SEPTEMBER 2023

METRO DETROIT CHALDEAN COMMUNITY VOL. 20 ISSUE VIII SEPTEMBER 2023 

Dreaming Big 

THE STORY OF 

THOMAS DENHA 

Featuring: 

Concept to Concrete: Thamer Hannona 

Unstoppable: Ella Lucia 

Chaldean Youth Camp and OLF

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4 CHALDEAN NEWS SEPTEMBER 2023

METRO DETROIT CHALDEAN COMMUNITY | SEPTEMBER 2023 | VOL. 20 ISSUE VIII 

ON THE COVER 

18 Dreaming a Bigger Dream 

Thomas Denha profile 

By Dr. Adhid Miri 

FEATURES 

20 From Concept to Concrete 

Thamer Hannona 

By Cal Abbo 

26 Reviving Voices of the Past 

AI and ancient languages 

By Christina Salem 

28 Annual Pilgrimage 

The trip to Carey Ohio 

By Weam Namou 

DEPARTMENTS 

18 

30 Sharing the Chaldean Story 

The Najjars & StoryCorps 

By Cal Abbo 

32 Culture & History 

A look at education in Iraq 

By Dr. Adhid Miri 

6 From the Editor 

By Sarah Kittle 

8 Foundation Update 

Piston visit, Sue Katulla honored, 

Back-to-school event 

10 Noteworthy 

Omar Hakim, Javon David, Michael Sarafa 

12 Chaldean Digest 

World Youth Day, New pastoral 

center, Iran crackdown 

14 Religion 

Chaldean Youth Camp and OLF 

By Michael Antoon 

16 In Memoriam 

36 Sports 

Ella Lucia is unstoppable 

By Steve Stein 

38 Family Time 

Fall in Love with Autumn 

By Valene Ayar 

40 Life Skills 

Renting vs. Buying 

By Crystal Kassab Jabiro 

42 Arts & Entertainment 

Raad Hakeem: Music Man 

By Weam Namou 

46 Event 

Chaldean Cultural Center Tour 

Photos by Alex Lumelsky 

17 Obituaries 

Ghanem Azzow, Zuhair Antone, 

and Faisal Arabo 

30 


FROM THE EDITOR 

PUBLISHED BY 

Chaldean News, LLC 

Chaldean Community Foundation 

Martin Manna 

EDITORIAL 

EDITOR IN CHIEF 

Sarah Kittle 

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS 

Cal Abbo 

Michael Antoon 

Valene Ayar 

Crystal Kassab Jabiro 

Dr. Adhid Miri 

Weam Namou 

Christina Salem 

Steve Stein 

ART & PRODUCTION 

CREATIVE DIRECTOR 

Alex Lumelsky with SKY Creative 

GRAPHIC DESIGNER 

Zina Lumelsky with SKY Creative 

PHOTOGRAPHERS 

Alex Lumelsky 

Weam Namou 

SALES 

Interlink Media 

Sana Navarrette 

CLASSIFIEDS 

Sana Navarrette 

Subscriptions: $35 per year 

CONTACT INFORMATION 

Story ideas: edit@chaldeannews.com 

Advertisements: ads@chaldeannews.com 

Subscription and all other inquiries: 

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Chaldean News 

30095 Northwestern Hwy, Suite 101 

Farmington Hills, MI 48334 

www.chaldeannews.com 

Phone: (248) 851-8600 

Publication: The Chaldean News (P-6); 

Published monthly; Issue Date: September 2023 

Subscriptions: 12 months, $35. 

Publication Address: 

30095 Northwestern Hwy., Suite 101, 

Farmington Hills, MI 48334; 

Permit to mail at periodicals postage rates 

is on file at Farmington Hills Post Office 

Postmaster: Send address changes to 

“The Chaldean News 30095 Northwestern 

Hwy., Suite 101, Farmington Hills, MI 48334” 

Celebrating the Dreamers 

This month’s Chaldean News has so many 

inspiring and uplifting stories, beginning 

with our cover story. Thomas Denha was a 

man who dreamed big; he had dreams not only for 

himself and his family, but for the entire Chaldean 

community. He came to America at the tender age 

of 18 and yes, he took risks and learned along the 

way, but he kept in the forefront of his mind his 

vision for a better life. Thomas’ family and friends 

are understandably incredibly proud of his accomplishments, 

and we have the honor of sharing his 

story with our readers. 

Another dreamer whose story we are fortunate 

to share is Thamer Hannona. His name 

may look familiar to our readers, as we profiled 

his father Habib in the past. Thamer is a worldclass 

creative and his concepts drive the future 

of the automotive industry. His work unites the 

past and the future in some truly groundbreaking 

visions of cars to come. You’ve heard of 

self-driving cars, but did you know there were 

different levels of automation? Read Cal Abbo’s 

insightful article to learn more. 

News about artificial intelligence is trending 

right now, and we are pleased to bring you a story 

on how new technologies are helping to uncover the past. In 

her article on AI and ancient languages, Christina Salem tells 

the story of Matthew Nazari, a linguistics trailblazer who is 

using AI technology to decipher not only how the ancient Assyrian 

language looks and reads, but also how it sounds. 

Weam Namou pens a personal account of her pilgrimage to 

Carey, Ohio, for the celebration of the Feast of the Assumption 

of Mary. This annual trip is undertaken by many of the faithful 

– approximately 5,000 people each year. Weam talks about the 

pilgrimage itself and shares her knowledge of the origins of Our 

Lady of Consolation Church, where it all happens. 

As the Chaldean News grows, we are partnering with others 

to bring you more varied and rich coverage of the community 

at large. One of the ways we are doing that is through 

a grant from Michigan Humanities to tell ‘Great Michigan 

SARAH KITTLE 

EDITOR 

IN CHIEF 

Stories.’ Our article on father-and-son team Nick and 

Randy Najjar and their field trip to Kalamazoo to record 

a conversation for NPR’s Story Corps series falls 

under that category. The event page in this issue also 

includes a local group’s introduction to the Chaldean 

Cultural Center, another part of the Chaldean story. 

As we get ready to send our kids back to school 

or maybe prepare ourselves for school, Dr. Adhid 

Miri schools us on what education looked like in 

Iraq in the beginning of the 20th century compared 

to what it looks like today. Education is so important 

to any culture, and we are no different. 

The Chaldean News is partnering with 

others to bring you more varied and rich 

coverage of the community at large. One 

of the ways we are doing that is through 

a grant from Michigan Humanities to tell 

‘Great Michigan Stories.’ 

Other topics covered in September include the recognition 

of CCF staff and noteworthy community members, 

World Youth Day, a new pastoral center in Dohuk, and Chaldean 

Youth Camp. We also honor our dearly departed and 

share some life skills for new Americans. 

Valene Ayar helps us fall in love with Autumn, Steve 

Stein shares the story of unstoppable Ella Lucia, and Weam 

Namou interviews musician Raad Hakeem. Sit back with a 

nice cup of chai and settle in for a good read. We are happy 

to have you here. 

Sarah Kittle 

Editor in Chief 

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PUBLISHER'S CIRCLE 

Join the 

Publishers Circle 

As the publication of record for Michigan’s 

Chaldean community, the mission of the 

Chaldean News is to preserve and archive 

Chaldean heritage and history, and to tell the 

ongoing story of Chaldean contributions to the 

communities in which we live and work — in Michigan 

and around the world. 

Since being acquired by the Chaldean Community 

Foundation in 2019, the Chaldean News has substantially 

increased its readership and social media following, 

introduced new digital and website content, and expanded 

storytelling with the help of small grant funding. 

The Publisher’s Circle initiative empowers community members 

to provide major support for the Chaldean News and its 

important mission. With the generous help of individuals and 

organizations, together, we can ensure that this vital resource 

continues to educate and connect the community, while 

evolving to meet the needs of future generations. 

The Chaldean News has ambitious plans which include 

launching a CN app and continuing to expand into new 

media such as radio and TV, all with the goal of preserving 

our culture and telling the story of our people. You 

can take part in helping to preserve your Chaldean 

heritage by joining the Publisher’s Circle today. 

Jibran “Jim” Manna 

Martin and Tamara Manna 

Sylvester and Rita Sandiha 

We are grateful for the generous and 

continuing support of our community. 

To learn more, visit chaldeannews.com 

or contact us at 248-851-8600 

Let’s grow the circle. 


FOUNDATION UPDATE 

Sue Kattula 

Honored 

by Macomb 

County 

Earlier this month, Breaking 

Barriers Program Manager 

Sue Kattula was inducted into 

the Macomb Hall of Fame, 

which honors individuals and 

organizations that have made 

outstanding contributions 

to improving the economic, 

family, and community life 

of those that live in Macomb 

County. 

Detroit Pistons Star Visits CCF 

CCF’s summer basketball program participants were visited by the Detroit Pistons’ Isaiah Stewart. Stewart 

talked to the kids about goal setting and how to be successful in school and on the court. Participants 

also had the opportunity to ask questions and enjoy a game of “Lightning” with the NBA player. 

This summer, over thirty middle school boys did a deep dive into the game of basketball, learning 

basic skills and teamwork, and making new friends. We are grateful for the additional support 

of the Good Sports Foundation to outfit the boys and update the basketball equipment. For more 

information on next year’s program, call us at 586-722-7253. 

Isaiah Stewart 

pictured with CCF’s 

Youth Basketball 

Program participants 

Record Crowd for 

Back-to-School Events 

Nearly 400 attendees came to the Warren Consolidated Schools 

(WCS) Back-to-School event on August 10. The event provided 

free resources and the ability to ask questions of various staff 

members. 

WCS distributed 325 backpacks, and Stellantis’ Middle Eastern 

Employees Together (MEET) group also donated 100 bags of 

school supplies for the event. 

Another 280 attended the Utica Community Schools event on 

August 17. Despite the rainy conditions, many families came early 

to gain access to free district resources and receive backpacks 

and school supplies for children starting the school year. 

Upcoming Events 

September 11: ESL/GED and Early Childhood Classes Start 

September 22: 5th Annual Awards Gala 

September 27: Community Job Fair 

All smiles for the WCS and UCS students receiving backpacks 

and school supplies. 

Sue Kattula at the Macomb 

Hall of Fame Awards Dinner 

Kattula celebrates 12 

years of significant contributions 

to the Foundation, 

starting as a case worker in 

2011. With a passion for advocating 

on behalf of people 

with developmental disabilities, 

under Sue’s leadership, 

the Breaking Barriers program 

grew. With her unique 

vision, Sue filled in the gaps 

where services did not exist 

for adults arriving in the U.S. 

without knowledge of the 

language or the tools to navigate 

in their new country. 

The B.E.A.M. and H.E.A.L. 

projects serving those individuals 

who are blind or deaf 

were spearheaded by Sue to 

allow individuals to communicate, 

learn important life 

skills, find employment opportunities, 

and socialize. 


AWARD-WINNING ATTORNEY 

ALEXANDER A. AYAR 

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importance, including when the company is on the line and a 

comprehensive legal strategy from an experienced lawyer is required. 

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Super Lawyers (Business Litigation, Michigan) 

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Oakland County Executive Elite 40 Under 40 

Up & Coming Lawyers, Michigan Lawyers Weekly (2016) 

Attorney on the Rise, Chaldean American Bar (2016) 

Special Tribute Recipient from the Michigan Legislature 

Avvo Rating: Superb (highest rating) 

Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Rating: 

AV Preeminent Lawyer (highest rating) 

PROFESSIONAL CONTRIBUTIONS 

Judicial Advisory Committee, Eastern District of Michigan 

Judicial Qualifications Committee, State Bar of Michigan 

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Client Protection Fund Committee, State Bar of Michigan 

Past President, Chaldean American Bar Association 

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NOTEWORTHY 

Omar Hakim New Director of Education 

for Detroit Public TV 

The local PBS affiliate, Detroit Public TV (DPTV) has hired Omar Hakim as its new executive director 

of education. In his new role, Hakim will lead the day-to-day management and strategy of the 

education team, which includes DPTV’s work with parents and early childhood educators in the 

city of Detroit. The scope also includes the statewide Michigan Learning Channel (MLC), as well 

as its newly launched Future of Work educational initiative. In addition, Hakim will assume the 

philanthropic responsibility of working with the state government to seek out funding to maintain 

sustainable financial support for MLC. 

