JUNE 2023

METRO DETROIT CHALDEAN COMMUNITY VOL. 20 ISSUE V JUNE 2023
Featuring:
New Americans
Chaldean
Hockey League
Chaldean Kitchen
Last Man
Standing
ICONIC CHALDEAN
TOWN BUSINESSES
REMEMBER THE
GLORY DAYS
Plus:
Meet the team
in Nineveh

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America’s largest arab
and Chaldean law firm.
أكبر مكتب محاماة عربي وكلداني في
الواليات المتحدة االمريكية
مكتب المحامي قاجي
اتصل بنا على رقم
877-525-9227
Getting You Back to You.
it’s Why We Care.
نعيدك الى ماكنت عليه
هذا هو سبب اهتمامنا
Lawrence Kajy
Attorney at Law
املحامي لورنس قاجي
877-KAJY-CARES / kajylaw.com
JUNE 2023 CHALDEAN NEWS 3

4 CHALDEAN NEWS JUNE 2023

Chaldean Community Foundation Scholarships
THE CREATIVE UNIVERSITY OF THE FUTURE
Lawrence Technological University and the Michigan
Chaldean Community Foundation are building a
partnership to create scholarships and opportunities
for student’s futures.
First-year, transfer, and graduate students
qualify for the Chaldean Community
Foundation Renewable Scholarships.
STUDENTS CAN RECEIVE
UP TO
$18,000per year
SCHOLARSHIP ELIGIBILITY
Scan the QR
code below for
more info and
apply now!
The scholarship and partnership
benefits Chaldean students.
Family members and employees of the
Chaldean Community Foundation are
also eligible for such opportunities.
SCHOLARSHIPS
Architecture and Design | Arts and Sciences | Business and Information Technology | Engineering
JUNE 2023 CHALDEAN NEWS 5

6 CHALDEAN NEWS JUNE 2023

METRO DETROIT CHALDEAN COMMUNITY | JUNE 2023 | VOL. 20 ISSUE V
ON THE COVER
20 Remembering Chaldean Town
By Adhid Miri, PhD
FEATURES
26 Eyes and Ears in Iraq
Meet the CCF Team
By Cal Abbo and Sarah Kittle
28 New Americans
David Shammas
is Chasing the Dream
By Cal Abbo
32 Chaldean Kitchen
Biryani, Persian-style
By Z.Z. Dawod
20
32
DEPARTMENTS
8 From the Editor
Holding on to History
By Sarah Kittle
7 Guest Column
Beyond the Green Card
By N. Peter Antone
10 Foundation Update
Bishop Visit, Breakfast of Nations
10 Noteworthy
30 in their 30s, Award of Excellence,
Election and Grant
14 Chaldean Digest
Investing in Iraq, Reviving Sureth
16 Religion
The Pilgrimage
By Michael Antoon
18 In Memoriam
34 Sports
Chaldean Hockey League
By Steve Stein
36 Arts & Entertainment
Paul Elia Brings the Laughs
By Cal Abbo
38 Economics and Enterprise
Travel in Style
By Paul Natinsky
40 Events
CACC Awards Dinner
42 From the Archive
Jerry’s Fruit Market
Photos submitted by Heather Boji
38
JUNE 2023 CHALDEAN NEWS 7

FROM THE EDITOR
PUBLISHED BY
Chaldean News, LLC
Chaldean Community Foundation
Martin Manna
EDITORIAL
EDITOR IN CHIEF
Sarah Kittle
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Cal Abbo
N. Peter Antone
Michael Antoon
Z.Z. Dawod
Sarah Kittle
Dr. Adhid Miri
Paul Natinsky
Steve Stein
ART & PRODUCTION
CREATIVE DIRECTOR
Alex Lumelsky with SKY Creative
GRAPHIC DESIGNER
Zina Lumelsky with SKY Creative
PHOTOGRAPHERS
Alex Lumelsky
Dr. Adhid Miri
Nico Salgado
SALES
Interlink Media
Sana Navarrette
CLASSIFIEDS
Sana Navarrette
CONTACT INFORMATION
Story ideas: edit@chaldeannews.com
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Chaldean News
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Phone: (248) 851-8600
For publishing consideration, please submit
all announcements and news items by the
15th day of the month, prior to the month of
publication.
The Chaldean News does not make revisions
to articles after publication unless there is a
security-related issue. Errors are published as
“Corrections” in subsequent issues.
Publication: The Chaldean News (P-6);
Published monthly; Issue Date: June 2023
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Publication Address:
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Postmaster: Send address changes to
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Holding on to History
This edition of the Chaldean News has been
a special pleasure to put together. The Chaldean
community here in Michigan is such
a vibrant and generous group and reliving some
of the history of Chaldean Town’s “glory days” has
been a particular treat. Everyone has memories, it
seems, that they’d like to share.
Although the history of the community here
has its heartache, sometimes a painful past can
lead to immeasurable joy. I have personally had
that experience recently, and I can tell you that it
is worth it. Tears of pain can be transformed
into those of gratitude and when the wounds
heal, the heart rejoices!
We hope that looking back on the past
can be a source of joy and pride for you, dear
reader, and that you continue to share your
photos and stories with us so that we can
share them with the entire community.
Moreover, in this issue, we introduce you
to Hanan and Ghazwan – two men who have
committed to being the on-site representatives for the Chaldean
Community Foundation in Iraq. They share their life stories
with us and allow us a glimpse into what it was like to be in Iraq
when ISIS invaded. Some of you experienced it yourself, but for
many, it was a situation seen only on TV and in the newspapers.
Our New Americans series highlights the journey of
David Shammas, and Michael Antoon shares his recent experience
of going on a religious retreat with a group in The
Pilgrimage. Guest columnist N. Peter Antone shares his reflections
on the importance of becoming a naturalized citizen
even when you have a green card.
The Chaldean Hockey League has concluded its season
and sportswriter Steve Stein interviewed players, giving us
some background on the friendly rivalries, and exploring a
bit of the league’s history. Apparently, Chaldeans work hard
but play harder!
Paul Elia is a standup comic whose recent tour included
a visit back to his old neighborhood. Cal Abbo caught up to
SARAH KITTLE
EDITOR
IN CHIEF
him and got an exclusive on what it’s like to be a
stand-up comedian who is also Chaldean. It’s an
inspirational piece for the younger generation who
may be considering a career in this profession.
Our Economics and Enterprise story this month
focuses on two very different and unique business
models: a luxury car rental and a private jet
rental. The feature Travel in Style by Paul Natinsky
explores these fresh new enterprises and tells the
story of their start-up.
Our new feature Chaldean Kitchen gives the
We hope that looking back on the past can
be a source of joy and pride, and that you
continue to share your photos and stories
with us so that we can share them with
the entire community.
story behind (and the ingredients to) Biryani, made in the
Persian style in a recipe handed down to Sally Najor, who
shared it with Z.Z. Dawod. Dawod goes into the history of the
food and dishes up a great story to go with the recipe.
Other topics covered in this issue include Bishop Basilio’s
visit to the Chaldean Community Foundation (CCF), a
grant the CCF received in support of special needs programming,
the Chaldean American Chamber’s Awards Dinner,
and special acknowledgment of some community members
who have been recognized for their outstanding efforts.
To wrap it up, we highlight some photos of Jerry’s Market,
a landmark of Chaldean Town and a nostalgic portrait
of days past. Some history is worth holding on to.
Sarah Kittle
Editor in Chief
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8 CHALDEAN NEWS JUNE 2023

GUEST COLUMN
Beyond the Green Card:
Naturalization
Many Chaldeans immigrate
to the United
States and aspire
to obtain a green card for
themselves and their families;
however, sometimes they forget
or neglect to apply for U.S.
citizenship once they qualify.
This could be a huge mistake.
Traditionally, it has been
rather difficult for the U.S.
government to take away a
green card, but more recent
Acts of Congress have made it
easier for them to do so.
There are several ways in which a
green card holder could lose status.
One is in the case of a criminal conviction.
Many peaceful people assume
that because they are not violent, this
will never happen to them; however,
the law has expanded the scope of offenses
for which a green card holder
could be deported. Crimes where a
U.S. citizen might not spend a single
day in jail could be the kind of crime
that flags a case for deportation. Two
convictions of offenses of a certain nature
(called crimes of moral turpitude)
could cause deportation, even if each
is relatively minor, like shoplifting.
There are other bases for depriving
someone of their green card. If someone
lives outside the U.S. for an extended
period of time, they could lose their
green card. Imagine if a family comes to
the U.S. but the parents neglect to seek
naturalization. The kids could one day
be employed in a position that requires
a transfer to a foreign country, and suddenly
it becomes a situation where after
N. PETER
ANTONE
SPECIAL
TO THE
CHALDEAN
NEWS
a few years of living abroad,
the successful son or daughter
finds themselves potentially
subject to the loss of
their green card.
Another way to lose status
is misrepresentation in
the application for a green
card, even if unintentional
or discovered years later.
The law is written in such a
way that there are numerous
ways to get someone in
trouble if government officials
decide to be strict or unfair. For
example, failure to report to the USCIS
immigration service the change of address
of someone holding a green card
could theoretically result in their removal
and deportation. And while this
might never happen, the law is written
in a way that if a government official
decides to be strict, they could cause
a lot of headaches and expenses to the
targeted green card holder, even if the
ultimate result is not a removal.
Legal action where the government
tries to deport someone could take many
years and result in tens of thousands of
dollars in legal fees as well as tremendous
stress and agony for those involved
during the duration of the legal matter.
Even if the immigrant ultimately wins,
it would not be without huge expense,
both physical and mental. Therefore,
the safest course of action is for families
who immigrate to seek naturalization
and U.S. citizenship for themselves
and their families once they
become eligible.
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JUNE 2023 CHALDEAN NEWS 9

FOUNDATION UPDATE
CAAHP Volunteers and CCF Staff.
Creating Healthier
Communities
On May 6, the Chaldean Community Foundation hosted a Community
Health Fair in partnership with the Chaldean American
Association for Health Professionals.
Those in attendance experienced live demonstrations, interactive
displays, and had the opportunity to receive free health
screenings for blood pressure, glucose, and cholesterol.
Health experts across a variety of specialties including dentistry,
cardiology, dermatology, pharmacy, and mental health
gave first-hand knowledge to those in attendance. The event
served as a convenient and informative resource for many families
and patrons who attended the Community Health Fair.
Bishop Basilio Yaldo pictured with participants in the Little Scholars Program.
Bishop Basilio Yaldo Visits CCF
His Excellency Bishop Basilio Yaldo visited the Chaldean Community Foundation on May 18. He observed
the CCF’s diverse programming, including the Breaking Barriers program, and had the opportunity
to visit various employees within the organization. Bishop Yaldo also took part in the CCF’s
Little Scholars program where he took a photo with and interacted with children within the program.
His Excellency updated the Chaldean Community Foundation on the status of indigenous Christians
in Iraq and other various initiatives within the region.
Upcoming Events
August 10
Warren Consolidated Schools Back to School Event
August 17
Utica Community Schools Back to School Event
September 22
5th Annual Awards Gala
Adventures in
Entrepreneurship
Group Photo of the Breakfast of Nations
panelists along with elected officials.
The Chaldean Community Foundation hosted the Breakfast
of Nations event on May 19. The event featured a
panel of immigrant entrepreneurs who talked about the
challenges of being an immigrant in the United States.
Panelists Wassem Ayar, Nicole Chen, and Amer Batal
shared their unique migration stories, personal childhood
anecdotes, and early experiences with entrepreneurship.
The crowd listened as all the panelists shared common
threads regarding the challenges that they faced
as entrepreneurs, including mispronouncing and misspelling
names. They spoke about difficulties and challenges
faced along their path to success and having to
modify their names and their methods of doing business
around those in the western world.
The event was a collaborative effort by Sterling
Heights Chamber of Commerce, Global Detroit, Vibe
Credit Union, Macomb Intermediate School District, and
One Macomb.
10 CHALDEAN NEWS JUNE 2023

