to my care, I must attend to their

spiritual welfare and take the journey with

them to live the Christian life, to embrace and

spread the teachings of the Gospel and to ultimately

reach heaven.”

Msgr. Kejbou would like to see the founding

of an international organization that would

unify Chaldeans around the globe.

“For the first time the Chaldean church is

becoming universal,” he said noting that for

2,000 years, Chaldeans were concentrated

predominantly in a few countries in the Middle

East, thus adopting the culture of that area.

Today, they are found in more than 50 countries

around the world.

“An international organization would be a

multi-system bound by one element,” he said.

“It would help people identify with their own

group while still connecting to their Chaldean

heritage.”

Such a plan would have to be a group effort,

he said. “It’s not a one-man job.” Those

who’d qualify to carry out such an immense

project need to be broad minded and able to

foresee the future by looking at the present

and the past, he said.

“They must want to do this not for themselves

but for the wellbeing of the community,”

he said.

Because people have a strong commitment

the Chaldean Church and to the traditions of

their forefathers, Msgr. Kejbou believes that

the Church is not under immediate threat of

dissolving or on the brink of extinction. He

does, however, believe that people need to ask

themselves, “What does it mean to be Chaldean

today?”

“A Chaldean is not only someone who

shares the faith of the Church and inherits

the history and culture and work of his or her

ancestors, but it’s someone who today follows

in their footsteps,” he said. “Our descendants

died a long time ago. We now must carry the

torch and pass it on to the next generations.”

How is that accomplished?

From the beginning of time, said Msgr. Kejbou,

Chaldeans have been known to blend

well into their environment and make generous

contributions to the societies they’ve

elected to live in. They do what they can to

be successful and productive in order to advance

that society. It is important that they

do not “separate themselves” from their current

society.

“Chaldeans are in a good position to blend

in because they know how to appreciate both

worlds,” he said. “Earlier Chaldean generations

did just that. They borrowed from their

neighboring cultures and stamped it with their

own seal.”

Previous generations are also not strangers

to having to flee due to tension and conflict in

their region.

“Chaldeans have been on the move for several

centuries, particularly in the past 60 to 70

years,” said Msgr. Kejbou. “But there has been

an influx of refugee arrivals in Michigan in the

last three years. Sadly, despite the community

being well established, it was ill prepared to receive

such a vast number of people. Their needs

were too great to be met by the resources available.”

Due to the current economic climate, those

hardships will perhaps continue for a long period

of time, he said. “If not for the organizations

from outside the community, this would

have been a bigger disaster.”

Just as he has followed his own call, the

Monsignor encourages people to pay greater

attention to theirs.

“A call is a response to the purpose of existence

that God has given to every human

being,” he said. “It’s a call to happiness, openness

and service to others. It’s a process that

continues to grow even as one gets older.”

Msgr.

Zouhair

Toma

(Kejbou)

spent 28

years in

Australia

before

coming to

Michigan

in 2006.

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Important Note: This communication is not an offer to sell a franchise. The offer of a franchise can only be made through delivery of a franchise disclosure document. Certain states require that

we register our franchise disclosure document in those states before offering either unit franchises or area development franchises. This communication is not directed to any resident of those

states. Currently, we are not conducting any sales activity in California. In addition, we are in the process of updating and registering our franchise disclosure document for unit franchises and

area development franchises in certain other states. We will not offer or sell franchises in those states until we have registered the unit franchise or area development franchise, and delivered the

applicable franchise disclosure document in compliance with state and federal laws regulating the sale of franchises. MN reg file # F-5423

Despite arranged

marriage, love flourishes

By Joe Gasso

At the age of 13 most adolescent

girls are high school

bound and have just gotten

over the fact that boys do not, in

fact, have cooties. Baghdad native

Sisiel Atisha Hamama is the exception

today — but no different from

most women who lived in the 1940s.

At 13 Sisiel was preparing to embark

on the next crucial step of her

life, marriage. Now, at age 87, she remembers

her now-departed and beloved

husband Zai Hamama

and the day they met.

Growing up, Sisiel was

fortunate enough to reside in

a large house with her family.