Prior to joining DPTV, Hakim served as an educator, curriculum and instructional leader, and 

building administrator in Troy and Birmingham Public Schools and with Detroit Country Day 

Schools (DCDS). 

Javon R. David named a ‘2023 

Honoree for Influential Women of Law’ 

by Michigan Lawyers Weekly 

Javon R. David, an attorney at Butzel, has been named as one of Michigan Lawyers Weekly’s “Influential 

Women of Law” for 2023. The awards program, previously known as “Women in the Law,” honors women 

attorneys and judges for their excellent work on behalf of the justice system, helping clients, commitment 

to their communities, and service to the profession. 

David is a member of Butzel’s Litigation and Dispute Resolution Practice Group, one of the 

firm’s largest practice areas. She concentrates her practice in the areas of commercial litigation, 

media and entertainment law, and product liability. She has extensive litigation experience, and 

successfully handles matters from the onset of suit through trial. 

David serves on the Business Court and Counsel Committee for the Oakland County Bar 

Association and serves as Deputy General Counsel for the Michigan Press Association 

(MPA). She also serves on the Board of Governors for the Young Leaders Council and is 

an active member of the Chaldean American Chamber of Commerce. Notably, she performs 

pro bono work for Avalon Healing Center, a Detroit-based non-profit which does 

important work to help survivors of sexual assault and human trafficking. 

Michael Sarafa Named as Counsel for Butzel 

With his 35 years in business, law, finance, and public affairs, Michael G. Sarafa has been named Counsel for 

Butzel. Helping clients navigate issues in the governmental sector as well as in the realm of outside counsel services, 

Michael has achieved an enviable reputation in legal and political circles in Michigan as a knowledgeable 

and trusted legal advisor. Now he practices law in the firm’s Troy location and in the 

Butzel offices in the State and US Capitols. Michael is a member of the Government Relations 

and Regulatory Specialty Team and General Counsel Services Practice Department. 

He began his career in the governmental arena as a legislative aide in the Michigan 

House of Representatives and later served as an executive assistant to Dennis 

Archer during his tenure as Mayor of Detroit. His experience includes assembling 

teams of finance, human resources, operations, marketing, and legal professionals. 

As CEO of Bank of Michigan, Michael successfully navigated the bank through 

the 2008-2010 real estate recession. 

As a community leader, Michael has served on numerous boards of directors 

and nonprofit organizations, including Bloomfield Brother Rice High School, Bank 

of Ann Arbor, Chaldean Community Foundation, Michigan Association of Beauty 

Professionals, and Supercuts Franchisee Association. 


What can we do together? 

Can we build stronger, healthier communities? 

Can we make health better by making it better for everyone? 

Can we impact today and inspire tomorrow? 

Visit corewellhealth.org and discover what we can do together.

CHALDEAN DIGEST 

Young people flock together at the Parque Tejo in Lisbon for a vigil with Pope Francis, 

ahead of the 37th World Youth Day, Saturday, Aug. 5, 2023. 

World Youth Day ‘Home’ event brings 

teens in communion with peers in Lisbon 

While an estimated 1.5 million young people 

gathered in Lisbon for World Youth Day with 

Pope Francis, another 62 gathered in metro 

Detroit with Archbishop Allen Vigneron. These 

youth were from 11 different parishes, and they 

came together at Our Lady of the Fields Camp 

in Brighton, staying there in solidarity with 

their counterparts in Spain. 

Archbishop Vigneron emphasized that message 

of unity in his homily during Mass, celebrated 

alongside Bishop Francis Y. Kalabat of 

the Chaldean Diocese of St. Thomas the Apostle, 

who owns and operates the camp. 

“By the power of the Holy Spirit, we are 

very much in communion with all the pilgrims 

gathered around our Holy Father the pope, 

in Lisbon,” Archbishop Vigneron said. “And 

so we are the recipients of graces poured out 

there, but also we ought to understand that 

they are blessed by our observance of World 

Youth Day. In fact, each of us is blessed by 

the observance of all of us. So whatever your 

own particular intentions or aspirations are, 

as you come to this pilgrimage, remember, be 

assured you are not alone.” 

– Detroitcatholic.com 

PHOTO BY ANA BRIGIDA / AP 

PHOTO COURTESY ACN 

New pastoral center in 

Iraq is a sign of hope 

Nine years after ISIS invaded and forced Christians to flee from 

Iraq, Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) has just helped complete 

a project. The large pastoral center, begun in 2019, will serve the 

1,450 Catholic families estimated to live in Dohuk. Most are Chaldean, 

but about 1/3 are estimated to be Syriac. 

The ground floor will be dedicated to activities of the diocese, 

including Radio Mary, a listening center, the Mother Teresa Fraternity 

for the Poor and Sick, archives, and even a museum. The 

first floor will house classrooms and the second floor will be a 

permanent residence for Bishop Azad Shaba and 11 priests. 

After a visit to Dohuk in March 2022, ACN approved a support 

package that allowed the local church to go ahead with construction. 

The completed pastoral center was inaugurated on July 8 by 

Bishop Shaba, who has led the diocese since 2021. 

– Churchinneed.org 

Group photo with Bishop Azad Shaba in front of the Papa 

Francisco Pastoral Center in Dohuk. 

PHOTO BY VAHID SALEMI/AP 

In this photo taken Saturday, Dec. 25, 2010, Christians attend the Christmas Mass at the St. Grigor Armenian 

Catholic Church in Tehran, Iran. Iran’s recent crackdown demonstrates the limits of religious tolerance by Islamic 

leaders who often boast they provide room for other faiths. 

Iran arresting 

Christians 

in new 

crackdown 

Iranian authorities recently arrested dozens 

of Christians, mostly coverts from Islam but 

also some Assyrian Chaldeans who were 

baptized as children. Article 18, a human 

rights organization, reports that at least 69 

people were taken into custody. Asia News 

reports that after their arrest, people were 

forced to sign statements pledging to refrain 

from Christian activities or undergo Islamic 

re-education in order to be released. 

“Overall, there seems to be a renewed or 

more aggressive crackdown on groups the 

regime feels threatened by,” said Article 18 

director Mansour Borji. 

– Catholic World News 



RELIGION 

Campers enjoy the 

many activities, 

including a ropes 

obstacle course. 

Chaldean Youth Camp 

& Our Lady of the Fields 

BY MICHAEL ANTOON 

Chaldean Youth Camp, or CYC 

for short, is a summer camp 

program containing a variety 

of traditional camp activities such 

as sports, team building activities, 

art projects, campfires, and indoor 

games, while at the same time promoting 

the values and ideals of the 

Chaldean Catholic Church. 

The CYC was created in 2014 and 

is held annually at Our Lady of the 

Fields Camp & Retreat Center in Brighton 

(previously Camp Chaldean). A 

group of seminarians and volunteers 

pioneered this camp to bring our 

Chaldean youth together while making 

faith fun. In our rapidly evolving 

world, cultural heritage and identity 

play an essential role in connecting 

us to our roots. This camp serves as a 

beacon for Chaldean youth, providing 

them with an avenue to (most importantly) 

foster faith while also being 

connected to their culture. 

Our Lady of the Fields Camp has 

become a haven for our community 

to connect and unite. Bought in 

2007 from the City of Detroit, it was 

originally named “Camp Chaldean.” 

In 2010, construction began on the 

beautiful St. George Shrine, which 

was completed in 2012. The property 

and shrine, located around Euler 

Lake, was purchased and built with 

money donated from the Shamaya 

(Sam) Kassab Fund, the late father of 

Mary Ann Kassab Ayar. 

In 2014, Chaldean Youth Camp 

was officially in business, offering day 

and overnight sessions. Later in 2018, 

His Excellency Mar Francis Y. Kalabat 

renamed “Camp Chaldean,” giving it 

the new name Our Lady of the Fields 

Camp and Retreat Center (OLF). The 

Diocese also hired Mr. Michael Hickey 

to be the Executive Director of OLF. 

Under the great leadership of Mr. 

Hickey, 2019 saw the introduction of the 

high and low ropes course, and the gates 

of OLF were further opened beyond the 

Chaldean community. Through 2020 

and 2021 OLF continued to host Catholic 

youth groups and many schools from 

the Archdiocese of Detroit, as well as 

from the Diocese of Lansing. 

In 2022, OLF partnered with Damascus 

Mission to host over 1,200 

campers over 8 weeks, on a yearly basis. 

The diocese also purchased an additional 

54-acre parcel of property that 

will be used for future development. 

Today, in 2023, the Camp has just 

about anything, and maybe more 

than you can even ask for. It features 

a renovated dining hall with a new 

deck overlooking the lake, renovated 

sleeping cabins with new bunk beds 

and showers, a high and low ropes 

course, kayaks and canoes, a beach, 

large sports fields, a rock-climbing 

wall and zip-line, GAGA pits, updated 

pontoons for lake cruises, an inflatable 

water activity course, basketball 

courts, bonfire pits, and much more! 

Many thanks for the camp’s successes 

are owed to Mr. Michael Hickey, 

the executive director. Mr. Hickey 

has been a theology teacher in the 

Archdiocese of Detroit for more than 

30 years. He has taught at St. Frances 

Cabrini High School, Brother 

Rice High School, U of D Jesuit High 

School, and is now the campus minister 

at Marian Catholic High School. He 

was also the previous executive director 

of Camp Sancta Maria, a Catholic 

summer camp in Gaylord, Michigan. 

Mr. Hickey, his wife, and five children 

wholeheartedly dedicate their time 

to the Camp and its mission of fun, 

faith, and fellowship. Our Lady of the 

Fields would surely not be the same 

without Mr. Hickey. 

With the support of OLF and Mr. 

Hickey, as well as the Chaldean Diocese, 

CYC’s committee has continued 

to nourish and inspire our future generations. 

With 5 different camps, 3 one 

day and 2 overnight, CYC continues 

to grow yearly. 1st and 2nd-grade students 

attend the Co-Ed Junior One Day 

Camp. 3rd to 6th graders attend the 

boy’s/girl’s one-day camps. Finally, 

7th to 10th graders attend the boys/ 

girls overnight camps. 

With fully booked camps year after 

year, CYC also requires a strong base 

of volunteers. Many Chaldean young 

adults, including myself, give their 

time to CYC because of the fruit they 

know it bears. 

Many (again including myself) 

were campers in the past and their values 

were formed through this camp in 

their childhood. 

In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus said, 

“Let the little children come to me, and 

do not hinder them, for the kingdom of 

heaven belongs to such as these.” (Matthew 

19:14) This is what CYC is about, 

bringing the youth to God. 

“CYC provides a chance for our 

youth to connect with Christ, celebrate 

our culture, and simply have fun. All 

these aspects find their foundation in 

Jesus Christ,” says Chaldean seminarian 

Matthew Bakkal, who oversees the 

camp’s ministry program. 

From committees to volunteers to 

activities, all must reflect on Jesus. This 

camp is such a blessing to our Chaldean 

community for many reasons, but 

at the heart of all, it reflects on Jesus. 

The successes of both Our Lady of 

the Fields and Chaldean Youth Camp 

are ones that our community should 

take extreme pride in. OLF has become 

an esteemed retreat center, not just for 

those in the Chaldean community, and 

CYC has become a true part of our children’s 

formation. 