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JUNE 2023 CHALDEAN NEWS 11

NOTEWORTHY
dBusiness 30 in their Thirties
Two outstanding Chaldean community members
made the “30 in their Thirties” list for dBusiness
magazine this year. Sandy Eisho, 31, Senior VP &
Chief of Staff at Farbman Group, is a rising star.
Working there has given her “a chance to grow
and find my niche,” says Eisho, who is going on
her ninth year with the company. Much of her
focus is on strengthening client relationships,
something Eisho excels at. She also serves on the
Chaldean Women’s Committee, an affiliate of the
Chaldean American Chamber of Commerce.
Mario Kiezi, 31, bought an entire shopping
mall just last year. As a kid, he frequented Oakland
Mall in Troy; his family owned an ice cream
shop inside the mall in the early 2000s. “We didn’t
have babysitters, so I went to work with our family
after school,” Kiezi recalls. “My whole emphasis
now is to bring in entertainment and sensory
entertainment for families,” said Kiezi, who looks
to his thousands of social media followers for inspiration
in developing the new Oakland Mall.
CCF Receives Comcast
Foundation Grant
The Chaldean Community Foundation was awarded a $10,000 grant
through the Comcast Foundation. This funding will support individuals
with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities and their caregivers
with the digital tools and resources to feel comfortable with technology
and learn basic digital literacy skills.
The Chaldean Community Foundation (CCF) is a place where employees
speak various languages, staff have lived similar immigration experiences,
and clients can build a foundation based on education, mutual
reliance, and employment.
“Comcast is honored to partner with the Chaldean Community Foundation
in advancing digital equity and to support the life-changing work
being done through the Breaking Barriers program,” said Director Shannon
Dulin, External Affairs, Comcast Heartland Region.
Elected to the Michigan
Association for Justice
Chamber member Jennifer McManus of Fagan
McManus PC in Royal Oak was sworn in as president-elect
of the Michigan Association for Justice
(a statewide pro-justice trial lawyer organization)
on May 6, 2023. McManus is a tireless supporter
of the underdog and a champion of justice and
fair play in the courtroom. She has previously
served on the board of the Chaldean American
Chamber of Commerce and is part of the Chaldean
Women’s Committee.
Award of Excellence Winner
At 20 years and 4 months, she may be the youngest graduate at Grand Valley
State University. Before entering college Sierra graduated from high school
(during the pandemic) Summa Cum Laude (“with highest honor”). She also
received an International Baccalaureate Diploma.
Awarded a National Academy of Future Physicians Award of Excellence
and the GVSU Award for Excellence, Sierra studied abroad in San Jose, Costa
Rica during the summer of 2022 and completed a comprehensive comparison
of the healthcare systems in Costa Rica and the US. She was the founder of Mu
Epsilon Delta and the president of the Arab Culture Club.
Sierra says her greatest accomplishment at Grand Valley would be instating
GVSU’s first and only pre-professional co-ed pre-healthcare fraternity that
aids and helps students who plan to go into the healthcare field while promoting
service and brotherhood. She will be part of the Class of 2025 at Indiana’s
Butler University.
12 CHALDEAN NEWS JUNE 2023

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JUNE 2023 CHALDEAN NEWS 13

CHALDEAN DIGEST
Residents of Batnaya
gather to meet the
CCF delegation in
November, 2022.
Chaldean Community in USA to invest in destroyed areas in Iraq
Washington DC, USA
The Chaldean American Chamber of
Commerce is considering investing
in the Nineveh Plains of northern
Iraq, a region where a large portion
of the population are Christians and
saw massive destruction following
the brutal arrival of the Islamic State
(ISIS) in 2014.
Martin Manna, who heads the
Chamber of Commerce, told Rudaw
that “these are our ancestor’s lands.
This is important for us to invest in
places where we have quite a large
population.
“This is likely the best place in all
of Iraq and we want to maintain our
identity, our culture, our language in
this region.”
In 2014, more than 14,500 Christians
lived on the Nineveh Plains.
When ISIS attacked the Christian
towns and villages, 90 percent of Christians
fled to the Kurdistan Region, seeing
it as a safe haven that would protect
them from the reign of terror that
ISIS brought upon them, particularly
towards religious minorities.
So returning home is dangerous,
job opportunities are on the low, and
few services have been restored to the
region. These are the key factors that
few people have returned to these areas.
They have either started a new
life in the Kurdistan Region or moved
abroad in search of a better life.
Manna said that they have a “very
wealthy community here in the United
States and there is no better province or
region... for our community to invest in.”
Iraq’s Christian community has
been devastated in the past two decades.
Following the US-led invasion
in 2003, sectarian warfare prompted
followers of Iraq’s multiple Christian
denominations to flee, and attacks by
ISIS in 2014 hit minority communities
especially hard.
Fewer than 300,000 Christians remain
in Iraq today, but not all live in a
permanent place they can call home.
– Rudaw
Chaldean Americans revive their endangered
language through cultural advocacy
According to The San Diego Union Tribune,
El Cajon contains the second-largest
population of Chaldeans outside of
Iraq, amounting to 15,000 individuals.
Detroit is the largest, with Michigan Governor
Gretchen Whitmer reporting over
150,000 Chaldeans in 2022.
Lilian Bakayou, senior operations
manager of San Diego State University
Math and Stats Learning Center, explained
how Detroit is years ahead of
El Cajon regarding its Chaldean representation
and establishment. She referenced
a quote from Michael Serban,
Cajon Valley Union School District administrator.
“He went to Michigan, and in that
article, he stated, ‘Michigan is the
future of San Diego,’” Bakayou said.
“And I think it’s a very accurate representation
because we are a mini-
Michigan.”
Selvana Aleesha, a speech, language,
and hearing science major,
came to America with her family when
she was eight years old. Early experiences
in America formed the way she
wished to represent her community.
Aleesha remembered when she
walked into her fourth-grade class and
asked a Middle Eastern girl if she spoke
Aramaic. When the girl responded in
Arabic — a language in the same family
as Aramaic —Aleesha was delighted
to recognize it and felt she belonged.
This experience became foundational
for the work she has done during
her time at SDSU.
After noticing that Aramaic-speaking
Chaldeans were disadvantaged,
Aleesha felt inclined to join the SDSU
National Student Speech, Language
and Hearing Association. She now
serves as the non-profit organization’s
treasurer.
“I took this position because I was
like, ‘I want to be that person to kind of
represent our community and be there
for those who speak the Chaldean language,’”
Aleesha said.
– The Daily Aztec
Speech, Language and Hearing
Sciences major Selvana Aleesha
pictured in the Conrad Prebys Aztec
Student Union on March 20, 2023.
PHOTO BY KAITLYN DONIVAN
14 CHALDEAN NEWS JUNE 2023

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JUNE 2023 CHALDEAN NEWS 15

RELIGION
PHOTO BY FATHER PIERRE
The Pilgrimage
Experiencing God in a unique way
BY MICHAEL ANTOON
Seeing the world is an activity
most people have on their
bucket list, but seeing the world
through faith is an experience that
goes deeper. A pilgrimage is a journey
to a variety of places that are each holy
in their own way. This voyage is not
simply for sightseeing and having a
good time, but it is a journey that calls
us to deepen our faith.
The word “pilgrim” comes from
the Latin word “peregrinus,” which
implies wandering over a distance.
This wandering is not aimless; rather
it serves a higher purpose that draws
us nearer to the Lord.
As Catholics, there are many holy
sites around the world to see and experience.
These various sites allow
pilgrims to meditate and lift their
thoughts. Many of the faithful visit
the Vatican or Holy Land, Our Lady of
Fatima, or Lourdes. In each of these
places, there is something unique that
you may not find in the next. Many pilgrims
visit ancient churches with centuries
of history to unpack, or places
of devotion to saints. No matter where
you may find yourself, there is a divine
Above: After a meditative boat ride on the Sea of Galilee.
Top of page: At the entrance to the city of Lourdes, France.
call to enter more deeply into your relationship
with the Lord.
“Pilgrimages help us detach from
our day-to-day lives to deepen our
faith through prayer with the history
of Jesus, the saints, and the Church.
We hold our intentions and offer our
pilgrimages as a sacrifice and act of
faith,” said Father Pierre Konja.
As of May 2023, St. Thomas Chaldean
Church in West Bloomfield offered
two different pilgrimages. One,
led by Father Pierre Konja, went to the
Holy Land, Rome, Assisi, Lourdes, and
Barcelona. The other was led by Father
Matthew Zetouna to Lourdes and various
cities throughout Spain.
I was blessed to have joined Father
Matthew on his pilgrimage through
Lourdes and Spain, along with 36 others.
There is no doubt that the groups
boarding their flights at DTW were all
part of a family returning home. It was
a beautiful thing to see this group of
Chaldean youth come together and
look out for one another like family
would do.
Brandon Karana, 24, says, “This
was my first pilgrimage, and I went
into it not really expecting anything. I
wanted to walk with God and grow in
my own faith. That overall was what I
was seeking. I was blessed with meeting
so many young people like myself
who were looking for the same thing,
and we were able to grow together as
a family. It was truly one of the most
amazing experiences I have had, and I
met so many amazing people.”
This is the reality for many pilgrims—becoming
part of a family in
Christ. For two full weeks, we traveled
together, took care of each other, and
most importantly, prayed together.
As previously mentioned, a pilgrimage
is a journey of faith, not simply
sightseeing and vacationing. This
is exemplified in how we respond to
issues that arise. For our group, many
unexpected problems came before us.
For starters, our flights got canceled
due to protests throughout France.
This ended up causing the group to
split into different flights traveling to
different countries, eventually reuniting
in Lourdes.
Father Matthew helped ease everyone’s
anxiety about our situation by reminding
us that God will throw us some
16 CHALDEAN NEWS JUNE 2023

PHOTOS BY FATHER MATTHEW
BOLEYN TOUR CAST PHOTOS BY MATTHEW MURPHY
From top of page: Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes; At the entrance of the city
of Capernaum, the site of much of Jesus’ ministry.
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curveballs that we must accept with
trust and love, and to pray with them.
Each issue that arose was an invitation
to respond through faith and
ask ourselves, “What would Jesus do?”
“A pilgrimage is not planned by
man, it is planned by God,” said Patrick
Jaboro, 20. The ultimate test came
when we heard of the passing of Father
Matthew’s father, Masoud Zetouna.
We responded immediately in
prayer, for Father Matthew, our shepherd,
and for his late father’s soul.
After Father Matthew left our group,
some felt anxious without him. He
left us with a reminder that we are the
“resurrection people.” Through hardship,
we remain standing and keep our
trust in the Lord.
Father Matthew left us in good
hands with our guide and continued
to look after us and our travels from
home. He exemplifies what it means
to be a man who builds his house on
solid rock (Matthew 7:24).
Without Father Matthew there to
celebrate Mass for us, we found ourselves
at Masses with priests who
didn’t speak much English. Initially,
this turned many away, thinking they
would be bored or get lost listening to
a Spanish Mass. But this experience
called us to see something greater; the
mystery before us is not something for
us to understand, rather it is spiritual
food for us to partake in.
Many pilgrims shared that they
paid more attention to the spirituality
of the Mass since they couldn’t understand
the words. Faith Toma, 21, said,
“Throughout the trip, the tour guide
kept saying how love is the first language.
I didn’t really understand it until
we went to Mass at St. Peter’s Chapel
in Toledo. The priest did the Mass
in Spanish, and I had no idea what he
was saying, but as he was saying his
homily, I just felt God’s love pouring
out from it.”
Many leave for pilgrimages with
various intentions and heavy hearts,
knowing the power in these holy places.
For our group, Lourdes seemed to
be the unanimous favorite. To be in a
city full of Catholics from all over the
world, together honoring the Blessed
Mother, is life changing. Being able
to leave our intentions, and those of
loved ones, at the grotto gave us hope
and consolation. In the midst of our
hardships, Our Lady of Lourdes invites
us to bring her our problems and lay
them at this grotto and to be renewed
by the life of God that flows in the
spring of water.
Each holy place is an invitation
from God to draw nearer to His heart
and experience Him more profoundly.
Pilgrimages are a unique opportunity
to escape from the world and appreciate
the Lord through His creation and
the splendor of His church throughout
the world.
I would like to extend my deepest
condolences once again to the Zetouna
family, especially Father Matthew, for
the loss of the beloved Masoud Zetouna.
Uncle Masoud was the Sacristan
of St. Thomas Church, and it was an
honor and a privilege to know him and
serve alongside him.
May God rest his soul and let
his place be among the angels and
saints.
JUNE 2023 CHALDEAN NEWS 17