A large estate in Baghdad

was subject to profit by

renting out individual rooms to those

seeking a place to stay. Zai Hamama

had just turned 20 and was ready to

accept his responsibility as a man, so

moved out of his home and accepted

a job in Baghdad, the capital of employment.

Through typical Chaldean

networking fashion, Zai’s mother was

able to convince the Hamamas to

Happy together:

Zai and Sisiel

Hamama in

1983.

rent out a room to her son.

Zai settled into the Hamama residence

and Sisiel was instantly taken

aback by such a motivated young

man. One year had passed and soon

Zai’s mother took the initiative to

ask Sisiel’s family for her hand in

marriage to her son.

One wedding reception, three

children, and seventy years later mark

the anniversary of an uncommon wedding

tale. “I realize nowadays marriage

is not rushed and involves

an intricate love story —

but my marriage was just as

successful,” said Sisiel, who

lives in Warren.

Such a story is very

familiar within the Chaldean

community, as “love” seems not

to be initially existent but attained

throughout the years of a marriage.

“The concept of love is very difficult

to explain to recent generations

because back then marriage took precedence

over love,” explained Sisiel.

“Did I love my husband though? Absolutely.”



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classified listings

HELP WANTED

HELP WANTED

BUSINESS FOR SALE

SERVICES OFFERED

DIRECTOR OF MARKETING

Develop and implement marketing

strategies to increase sales.

Frequent on-the-road local travel

visiting locations. Duties include

assessing current marketing

strategies and creating a marketing

plan and action. Bachelor’s

degree in marketing required.

Two years experience preferred;

sales experience a plus. Salary is

$35,000-$40,000. Send resume to

rtasmar@tinelle.com.

OAKLAND COUNTY SPECIAL EVENT

and Catering company looking

for sales and management

professionals! Please send resume to:

specialeventprofessional@gmail.com

SALES AND MARKETING MANAGER

Shenandoah Country Club is looking

for a self-motivated individual to help

promote and sell the club’s products

and services. Full-time position.

Hospitality experience a plus! Email

resume: rfoumia@shenandoahcc.net

MEMBERSHIP MARKETING

MANAGER

Shenandoah Country Club is looking

for a community-oriented individual

to help promote and sell the club’s

membership. Sales and Marketing

experience is required. Email

resume: rfoumia@shenandoahcc.net

JOIN OUR GROWING TEAM!

The Chaldean News is hiring a sales

representative. The right candidate

is an enthusiastic self-starter with

sales experience and a professional

demeanor. Salary + commission. Email

resumes to paul@chaldeannews.com.

No phone calls please.

BUSINESS FOR SALE

SUB SHOP FOR SALE

Great Location!

14 & Ryan, Sterling Heights.

Inventory Included.

Asking price $70,000 OBO.

Beatrice (586) 291-6377

MULTI-CARRIER CELL PHONE SHOP

VZW, T-Mobile, MetroPCS, Sprint.

Priced to sell, located in Shelby Twp.

Call Dian, (586) 243-6445.

WEDDING DRESS FOR SALE

A BEAUTIFUL ITALIAN

handmade Amelia Casablanca

couture gown. Worn in 2007. Perfect

Condition! Made of organza silk,

French Italian beaded lace and strings

of swarvoski crystals. Retail $12,000

asking ONLY $5,500 including lace

veil. Call (248) 225-7169

MOTHERLAND FABRICS

& TAILORING SERVICES

is a one-of-a-kind shop for all your

needs! We carry bridal lace, satin,

organza, chiffon and one-of-a-kind

lace fabrics. We create custommade

dresses for weddings &

proms! 7316 West McNichols.

(313) 207-6362.

Chaldean News

classifieds work!

Call Crystal at

248-996-8360.

MichCon – at your door…

at your service.

Whether you want service connected, or you’re concerned about

a possible gas leak, one phone call is all it takes to bring MichCon

service right to your doorstep. In emergencies, our response time

is among the best in the industry.

Your safety is our priority. When you call, you have peace of mind

knowing we’ll be there quickly.