If you feel called to support the 

future of Our Lady of the Fields, as 

well as our future generations of 

Chaldean youth, visit olf.camp. Also, 

visit Chaldeanyouthcamp.com for 

sponsorship information, and stay 

tuned to the CYC Instagram page or 

website for registration information 

coming in 2024. 


202307_18-CFCU-MoneyMarket-PRINT_ChaldeanNews-FINAL.pdf 1 7/18/23 2:15 PM 

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IN MEMORIAM 

Ibrahim Khamas 

Al Haddad 

Jul 1, 1940 – 

Jul 21, 2023 

Thamer Habeeb 

Jolagh 

Jul 1, 1961 – 


Suad Tobia Talia 

Dec 14, 1931 – 


Samantha “Sam” 

Matty 

May 16, 1989 – 


Khalel Mikho 

Hirmuz Nazi 

Jul 1, 1951 – 


Mansour Hermiz Osi 

Jul 1, 1925 – 


Nibras Sada Isho 

Al Barwary 

Sep 18, 1982 – 


Hameed (Adil) 

Shaker Hami 

Feb 21, 1955 – 


Kamila Shamasha 

Kassab Nafso 

Jun 1, 1939 – 


Sabah Yakou 

Jul 1, 1952 – 


Mustafa 

Naeem-Tawfeeq Abid 

Dec 22, 1954 – 


Noori Jarjis Cholagh 

Jul 1, 1939 – 


Sukayna Hanna 

Haddad 

Jan 15, 1963 – 


George Jarjis Dawaf 

Dec 20, 1936 – 


Thair Joseph Shaba 

Jul 14, 1970 – 


Lami Yousif Karrumi 

Mar 24, 1944 – 


Bashir Hayaly 

Jul 1, 1934 – 


Mike (Gulina) 

Naaoum Sesi 

Oct 25, 1934 – 


Salem Tobia Shallal 

Jul 1, 1934 – 

Aug 1, 2023 

Badriyah Mansour 

Yousef 

Jul 1, 1932 – Aug 1, 

2023 

Husni Hanna Zeer 

Apr 5, 1939 – 


Steve (Zuhair) 

Suleiman Salem 

Sep 17, 1949 – 


Shato Sheto 

Jul 1, 1930 – 


Sabiha Tobia Matty 

Feb 20, 1941 – 


Suad Elya 

Jul 5, 1934 – 


Nagham Sabri Saffo 

Mar 16, 1973 – 


Frank (Falah) 

Yousif Shafou 

Jul 1, 1953 – 


Salem Daoud 

Hannosh 

Jun 14, 1957 – 


Latifa Jajo 

Jul 1, 1947 – 


Kheyri Sheena 

Jul 1, 1942 – 


Nihad Matte 

Dawood Toshe 

Sep 5, 1970 – 


John (Aswad) Akrawi 

Jul 13, 1963 – 


Nargiz Elia Al Faris 

Jul 1, 1932 – 


Nabil Shaker Dallo 

Sep 10, 1948 – 


Faith Kinaya Gumma 

Jul 16, 1992 – 



OBITUARIES 

Ghanem Daoud Azzow 

Ghanem Daoud Azzow was born 

on June 20, 1940, to parents 

Daoud Hanna Azzow and Hasina 

Mansour Oram and passed away 

on July 27, 2023. He is survived 

by his cherished wife Bassima 

Seman Azzow and beloved children 

Diana (Fouad) Haddad and 

May Azzow (Mother Nidhal George Herfi). Ghanem was 

preceded in death by his sibling Akram Azzow but is 

survived by siblings Sabah Azzow, Bassima Avenelle 

Azzow, Ramzi Hanna Azzow, Mahir Azzow, and Raad 

Azzow. He was a loving grandfather to Jordan Atkins, 

Kayla Haddad, and Frank Haddad. 

Zuhair Elias Antone 

Zuhair Elias Antone was born on July 16, 1936, in 

Baghdad, Iraq. At the age of 87, he passed away 

peacefully and comfortably at Ascension Providence 

Hospital in Novi, Michigan on Wednesday, August 16, 

2023, after bravely enduring a significant stroke two 

weeks prior. 

As the last surviving child of his parents, Elias 

and Hanniya Antone, Zuhair 

embraced his role within 

his family with grace and 

strength alongside his siblings 

Miriam (Hermez Atchu), 

Yousif (Nazhat), Alice (Shakir), 

Najiba, Peter (Najiba), 

Noori (Claire) and Adil (Ann). 

On September 4, 1966, he 

married the love of his life, Rosemary, beginning 

a partnership that would enrich their lives and the 

lives of those around them. Together, they raised 

four sons: Rick (deceased), Tony (Nermien), Jeff (Nikki), 

and Steve (Rachel), and shared the joy of eight 

cherished grandchildren: Joey, Grace, Luke, Jordan, 

Danny, Charlie, Hope, and Will. As we bid farewell 

to Zuhair Elias Antone, may his spirit rest in eternal 

peace, and may the memories of his love, kindness, 

laughter, and unwavering faith continue to shine 

brightly in our hearts. 

Faisal Michael Arabo 

Born in Iraq on April 7, 1930, Faisal Michael Arabo 

lived a storied life. At age 21 and with little more 

than $120 in his pocket, he 

boarded the T.S.S. Atlantic 

and began the 21 - day passage 

to New York in pursuit of the 

American Dream. 

From his 1970s radio program 

on Voice of America to his 

long-running Arabic news TV 

show “Arab Voice in Detroit”, 

Faisal dedicated his time to the education and entertainment 

of thousands of Arab Americans who 

longed to stay connected to their ethnic and cultural 

roots. He also represented the community through 

his political advocacy, chairing the End Sanctions 

Against Iraq committee in the 1990s and leading 

multiple missions to Iraq, documenting conditions 

in the country and raising awareness of the plight of 

Iraqi Christians. 

Cherished husband of Virjean Arabo, father to 

Farah, Fairuz, Firas, Fay and Flora, grandfather 

to Patrick, Thomas, Jack, Niko, Jensen, and Cosette, 

friend to many, and pioneer to our community, 

Faisal will long be remembered for the path 

he chartered for future generations of Iraqi immigrants. 


COVER STORY 

Dreaming Bigger Dreams 

A profile of Thomas Denha 

BY ADHID MIRI, PHD 

In the early and mid-20th century, 

countless numbers of young Iraqi 

men were moving from villages to 

fill up major Iraqi cities like Baghdad, 

Mosul, and Basra. But a few visionaries, 

courageous young men, were 

more adventurous and turned their 

faces another way, journeying west to 

the United States of America. The late 

Thomas Denha was one of them. 

Early Life 

Denha, a Chaldean Christian, was 

born in the village of Telkeppe in 

Iraq in 1927. He spent most of his 

early life in Telkeppe with his parents 

Mansouri Denha and Jamila (Nafsu) 

Denha. Thomas is the second eldest 

of 6 siblings (Yousif, Sabri, Hanneh 

Semaan, Julie Hanna, Najeeba Yaldo, 

and Samira Kassab). He attended 

school in Mosul. 

Thomas’ father Mansouri and his 

brother Elias owned a tahini mill along 

with their extended family. They all 

worked in the fields and operated their 

own manufacturing business making 

tahini, a paste made from sesame 

seeds. The extended Denha family 

were (and still are) widely known as 

the original manufacturers of tahini 

in the region; they made a good living 

selling their brand name and premier 

product to other villages in the 

Nineveh Province and Duhok. 

Coming to America 

Dreaming bigger dreams, Thomas decided 

to venture to America when he 

was 18 years old. He arrived in New 

York Harbor shortly after the end of 

World War II. Upon his arrival in Michigan, 

he stayed one night with relatives 

in Detroit, in a small, noisy, and 

overcrowded house. 

Appreciative of the help but knowing 

he needed to strike out on his own, 

Thomas packed his suitcase and left, 

despite not knowing where to go or 

what to do. William Shakespeare once 

said, “The best things in life happen 

by chance,” and by chance, as Thomas 

was strolling the old streets of Detroit, 

Thomas Denha through the years. 

he spotted a party store with a familiar 

Chaldean face within. 

Thomas went in and greeted the 

man in Sureth, which put a smile on 

the face of the person who turned out 

to be the owner; he also was a Chaldean 

from the village of Telkeppe. 

Thomas told him, “I am new here. I 

just arrived from Iraq. I have no money, 

no place to live, and I need a job.” 

The man immediately embraced 

him and offered him accommodations 

and a job at his store. That wonderful 

welcoming man was Aziz Hesano. After 

a few months, Thomas moved to a 

rooming house with other Chaldean 

men like him who would become his 

lifelong friends —Najeeb Garmo, Louie 

Denha, and Buddy Atchoo, among 

others. They remained close friends 

throughout their lives. 

Building a Family 

The young bachelor Thomas was not 

used to the harsh, frigid winters of 

Michigan. In 1954, he decided to travel 

back to the warm weather of Iraq. It 

was that year that he married his wife, 

Virgine Nadhir, and they both made 

their way back to Michigan. At the time, 

there were about 150 Chaldeans in the 

metro Detroit area. The small Chaldean 

community was close knit and saw 

each other at church each Sunday, and 

of course, during community events, 

communions, and weddings. 

Thomas and Virgine started their 

life together in Highland Park but 

moved to Beverly Hills in response to 

the riots in Detroit. Theirs was a special 

marriage, anchored in faith, love 

and respect. Together, they raised five 

children: Roger, Cindy, Connie, Mark, 

and Kevin. Virgine still lives in the 

family home nearly 60 years later. She 

now has 3 daughters-in-law (Karen, 

Nesreen and Contessa Denha), a sonin-law 

(Jay Yasso), 12 grandchildren, 

and 8 great grandchildren. 

Even though Thomas himself did 

not complete high school, he understood 

the importance of education and 

acquiring new skills. He was adamant 

that his children receive a quality education 

and even encouraged his sons 

to go away to school—during a time 

when very few Chaldean children left 

home for school. As a result, all his 

children have degrees, careers, and 

successful businesses. 

The World of Business 

Like many other Iraqi immigrants during 

that time, Thomas started working 

for other Chaldeans at grocery stores in 

Detroit. Also, like many others, he eventually 

went on to own his own business. 

Stores Thomas owned include Food 

Time Market and Superland Market; he 

partnered in a Howard Johnsons restaurant 

with his good friend Gabe Esshaki. 

In 1975, he made the daring move to a 

growing suburb, Sterling Heights, to 

open Grape Vine Wine Shop. 

Denha saw the potential of the 

area and made note of the growing 

residential base. A few years later, 

he opened a second Grape Vine store 

two miles away; he later built a large 

shopping center at that same location. 

That location would later become 

the first home of the Chaldean 

Community Foundation. 

Thomas also took the bold risk of 

investing in land in California during 

a time when only a few other Chaldeans 

were doing so. In the late 1980s, 

Thomas, his son Mark, and his cousin 

Mike Denha purchased a large parcel 

of land in Temecula and worked 

tirelessly on meeting zoning requirements. 

That endeavor took close to 

a decade to complete, but that didn’t 

dampen Thomas’ spirits. He loved real 

estate and business and passed on this 

passion to his children. 

Despite his limited education, 

Thomas learned English and was an 

avid reader of business news, specifically 

the Wall Street Journal. He took 

educated risks in business and was 

fearless in doing so. He earned respect 

from all entities he interacted with. 

He was also very close to Chaldean 

investors, networking with many 

bankers, including Jewish lenders. He 

learned about real estate, and then became 

a commercial broker and started 

his own firm, Thomas Realty. In that 

capacity, he helped many newcomers 

to America find stores and become 

business owners themselves. 

Thomas was not only business 

smart, but more significantly, he was 

people smart. He had great intuition 

and the ability to “get it done,” no 

matter the task, with grit and determination. 

Helping others 

“My journey was not easy,” said Thomas 

in a previous interview. “America is 

the place to come to change your life…. 

to start a new life.” He recalled, “I was 

the first one in my family to come to 

the United States. It took me three 

months to come to America.” 