IN MEMORIAM
Nadine Lirato
Yeldo
Apr 27, 1990 –
Feb 16, 2023
Venice Bahri
(Mammou)
Feb 27, 1981 –
Apr 20, 2023
Najeeba Saeed
Ablahad Koria
Jul 1, 1934 –
Apr 22, 2023
Alesho Aoshana
Toma
Jul 1, 1937 -
Apr 23, 2023
Mikhael Yousif
Patto Karim
Dec 30, 1941 –
Apr 24, 2023
Lana Karmin Karim
Jan 22, 1989 -
Apr 25, 2023
Tamem (Tim)
Albert Mona
Jan 23, 1960 –
Apr 26, 2023
Oraha Khoshaba
Younan
Mar 5, 1943 -
Apr 26, 2023
Sargon Salim
Ablahad
Jul 28, 1989 –
Apr 27, 2023
Wadi Sokana
Apr 17, 1930 -
Apr 27, 2023
Amir Daoud
Hannosh
Nov 25, 1947 –
Apr 28, 2023
Zouzou Fahd
Hanna
Jul 31, 1944 –
May 2, 2023
Waccas Masiod
Karim
Oct 12, 1966 –
May 2, 2023
Hasiba Namou
Koza
Sep 15, 1934 -
May 2, 2023
Hayat Kachi
Kassawa
Apr 5, 1926 -
May 3, 2023
Mokhles Mati
Shamoon
Apr 1, 1974 –
May 3, 2023
Hana Nasoori
Jul 1, 1943 –
May 3, 2023
Salman Dawood
Jajou Hanosh
Jul 1, 1937 –
May 5, 2023
Masoud Korial
Zetouna
May 1, 1951 -
May 6, 2023
Marvin Salem
Toma
Feb 14, 1984 –
May 8, 2023
Ashour Shamoual
Khamo
Jul 1, 1977 –
May 9, 2023
Salwan Jamil
Brikho
Oct 5, 1962 –
May 10, 2023
Gabriella M
Loosya
Aug 17, 1996 –
May 10, 2023
Gourgia Kesto
Brikho
Jun 1, 1932 –
May 11, 2023
Glades Yahya
Fattohi Hilawi
Aug 14, 1930 –
May 11, 2023
Rigane Shamo
Jarbo
Mar 2, 1931 –
May 15, 2023
Najat Ameen
Shamas
Jul 1, 1939 –
May 16, 2023
Maria Yousif
Jul 1, 1934 –
May 19, 2023
Annie Salem
Namou Somo
Aug 31, 1982 –
May 20, 2023
Mikhael Tobya-
Saman Zaki
Jul 1, 1951 –
May 20, 2023
Eida Farhat
Mar 22, 1945 –
May 20, 2023
Hanna
Shamoon Taan
Jul 1, 1941 –
May 22, 2023
Hayat Elias
Fattohi Karam
Nov 15, 1931 –
May 23, 2023
Zahia Hanna Putrus
Kas-Shamoun
Feb 6, 1958 –
May 23, 2023
Habeeba Hesano
Jan 10, 1925 –
May 23, 2023
18 CHALDEAN NEWS JUNE 2023

CHALDEAN COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
BREAKING BARRIERS
3601 15 MILE RD., STERLING HEIGHTS, MI 48310
Breaking Barriers provides services and advocacy to those with developmental and/or intellectual
disabilities, older adults, and respite to caregivers.
B.E.A.M. (BRAILLE, ESL, ACCULTURATION, MOBILITY) PROJECT –
helps better equip those with visual impairments to live independent lives.
H.E.A.L. (HARD OF HEARING, ESL, AMERICAN SIGN
LANGUAGE, LIFE SKILLS) PROJECT – helps better equip those with
hearing impairments to live independent lives.
C.H.A.I. (CAREGIVER HELPING AID INITIATIVE) PROJECT–
supports the family caregiver in care provision and stress reduction.
BB ACADEMY – Adults with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities gather to
participate in group activities, meet new friends, learn new skills and have fun while their
unpaid family caregivers enjoy some well-deserved respite time.
RECREATIONAL FAMILY RESPITE – Year-round themed gatherings
for individuals with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities and their families.
Families enjoy a safe and familiar place to meet, break bread and to socialize.
SUPERCUTS BARBER SHOP – Licensed cosmetologists provide complimentary
salon services for individuals with developmental and/or intellectual disabilities by appointment.
M.O.B. – Matter of Balance is an evidence based cognitive restructuring group class
for older adults with mobility challenges to reduce the risk of Falling.
BINGOCIZE- Older adults meet and enjoy group Bingo and light exercise to
socialize and improve their overall health.
JUNE 2023 CHALDEAN NEWS 19

COVER STORY
Remembering
Chaldean
Town
BY ADHID MIRI, PHD
It is often said that our Chaldean
history in the USA has evident
Mesopotamian roots.
Looking back on our immigration
saga, it kicks off with the Chaldean-American
frontier period, goes
through the hardships of the fifties,
the tough years of assimilation, and
the frenzy of life caused by the rush to
riches. Mix in the political turmoil in
Iraq and worries about relatives, and
you get some defining moments in our
history.
But it wasn’t all war, crime, and
violence. The early arrivals helped
move the community forward toward
innovative ideas and identities. A pioneering
spirit, quest for success, and
the combined love of old and new
countries were all positive outcomes
we continue to see today from that glorious
past.
More than 500,000 people of
Middle Eastern descent live in metro
Detroit, and combined, they generate
billions of dollars in economic activity.
Although the road to self-reliance can
take years due to language and cultural
barriers, the influx of refugees has
been a boon to the regional economy.
Everyone wants to pursue the American
Dream.
A New Homeland
Chaldeans from Iraq began coming
to Detroit a century ago. In the 1960s,
they began pouring in, some to join
their families, some to escape the persecution
that this Christian minority
faced over the years in their ancestral
homeland. Metro Detroit now is home
Steve and Joseph Kada of S & J Meats.
to an estimated 200,000 Chaldeans.
Tens of thousands of them started
their lives in Chaldean Town; at one
point, a quarter of the area’s Chaldeans
lived there.
Due to a stream of immigrants attracted
to the already pre-established
Chaldean community and the monopoly
they had over certain industries,
the neighborhood boomed in the seventies.
The passage of the Immigration
and Nationality Act of 1965 ended
the United States’ decades-old policy
of limiting immigration based on nationality,
thereby enabling an influx of
Chaldeans to the neighborhood.
They settled in the Penrose neighborhood
which flanks 7 Mile between
Woodward and John R., where some
streets had homes so old, they didn’t
have driveways because they were built
before cars were invented. There was
barely space to walk between them.
The crowded housing meant a life intertwined
with the neighbors, not unlike
their lives in Iraq. Literally, the
whole community was within reach.
On scorching summer nights or
warm summer afternoons, without
the luxury of air conditioning in their
homes, men, family, and friends would
sit and socialize on small porches. Usually
dressed in their white “wife-beater”
shirts (Fannelah), under-shorts,
pajamas or dishdashas, they would
watch the kids play in the street, worry
beads in hand, drinking tea, beer, or
their favorite Arak — often with a loud
transistor radio listening to the famous
Egyptian singer Um Kalthoum singing
Inta Umri while enjoying grilled Tikka
Kabab (Jarihyatha) as Mezza.
20 CHALDEAN NEWS JUNE 2023

Top: The Chaldean Center building, with “S” and “H” for Sacred Heart. Bottom: The building’s signage has now been stripped.
The new immigrants started businesses
and brought relatives to work
in them, passing down ownership
through their families. By the close of
the 1970s, their stretch of 7 Mile was
dense with dozens of little bakeries,
specialty stores, ethnic restaurants,
and social halls.
Seventy-five percent of the people
who came from the old country didn’t
drive, and the small-town walkability
of their new neighborhood appealed
to them. They could walk to the meat
market and walk to the coffeehouse.
Everything they needed was there.
The Glory Days
The 7 Mile and Woodward neighborhood
has distinct advantages. Centrally
located amid sprawling metro
Detroit, it is a mile south of the Oakland
County border, about a 15-minute
drive from downtown and less than a
mile from new developments on the
site of the old state fairgrounds. Across
Woodward to the west sit the mansions
of Detroit’s historic Palmer Woods district
and some of Detroit’s most desirable
neighborhoods.
In their heyday, landmarks like
Yaldo, Jerry’s and Fatoohi Markets,
Iraqi Bakery, Golden Star Bakery, Beirut
Pastries, Bahi, Faraj Abro’s Firdous
(Paradise), Royal Kabab, Mr. Kabab,
Al-Shimal, Dijla, Sullaf and Mosul
restaurants, and Ramzi Acho’s Great
Lakes Fish and Seafood Wholesale offered
a taste of Iraq here in Michigan.
The famous barber shops of Slewa
Yono, Wadi Barash and Golden Scissors
were great places to get caught
up on the happenings in the neighborhood.
Sadly, all of these establishments
as well as Bashar Salha Spring
Music and Productions, Dr. Shakib
Halabu Dentistry, Dr. Yousif Goriel
clinics, and most auto repair shops
are all closed. Also extinct are the first
medical clinic of Dr. Albert Kuhn- MD
and the first pharmacy of Najah Sitto
(Babylon Pharmacy).
The neighborhood suffered an
economic decline that is severe even
for Detroit. During the sixties through
the late 1990s the area was hard hit by
economic and population losses, to
wealthier suburbs like West Bloomfield,
Southfield, Farmington Hills,
Bloomfield Hills, and Troy. Most of the
Chaldean population and businesses
are now gone. But its glory days live on
in memories.
The Chai-khana
Coffee and tea houses (Chai-khanas)
were a mainstay in Chaldean Town
and the center of entertainment for
years. They were for men who enjoyed
playing cards, billiards, and backgammon
before or after going to the DRC
or Hazel Park racetrack. They were a
place of gathering and played a significant
role in making sure the community
stayed connected, as one close-knit
family, and that clients and visitors felt
like they were at home.
There were no menus at the Chaikhanas;
all the customers knew what
PHOTOS BY ADHID MIRI, PHD
was available. There were few grilled
choices, and the entrées (if any) were
whatever the cook made that day.
Depending on when you were there,
the smoke from the charcoal grill was
thick and the whole scene was a bit
chaotic; it was a personal place, and
that is partly what made it fun.
The first Chai-khana in the area
was opened by Bottani Abro and
Fouad Garmo and was later converted
by Father Yasso to the Chaldean
Church. Another pioneering coffee and
tea house was owned by Salim Malak.
Perhaps the most popular Chai-khana
on the north side of 7 Mile was the
one owned by Jabbouri (Gabriel Rabban)
and Adil Aqrawi. Jabbouri sold it
to Habbi and Akram Kassab, who did
very well and were profitable for years.
Zuhair Shina, Ramzi Zakar, and Emad
Samona owned one on the south side
of 7 Mile Road. It was later sold to Sabah
Siman and Makhou Bashi. At one
time Malak Anan had a Chai-khana,
and Sabah Qadesha (Ayar) opened a
Chai-khana at the site of the famed
Yaldo Market building.
Interestingly, these operations were
incognito, almost clandestine in their
nature, for there were no door signs,
banners, or establishment names on
any of these buildings, just a number.
However, every gambler in the area
knew exactly what they were and what
they offered. People would come late at
night and hang out all day; many establishments
stayed open until 4 in the
morning and were always busy.
The exterior of these operations
was nondescript, the doors, windows
(if any) were foggy, tinted with
tobacco smoke, and covered with a
combination of thick layers of frying
oil. Ventilation being non-existent,
CHALDEAN TOWN
continued on page 22
JUNE 2023 CHALDEAN NEWS 21