At MichCon, we’ve been ensuring customer safety, providing

excellent service and bringing you all the benefits of natural gas

for more than 150 years.

dteenergy.com

Non-emergency phone number 1.800.477.4747

Emergency phone number 1.800.947.5000

e = D T E ®

PROFESSIONALS PROFESSIONALS PROFESSIONALS

Vision

Mike Bahry

REALTOR ®

Residential/Commercial

26075 Woodward, Suite 200

Huntington Woods, MI 48070

Office: (248) 548-4400 Ext. 208

Fax: (248) 548-8775

Cell Phone: (248) 790-9366

E-mail: mikebahry@remax.net

SHORT SALE SPECIALIST

Everything I touch Turns to Sold

Each Office independently Owned and Operated

Madison Tower

A P A R T M E N T S

For Older Adults Aged 55+

EHO/EOE

FRAME YOUR LIFE IN STYLE!

27777 Dequindre—Madison Heights

E-mail: 0922@ncr.org

248.544.3800

Life insurance is love insurance

Life insurance makes sure your

loved ones will have financial

security, even if something

should happen to you.

It’s a beautiful way to say

“I love you.”

Sal Yaldo

4132 Telegraph Rd.

Bloomfield Hills

248-290-0614

syaldo@fbinsmi.com M I C H I G A N ’ S I N S U R A N C E C O M P A N Y

When only the best will do!

Maureen Weisserman Mansfield

Master Invitationologist

29555 Northwestern Highway

Southfield, Michigan

248.356.2454

deborahsinvitations@comcast.net

deborahsinvitations.vpweb.com

Law Offices Of

Joumana B. Kayrouz

P.L.L.C

Joumana Kayrouz

Attorney at Law

Tune in to 690 AM

Friday 12:30 pm

1000 Town Center, Ste. 550

Areas of Specialty:

Southfield, MI 48075

• Automobile Accidents

Tel: (248) 557-3645

• Medical Malpractice

Fax: (248) 200-0645

• Slip / Trip / Fall

JKayrouz@JoumanaKayrouz.com

www.JoumanaKayrouz.com

Brian S. Yaldoo

Classic - Associate Broker

Accredited Buyer Representative

Certified Luxury Home Marketing

Specialist

Certified Residential Specialist

Internet Professional

Graduate REALTORS Institute

Quality Service Certified

Seniors Real Estate Specialist

29630 Orchard Lake Road

Farmington Hills, Michigan 48334

Office: 1-248-737-6800

Fax: 1-248-539-0904

Pager/VM: 1-248-806-9100

E-Mail: brianyaldoo@remax.net

Websites: www.brianyaldoo.com

brianyaldoo.realtor.com

BuyingOrSellingRealEstate.com

Individually Owned and Operated

ADVERTISE

FOR AS LITTLE AS $ 85

IN OUR NEW BUSINESS DIRECTORY SECTION!

To place your ad, contact us today!

PHONE: (248) 996-8360 FAX: (248) 996-8342


ww.chaldeannews.com

is hiring a sales representative.

E-mail resumes to paul@chaldeannews.com

No phone calls please.


events

1

2

3

arabian

night

4

5

Photos by David Reed

The Ignite Sushi Bar

and Lounge at the MGM

Grand Casino jumps each

1. Floor manager

Lou Kachucha

(standing) chats

with members

of the Sitto

family: Marlen,

Joni, Tom and

Catherine

2. Mark and

Susan Hanna

and Hiyam and

Amir Alyas

3. Checking out

the sushi bar

4. Paul and

Sally Snider

5. Chatting

with friends

6. Sam Zahr

presents the

weekly party

Friday at Arabian Night.

6


Chiavari Chairs for Rent

$4 each with free delivery, setup and pickup

A variety of chairs available with many cushion color options!

Avanti

FURNITURE

Finance available with no down payment and no interest For 12 months

Best Value, New Ownership,

New Direction, Stunning Facility,

Unparalleled Food,

Gracious Staff.

For more

information call

Rhonda Foumia

at (248) 454-1933

w w w . s h e n a n d o a h c c . n e t

MARCH 2010_REPLACEMENT

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