In 1962, John F. Kennedy signed 

the Migration and Refugee Assis- 


Clockwise from top left: The Denha Family; Thomas and Virgine Denha Wedding, 1954; Thomas Denha with other Chaldean pioneers; Serving in Korea. 

tance Act, created to help foreigners 

who had fled from persecution in 

their home countries. This enabled 

Thomas to bring his two brothers 

and four sisters to America, as well 

as Virgine’s siblings. 

Thomas took the opportunity to 

help his brothers and sisters get established 

in the United States. He 

found stores for them to buy, secured 

loans, and provided guidance. He 

was overjoyed to be able to help his 

siblings and spent a lot of time with 

his brothers Sabri and Yousif. 

Thomas’s passion to help others 

didn’t stop with immediate family 

but extended to the entire Chaldean 

community. He was deeply involved 

with the Chaldean Iraqi American 

Association of Michigan (CIAAM) 

and was a constant presence when 

they were establishing Southfield 

Manor. 

Virgine Denha fondly recalled 

Thomas, his good friend Oraha 

Shouneyia, and others going from 

store to store asking Chaldean store 

owners to give donations to build the 

new cultural gathering spot. 

Denha also helped countless others 

he encountered in his daily life, 

many of whom weren’t related or 

even Chaldean. One former Detroit 

police officer who read Denha’s obituary 

in the newspaper in 2011 drove 

across town to tell Thomas’s family 

of how their husband and father 

helped him over 30 years earlier. He 

said, “I will never forget what Tom 

did for me.” 

Lasting legacy 

Thomas Denha’s story is not entirely 

unique in this country or within our 

great Chaldean community, but it is an 

evocative tale of a generation that has 

come and gone. A self-educated man 

with both street smarts and business 

smarts, Thomas was a risk taker without 

fear. Failure was never an option. He 

was a pure capitalist who loved America 

and all the opportunities it presented if 

one was willing to put in hard work and 

exhibit will and fortitude. 

Thomas Denha knew that Chaldeans 

would contribute in a huge fashion 

to the United States of America, as 

they have, and correctly believed that 

they would continue to make their new 

country richer, stronger, and better. 

Those who visit the Chaldean Community 

Foundation in Sterling Heights 

may recognize the name on a plaque 

in the middle of the center. Thomas 

A. Denha Main Street celebrates the 

legacy of a man who knew the value of 

family and community. 

This article was drafted to fill a lasting 

desire on the part of the community 

for what we call “Pioneer History.” 

To the families represented here, 

the value is inestimable. For the 

children and grandchildren, it is our 

hope that the character, courage, 

resolute endurance, and firmness 

of mind become an example for all. 

Contributions for this story were made 

by Virgine Denha, Kevin Denha, Connie 

Yasso, Malik Mary, Amira Samouna 

Mary, and Farouq Samouna. 


FEATURE 

From Concept 

to Concrete 

Thamer Hannona sculpts the future 

BY CAL ABBO 

When ancient Mesopotamians 

carved their drawings 

into clay, constructed 

elaborate ziggurats and city gates, 

and designed practical and beautiful 

vases, their practice likely focused on 

their contemporaries. Thousands of 

year later, however, this act of creativity 

is kept alive by modern Chaldeans. 

The long thread of Chaldean artistry 

has found its way to Thamer 

Thamer Hannona 

Hannona. While he expresses himself 

through many different media and inspirations, 

his car designs garner national 

appeal and the attention of large 

companies. 

Thamer was born in Basra, Iraq in 

1979, but didn’t live there very long. 

Before he was two years old, a massive 

war broke out between Iran and 

Iraq that would last the better part of 

a decade. Basra’s location on the border 

with Iran made it an easy target. 

His family moved to Kuwait, but not 

before his home in Basra was hit by an 

Iranian airstrike. 

War followed the Hannona family 

to their new home. When he was 

11 years old, his birth country, Iraq, 

invaded Kuwait. During that time, his 

family moved back to Iraq, then to 

Jordan, and finally made it to San Diego, 

California. He lived there for a few 

years before moving to Michigan in the 

middle of high school. 

All of these transitions can be hard 

on some children, but Thamer seemed 

to flourish in spite of the change. By 

the time he moved to Michigan, he 

knew three languages fluently: Arabic, 

Chaldean, and English. Later, he 

would add a bit of Spanish and nearfluency 

in Brazilian Portuguese. 

Until high school, art for Thamer 

was mostly a recreational activity that 

he enjoyed for its own sake. Later in life, 

he realized his passion came in a large 

sense from watching his father, Habib 

Hannona, create his own artwork. 

Habib is a pioneer in the Chaldean 

community both in Iraq and Michigan. 

He is known as a jack-of-all-trades and 

has contributed to the world as an author, 

engineer, linguist, painter, poet, 

and much more. Perhaps most of all, 

Habib is famous for his historical work 

focusing on the history of Karamlesh, 

his home village, and his contributions 

to Chaldean history in general. 

But in his free time, Habib likes to 

relax by working on art, and that had 

a heavy influence on Thamer, who 

gained an interest in drawing cars. “I 

thought I would be an engineer like 

my dad,” he said. “I had a scholarship 

to go to other schools for that. But my 

heart wasn’t in it.” 

For many Chaldean students, this 

would be the end of the story. Their 

unique artistic contribution would remain 

a hobby and their talent would 

remain undeveloped. The pressure 

is on from their well-intentioned parents 

to join the professions or start a 

reliable business. But Thamer’s family 

was different, perhaps because his 

father experienced success in so many 

areas. Thus, his story continues. 

“At Warren Mott, in 1996, my teacher 

gave me a hall pass to go and visit 

College for Creative Studies,” Thamer 

noted. “It was the senior show for the 

car design students. All of their work, including 

scale models, were on display.” 

Thamer described this experience 

as a turning point in his own thinking, 

a realignment with what he considered 

possible. “It was like peeking into 

the future. I was instantly converted. It 

was love at first sight. That’s all I wanted 

to do since that moment,” he said. 

After he graduated high school, 

Thamer worked hard to put together 

HANNONA continued on page 22 


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FEATURE 

Some of Thamer’s design sketches and the Chevy HHR, top right. 

HANNONA continued from page 20 

an art portfolio, which he had not 

much experience with before. He went 

to the admissions office and was eventually 

accepted. The program at CCS 

was intense and difficult, with many 

students dropping off in the middle 

because of the pressure or the cost. 

His first challenge was to pass his 

freshman year, which he said was a 

“tryout” for the real program, which, 

according to Thamer, ranks number 2 

in the nation. 

Thamer was behind his cohorts 

because he spent a semester getting 

caught up on other classes. Even as the 

dean told him he couldn’t make it into 

the program, he was accepted to the 

next three years of the car design program. 

Its exclusivity is justified by the 

lack of jobs available in that field. Only 

a few thousand people in the world get 

to design cars for a living. 

There were 20 students in the program 

to start, but that drops all the 

way down to single digits in some cases. 

“I used to pull all-nighters once or 

twice a week,” Thamer claimed. “They 

want to make sure you’re fueled by 

passion.” 

Thankfully, Thamer lived at home 

in Warren while he was studying. He 

claimed the entire basement as his 

workshop and had a scholarship to 

cover most of the costs; his parents 

picked up the remainder. At the end 

of his tenure, his story came full circle 

as he participated in the senior showcase, 

flaunting his car models. He 

made the list of almost all the companies 

that came to the show and had 

tons of offers from companies like Nissan, 

BMW, Ford, General Motors, and 

Chrysler. According to Thamer, GM 

was the most enthusiastic about him, 

and he saw a lot of growth opportunity 

in the company as they had many 

studios worldwide, so he took the job. 

That was 22 years ago. 

“When I come to Detroit on business, 

I don’t even get a hotel. I just stay with 

my parents,” he said. “That’s how close 

it is. It’s crazy how close my parents live 

to the headquarters, like less than a 

mile. It’s serendipity, I guess. There are 

not many places to work, so very few 

people are from here. The car design 

community is very international.” 

When Thamer designs a car, it takes 

about 2-4 years to reach production. 

His first design was one you’ll still see 

on the road today: the Chevrolet HHR, 

or “Heritage High Roof,” a retro-style 

five-passenger wagon modeled after 

the 1947-53 Chevy Suburban. The car 

has a classic feel with modern amenities. 

The HHR saw over 500,000 sales 

in its lifetime and, at its peak in 2008, 

ranked #36 in vehicle sales in the United 

States. Not bad for a first try. 

A large part of the car design business 

is patience and persistence. 

While Thamer finished this design 

before the end of 2003, it was still not 

produced and sold until 2005, and 

it didn’t gain serious traction until a 

year later. By then, he had moved onto 

bigger and better things. He was restationed 

in California at GM’s advance 

design center. “On the advance team, 

you work on things that are far term, 

the cars you’d see in showcases or 

auto shows,” Thamer said. Many of the 

projects he works on for the advance 

team are top-secret. 

This was a quick move for someone 

who only joined the company in 2001, 

but Thamer actively sought out traveling 

and new experiences. He was only 

there for two years when he made a 

bigger move to Brazil. By the time he 

got there, the HHR, his first official design, 

was in its first year of production. 

Thamer had long felt the pull of 

travel, and this experience helped 

scratch the itch. During the time he 

was there, Brazil was an emerging 

car market, and Thamer helped build 

GM’s design studio there with the 

ultimate goal of establishing a selfsustaining 

design community. “We 

had a low budget, so it’s a really different 

place than I was coming from,” 

he said. “We had to think more practically 

and cost-efficiently and in terms 

of production.” Often, Brazilian factories 

would receive leftover parts from 

Europe, which made for an interesting 

design challenge. 

During his stay, Thamer lived in 

Sao Paolo, which was the third biggest 

city in the Americas after New York and 

Los Angeles, and has now surpassed 

both. GM gave him a bulletproof car. 

The office was far from where he lived, 

and driving in Brazil was nothing like 

he’d ever seen. “It’s the most dangerous 

thing you can imagine,” he said. 

“There’s a bunch of tight corners and 

turns and it’s very fast. I had serious 

anxiety every time I had to drive.” 

Thamer loved the city culturally. 

“It was a big city, and there’s all these 

little pockets of beauty. You can drive 

about 60 miles to the beach too,” he 

said. “The food was the best part. Experiencing 

the barbecue for the first 

time was great, where they just bring 

you meat over and over.” 

HANNONA continued on page 24 


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FEATURE 

The Cadillac Halo Portfolio 

HANNONA continued from page 22 

One of Thamer’s own contributions 

to Brazilian culture was the 

hookah. “I brought my hookah to 

Brazil and my friends were really into 

it,” he said. “I actually made some of 

my best friends there, people who are 

now lifelong friends.” 

In 2007, Thamer officially moved 

to Los Angeles. One of his first projects 

was designing the famous Bumblebee 

Camaro in the fourth installment of 

Transformers movie franchise, called 

“Transformers: Age of Extinction.” 

The Camaros in past Transformers 

movies were facelifted Camaros that 

already existed, and the idea was to 

repeat that process. When Director Michael 

Bay was making the fourth movie, 

however, the sixth generation of 

Camaro was in development and still 

unavailable to the public, and Michael 

Bay wanted something new. 

The solution was a 1 of 1 Camaro 

that Thamer designed in consultation 

with Michael Bay. Besides that 

one vehicle, that car did not make it 

into production. “I worked with the 

production designer and Michael Bay 

hand-in-hand to make it,” Thamer 

said. When it came out, the movie was 

top-15 grossing all time and has generated 

over $1 billion in gross revenue. 

Now, Thamer leads a team of designers 

at GM. Because of his status 

on the advance team, most of his 

projects are secret and he isn’t able to 

talk about them in public. Recently, 

however, over the last few years one 

of his most compelling projects was 

released. Cadillac’s Halo Concept Portfolio 

certainly comes from the future. 