COVER STORY
CHALDEAN TOWN
continued from page 21
the indoor odor was distinct, with the
occasional exceptions upon opening
the back kitchen door to allow for a
short breeze.
The Raid
The Chai-khanas were a social magnet
and the gambling mecca of their time,
long before the arrival of MotorCity,
MGM, and Greektown Casinos in Detroit,
and were often a target for police
from the second precinct across Woodward
Avenue.
On a cold December night in the
late seventies, police officers raided
one of the crowded coffee houses looking
for local gamblers and bookies.
They came in large groups, surrounding
the building and placing police
dogs by the front and back doors.
Inside, the authorities set a table
and one-by-one searched the crowd,
collecting their cash and jewelry (including
many gold crosses) and issuing
receipts for the confiscated items. A few
patrons attempted to escape through
the back door, but the dogs were waiting
for them, ready to attack. They
quickly returned to join their friends
that were stranded facing the wall.
Chaldeans fear dogs more than police!
As the squad was about to wrap up
their job collecting the trophies, one of
the men turned to his poker friend and
said, “I have $600 hidden in my socks,
I keep them safe and away from the
inspections by my wife. What should
I do?” The wise friend said, “Why did
you not declare them? Call the police
back and they will give you a receipt.”
The honest man shouted to the police
as they were leaving, “Sir, I have
$600 in my socks, do you want them?
The police officer, stunned by the unexpected
declaration, reportedly said,
“Give it to me, you MFer, and here is
your receipt!”
Saddam Hussein and Sacred Heart
Strangely enough, one of Chaldean
Town’s earliest and most notable
boosters was Saddam Hussein, the infamous
dictator of Iraq.
Fr. Yasso, pastor of Sacred Heart
Church, congratulated Hussein in 1979
on his new presidency and told him
that he was going to name the church
after him and place his initials on its
Steve and Joseph Kada stand outside their store. It may not be open much longer.
walls. The initials went up, but in reality,
S.H. stood for “Sacred Heart.”
That misleading flattery prompted the
dictator to send the church a check for
$250,000.
Later, when the pastor went
to Baghdad and told Hussein of
his church’s debt, he got another
$200,000, which helped pay off the
bank loan and build the Chaldean Center
of America next door to the church.
And for that, Detroit Mayor Coleman
Young awarded Saddam Hussein the
key to the city of Detroit!
In 1974, Fr. Yasso organized and
held the only Palm Sunday parade
on Charleston Road, like the one celebrated
by the Christians in Iraq. It
was a festive event on a rainy day that
attracted people from around the area
who walked together from their homes
to Sacred Heart Church.
Yasso also had a head for business
and opened a language school with a
local partner to teach English. Sacred
Heart closed in 2015, as the local Chaldean
population was very thinned
out, and so it moved to a new facility
in Warren, still named Sacred Heart.
The Burning of Al-Hadaf
Al-Hadaf (“The Objective” in Arabic)
was a weekly newspaper first published
in Detroit in September 1970.
It was located on 7 Mile Road near
Sacred Heart Church between John R.
and Woodward Avenue. It was a neighborhood
paper but concerned itself
with a wide range of cultural, social,
and political subjects that were relevant
at the time.
Al-Hadaf editor Fouad Manna
(Abo Gibran) recalls an incident that
occurred in the early seventies when
members of the of the Ba’ath party in
Detroit contacted him and offered a
large amount of financial aid to support
his magazine. Of course, this support
was not without strings. They wanted
his support for the policy of the Ba’ath
in Iraq. They did not receive it.
The paper was subjected to many
intimidations by the regime’s agents
deployed among the Arab expatriates.
Manna remained steadfast and unaffected
by the hostile foes and refused to
bend his principles and bow his head to
them, going on to expose their policies,
agents, and the corruption dollars that
they were distributing in Detroit.
In this regard, Manna says, “Truthfully,
had it not been for the existence
of the Iraqi Democratic Union in Detroit,
and its honorable stand in the
early 1980s against the Ba’ath Party,
and lessons it taught to its agents within
our community, the Ba’athists would
have been dominant to this day within
the Iraqi community in Detroit.”
There was a case of escalation
and intimidation in 1971, when an
FBI agent called the Al-Hadaf office
and asked Fouad Manna, “Sir, do you
know Dawood Khami? He has received
a postcard from Moscow. Is he a spy?
Come to a meet me at this address...”
Manna called a Palestinian attorney
who advised him not to go, it
could be a trick. He did not go, and a
half hour after the appointment time,
the agent called again and asked,
“Why did you not show up?” Manna’s
answer was, “If you need anything,
come to the print shop.”
The agent showed up at the print
shop and showed his badge. After a
quick search of the place, he asked,
“Do you know John (Hanna) Yatouma?
Is he your friend? He publishes a
newspaper; is he a local communist?”
The next day, still intimidated by
the FBI agent’s visit, Abo Gibran wrote
a critical editorial. Within days, he received
a threating call stating that the
print shop would be shut down.
Two weeks later, the print shop
was burned to the ground. There were
three suspects, including a man called
“Johnny Mafia.” It was determined
that Mafia was the mastermind; he
was sentenced to 7 years in jail but fled
to Iraq after posting bail. It came out
that the group had contracted an African
American to do the job for $100.
Johnson, who was caught burning the
store of Naiem Yatouma, confessed to
the arson and other crimes as well.
Manna did not have insurance
at the time, and this was a huge loss
and financial setback. To add insult
to injury, the FBI agent investigating
the case disclosed that the 7 Mile
priest was behind the arson. Journalist
Yousif Nadhir authored a blazing
article about this arson titled, “The
Coward Burns Al-Hadaf Print Shop.”
The article added even more flame to
the fire and caused a major stir.
The Riots
The 1967 riots and downfall of the automobile
industry created new conditions
in the city of Detroit and Chaldean
Town. Worsening Black-white
relations boiled over into violence,
proving to be another turning point for
the growing community; Chaldeans
assumed the operations of grocery
stores abandoned by white business
owners during the city’s infamous
“White Flight.”
As many of the area’s wealthy
CHALDEAN TOWN
continued on page 24
22 CHALDEAN NEWS JUNE 2023

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JUNE 2023 CHALDEAN NEWS 23

From left: Halo Fish & Chicken on 7 Mile; Sullaf Restaurant held out for many years but is now closed; B & S Collision is still bumping and painting cars.
CHALDEAN TOWN
continued from page 22
white residents and business owners
left, it gave the Chaldeans an opportunity
and monopoly over certain
businesses such as grocery stores,
supermarkets, and retail stores. They
rushed to fill the void, often popping
up in poor, majority-Black, inner-city
neighborhoods where the residents
had few alternatives for their food and
shopping needs.
African American residents complained
that Chaldean store owners
employed almost exclusively other Chaldeans,
even though they operated in
mostly Black neighborhoods. Their concerns
were aggravated because, in many
cases, Chaldean grocery stores were their
only source of food for miles around.
Similarly, many Chaldeans were
frustrated with the high rates of crime
in Detroit’s inner-city neighborhoods,
leading them to increase security in
their stores, hiring more family members
who they knew they could trust.
Ultimately, Chaldeans and African
Americans in Detroit knew little about
one another, leading to a heightened
distrust that was only amplified by the
tense racial and political atmosphere
in post-1967 Detroit. Tensions between
Chaldeans and African Americans
were already high due to the looting of
numerous Chaldean businesses in the
‘67 riots. In the following years, these
tensions escalated, contributing to the
death of the Chaldean Town project.
Moving On Up
After the glory days in the 1970s, the
neighborhood deteriorated. Crime and
abandonment of property caused by the
crack epidemic during the eighties and
nineties, a common fate for many Detroit
neighborhoods, led to its ultimate
demise. The residents now are typically
only very recent immigrants, holdout
business owners, and the elderly who
cannot afford to move to the suburbs.
An attempt to revive Chaldean
Town was made in the late 1990s,
when the Arab American and Chaldean
Council built their community
center at West 7 Mile and John R. roads.
A later extension that was built across
the street included a charter school.
Other shops and new homes were
planned but never fulfilled. Chaldean
Town was suffering its death throes.
Violent crime was everywhere.
Chaldean Town has emptied out.
What was once a bustling center for
vast numbers of Chaldean immigrants
and their families is a lot quieter now.
The remnants of restaurants like the
Bahi, Tigris, Royal Kabab, and Iraqi
Bakery just down the street are vacant
and fading. The Sacred Heart Catholic
Church and community center buildings
remain, and a few Chaldean families
are currently living on Charleston,
Hershey, and Danbury Streets, but for
the most part, Chaldean Town on 7
Mile in Detroit is no more.
Rising Crime
Like many immigrants before them,
the Chaldeans’ success led them to
seek better neighborhoods in the suburbs
of Macomb and Oakland counties.
Many of them moved on while
the neighborhood was still solid; however,
rising crime and falling police response
accelerated the exodus.
Chaldeans who remember the area’s
apex are saddened and infuriated
by what it has become.
The Last Stand
Perpetuating the unique culinary heritage
is one of the most tangible and accessible
means of letting people know
that the Chaldean way of life in the 7
Mile corridor has not disappeared. A
few still believe; some who hold out
hope stay in the area. Of the dozens
of little businesses on the 7 Mile strip
that catered to the Chaldeans and gave
this area its ethnic flavor and its name,
only three are left.
One is B & S Collision, under new
ownership. Halo Fish and Chicken
across the street is the continuation of
the original Great Lakes Fish and Sea
Food Inc. that was owned by Ramzi
Acho. It is operated by his family members.
Along with S & J Meats, they are
the last businesses standing in the old
Chaldean Town.
Joseph Georgies Kada is the owner
of S & J Meats, a small, old-fashioned
butcher shop on 7 Mile Road that sits
in what was once the heart of Chaldean
Town, across from the Sacred Heart
Church at the northern edge of Detroit.
He is the “J” in the name. His brother
Steve is the “S.” Joseph, a frail 74-
year-old, shows the scars of his years
and the impact of the axe of time. He
looks older than his age — although
still full of life, humor, and in possession
of an extraordinary memory.
You cannot miss him standing
proudly in his shop, dressed in his
white lab coat. According to Joe, the
original S & J founders were Nadir
Shammami and Amir Jarbo. S & J represented
the family initials, which
Steve and Joseph conveniently kept after
purchasing the business. The Jarbo
and Kada family members are historically
the most well-known shepherds
(Shivaneh) and butchers (Kasawah)
in the Chaldean community since the
Tel-Keppe village times.
Kada is pessimistic about his future
in the area. He purchased the business
24 years ago at a time when 90 percent
of his clientele were Chaldean. All the
local coffee shops and restaurants
bought products from him. A few Chaldeans
who have moved across town
still come to his shop, but most have
stopped visiting. “We might not be
here for long,” he laments.
“It is hard to bring people here
because people are not going to drive
here for one business or two businesses,”
says Kada. “We are hanging
in there, but I don’t know how long we
will last. I was going to close shop last
month and might do it any time soon.”
Kada invested long years in the
area. “I love the community, I purchased
and operated two restaurants
in the area (Mosul, owned by Imad
Jarbo and Bahi Restaurant).” Today,
Kada thinks his place will be the last
business left here on 7 Mile. “This is
the last link to the past for people who
grew up here, but we need to shut the
door and get out.”
Sullaf was the last Chaldean restaurant
in Chaldean Town, specializing in
Iraqi food whose history dates to ancient
Mesopotamia. Chef Safaa Momika
stated, “Food is one language that everyone
understands.” The area where the
restaurant was located has emptied out.
Sullaf finally closed its doors in 2022.
“This can’t go on,” said Kada, “and
when we leave, when the last man
standing closes his door, this part of
town will share the fate of Poletown
and Chinatown, and several other oncevibrant
ethnic Detroit neighborhoods
that survive only in the memories of the
suburbanites who once lived there.”
A reality check of the experience of
7 Mile Road years demonstrates that
altogether, Chaldean history has been
an impressive success story. The family
plays a vital role in everyday life of
the new immigrants. Houses were always
full and bursting with young and
old and everything in between. They
were often crowded houses, with daily
visitors and traditions passed down
through generations.
Our traditions and culture continue
to survive and thrive in the US.
It does not matter where we live. It is
the people that make us such a strong
and unbreakable community unit that
breeds love, laughter, happiness, continuity,
and security.
Sources and contributors: Fouad
Manna Bassim Kassab, Adil Bacall,
Architect Mike Sitto, Amir Samona,
Farouk Samona, Joseph Kada,
Chaldean News Archives, Articles
by Kamal Yaldo, Hannah Powel,
John Carlisle-Detroit Free Press, Tom
Perkins, Aaron Foley, Norm Sinclair.
24 CHALDEAN NEWS JUNE 2023