The automotive industry is in the 

middle of two specific transitions that 

offer new challenges and ideas for 

Thamer and his team. First, demand 

for and efficiency of electric cars is constantly 

increasing, making them better 

alternatives to gas cars. For many reasons, 

it’s clear that this is the way of 

the future. The resulting mechanical 

changes to vehicles, like the lack of a 

combustion engine and the inclusion 

of a large battery, means that car designers 

need to dream up new ideas. 

Just as well, autonomous driving is 

somewhere on the horizon, albeit a bit 

further away. The automotive industry 

currently has designated six levels of 

automation in vehicles. Most cars on the 

road function at level zero, where the 

operator is responsible for all braking, 

steering, and accelerating. Most new 

cars are level one, which means the car 

can apply brakes if you get too close to 

the car in front of you and aid with steering, 

like automatic lane assist. 

Level two allows the driver to realistically 

disengage from operating the 

vehicle for an extended period of time, 

but it’s not quite reliable enough for the 

driver to take their eyes off the road. 

Right now, this is the most advanced 

technology that is commercially available. 

Tesla Autopilot and Cadillac Super 

Cruise both qualify as level two. 

Levels three, four, and five describe 

high levels of automation that require 

almost no attention from the driver. At 

level five, which only exists conceptually, 

the car is not even equipped with 

any pedals, brakes, shifters, or steering 

wheels. These vehicles demand a 

complete interior redesign, since cars 

previously were designed around the 

necessity of pedals and a steering 

wheel. In addition, the passengers in a 

level five car now have to be occupied 

by something besides driving itself. 

This shift requires intense creativity 

on the part of Thamer and his designers. 

The Cadillac Halo Portfolio is 

meant to showcase the first conception 

of a true level 5 automation. It consists 

of three vehicles, two ground-based 

and one quadcopter, that serve fully 

different purposes. The vision is that 

these cars are subscription-based. As 

a subscriber, you can schedule or call 

a vehicle when you need it and it will 

arrive to deliver you where you need. 

The first vehicle, which looks 

like a massive drone, is called the 

PersonalSpace. “For high net-worth and 

busy people, time is the most valuable 

thing,” Thamer said. “You can do things 

in this vehicle without having to spend 

time driving. This will buy you time.” In 

addition, the three-dimensional nature 

of the quadcopter negates traffic and 

allows you to skip traffic altogether. 

The second vehicle reminds one of 

a large van, and it’s called the Social- 

Space. This is where you’d spend time 

with a large group of people. If you want 

to go out with friends, or if you have a 

business meeting, this is a great option. 

The interior of this space is designed in a 

style similar to a luxury limousine. 


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Thamer in one of his concept cars. 

The third vehicle looks the most 

like a normal car. It’s called the InnerSpace, 

and it features a two-seater, 

sort of like a loveseat. “It’s sleek and 

low,” Thamer said. “There’s all kinds 

of biometrics readings and aromatherapy. 

Something that can teach you, 

enlighten you, and enrich you. The 

big challenge now is considering what 

you’ll do while you aren’t driving.” 

The Halo designs are complex and 

forward-thinking. They require critical 

thinking and expertise that’s often 

underestimated. When Thamer started 

out, he loved to draw cars as a hobby, 

but that’s a far cry from designing 

them for actual production and commercial 

viability. 

“Creating something from scratch, 

only with your mind, there was nothing 

I’d done like that before,” Thamer 

said. “It’s hard to teach someone how 

to design. You can teach someone how 

to draw, but the creative part comes 

from you.” 

Thamer said he draws his ideas 

from many influences, and it’s hard 

to pinpoint a specific person or movement 

that shaped his thinking. He 

mentioned his high school and college 

teachers as well as a famous architect 

named Frank Lloyd Wright, 

who designed over 1,000 structures, 

including some houses in Bloomfield 

Hills. His most famous house is called 

Fallingwater, and he’s known for his 

organic style and holistic design. Even 

the furniture, according to Thamer, 

was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. 

“As a designer, you have to have a 

vision of how the whole thing fits together, 

even if you don’t have the expertise,” 

he said about Wright’s style 

and how he incorporates it into his own 

work. “In terms of car design, you’re 

trying to invent something new, so you 

can’t have too big of an inspiration.” 

Thamer likes ideas that push 

boundaries, challenge existing norms, 

and open creative space. He understands 

the close interaction between 

peoples’ tastes, or what’s popular in 

the market, with trying to improve designs 

and push them further. “If you 

go too far, the people may not be ready 

for you,” he said. There’s a sweet spot 

that pushes the crowd ahead while 

also honoring what they already love. 

Thamer still has dreams to pursue 

and not all of them have to do with his 

career. He enjoys spending time with 

his wife and kids, who have already 

become little artists themselves, especially 

taking them around the world 

to travel. Since he became a design 

team leader instead of a traditional 

designer, he took up cooking to spend 

some of his creative passion that he 

was bottling up. 

“Just get good at something and 

practice it a lot,” Thamer said. In his 

own industry, there’s a lot of technology 

that can help a new designer cut 

corners, but he suggests avoiding that 

instinct. Embrace it, but make sure 

you do the groundwork, like sketching 

and ideation. This is a good lesson for 

any industry, most of which are being 

heavily disrupted by new technologies 

as we speak. 

For younger people, according to 

Thamer, now is the time to take risks. 

“You have to dictate trends rather than 

be dictated by it. When you’re younger, 

you should take more risks because 

time is on your side, whether it’s investments, 

traveling, or living somewhere 

new.” 


FEATURE 

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Reviving Voices of the Past 

AI’s journey into ancient languages and culture 

BY CHRISTINA SALEM 

In a remarkable convergence of artificial 

intelligence (AI) and linguistic 

passion, the enigmatic beauty of ancient 

languages and cultural identities 

is emerging from the shadows. For one 

individual, this fusion is more than an 

academic pursuit; it’s a personal odyssey 

fueled by a deep desire to reconnect 

with his roots and amplify the 

voices of silenced cultures. 

Meet Matthew Nazari, a trailblazer 

whose journey through linguistics 

and technology has paved the way 

for AI’s transformative role in understanding 

ancient languages. From his 

upbringing in a household resonating 

with the sound of Assyrian, one of the 

world’s most ancient languages, to his 

endeavors at prestigious institutions, 

Nazari’s voyage has been one of rediscovery 

and empowerment. 

Nazari’s fascination with languages 

was ignited at home, where 

Assyrian was spoken around him. As 

he recalls, “I remember my uncles 

proclaiming that Assyrian was the oldest 

language, the language that Jesus 

spoke—the first language ever!” This 

assertion left an indelible mark on his 

young mind. Living in California exposed 

him to an array of languages, 

stirring an obsession to understand 

how languages shape identities. 

Arriving at Harvard to study computer 

science and linguistics, Nazari 

delved into learning coursework and 

research. The fusion of his linguistic 

heritage and technical expertise was 

inevitable. Yet, it wasn’t until he grappled 

with a recurring thought—how 

could he use his skills to contribute 

to the revival of Assyrian—that a new 

path emerged. 

Nazari’s journey soon transcended 

his personal quest. He envisioned leveraging 

AI to decipher, document, 

and understand ancient languages in 

ways that not only advanced linguistic 

research but also upheld the cultural 

tapestry they represent. Through AIpowered 

transcription platforms like 

Transkribus, Nazari witnessed scripts 

spring to life that had baffled generations. 

He shared, “These technologies 

are more than tools; they are vessels 

through which languages emerge from 

the depths of history.” As a comprehensive 

platform, Transkribus recognizes, 

transcribes, and can search 

historical documents from any time, 

place, or language. 

Integrating AI into the study of ancient 

languages presented challenges. 

Nazari confronted the task of creating 

training data for AI models. This 

choice involved orthographical representation—deciding 

how to transcribe 

the language. Here, the specter of colonialism 

loomed. The literary standard 

for Assyrian, developed by 19th-century 

British and American missionaries, 

did not capture the essence of the spoken 

language. 

With Nazari’s connection to the Assyrian 

identity, he sought to project the 

unbiased originality of the language 

he grew up with. Nazari’s conviction 

lay in authentic language documentation 

that resonated with the hearts of 

Assyrian speakers. 

He encountered hurdles in acquiring 

unbiased data. An old newspaper 

in the literary standard turned out to 

be the work of a British author, not an 

Assyrian. Nazari’s focus shifted to linguistic 

documentation—transcribed 

folktales and historical accounts that 

truly reflected the language. Here, AI 

speech recognition proved invaluable, 

speeding up a process that traditionally 

demanded considerable time and 

expertise. 

Nazari’s journey has led him to 


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reflect on the broader implications of 

AI in cultural and linguistic contexts. 

He expressed concern about AI’s potential 

to homogenize cultural diversity. 

“AI can inadvertently expedite 

the suppression of rich cultural tapestries,” 

he mused. His engagement 

with researchers who prioritize cultural 

identity preservation has fueled 

his resolve to ensure AI’s ethical and 

beneficial application. 

As he delved deeper into AI’s potential, 

Nazari found himself pondering 

the intersection of identity and 

technology. He questioned how AI’s 

influence on language reclamation 

could shape the self-perception of 

communities. “We need to be mindful 

of the narratives AI can construct,” he 

emphasized, “and ensure they reflect 

the authentic essence of these cultures.” 

As AI’s capabilities expand, the 

possibilities for language reclamation 

and cultural revitalization continue to 

multiply. Beyond mere technological 

tools, AI storytellers and language tutors 

may emerge, sparking newfound 

connections between generations and 

cultures. 

Among Nazari, two remarkable 

individuals stand as torchbearers of 

ancient voices brought into the digital 

age. Hailing from Germany, a group 

of passionate humans have unveiled 

“syriac.io,” an early iteration of a 

translator that breathes life into diverse 

Aramaic dialects encompassing 

both written and spoken realms. 

Meanwhile, across the ocean in 

Chicago, Annette David, a visionary 

at Google is at the forefront of a transformative 

journey in association with 

William Merza and Immanuel Odisho. 

With Google Translate as their canvas, 

they champion the resurgence of the 

Assyrian language with the collaboration 

of tradition and technology. These 

modern-day language revivalists exemplify 

the harmonious convergence 

of heritage and innovation, sparking 

a renaissance of communication that 

will echo across time. 

Nazari’s experience underscores 

the importance of collaboration, humility, 

and sensitivity when bridging 

technology and culture. His journey 

remains a testament to the profound 

impact AI can have on preserving languages 

and identities, illuminating the 

intricate threads that weave our collective 

human heritage. 

In the resonant cadence of AI and 

ancient languages, Nazari’s quest to 

empower silenced voices is forging a 

path toward a future where the symphony 

of human diversity harmonizes 

with the melody of technological innovation. 

As he envisions it, AI is not 

just a tool—it’s a bridge connecting the 

whispers of the past with the aspirations 

of the future. In Nazari’s world, 

AI becomes a co-author of history, 

crafting narratives that honor the past 

while shaping the narratives of generations 

yet to come. 


FEATURE 

An Annual Pilgrimage 

Our Lady of Consolation draws loyal followers 

BY WEAM NAMOU 

For nearly half a century, Chaldeans 

have been visiting the 

Basilica and National Shrine of 

Our Lady of Consolation in Carey, Ohio. 

It is the site of an annual pilgrimage of 

Roman Catholics, primarily Iraqi Christians, 

to mark the Feast of the Assumption 

of Mary, celebrated August 14, on 

the Eve of the Assumption. 

On that day, several buses drop off 

pilgrims near the information center. 

Hundreds of families fill a five-acre 

plot with tents, recreational vehicles, 

Middle Eastern food, music, and dancing. 

Some families camp in the area for 

days, others spend the night at nearby 

hotels, and many drive to the site for 

only a day. 

Approximately 5,000 visitors come 

every year. This year, the streets were 

a little quieter than usual due to the 

ongoing rain. Families huddled inside 

canopy tents or beneath canopied 

buildings. Campgrounds were 

filled with large mud puddles. Yet the 

weather did not prevent campers from 

barbecuing or gathering around campfires. 

The townspeople were also out 

and about. A mother and daughter sat 

on their porch passing out free bottled 

water and cookies. 

Mass was held at various hours. 

Chaldean Masses were held at 12:30pm 

with Father Stephen Kallabat and 

at 5pm with Father Sameem Balius. 

At 9pm the Vigil Mass was celebrated 

with a candlelight procession to 

Shrine Park. 

For over 150 years, the church has 

been a place of special importance, 

providing peace, warmth, and a consoling 

presence for believers. Yet few 

are aware of its history. Construction 

for the church—the first church in 

Carey—began in 1868. It was founded 

by people of Luxembourger heritage 

under the inspiration of an immigrant 

priest from the homeland. Luxembourg 

is one of the smallest countries 

in Europe and its people had for centuries 

fostered a deep devotion to the 

Mother of God. 

While Father Aloys Fish was the 

first Conventual Franciscan to serve at 

the shrine, Father Joseph Peter Golden 

is considered the shrine’s “father.” He 

refused any salary from the congregation 

until the church building was 

finished. He and the people of Carey 

did all the work themselves, save plastering 

the wall. Once the church was 

completed, he encouraged the congregation 

in Carey to direct their prayers 

to Mary, the Mother of God, under the 

title of Our Lady of Consolation. 

Father Golden later arranged for 

a statue to be made in Luxembourg, 

requesting that it would be as close 

a replica of the ancient image in the 

Cathedral as possible. At the end of 

March 1875, community member Nicholas 

Warnament brought this statue 

from Luxembourg to Carey; it was 

made of oak and could be dressed. 

Overjoyed, the parish asked Father 

Golden if they could carry the statue 

in procession from Frenchtown to the 

church in Carey. 

Father Golden hesitated for some 

time. He feared a public expression 

might offend and anger the rather large 

Protestant population of Carey. He consulted 

several priests in nearby parishes, 

and they encouraged him to have 

the procession. So, he went ahead. 

On May 24, 1875, the statue was 

carried in procession from the Church 

of St. Nicholas to the church in Carey. 

As the procession marched, a severe 

storm raged in the entire area. The 

story is that although people could see 

the rain pouring down on all sides of 

them for the entire seven-mile walk, 

not a drop touched the statue of Our 

Lady of Consolation, nor was anyone 

in the procession rained on. This was 

considered the first sign of an intercession 

of the Blessed Virgin for all 

who would come to pray in this little 

church. 

The procession later moved to the 

Shrine Park altar where, in 1956, a 12- 

foot, 2-ton bronze statue of Our Lady of 

Consolation was placed on top of the 

dome of the altar, some 45 feet above 

the ground. The statue was made in 

Milan, Italy. 

What began as an act of faith of 

an immigrant community connecting 

with their homeland has grown into 

a place where people of many ethnic 

and cultural backgrounds have come 

for pilgrimage. In Father Aloys Fish’s 

time, shrine manuals and devotional 

materials were printed in Hungarian, 

Polish, Slovak, Slovenian, and Italian. 

The Lebanese presence and the great 

crowds of Chaldean pilgrims have added 

their own traditions and cultural 

richness to the devotional life of the 

shrine over the years. So have Filipino, 

Hispanic, Albanian, Vietnamese, and 

African American pilgrims. 

“This is my first year at the shrine 

and the first time I’ve interacted with 

Chaldeans,” said Friar Maximilian. 

“The only thing I knew about them before 

is that their liturgy is in Aramaic. 

I’ve had a good experience interacting 

with them. They are a kind and faithfilled 

people.” 

The shrine complex includes the 

basilica, the original 1875 wooden parish 

church, the parish school, a rectory 

housing the pastor and other 

Franciscan priests, a provincial house 

which houses Franciscan friars, a convent 

for resident and visiting nuns, 

a retreat center providing lodgings 

for lay and religious pilgrims, a gift 

shop, and a cafeteria. 

Friar Steven, who has served for 

some 40 years, was first introduced 

to Chaldeans when they started coming 

on pilgrimages. He learned more 

about them over the years, especially 

by interacting with one Chaldean family 

who became friends. They bought a 

house around the corner of the church 

where every year, the half-dozen siblings 

come for two weeks. 

Friar Steven often goes into the 

camps and talks to people. “Sometimes 

there’s a language barrier,” he 

said, “but I honor their special relationship 

to this place which I myself 

have.” 


CITIZENSHIP PREPARATION 

NOW ENROLLING FOR FALL CLASSES 

OCTOBER 3 – DECEMBER 14 

Tuesdays and Thursdays 

MORNING SESSIONS 

9:30 am – 12:00 pm 

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REGISTRATION WILL BEGIN ON SEPTEMBER 25, 2023 

To register please call CCF at 586-722-7253 

$40 registration fee 

CHALDEAN COMMUNITY FOUNDATION 3601 15 MILE ROAD, STERLING HEIGHTS, MI 48310 586-722-7253 

SEPTEMBER 

CHALDEANFOUNDATION.ORG 

2023 NEWS 29

FEATURE 

CHALDEAN 

STORY 

Sharing the Chaldean Story 

Nick and Randy Najjar contribute to the traveling StoryCorps series 

BY CAL ABBO 

The Chaldean News sponsored 

a trip to Kalamazoo last month 

for a father-son duo, Nick and 

Randy Najjar, to share their story with 

a program called StoryCorps, which 

aims to “illuminate the humanity and 

possibility in us all – one story at a 

time.” 

The criteria are slim and anything 

but exclusive. One only needs to have 

a story to tell and a partner to do it 

with to qualify. StoryCorps travels the 

nation in search of stories like the ones 

this Chaldean pair had to share. Story- 

Corps has a unique format which involves 

the two participants interviewing 

one another, which leads to deep 

and meaningful conversations. 

Since 2003, the program has recorded 

more than 640,000 conversations. 

Each of these is collected in the 

Library of Congress and preserved for 

future generations. Select stories are 

broadcast on National Public Radio 

(NPR), made into animated shorts, or 

published as a book collection. This 

opportunity gave the Najjars a chance 

to shed light on Chaldeans and our 

culture, if their story is selected for 

further promotion. 

Nick has a great story to tell on his 

own, but it was improved by the conversation 

with his son, Randy, who 

gave an important perspective. Nick is 

deeply involved with his community 

and conducts most of his business in 

real estate. He has, however, been involved 

in other things in the geopolitical 

sphere. 

Nick and Randy had a heart-toheart 

conversation. They discussed 

how Nick grew up in Iraq, where their 

family name comes from, and Nick’s 

journey to the United States. He lived 

in Greece for three years, a large part of 

it separated from his family, who still 

lived in Iraq. He sent money to them 

there. 

Once he got to the United States, 

Nick went to work in a liquor store — 

17 hours a day, 7 days a week for an entire 

year. His request for a day off was 

From left: Nick and Randy Najjar, with StoryCorps moderator, Francesca. 

met with discontent. “If you take a day 

off, don’t come back to work here,” his 

boss replied. 

Nick eventually bought his own 

store, which he sold in 1994 to venture 

into real estate. He continued working 

long hours to earn money for his wife 

and kids. Randy explained that, as a 

kid, this made him feel sad. He would 

see other friends’ parents who were 

well-established in this country spend 

more time with their kids. 

For his first six months in real estate, 

Nick didn’t sell one house and 

almost quit the real estate business. 

“I almost quit a day before Easter, but 

I didn’t. After Easter, things opened 

up, maybe because I prayed about it,” 

Nick said. “God told me this was my 

destiny.” 

“As I got older, I realized it was a 

different kind of love,” Randy said. 

“Time is one way to show your love. 

But you show it by supporting and 

CHALDEAN 

STORY 

providing for the family, creating a life 

where we moved out of a small house 

into a decent area. One of your goals 

was for me to go to college, too, and 

you helped me pay for it.” 

Randy has a similar work ethic 

to his father. About 10 years ago, he 

founded Sapphire Homes, which 

builds luxury houses and landscaping. 

The company provides everything 

from architecture and interior design 

to realty. Nick recognized his son’s 

work ethic, but also noted his head 

start over his father. 

“Now I have a two-year-old son,” 

Randy said. “I told my wife, when 

summer comes, I don’t like to work on 

the weekends because I want to spend 

time with my family. Thankfully this 

summer finally I’ve been able to take 

some time off.” 

Now, Randy and Nick spend a 

lot more time together, and they can 

spend it discussing business. “One of 

This report is made possible in part by a grant 

from Michigan Humanities, an affiliate of the 

National Endowment for the Humanities. 

the reasons I wanted to do this recording 

is because I’m trying to learn from 

your mistakes and your successes in 

the past,” Randy said. 

Nick lived through The Great Recession 

as a realtor, which was not easy 

for anyone in the housing industry. In 

2008, Nick got the opportunity to join 

the U.S. military in Iraq as a media analyst 

and translator for about one year, 

followed by another year in the States. 

This was Nick’s first trip back to Iraq 

since he left in 1980. 

“I was 48 years old, and I left everything 

behind me,” Nick said about 

going to Iraq with the military. “The 

main reason was financial. The second 

reason was to pay back what the U.S. 

gave me in opportunity. If I had to do 

it again today, I would. I’m proud I had 

that experience.” 

This left Randy and the family in 

a lurch. As a young adult, he “picked 

up the pieces” of his father’s business 

and managed it while he was gone. He 

was thrown in the deep end but clearly 

was a quick learner, judging by his 

business success today. 

Nick actively encourages his family 

to enlist in the army because he considers 

it honorable and understands 

that Americans respect their veterans. 

For Nick, his service propelled a candidacy 

for the Michigan House of Representatives 

in 2012, which he lost in the 

Democratic primary. 

Nick expressed his joy and pride 

for his son Randy. “Thank God you’re 

successful in your business, and I’m 

very, very proud of you,” Nick said. 

“For every dad, this is his proudest 

moment. To have his kids succeed and 

become better than him.” 

Nick imparted wisdom he received 

from his own father. “Whenever you’re 

dealing with the public, treat the people 

the same way you want to be treated. 

Respect people the way you want 

to be respected. Don’t let fame or money 

allow you to drift away from this,” 

he said. That’s great advice given with 

love. 


CHALDEAN COMMUNITY FOUNDATION 

Educational programs 

Registration now open! 

Please call for an appointment. 

All Nationalities Welcome! 

ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE 

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Sept. 11, 2023-Jan. 26, 2024 

Sept. 11, 2023-Jan. 26, 2024 

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Prepares children for kindergarten 

through a variety of emergent 

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CITIZENSHIP PREPARATION 

Offers instruction and training for 

successful completion of the U.S. 

Citizenship and Immigration Services 

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We can’t wait to see you! 

Want to learn more? Please contact Rachel Rose at 

Rachel.rose@chaldeanfoundation.org or call (586) 722-7253 

3601 15 Mile Rd., Sterling Heights, MI 48310 


CULTURE & HISTORY 

Instruction in Iraq 

A story of schools 

BY ADHID MIRI, PHD 

Schools tell us a great deal about 

our history. Within them, we 

celebrate memories, principals, 

teachers, students, parents, friends, uniforms, 

events, and the building itself. 

Once upon a time, Iraq had a wellfunctioning 

British-style education 

system, consisting of primary and secondary 

schools and eight tertiary institutions, 

including a well-regarded 

medical school in Baghdad and one of 

the oldest Islamic universities on Earth, 

Mustansiriya University, dating from 

the year 1233. Seriously damaged during 

military occupations and by rioting 

students in 2007, the university suffered 

trauma from which it is still recovering. 