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JUNE 2023 CHALDEAN NEWS 25

PROFILE
Eyes & Ears in Iraq
Hanan Qia and Ghazwan Alyass work to
further CCF’s efforts in the Nineveh Plain
BY CAL ABBO AND SARAH KITTLE
Hanan Qia and Ghazwan Alyass are independent
contractors who joined the staff of the
Chaldean Community Foundation in 2022
in order to be the eyes and ears of the CCF, which
is currently working on rebuilding villages and creating
economic opportunities for the people of the
Nineveh Plain in Iraq. They were here in Michigan
recently to attend the Chaldean American Chamber
of Commerce’s Awards Dinner and to tour the Chaldean
Community Foundation. Cal Abbo was able to
sit down with each of them for an interview about
who they are and what they hope to accomplish.
Hanan
Hanan Qia was born in Baghdad in 1986. He was the
youngest of four and attended primary school on the
outskirts of town, along with many Shia Muslims.
A gifted student, he skipped 6th grade in 1997
and passed a high school exam in 2003, allowing
him to take courses in physical science at Al-Mustansiriya
University in Baghdad. He graduated with
a bachelor’s degree in physical science in 2007.
During his four years at university, many of
Hanan’s colleagues became victims of terrorist attacks
by al Qaeda, who bombed targets with little to
no discernment. Clearing the country of intelligent
and independent thinkers is always a goal in a hostile
government takeover, and this attempt was no
different. Crowds of students leaving class became
victims of car bombs. His colleagues also fell prey to
sectarian infighting in 2006, when some were kidnapped
and killed by rival Sunni or Shia groups.
“We became accustomed,” (to the violence) said
Hanan. “We were just in survival mode.”
The Shia neighborhood that Hanan lived in, now
called Southern City, was the battleground for many
military operations between the US Army and the
Jaysh al-Mahdi (JAM), a Shiite militia led by Muqtada
al-Sadr. This brought another challenge for Hanan
and his friends and family.
“We were Christians,” said Hanan, and because
of that, “they thought we were 100% with the American
forces.” Although that wasn’t the case, Hanan
is grateful to God that they survived. His parents
passed away during these tumultuous years, and
Hanan lived with his older brothers. They all graduated
the same year, 2007.
“And then in November of 2007, I had to flee to
Sweden,” Hanan remembers. “Due to the increasing
sectarian fighting and lack of job opportunity,
From left: Ghazwan Alyass and Hanan Qia
PHOTO BY ALEX LUMELSKY
Baghdad was a war zone.” He arrived in Sweden at
the end of 2007 and applied for asylum. For two and
half years, Hanan lived in Sweden, working on his
English, and praying for a better life.
The government of Sweden denied Hanan asylum,
saying that Christians in Iraq were now in a
good situation, and he could return. In June of 2010,
he did return to start over again as an elementary
teacher in an Arab village just outside Alqosh. Then
ISIS came in 2014.
“It was another shock to us, the Christians
there,” said Hanan. “We saw our people fleeing
in convoys of thousands of vehicles in the middle
of the night.” By mid-August of 2014, the Nineveh
Plain was basically empty of Christians. “They all
left.”
“We never thought that in modern times, a terrorist
group could invade our community,” said
Hanan, “and nobody is doing anything.” Although
social media was not as far-reaching and global as
it is today, there are some videos on Facebook from
that time. People left with only a few possessions,
many with just passports and what money they had
on hand. They left property and assets; some left
their whole inheritance behind.
“It was a shock,” Hanan repeated. “We didn’t anticipate
that at all.”
What he did anticipate was a quick recovery, and
the slow pace of reorganization led to disillusionment
for Hanan. “We thought there was international
support to eradicate the caliphate,” he explained.
The people also had a lot of faith in the Iraqi Army,
who were trained and armed by the US Army for
nearly a decade. They didn’t realize it would be such
a struggle.
Kurdish forces were still trying to repel the invaders,
but it was in 2016 that liberation operations
began in earnest. Town after town was freed from
the oppressive rule and ISIS was kicked out of each
area until eventually even Mosul, the capital of the
Islamic caliphate, was liberated in 2017.
“We started to feel that things would get better,”
said Hanan, “but our people continued leaving on
a daily basis, sometime five families leaving every
day. It was the disassembly of our simple life.”
Hanan applied to work as a local coordinator.
His command of English and interest in security
made him a good fit for the role. He also understood
that local norms are important, so he learned all he
could about the Shabak, Sunni, Shia, Kurds, Assyrians,
Yazidis, Arabs, Chaldeans and Syriacs living
in the Nineveh Plain. “It (knowledge of local norms)
was a favored skill among the NGOs,” said Hanan,
“and I started working with them.”
Asked what his hopes are for the next 50 years,
Hanan said, “I feel like I’m working with something
that’s also aligned with my goals. We would like to
be at least small soldiers in the mission of reestablishing
our presence in Iraq.
“If Alqosh is gone, Telkeppe gone, we will vanish.
It’s okay to be American, but it’s better to have
a unique identity.”
Ghazwan
Ghazwan Alyass is a journalist from Iraq. He was
born in 1978 in Alqosh, in the Nineveh Plains of
northern Iraq. As a youth, he dreamed of having a
goal, a “message” in his life.
Earning a bachelor’s degree in the field of art
and media helped Ghazwan engage with other storytellers,
writing and directing plays and songs,
even some for Chaldean singers here in Michigan.
He earned his own TV show on Kurdistan TV and
was the presenter from 2003 until 2012. That program
was in the Chaldean language; there were others
he presented in Arabic.
Ghazwan excelled at production and many of
his colleagues from the Department of Fine Arts
asked him to produce their plays and poetry readings.
As he immersed himself in the arts and gained
a greater voice, he felt pulled toward politics. After
the run of his TV show ended in 2012, he was often
a guest interviewee on other channels as an activist
engaged in preserving history. He got involved in
the non-profit sector and began learning about nongovernment
organizations (NGOs).
“After 2003, Christians had the opportunity to get
involved in politics,” said Ghazwan. “We started educating
our people to participate in elections, to vote
for our candidates.”
Ghazwan himself was a candidate in the Iraqi
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parliamentary elections of 2018. Although he did
well within the Chaldean communities of Iraq, he
did not ultimately win the race. “I was so close,”
he recalls.
Part of the platform Ghazwan ran on was guaranteeing
rights for Christians from the KRG (Kurdistan
Regional Government) and the Iraqi federal government
in Baghdad. That issue remains unresolved.
Ghazwan talked about his experience in Iraq in
2014, when ISIS swept through the area. By June,
ISIS had taken control of a third of the country. Their
leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi declared the creation of
an Islamic State in Mosul, Iraq’s second largest city,
and named himself caliph. He then instituted a reign
of terror that included rape, abductions, executions,
mass murder, pillaging, extortion, seizure of state resources,
and smuggling.
“We were at the front lines,” said Ghazwan. On the
commercial road that passed the villages and towns,
Peshmerga forces and the Iraqi Army gathered to present
the last line between the villagers and ISIS.
“Hanan and I were visiting them frequently,” said
Ghazwan. “Sometimes we brought NGOs to give support,
sometimes we received international delegates’
media, and for personal visits as local supporters to
boost their morale.” He felt it was important to acknowledge
and show appreciation for their sacrifice.
“Our feelings were not easy to describe,” Ghazwan
explained. “We felt we were diluted from the
land of our ancestors, every town and village. We felt
a spirit in our hearts, that our very existence was at
stake, and this is the end. Many of our people left.
Immigration has been on their mind since that time.”
Like many Christians in Iraq, Ghazwan has two
minds about their future there. Although they want
to stay in their home country, they feel desperate because
there are no services and no infrastructure. He
shared, “Most of our communities are destroyed and
nobody is doing the reconstruction.”
Asked about his work with the Chaldean Community
Foundation in Michigan, Ghazwan said, “It’s
not important that they (the community) know about
me, but they have to know about our people there—
their situation, their conditions.”
He feels the Chaldeans in Michigan are an important
political and economic force and are in a unique
position to help in Iraq. “We’ve created a good connection
for the community with the Iraqi government
and the KRG…we ask them to support Hanan and I in
Iraq so we may be able to achieve something for the
people there…even though you are here (in the US)
for a long time, you have to take care of your ancestral
land…it contains the cradle of Christianity and
the remains of your forefathers. You must empower
us to be the guardians of these holy lands.
“I told them clearly. I think this is the last chance
we have.”
JUNE 2023 CHALDEAN NEWS 27

NEW AMERICANS
David Shammas is Chasing the Dream
BY CAL ABBO
In the Middle East, war seems to
chase you like a monster from a
Stephen King novel. It’s unrelenting
and always a step ahead; a story
told by many Chaldeans who arrive
in the bright and beautiful lands of
America. The story of David Shammas
is no exception.
There was no way to stay in Baghdad
after the United States invaded
the country of Iraq in 2003. The Shammas
family had seen it before—it happens
to Iraq every decade or so. But
this was David’s first experience with
war. This time, his family fled to Syria
while they applied for a visa to the
U.S. to find a better life.
David often woke
up from the sounds
of explosions. He
wondered if he
should go to school
each day, or if he
would return home,
or if there might not
even be a home to
return to.
Syria’s stability wouldn’t last long.
Its ruler Bashar al-Assad, who has
served as president of Syria since the
year 2000, took power when he was
only 34 years old. He had opponents
who were armed, dangerous, and
ready to make revolution.
David often woke up from the
sounds of explosions. He wondered
if he should go to school each day, or
if he would return home, or if there
might not even be a home to return
to. “School is supposed to be a safe
place,” he said. “Kids are supposed
to go there and play and have fun and
enjoy learning. For me, it was dangerous.”
During his years in Syria, he often
felt worried and distressed, questioning
his family’s decision to stay in
Syria. Should they go to Jordan or Turkey,
which are more stable, and apply
from there? Ultimately, his parents
decided to stick it out.
One day, rather than a stray rocket,
a miracle struck. This was what
his family had been waiting for, and
it finally came—a golden ticket to the
United States, more than six years
after they first applied and moved to
Syria.
David called it one of the best
days of his life. “I think people need
hope,” David said, “and they should
not lose it no matter what happens.
For me, this was the light at the end
of the tunnel. I was off to a whole new
life.”
By the time the Shammas family
settled down in the U.S., David was
already 17 years old. The wars, however,
had aged him. His wisdom, compassion,
and propensity for learning
new things went far beyond his own
years. As an immigrant who had seen
hardship incomparable to anything in
the States, he was set to excel in such
a safe and promising environment.
David had enormous pressure on
his shoulders as an only child to support
his parents, whom he calls his
“best friends,” and he delivered.
David got his first job as a waiter at
a popular Chaldean restaurant in the
community. He began to cement himself
within it, meeting people, learning
English, and pursuing his greatest
passion, education. He finished high
school, learned English, and planned
to study Software Engineering and
Computer Science—- topics which
fascinated him.
David quickly grew out of his role
as a waiter and began to take leadership
positions. He began planning
events and supervising other waiters.
His peers looked up to him, and in a
new country, he finally got the space
to grow as a person, find his dreams,
and chase them.
In 2021, David earned his bachelor’s
degree from Oakland University
in computer science. This was just
the beginning for him, however, as
NEW AMERICANS
continued on page 30
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JUNE 2023 CHALDEAN NEWS 29