In the 1970s, Iraq had one of the 

finest education systems in the world, 

approaching 100% literacy; however, 

a sequence of wars and sanctions left 

it severely damaged. Since 2003, 84% 

of the infrastructure in Iraqi higher education 

institutions have been burnt, 

looted, or damaged in some form. 

War, political instability, deteriorating 

safety conditions, and a lack of 

high-quality study options in Iraq have 

been student challenges over the past 

decades. Assassinations and the ongoing 

militia threats have affected hundreds 

of Iraqi teachers and academics 

and represent the sad situation in Iraq. 

There is also conflict between fundamentalist 

religion and the concept of 

free and open education for all. While 

this continues, children suffer. The situation 

is particularly depressing among 

primary school-age girls in poor areas. 

Iraq’s educational system is in 

ruins and in need of reconstruction. 

Among the many challenges facing 

the citizens are the creation of a new 

education system. 

History 

During the royal period of Iraqi history, 

education led to significant developments 

and new horizons opened in 

terms of primary, secondary, and preparatory 

schools, female schools, Jewish 

schools, Christian schools, private 

as well as foreign schools, and special 

Students, teachers, director, and founder of the American Elementary School in old Baghdad. Seated in the middle is 

the first principal of the school, Yousif Mary (Miri), and on his right, the founder of the American School for Boys, Rev. 

Calvin Staudt, PhD. 

schools for craftsmanship. 

The Carmelite Catholic Mission was 

active in Baghdad in the early eighteenth 

century, and they established a 

small religious school attached to the 

Latin Church in 1721. Its founder was 

the French priest, Emmanuel Baillet. 

The school taught the principles of 

reading and writing along with morals, 

discipline, religious education, 

and church rites. It eventually separated 

from the church, and in 1737, 

began working according to “modern” 

European education systems under 

the name Saint Joseph School. It introduced 

to the school curriculum modern 

sciences and the languages Arabic, 

French and a little Turkish. 

In 1859, it became St. Joseph High 

School. It had 20% non-Christian students 

— children from affluent families 

who enrolled to learn English and 

French. The Iraqi government seized 

the school when nationalizing private 

schools after the Baath coup in 

1968 and the name was changed to Al- 

Makasib School. 

The Ottomans rulers of Iraq gave 

Christian and Jews a freedom to start 

private schools if they were supervised 

by the local education management 

authority. Between 1805 and 

1879, there were 24 Christian schools 

throughout Iraq. 

In 1850, two Jesuits were sent from 

Beirut to Baghdad to determine if the 

time was right for a Jesuit mission 

there. Their caravan was robbed on 

the way to and from Baghdad; consequently, 

they decided that the time for 

a mission there had not yet arrived. 

Considered one of the earliest Jewish 

schools in Iraq, The Alliance was 

founded in 1864 and funded by Barron 

Rothchild. Its student body was made 

of Muslim, Christian, and Jewish youth, 

and classes focused on teaching Jewish 

religious texts with specific focus on the 

Talmud and the Torah. It taught English 

and French as secondary languages in 

addition to Arabic, Hebrew, history, 

geography, sciences, chemistry, and 

biology. In the first semester of its first 

year (1864-1865) it had 43 students; by 

midterm the number jumped to 75. 

In 1873, the first batch of the French 

Dominican Sisters of the Presentation 

came to the city of Mosul and opened 

an elementary school for girls. In 1880, 

they came to Baghdad and founded 

the first monastery in the old Christian 

district neighborhood, Aqd al-Nasara. 

They opened the Central School, then 

another school in the eastern gate (Bab 

Al-Shargey) area, and another in the 

eastern Karrada (Karrada Al-Sharqiya). 


In addition, the establishment and 

twenty-year operation of a school for 

Jewish girls in Ottoman Baghdad at 

the turn of the twentieth century was 

an amazing adventure. The fact adds 

depth and texture to our understanding 

of the modernizing transformation 

in education that took place on a global 

scale between 1890 and 1930 in Iraq. 

In 1920, the Chaldean community 

opened Al-Tahira (“The Immaculate”) 

school for boys in Baghdad. Christian 

schools’ buildings were usually attached 

to one of the old churches. 

In 1924, an adventurous young 

couple accepted a commission to open 

an American school for boys in Baghdad. 

Setting foot on Iraqi soil the very 

day that the Constituent Assembly 

convened in Baghdad to frame a constitution 

for the new nation, Ida Staudt 

and her husband Calvin witnessed the 

birth of this fledgling country. 

For the next twenty-three years, 

they taught hundreds of young boys 

whose ethnicity, religious background, 

and economic status were as 

varied as the region itself. Cultivating 

strong bonds with their students 

and their families, the Staudts were 

welcomed into their lives and homes, 

ranging from the royal palace to refugee 

huts and Bedouin tents. 

The School of the Presentation Sisters 

in the heart of Baghdad’s Tahrir 

Square (Eastern Gate) was established 

in 1925 when King Faisal I donated a 

piece of land to a group of French nuns 

in exchange for their efforts in combating 

the plague that was spreading in 

Baghdad. It was called Progressive Sisters 

School until 1964 when the government 

nationalized the private schools 

and changed the name of the school to 

Al-Aqidah Secondary School for Girls. 

The Shamash Jewish High School 

in Baghdad, an all-boys school, was 

founded in 1928. It was like an oasis 

in the desert; it was funded by the 

Shamash family of Manchester, England 

who donated the building and 

with it 17 stores, a pharmacy, and a 

guest house/hotel for travelers. The 

curriculum included Turkish and other 

foreign languages with an emphasis 

on English. It was governed by its 

own committee which was headed by 

Shlomo Saleh Shamash. 

In the beginning, this school was 

also an elementary and middle school 

but in 1942, the elementary classes 

From top: Al-Tahira Primary School in Baghdad (est. 1920) students and teaching staff; Al-Tahira staff c. 1957 (middle 

pictures); Basrah Chaldean School Communion celebration with nuns and clergy. 

concluded and in 1949 the middle 

school closed. The students transferred 

to Frank Iny School, leaving 

only the high school. 

Although many Jewish schools had 

once operated in Iraq, often with the 

support of the local Jewish community, 

Iraqi government, or international 

Jewish organizations in Paris and London, 

these schools began to close in 

the 1940s. The Frank Iny School was 

the last Jewish school in Baghdad, but 

eventually closed in 1973 as most of 

the remaining Jews fled the country. 

Baghdad College 

In 1932, the same year that Iraq gained 

its independence, four Jesuits from 

the United States arrived in Baghdad 

and established Baghdad College High 

School. During its first two years, the 

school rented two houses in the center 

of Baghdad near the river. Not particularly 

well-constructed, the classroom 

floors were of rough, uneven brick. 

One historical description labeled it 

“too small, the light not so good, windows 

and doors were ill fitting and 

when a dust storm came up, the atmosphere 

was not pleasant.” 

In its first year, 375 boys applied 

and 120 were accepted, dropping to 

107 by the year’s end. Students ranged 

from 13 to 20 years old; the average 

student was about 15. In the begin- 

EDUCATION continued on page 34 


CULTURE & HISTORY 

EDUCATION continued from page 33 

ning, there were nine faculty for the 

107 students, including four Jesuits 

and five Iraqis. Over the years, Baghdad 

College grew to include over 1,000 

students and a faculty of 33 Jesuits 

and 31 Iraqi laymen. The growth was 

not easy or painless. The centuries of 

antagonism between Islam and Christianity 

and the long hostility between 

East and West left scars on the Iraqis. 

From the early days, Baghdad College 

followed Iraqi school programs 

and the Jesuits avoided bringing 

American curriculum to Iraq. They did 

offer their students a distinct advantage 

– bilingualism in Arabic and English. 

For many students, this was the 

first time they saw real blackboards, 

history maps, hygiene charts, projectors, 

movie machines, and individual 

armchair seats. In the eyes of their Jesuit 

teachers, the boys completely won 

their hearts. 

Students learned science and 

mathematics in English and Arabic. 

They were prepared to take the final 

government exams in Arabic and 

to pursue further scientific study at 

Baghdad University in English. Several 

were judged competent by the 

government to study abroad in the U.S. 

and Great Britain. 

During the four decades following 

independence, both the Jesuit mission 

and the country matured. In just 

37 years, Iraq’s population expanded 

from 3.5 million to 8.5 million while the 

Jesuit population grew from four to 61. 

Iraq’s secondary school grew in enrollment 

from 2,076 Iraqi students in three 

schools to 270,000 in 840 schools while 

the enrollment in the Jesuit schools 

increased from 120 students in a few 

rented houses to 1,100 students in nine 

buildings at Baghdad College. 

In 1952, a university named Al-Hikma 

(“wisdom”) was established by the 

Jesuits. 

Revolution 

Iraq’s public and private education 

started shifting after the 1958 coup 

that overthrew the constitutional, prowestern 

monarchy. It has been in decline 

ever since, with competing philosophies 

about testing and methods 

falling in and out of favor. Meanwhile, 

the Jesuit education of 1932-1958 and 

during the turbulent years 1959-1968 

maintained its consistent stance based 

on faith and integrity, educational rigor, 

and character building. 

The revolution of 1958 and each 

succeeding revolution was a crisis of 

sorts. For a time, it seemed that the Jesuits 

would weather this crisis as they 

had previously. School and work went 

Clockwise from 

top of page: 

St. Joseph students, 

clergy, nuns and staff 

at a Communion event 

in Baghdad; Armenian 

United School in 

Baghdad; Sixth grade 

graduation certificate for 

Olivia Yousif Yacoub from 

Frank Iny Jewish School 

dated 1970; Young Iraqi 

students in Bartella, 

Nineveh Province. 

on for another year until a new revolution 

brought to power a socialist government 

more interested in controlling 

all private education. 

The government decreed that it 

would administer AI-Hikma while the 

Jesuits continued to teach. The Jesuits 

accepted the proposal and attempted 

to work in the new framework for a 

few months until an extremist element 

in the government decreed their expulsion 

from Iraq in November 1968. 

A year later the American Jesuits at 

Baghdad College were ordered to leave 

by the same group. 

Current Status 

Education in Iraq is highly centralized, 

and state controlled. The state fully finances 

all aspects of public education 

such as supplying books, teaching 

aids and free student residences. 

Arabic is used as the primary language 

of instruction at all institutions, 

although Kurdish is taught in Kurdish 

areas. Pre-school education lasts for 

a duration of two years and is open 

to children at four years old; primary 

education is six years in duration and 

EDUCATION continued on page 45 


WE ARE 

HIRING 

Do you possess a passion for bettering the lives of others? 

Join our ever expanding team! 

Administrative Support Clerk • Behavioral Health Therapist 

Case Worker • Citizenship Instructor • Data Entry Clerk 

Early Childhood Aide • Early Childhood Instructor • Facilities/Transportation 

Advocacy 

Acculturation 

Community Development 

Cultural Preservation 

For More Information 

HR@chaldeanfoundation.org 

586-722-7253 

www.chaldeanfoundation.org/careers 


SPORTS 

PHOTO COURTESY LITTLE CAESARS AAA HOCKEY CLUB 

Left: Ella (left) is on the run during a 

2022 state semifinal girls lacrosse game 

at Brighton High School. 

PHOTO BY SUSAN ADAMS 

Above: Ella plays ‘keep away’ with the 

puck while playing for the Little Caesars 

AAA 16U girls hockey team during a 

2022 tournament in Pittsburgh. 

Unstoppable 

Ella Lucia is headed to Harvard 

BY STEVE STEIN 

Ella Lucia is a teenage wonder woman. 

She’s a star girls hockey player and an 

outstanding student who has made a verbal 

commitment to take her hockey skills and academic 

acumen to Harvard University, 

a prestigious Ivy League college. 