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continued from page 28
he is currently halfway done with a
master’s degree. Once he finishes, he
plans to go for a Ph.D.
Right now, David works as a software
engineer for General Motors. He
enjoys his job and thinks the company
is in a prime position to make
great leaps in technology. “I believe
they have a unique vision and amazing
goals,” he said. “They want to accomplish
things that align very well
with what I want to do.”
David’s childhood was mostly devoid
of the technology he would have
grown up with had he been born in
the United States. In Iraq and Syria,
his schools didn’t have computers,
and he didn’t own a smartphone.
Only when he came to the States did
he become fascinated by technology.
“I was so interested in how all
these things work,” he said. Now, he
leads projects developing software
and applications for one of the largest
automotive companies in the world.
David’s parents are instrumental
in his life. “They are my number one
supporters, from Day One. They offer
me advice and tell me to focus on
my career and education,” he said.
Education, according to David, enables
your potential. It makes you
aware of what you’re actually capable
of doing.
While David inherited a passion
for education from his parents, he
still needed to account for the hefty
cost of tuition. This is why he sought
help from the Chaldean Community
Foundation, which awarded him a
$5,000 scholarship, allowing him to
go to school without having to work
full-time. In his own words, this escalated
his education journey.
David exemplifies an extraordinary
level of poise and prudence for
his young age of 26 years. He comes
across as twice his age in wisdom,
foresight, and maturity. He humbly
attributes much of this attitude to his
father’s steady influence, and he uses
it to mentor others. In fact, he came
ready to the interview with a motivational
message.
“Assign tasks to yourself,” he said,
emphasizing consistency. “If you go
to the gym once a week, you’re not going
to see much results. If you go five
days a week, you start to see results.”
It’s this kind of routine that empowers
people to achieve large and distant
goals.
For David, it’s very important to
believe in yourself and your abilities.
“There might be obstacles along
the way, but with determination and
perseverance, you can overcome any
challenge,” he said. Think ahead,
plan your goals, and dream. Either
way, it’s not just about the final outcome.
Enjoy the journey, too.
David also talked about a circle of
an established comfort zone that represents
your life. He constantly pushes
himself to move beyond its edges
– by traveling, learning new things,
challenging himself intellectually
and physically, and inspiring others
based on his story.
“I’m going to tell you a story,” he
said, bright-eyed and eager. “I was in
high school, I had just moved to the
States. At that time, my English was
broken. I was starting this new life. I
didn’t know what to do. And I saw a
picture on social media of someone in
cap and gown, graduating from Oakland
University.”
The young man in the photo held
his degree in his hand, smiling with
pride, showing it off to the world. “If
he can make it, then I can make it as
well,” David said. “This picture never
left my brain.”
Years later, David saw the graduate
at a gathering. He approached him
and introduced himself. “I told him all
about his picture that I saw,” he said.
“The picture was a great way for me to
picture myself and stick to my goals, to
get to the place I want to be in.
“I invite you to embrace your own
journey and the challenges it brings,”
David said. “Rise above the obstacles
and never lose sight of your dreams
with perseverance, determination,
and belief in your own potential.
“One day, you might be sitting at
a restaurant or a café or a party and
have someone approach you the way
I did. Someone will be inspired by
you. You can create a motivational
story that inspires others and leads
to a future full of success,” he added.
“Success is not limited by circumstances.
It’s borne out of determination
to overcome obstacles. It’s
about how you’re impacting others,
how you’ve changed the lives around
you.”
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CHALEAN KITCHEN
A Family’s Signature Dish
Biryani, Persian Style
BY Z.Z. DAWOD
“
Homemade Chaldean food
is like no other,” says Sally
Najor. As a world traveler
who has traversed the globe on multiple
occasions, Sally has sampled
a wide range of cuisines and speaks
from experience.
Sally was born in Kirkuk, Iraq but
spent most of her childhood in Baghdad
before immigrating to the United
States about 50 years ago. Going back
a few generations, her family roots lie
further east. Sally’s maternal grandmother,
Rosa, grew up in an area that
now falls within the borders of Iran,
in a vibrant Chaldean community that
remains to this day. It was from this region
where Biryani, a long-time favorite
Chaldean dish, first emerged.
A Culinary Tradition
When Sally’s grandmother married
and moved to Baghdad, she brought
with her the many traditional recipes
her family cooked in the north. Among
other dishes, the matriarch favored
this Biryani recipe, a dish that Sally’s
mother, Suad Savaya, grew up eating.
Later, as an adult, Suad also mastered
the making of this special dish and
made a point of teaching it to Sally and
her sisters.
About fifteen years ago, to preserve
their own family’s rich traditions, Sally’s
sister, Sanaa Bahoora, took on the
task of typing and organizing all family
recipes. Now, the family has a treasure
box of recipes — easily accessible,
for all to enjoy.
Sally has also done her share to
preserve rich culinary traditions. In
addition to her decades-long career as
a travel agent, Sally has been a longtime
member of the Chaldean American
Ladies of Charity (CALC). One of
the projects Sally is most proud of participating
in is the Ma Baseema cookbook,
a collection of traditional Chaldean
recipes that was first published
in 2010.
On the day I visited Sally at her
Sally Najor learned to prepare Biryani from her mother.
home, she was preparing to make her
family’s signature dish, Biryani - Persian
Style.
A critical step that gives Sally’s
recipe its unique flavor is in the preparation
of the onions. She starts by
sautéing onions until golden brown,
then adds the biryani spices (baharat
biryani), along with a small amount of
chicken stock. However, the ingredient
that makes this dish moist throughout
(and melt in your mouth) is the tomato
paste — Sally’s unique and delicious
surprise in this version of the recipe.
History as Rich as the Taste
Biryani is one of the most popular
dishes in South Asia but, contrary to
popular belief, the dish did not originate
in India. The word “biryani”
comes from the Persian word “birinj”
or “birian” which means “fried before
cooking.” Meat, rice, and vegetables
are each cooked separately before being
mixed and brought to a simmer.
Many historians believe that Biryani
originated from Persia and was
brought to India by the Mughal Empire
(1526-1857). During its reign, the Mughal
Empire controlled much of South
Asia. For about two hundred years,
the empire stretched from the outer
fringes of the Indus River basin in the
west, northern Afghanistan in the
northwest, and Kashmir in the north,
to the highlands of present-day Assam
and Bangladesh in the east, and
the uplands of the Deccan Plateau in
South India.
Biryani was further developed in
the Mughals’ royal kitchen when, according
to legend, Queen Mumtaz
Mahal (who inspired the Taj Mahal),
took notice of Shah Jahan’s undernourished
soldiers while visiting their
barracks. In response, she is said to
have asked the royal chef to develop a
special dish to provide more balanced
nutrition for army personnel.
From what is modern-day Iran,
Biryani has travelled with pilgrims
and soldier-statesmen of noble descent
to the Deccan region in south
India. Over centuries, this dish has
acquired a wide variety of flavor combinations,
depending on the region in
which it is prepared. The dish breaks
through barriers of class and caste
and enjoys a wide appeal among people
of many backgrounds — served
both as street food and in upscale restaurants.
Chaldeans have lived in this general
region since long before modern-day
borders were established. Throughout
many centuries, Chaldean communities
were influenced by traditions from
surrounding cultures and by the many
travelers who passed through. Over
the years, Biryani was adopted and
adapted by many generations of Chaldeans
who made the dish their own.
While Biryani is still known all over
the world as an Indian dish and we instantly
think “Indian cuisine” when
we hear the word, Sally Najor remembers
it as one of her grandmother’s
staples, a key dish among her family’s
rich history of home-cooked Chaldean
recipes.
32 CHALDEAN NEWS JUNE 2023

RECIPE
Biryani, Persian Style
Recipe shared by Sally Najor
and Sanaa Bahoora
Ingredients:
1 whole chicken (or pieces)
1 lb. ground chuck
5 potatoes
3 large onions
6-10 eggs (optional)
4 cups of rice
2 sticks of butter
3 cups of vegetable oil
20 ½ cups of water
¼ Tbsp saffron
5 Tbsp baharat biryani
6 Tbsp salt
1 Tbsp baharat
3 Tbsp curry powder
2 Tbsp ground noomi basra
2 Tbsp tomato paste
Directions:
Step 1, Chicken: Place raw chicken
in an 8-qt pot filled with 12 cups of
water. Add 1 tablespoon of salt and
1 tablespoon of biryani spice. Bring
to a boil, cook for about 1 hour or
until chicken is fully cooked. Cool,
remove large bones, and cut chicken
into small sections. Strain the
chicken broth and set aside.
Step 2, Meat Balls Ras Asfoor: Take
ground chuck, add 1 tablespoon of
salt and 1 tablespoon of baharat,
and mix well. Shape into meatballs.
Sauté in a skillet until brown and
fully cooked, then set aside.
Step 3, Potatoes: Peel and cut into
1” cubes. Fry with 2 cups of oil,
remove and sprinkle with 1 tablespoon
of salt, then set aside.
Step 4, Onions: Cut in half then
slice lengthwise. In a skillet, on medium
heat, add ¼ cup of vegetable
oil, then add onions and sauté until
golden. Add 4 tablespoons of baharat
biryani, 1 tablespoon of salt, 2
tablespoons of curry powder, noomi
basra, and tomato paste. Mix well
and set aside.
Step 5, Eggs: In a 4-quart pot, add
8 cups of water and eggs. Cook until
hard-boiled. Remove the shells
and sprinkle with 1 tablespoon of
curry powder and 1 tablespoon of
salt. Fry in a skillet with 1/4 cup of
vegetable oil, then remove and set
aside.
Step 6, Rice: In an 8-quart pot, heat
butter with 1 tablespoon of salt, 1
tablespoon of baharat biryani, saffron,
1 ½ cup of water, and 3 cups of
reserved chicken broth, then bring
to a boil. Add washed and drained
rice, cook for about 10 minutes on
medium heat, then stir and cook for
15 minutes on low heat.
Step 7, Arrange: In a 10-quart pot,
arrange the onion mixture, chicken,
meatballs, potatoes and 1 cup of
chicken broth, then mix all parts
together. Next, add cooked rice as a
top layer, cover and cook for about 5
minutes. Remove from heat. Remove
the lid, place a tray that’s larger than
the pot opening on top, then carefully
flip upside down in a swift singular
motion. Remove the pot slowly,
taking care to not be burned by the
steam, then place boiled eggs around
the rice and serve.
Although the multiple steps can make
this process somewhat time-consuming,
Biryani is not a complicated dish
to prepare. With exotic flavors that
can transport one’s palate to another
place and time, this popular dish is
well worth the effort.
Above: Biryani is prepared by pre-cooking several ingredients that could easily be stand-alone
dishes, then combining them to simmer with the rice and spices. After the dish is finished
cooking, it is served by swiftly flipping the large pot and emptying the contents onto a tray.
Left: Among the spices used with the dish are saffron, baharat biryani, salt, baharat, curry
powder, ground noomi basra and tomato paste. Rose water is also added to bring out the
unique flavor of the ingredients.
JUNE 2023 CHALDEAN NEWS 33

SPORTS
PHOTOS COURTESY CHALDEAN HOCKEY LEAGUE
Cool as Ice
The Chaldean Hockey League
Above: Team Red celebrates its
Chaldean Hockey League playoff
championship. Left: Team Red
captain Jacob Garmo takes the
Telga Cup for a trip around the rink
at the Detroit Skating Club.
BY STEVE STEIN
Josh Garmo skated up the right
wing, deked Brendan Danou,
eluded two other players, and sent
a perfectly placed shot into the top left
corner of the net. It was a spectacular
goal, and it gave Team Red a thrilling
4-3 overtime win over Team Green in
the first game of the best-of-three Chaldean
Hockey League playoff championship
series.
After playing five minutes of 4-on-
4 overtime hockey, the teams battled
through about 10 minutes of 3-on-3
play before Garmo ended the marathon
game at the Orchard Lake St.
Mary’s Ice Arena.
It was a great win for Team Red,
and a crushing loss for Team Green.
Garmo received a text from Danou,
a good friend, after the game. Danou
didn’t promise revenge. He didn’t do
any trash talking. Instead, he congratulated
Garmo and said if Team Red
was going to win the game, he was
glad Garmo scored the goal.
That story sums up the vibe of the
CHL. It’s a fiercely competitive league,
but all about family, friends, and community.
“It’s the embodiment of our
community,” said Team Red captain
Jacob Garmo.
“It brings together a lot of guys
who normally don’t see each other the
rest of the year,” said Danou, the Team
Green captain.
Asked if the momentum from Josh
Garmo’s overtime goal carried over
into the next game, Jacob Garmo said
quickly, “It did.”
Danou said his team shook off
the loss and came out flying. “But
sometimes things bounce your way in
hockey, and sometimes they don’t,” he
said.
Team Red beat two-time defending
playoff champion Team Green 2-1
in the next playoff game at the Detroit
Skating Club (DSC) in Bloomfield
Township and won the coveted Telga
Cup, the CHL’s version of the Stanley
Cup, which goes to the league’s playoff
champion.
Josh Garmo, named Most Valuable
Player of the playoffs by the league’s
team captains, scored in the second
championship game. But it was Michael
Yaldoo who won it for Team Red
with a goal in the last five minutes.
“I’m glad it was Team Green that
we beat,” said Garmo. “They beat us
in the championship round the last
two seasons.”
The weekly CHL was founded in
2006. After taking two seasons off, it
re-started, had its 2019-20 season interrupted
by the COVID-19 pandemic
just before the playoff championship
series between Team Gold and Team
Black, and has come back stronger
than ever with fresh players joining
each year.
There were about 80 players on the
league’s six teams this season. Regular
season games were played at the Novi
Ice Arena. The playoffs were held at St.
Mary’s and DSC because of scheduling
issues caused by Holy Week and a
wedding.
It was a competitive post-season.
Of the 10 playoff games, six were decided
by one goal and three by two
goals. The only blowout was Team
Red’s 5-0 win over Team Blue in the
first round.
A draft was held before the season.
The draft normally takes place every
three years, but it was after four years
this time because of the COVID-19
34 CHALDEAN NEWS JUNE 2023

shortened season. Team Red and Team
Green each retained its core of players
in the draft and added a few pieces.
For Team Red, which lost seven of
its first eight games but ended up going
8-7-1 in the regular season and 5-1
in the playoffs, two additions were crucial
to its success.
“We switched Joseph Sheena from
forward to defense during the season,
and that was huge,” Jacob Garmo said.
“(Forward) Anthony Hakim also did
a great job. How did we turn things
around? We came together, moved
some people around, and our goalie
(Isaac Garmo) was great.”
The goalie also was a big story
of the Team Green season. “We lost
Drake Danou, the best goalie in the
league (and last year’s playoffs MVP)
to a torn labrum,” Brendan Danou
said. “He got hurt in Week 10 when he
made an acrobatic save and landed on
his shoulder. He tried to play through
it, but he had to shut it down.”
With the league’s blessing, Team
Green brought in Pierce Cadieux, like
Brendan Danou and Drake Danou a
former Birmingham Brother Rice High
School hockey player, to replace Drake
Danou.
Cadieux had never played in the
The captains of the six Chaldean Hockey League teams and Commissioner Kyle Kassa. From left: Brendan Danou
(Team Green), Matt Kesto (Team Black), Andrew Roye (Team Gold), Frankie Awdish (Team White), Commissioner
Kassa, Lawrence Kuza (Team Blue) and Jacob Garmo (Team Red).
league. He did well, taking Team Green
to the championship round of the playoffs,
but he had big skates to fill.
Team Red’s roster also included
Jonathan Kello, Jon Kouza, Kenny
Koza, Joseph Shina, Brandon Kassab,
Daniel Kassab, and Dominic Kassab.
The coaching staff included Sam Yono,
Nawar Karmo, Shaun Attiq, and Anthony
Shina.
Jacob, Josh, and Isaac Garmo,
Kello, Kouza, Sheena and Shina all
are former OL St. Mary’s High School
hockey players.
Team Green’s roster also included
Bryan Farida, Brandon Antoon, David
Anton, Hunter Atchoo, Saad Rassam,
Brian Binno, Stephen Wardia, Joe Pickens,
Mike Yaldo, and Vino Loussia.
Danou issued a warning to the rest
of the league. “Team Green will be
PHOTOS COURTESY CHALDEAN HOCKEY LEAGUE

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Paul Elia Brings the Laughs from Los Angeles
BY CAL ABBO
Paul Elia burst onto the stage
with a bright smile and an air of
star quality. He looked out at the
intimate and tightly-packed room at
Detroit House of Comedy. This was his
dream: to bring a successful show to
his hometown, draw a sizable crowd,
and return favor to the Chaldean community
that raised him.
Elia encountered dozens of Chaldeans
at his show, which he loves.
One group of his fans sitting up front
were immigrants from Alqosh – a relatively
small Chaldean town about 30
miles north of Mosul. He’s brought the
project which he co-founded, Lowkey
Comedy Show, to Detroit, and attracted
his own community in the process.
“I was overwhelmed by the Chaldean
support. It felt like Chaldeans
didn’t want to support until you get to
a certain level,” Elia said. “But there
was a group of Chaldeans that have
followed me since the beginning.”
Elia hasn’t always embraced his
identity to the extent that he does now.
He recounted with nostalgia how his
father first told him how their family
name is actually pronounced. “Your
superpower is being honest and being
who you are,” Elia said. “As an artist,
when you can be you, that’s when you
really start doing your best work. And
it started for me when I learned to say
my name right.”
Born in San Diego, Elia and his
family moved to Southfield when he
was around 8 years old. “I grew up in
a low-income area in Southfield,” he
said. “It was mostly Black and Chaldean.
I’d get into fights and get beat up
all the time.”
Elia said throughout his time in
Southfield, he would start and end lots
of fights. But he would almost always
lose. “My bully was some girl named
Dana,” he said, laughing. “She beat
me up a lot – I think she’s in jail now.”
That was how his sense of humor
really started to develop. Elia realized
he couldn’t be a fighter, but there had
to be something he could do instead of
letting people like Dana pick on him
all the time. In the end, he found that
the answer was to cope with comedy –
his particular solution was to entertain
his bullies by doing impressions.
The bullies would ask Elia to do an
impression, and he would crack everyone
up. “Then I became cool because
I was funny,” he said. “It was really
easy being someone who wasn’t me. I
thought to myself, ‘Wow, people really
like it when I’m someone else.’”
While he was growing up, Elia’s
family had a store on 15 Mile Road
and Gratiot Avenue in Clinton Township
named Vino’s One Stop Market.
He would help out at the store when
he could, but quickly realized that the
market life wasn’t for him. It wasn’t
until he was a few classes away from
an undergraduate degree at Wayne
State University, however, that he decided
to pursue his dreams.
“You can’t win if you don’t play,”
Elia insisted.
He had tons of doubts. His parents,
in all honesty, wanted him to be a lawyer
like his brother; but in the end,
they were supportive of his dreams.
“My mom specifically saw how much
I loved acting and entertainment, and
she let me go to LA,” he added.
Elia’s first small part was in a TV
show called Detroit 1-8-7. The show
included stars like Michael Imperioli
and James McDaniel. There, he met
one of his mentors, Lisa Wiegand, who
would end up giving him a shot in Atlanta.
“She let me stay in her house for
free,” Elia said. “If it wasn’t for Lisa, I
don’t think I could have made it.”
His journey to Los Angeles began
with small successes. “When I came to
California, immediately I was cast in a
play. Right after that, I got a part in this
Lifetime movie,” he said. “Then I got a
part in a short film.”
His efforts didn’t pay much, but
that’s the brutal reality for budding
artists in Los Angeles looking for work.
The play paid him $10 per show. From
the Lifetime movie, he made $300.
And the short film paid him exactly
$0. However, this work led him to an
important contact in Brian Medavoy.
Medavoy and his firm took Elia
on as a client. This was important
because of Medavoy’s reputation as
a producer and agent in Hollywood.
At various points in his career, Medavoy
had managed some of America’s
top talents, including Goldie Hawn,
Bon Jovi, Mariah Carey, Jimmy Fallon,
Patrick Swayze, Jason Bateman, Ryan
Reynolds, and Tobey Maguire.
Unfortunately, even Medavoy
couldn’t help Elia when he was just
starting out. After that initial burst,
Elia experienced extreme difficulty
finding his next gig and moving up in
the world. It was a slow roll from there,
with long days serving as a valet attendant
and showing up to open mics after
his shifts to get his name out there.
Over time, something clicked, and
Elia slowly began to find success. He
found his way onto some ABC and CBS
shows, eventually earning a regular
spot on “Conan.” Elia has demonstrated
his acting skills in several hit
TV shows, including Marvel’s Agents
of Shield, Lady Dynamite, and Major
Crimes. He’s also had significant commercial
campaigns for large brands
like Snickers and Honda. He’s been
featured on Netflix specials as well.
But Elia’s dream was to start his
own touring comedy show, which he
has now done successfully, thanks to
his co-founder Matt Rife. Lowkey Comedy
has featured top-tier talents like
Bill Burr, Iliza Shlesinger, Ali Wong,
and Ramy Youssef.
Elia’s Chaldean identity is an active
part of his background and a dynamic
part of his bit. He often incorporates
elements of his Chaldean heritage into
his performances, especially when
he’s in Detroit, drawing on his experiences
growing up in a Chaldean family
and culture. This ability to blend personal
experience and cultural heritage
into his comedy allows Elia to connect
with his audience on a deep and
meaningful level.
Elia’s success has a broader significance
for the Chaldean community. As
a Chaldean person in the public eye
and the entertainment industry, Elia
serves as a role model for young Chaldeans
who aspire to careers in the arts.
His achievements show the potential
for Chaldean-Americans to succeed in
fields that are often dominated by individuals
from more mainstream cultural
backgrounds, and his story is an
inspiration for anyone with dreams as
big as this country is wide.
36 CHALDEAN NEWS JUNE 2023

PROJECT
LIGHT
THERAPY SERVICES
Therapy can be a big step toward being the healthiest
version of yourself and living the best life possible—our
professional therapists are here for you to access.
Through therapy, you can change self-destructive
behaviors and habits, resolve painful feelings,
improve your relationships, and share your feelings
and experiences. Individuals often seek therapy for help
with issues that may be hard to face alone.
In therapy your therapist will help you to establish person
centered goals and determine the steps you will take to
reach those goals. Your relationship with your therapist
is confidential and our common therapeutic goal for those
we engage is to inspire healthy change to improve quality
of life — no matter the challenge.
We invite you seek out the Light of Project Light! Serving
individuals ages 13 years and up. Please call to request a
Project Light Intake at (586) 722-7253.
For Your Best Health.
CONFIDENTIALITY AND PRIVACY: The CCF and Project Light is committed to your privacy and confidentiality and are sensitive to the stigma and stress that come with seeking
mental health support. Therefore, all counseling records are kept strictly confidential. Information is not shared without client’s written consent. Exceptions to confidentiality are
rare and include persons who threaten safety of themselves others or in circumstances of a court order.
LOOKING FOR A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE?
NOW HIRING BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL THERAPISTS.
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3601 15 MILE ROAD, STERLING HEIGHTS, MI 48310 | (586) 722-7253
JUNE 2023 CHALDEAN NEWS 37

ECONOMICS & ENTERPRISE
Travel in Style, By Land or Sky
BY PAUL NATINSKY
Most of us have daydreams
about cruising downtown
streets in a classic Rolls Royce
or sailing through the clouds in a private
jet with our significant other and
a few close members of our entourage.
Well, we might not be able to own
such luxurious modes of transport,
but we can be king or queen for a day,
thanks to two enterprising Chaldean
businessmen who specialize in royal
treatment.
Vintage Luxury Rentals
Omar Kallabat had worked for his family’s
medical transportation since he
was a teenager, all the while dreaming
of classic cars. In 2021, working at
home as the COVID pandemic raged,
an idea clicked for Kallabat.
“I was sitting at home all day on the
computer. I started losing my mind.
Started to feel unhealthy, like what am
I doing here just staring at a computer
eight hours a day.” He started thinking
that he wanted to do something he
loved. Vintage cars.
“That first car was everything I
had.” He spent his life savings on it. He
is 27 and was 25 at the time he bought
the first car. “After I bought that I had
to succeed,” he said.
That first car was a 1965 Rolls
Royce Phantom. Kallabat got a great
deal on the car through an auction
site. The Phantom is valued at more
than $100,000. Kallabat bought it for
much less—he asked us not to reveal
the price; it was so low that at the time
he thought it was a scam and commenters
on the online auction site
didn’t believe it was the actual selling
price either.
“The auction…the timer started going
down. People are putting their bids
in…I’m not even kidding, I went to the
grotto at St. Thomas’ Church the night
before and said a little prayer. I said,
‘God, I know you don’t work like this,
but just give me this car, I’ll do some
good things for you.’”
In April of 2021, the Phantom made
its appearance on a trailer in Kallabat’s
driveway. In July, the dream car
made its debut at a Lebanese wedding.
“That’s what kick-started it all,”
From left: Heather Namy, Cynthia Barnhart , Thane Namy, Gloria Namy,
Alana Namy, and Luke Namy.
said Kallabat. The wedding was in
downtown Detroit. It generated some
beautiful photos, which Kallabat
promptly put on his website and Instagram
page. “And then the bookings
boldly started coming in.” The first
year he did about 20 weddings.
In 2022, he got more exposure. He
met a few photographers and wedding
planners. He’s earned a few good reviews.
Last year brought Vintage Luxury
Rentals its first additional car, a
’57 Plymouth Belvedere. He bought the
Plymouth six years ago and just finished
renovating it last year. He uses it
as a back-up car for weddings.
Kallabat does minor maintenance
and says he can diagnose any issue.
Major maintenance he takes to his
buddy. “If it wasn’t for (Joel Kahl) there
would be no business.” Kahl rebuilt
the engine on the Plymouth and he rebuilt
the engine on a ’37 Packard, the
fleet’s next ride.
Kallabat met Kahl on Woodward
Avenue a few years ago. Without him,
Kallabat says, the mechanic costs
would have priced him out of business.
The latest members of Vintage Luxury
Rentals’ fleet met Kallabat’s need
for a convertible and increased bookings.
The fleet is now four cars.
“In late 2022, I noticed my bookings
going through the roof,” said Kallabat.
At that point, he had just the
Rolls and the Plymouth. He did
about 50 weddings that year but says
he could have done about 60 more.
So he bought a ’54 Bentley R Type
that came from England with right
hand drive and a 1937 Packard Super
Eight, which he calls the “crown jewel”
of his fleet.
At first, Kallabat did all the driving.
He now uses independent drivers
who earn a 20 percent gratuity from
customers, plus a little extra from Kallabat.
Vintage Luxury Rentals has four
drivers it regularly schedules.
Much of Kallabat’s business is
weddings. The cars are intended for
special occasions, with the minimum
rental for Detroit area events starting
at $1,000 for four hours and $200 for
each additional hour, plus a 20 percent
gratuity for the drivers. The pricing
is all-inclusive; there’s no extra
charge for gas or mileage.
Destination weddings pay a flat
rate for a full day, plus driver lodging
and expenses. Vintage Luxury Rentals
ships the cars to places such as Grand
Rapids, Cleveland and Petoskey.
As for Kallabat, he’s single, but, he
says, “I’m Chaldean, so the pressure is
on.”
Appreciation for beautiful automobiles
stretches wide. One of Kallabat’s
favorite parts of being in the business
of bringing the cars to people is stepping
beyond weddings. He has donated
his services to people in unfortunate
circumstances and regularly allows
people to photograph themselves and
family members with the cars.
One of his cars was used by Wish
Upon a Wedding, a group that organizes
vow renewals for the terminally
ill. In one case, Kallabat took a man
suffering from kidney failure to dinner
free of charge.
BC Flight
For those who seek to take their royal
experience to the skies, BC Flight can
provide a lift. Founded in 2022 by CEO
Thane Namy, BC Flight is a broker—
meaning the company contracts with
operators who provide private jets of
varying sizes along with credentialed
pilots and flight crew. BC Flight takes
care of the client’s needs from arrival
at a small airport to luggage handling
and food and drink aboard the plane.
As an “indirect air carrier” with a
network of operators who operate the
aircraft, Michigan-based BC Flight has
access to several hundred aircraft at
any given time.
“We coordinate everything for
them,” says Namy. “We meet them at
the airport, escort them onto the tarmac
right up to the plane, they drive their
car right up to the plane, an attendant
parks their car and takes their luggage.
“You get there about 10 minutes
before the flight takes off and within 5
to 10 minutes you are airborne and on
your way. No hassles, no TSA, no parking
lots.”
Namy says, “You can be a broker
and operator or … or both.” BC Flight
started out as a broker but want to acquire
“a couple of light jets by the end
of the year.”
25 years ago, Namy got his pilot’s license.
He was a few hours short of his
commercial rating when he started a
telecommunications business, which
did really well. Soon he was married
with children, but never lost his passion
for planes.
When his son was diagnosed with
autism at age 4, a lot of airlines were
“booting families because their special
needs kids were acting up on the
plane.” They didn’t really understand
special needs, so it happened quite a
bit, said Namy.
Namy needed a solution for air
travel with his son. He had no idea
how the private system worked. He
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was doing well financially, but not
well enough to buy a $5 million jet.
“Ownership was out, fractional ownership
was still very, very expensive—
and then I saw the jet card. I was like,
‘Oh, this is interesting. You write a
check, you get a jet card and you get
to fly hours.’”
The jet card is a card that a customer
buys that is good for a specified
number of flight hours. They are typically
for 10, 25, 50 or 100 hours.
Namy’s experience with private-fly
companies was mixed. The flight and
crew were satisfactory, but there was
little orientation or guidance on the
ground, the food came in little boxes
30850 TELEGRAPH ROAD, SUITE 200
BINGHAM FARMS, MI 48025
TEL: (248) 996-8340 CELL: (248) 925-7773
FAX: (248) 996-8342
snavarrette@chaldeanchamber.com
www.chaldeanchamber.com
www.chaldeanfoundation.org
Twitter: @ChaldeanChamber
Instagram: @ChaldeanAmericanChamber
that were hard to manage in the small
cabin, and the service and overall experience
lacked the luxury feel that is
expected with the cost of the service.
Namy thought he could do it better.
He had sold the telecommunications
company he had built and was looking
for a new venture. BC Flight was born.
Namy’s company provides the
luxury experience that its clients are
seeking, along with an easier way for
clients to pay. Namy says other companies
require full payment for jet cards
up front. BC Flight has a more comfortable
plan that helps its corporate and
individual clients manage cash flow.
An initial down payment and monthly
payments financed at about 5 percent
help spread the commitment over time.
“Twenty-five hours is the most popular
package (for jet cards at BC Flights).
You don’t use it up quickly. Four sixhour
trips, three hours each way. Probably
a year, year and a half flight time.
Light jet would be $145,000—$35,000
down and make payments of $4,825 a
month for 24 months.”
There are also plans for lighter users.
“One of our promotions is the light
jet card, 10 hours, $9,500 down and
$1,962 a month over 27 months. That
pays for the 10 hours of jet time. The
average is about $5,000 to $7,000 an
hour on the jet card. If you’re flying
three hours, it’s roughly $18,000.”
Businesses often use the jet card for
executives but also as contest rewards,
such as a trip with private jet. Other
uses include recruiting executives and
executive retreats. Namy says these
types of rewards are popular now that
inexpensive gym memberships have
taken the luster off that perk.
For individuals, private flight service
remains a financial reach.
Some options cost more than
others, but whether you are looking
to hit the open road in style or soar
through the clouds in a private jet,
these two Michigan companies have
you covered.
JUNE 2023 CHALDEAN NEWS 39

EVENT
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Chaldean American
Chamber Celebrates
20 Years in Style
PHOTOS BY NICO SALGADO
The CACC hosted its 20th Annual Awards Dinner on Friday,
April 28, naming Ron Boji of Boji Group as 2023’s
Businessperson of the Year. The event drew a crowd of
nearly 900 to Shenandoah Country Club, where guests
were treated to individual bottles of champagne and
“Heavenly Dates” at each place setting. Speakers included
Governor Gretchen Whitmer and Congressman
John Moolenaar as well as the guest of honor, Ron Boji,
and Mike Denha, last year’s honoree.
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1. CACC’s Businessperson of the Year Ron Boji, flanked by CACC Chair Sly Sandiha (left)
and Vice Chair Kevin Denha (right). 2. CACC and CCF President Martin Manna presents
to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer a hoodie specially designed by Michael Sana of SANA Detroit
for the Chamber’s 20th year. 3. Governor Whitmer meets Dr. Ali Tatar, Governor of
Dohuk, an Iraqi city in Nineveh Province, as CACC Board members look on. 4. From
left, CACC board member Andy Gutman, Congresswoman Haley Stevens, Ken Gutman,
and Ronnie Babbie. 5. Governor Whitmer stopped to greet Louie Boji, seated, as well
as other family members. 6. CACC founder Sabah Hermiz (Summa) makes remarks
after receiving special recognition. 7. Representing the Gasso family. 8. Swift Home
Loans ladies in the house! 9. The Babbie family came to celebrate. 10. The Elia
Group was the social media sponsor for the event. 11. Congressman John James and
his three children outside the Chaldean Cultural Center in Shenandoah Country Club.
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40 CHALDEAN NEWS JUNE 2023

JUNE 2023 CHALDEAN NEWS 41

FROM THE ARCHIVE
Jerry’s
Fruit Market
A
commission is looking to place a historical
marker on 7 Mile Road, commemorating
the businesses and people that
contributed to a thriving neighborhood that was
so popular it earned the distinction, “Chaldean
Town.” We will be publishing photos from that
historic era all this summer. The photos on this
page were submitted by Heather Boji.
Top of page: Jerry’s Fruit Market and
Iraqi Bakery, located across the street
from Greenfield Union.
Above, from left: Jamil Markoz loading
in fresh produce. Kevin Boji arranges
fruit while a cashier looks on.
Right: Jerry (Jebrail) Boji in front of
Jerry’s Market aka Iraqi Bakery.
42 CHALDEAN NEWS JUNE 2023