Lucia announced July 31 that she 

has “committed to the admissions 

process” at Harvard. That’s Harvardspeak 

for she will play hockey at the 

Division I level for the Crimson. The 

17-year-old Bloomfield Hills High 

School senior also is an All-American 

high school girls’ lacrosse player. 

Her statistics in the two sports are 

mind-blowing. She’s a center in hockey 

and an attacking midfielder in lacrosse. Ella Lucia 

Last season with the Little Caesars 

AAA 16U girls’ hockey team, she had 32 

goals and 92 assists for 124 points in 66 games. Not bad 

for someone who was a figure skater from ages 4 to 9 

before beginning her hockey journey at age 10. 

AAA is the highest level of girls’ junior hockey. 

Lucia had 125 goals and 59 assists in 23 games for 186 

points this past spring for the Bloomfield Hills girls’ 

lacrosse team. She was named an All-American, and 

reached high school career milestones of 200 goals, 

100 assists, 100 groundballs, and 200 draw controls 

last season. She also was named a Division 1 First- 

Team All-State player as a sophomore and junior. 

So why continue her hockey career rather than 

her lacrosse career in college? 

“I’ve played lacrosse longer, but hockey is our family’s 

sport (her sister, brother, father and 

cousins either play or have played), and 

hockey is more physical, more of a contact 

sport than lacrosse,” she said. 

“But I love playing lacrosse, too. It’s 

fun and I’ve met a lot of people. Plus, It’s 

a great outlet and a perfect break from 

hockey. I’ve seen some of my hockey 

friends who played in the spring get 

burned out,” Lucia went on to say. 

Tom Forgione coached Lucia the 

past two seasons on the Little Caesars 

AAA 16U team and will coach her 

again this season on the Little Caesars 

19U team, so he knows what makes 

her tick as a hockey player. 

“No. 1, she’s fiercely competitive,” said Coach 

Forgione. “And she plays well on both sides of the ice. 

She’s strong offensively and defensively. That’s rare.” 

On top of that, Forgione said, Lucia is a leader 

who leads by example. She was the team captain last 

year and will be an assistant captain this season — 

the only one of the younger players on the team to 

earn that role. 

In the midst of all the time Lucia devotes to sports, 

KIRSTEN SCOTT PHOTOGRAPHY 

she has a 4.1 grade-point average at Bloomfield Hills. 

How has she done it? 

“There’s no time for procrastination,” she said, giving 

emphasis to each word. “I’m always setting aside 

time for schoolwork and I’m on top of things at school. 

When there’s time at school to do homework, I use it.” 

Forgione said he isn’t surprised that Lucia excels 

in the classroom. “That’s a testament to her parents. 

She was raised the right way,” Forgione said. 

Academics is what drew Lucia to Harvard. And 

hockey, of course. Plus, she said she and her parents 

“fell in love with Boston” during a trip to visit the 

university. Cambridge, where Harvard is located, is a 

Boston suburb. Positive impressions of the Harvard 

campus and women’s hockey coaching staff sealed 

the deal for Lucia. 

“Ella will do well playing in college. She’s so versatile. 

She’ll fit in wherever she’s needed,” Forgione said. 

“I’m happy for Ella. This couldn’t happen to a better kid. 

All her hard work and dedication are paying off.” 

The youngest of three children in the Lucia family, 

Ella is following in the athletic footsteps of her older 

siblings, while simultaneously reaching for the stars. 

Her sister Olivia, 20, played high school girls hockey at 

Bloomfield Hills. A goalie, she was named Miss Michigan 

Hockey in her senior year. She’s now a senior at 

Michigan State University in a pre-law curriculum. 

Her brother Kyle, 18, is a sophomore at Michigan 

State playing for the MSU club hockey team and 

studying construction management. Ella said her 

sister and brother have taught her important lessons 

about life balance, which is especially important 

with all her time commitments. 

“They’ve shown me how to manage my time so 

I can have a social life, hang out with my friends, 

and go to family gatherings,” she said. The siblings’ 

parents are Ken and Karen Lucia. The family lives in 

Bloomfield Hills. 


ARE 

YOU 

HIRING? 

JOIN US 

2ND ANNUAL 

COMMUNITY 

JOB FAIR 

Wednesday, September, 27, 2023 3:00 P. M . -6:00 P. M . 

The Chaldean Community Foundation (CCF) invites you to participate in our 2nd Annual 

Community Job Fair 2023. Our job fair will enable you, the employer, to meet and 

conduct on-the-spot interviews with New Americans and the greater community. It is an 

excellent opportunity to promote open positions and network with other businesses and 

organizations. We look forward to seeing you! 

Please register by scaning the 

QR code below. 

Employers will receive: 

• Table and two chairs for setup. 

• Light refreshments and snacks. 

* Space is limited. Registration is available on a first come, 

first served basis. 

$150 Registration fee 

For more info contact Elias at Elias.Kattoula@chaldeanfoundation.org or call 586-722-7253. 

Chaldean Community Foundation 

Wireless Vision Gymnasium 

3601 15 Mile Rd. 

Sterling Heights, MI, 48310 


FAMILY TIME 

Chaldean News is proud to present the first-ever Chaldeans 

Rising: Young Writers Challenge, a writing competition 

that invites bright young minds between the ages 14-25 to 

write a unique essay about their perspective on the Chaldean 

community and share their visionary ideas for the future. 

Through this competition, we aim to inspire imagination, spur 

critical thinking, and create unity within our community. 

SCAN THE CODE FOR MORE 

INFORMATION AND TO 

SUBMIT YOUR ENTRY 

CHALDEANS 

RISING 

Young writers 

challenge 

WIN 

$100! 

Drinking sugar-sweetened beverages can 

increase your risk for cavities. Try to limit 

how much pop, juice, fruit drinks, sweetened 

teas, or sports drinks you have. Instead, try 

different types of fruit in your water for a 

smile-friendly drink. 

Delta Dental of Michigan 

Scan the QR code to 

watch our oral health 

video series. 

$500! 

I 

Fall in Love 

with Autumn 

BY VALENE AYAR 

don’t know about you, but I can’t help 

but notice that the spirit of autumn 

and all-things-Halloween seems to 

come earlier and earlier every year. As a 

lover of fall, I couldn’t be more excited. 

And as we head into September, our 

minds have undoubtedly switched from 

splash pads and family road trips to 

school and extracurricular activities. But 

just because the kiddos are going back 

to school, it does not mean the fun has 

to stop. There are tons of ways to keep 

your family bonded and enjoy shared 

experiences even in the colder seasons. 

Below are just a few of my favorites. 

Metro Detroit Hayride 

This fall, why not elaborate on the 

typical “cider mill” family excursion 

and make it cider/donuts AND a family 

hayride? You can enjoy all your favorite 

autumn treats while taking a scenic 

ride and enjoy the weather and pretty 

colors. You can even do a haunted hayride 

for Halloween! 

Plenty of places offer hayrides including: 

Three Cedars Farm and Cider Mill 

(7897 Six Mile Road in Northville); Upland 

Hills Farm (481 Lake George Road in 

Oxford); and Heritage Park (24725 Farmington 

Road in Farmington Hills). 

These are just a few. A quick Google 

search will find even more. 

Visit Canterbury Village 

I discovered Canterbury Village last February 

for a Harry Potter event and let me 

tell you, it did NOT disappoint. Located 

in Lake Orion, Canterbury Village hosts 

fun activities and events year-round. 

In the fall they offer a Canterbury Village 

Ghost Walk every Friday and Saturday 

during the month of September. Although 

it sounds spooky, it is great fun 

for kids (and adults) of all ages. Don’t 

just take my word for it; visit their website 

at www.canterburyvillage.com and 

check it out yourself (along with many 

other awesome things to do). 

Cedar Point “HalloWeekends” 

You cannot call yourself a Michigan resident 

if you have never at least heard of 

Cedar Point’s HalloWeekends. But just 

in case you haven’t, here’s the lowdown. 

Every year, for as long as I can remember, 

Cedar Point — located in Sandusky, 

Ohio — transforms their legendary 

amusement park into a Fall/Halloween 

wonderland for everyone to enjoy. 

In addition to more than 70 rides 

and 17 roller coasters, you will also 

find monsters and ghouls galore (oh 

my!) roaming the park between September 

15 - October 30 (on weekends), 

plus haunted houses and many other 

spooktacular sites. 

Pack up the family car and make a 

day of it! 

Long Family Orchard 

Visiting the apple orchard has always 

been one of the region’s fall favorite 

activities and the Long Family Orchard 

(1540 East Commerce Rd. Commerce) 

is a great place to experience the fun. 

There’s nothing like picking your own 

apples right off the trees and enjoying 

the scenic nature. 

In addition to an apple orchard, this 

beautiful farm is also home to a corn 

maze, pumpkin patch, tractor rides, 

a children’s play area, and even adorable 

farm animals. And of course, it 

wouldn’t be an apple orchard without 

everyone’s favorite - cider and donuts! 

Fall Color Tour 

One of the great things our unique 

state offers is the fall color – our many 

trees become a beautiful tapestry in 

autumn. The Tunnel of Trees is one of 

northern Michigan’s not-so-best-kept 

secrets, and fall is the best time for 

short road trips. 

You can find the 2023 fall color map 

on michigan.org. 

Bright clear skies and temperate 

weather make autumn in Michigan 

a pure pleasure. Winter with snowstorms 

and frigid temperatures will be 

here before you know it. Get out there 

with your family and enjoy the weather 

while you can! 


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. 

APPLY AT CHALDEANFOUNDATION.ORG 

3601 15 MILE ROAD, STERLING HEIGHTS, MI 48310 | (586) 722-7253 


LIFE SKILLS 

Renting vs. Buying 

Questions for newcomers seeking housing 

BY CRYSTAL KASSAB JABIRO 

Homeownership is the ultimate 

American dream. Finding a 

place to live is one of the most 

important steps in establishing a new 

life in the United States. Some people 

are fortunate enough to live safely with 

family members while some must try 

to live comfortably on their own. Language 

barriers, financial uncertainty, 

and credit obstacles can be cumbersome. 

Educating yourself will make 

the process less stressful. 

First and foremost, know that your 

immigration status cannot lawfully 

keep you from purchasing or renting 

a home. The Fair Housing Act protects 

you from discrimination based 

on race, national origin, and religion, 

among other things. However, a landlord 

can ask about your residency 

status if he/she asks every other applicant 

the same questions. This helps 

the landlord to comply with state and 

federal laws, and it helps you as the 

renter obtain resources necessary to 

maintain living there. 

Tenants’ rights 

In Michigan, for example, it is unlawful 

for a landlord to void a lease agreement 

if the property becomes uninhabitable. 

You have the right to terminate 

your contract – unless it is your fault 

and you have received money from insurance. 

Also, landlords cannot just 

increase your rent when they feel like 

it, even if you violated a part of your 

contract – unless you have given them 

written consent. They also cannot use 

your personal property as a security deposit. 

Landlords can, however, terminate 

your contract if you are involved in 

domestic abuse or sexual assault. 

As a tenant, you have the right to 

terminate a lease if, after 13 months, 

you or a loved one are unable to live 

independently. This is a good provision 

for the elderly or for people who 

are suddenly incapacitated. Know also 

that the security deposit should not 

exceed 1.5 times the rent. That means 

if rent is $1200 a month, then the security 

deposit should not be more 

than $1800. If a landlord requests 

more than that, he/she is in violation 

of state law. As a newcomer, it may be 

necessary to have a co-signer who will 

be responsible for making the rent if 

you fail to do so. 

It is important to fully understand 

any legal documents you sign. If your 

English language and reading skills 

are still developing, take someone who 

is fluent with you to look for a place to 

live or seek a realtor who speaks Sureth 

or Arabic. They can translate the expectations 

for you, and you can decide 

whether or not you agree with them. 

The contract is not just for you but for 

the landlord as you both have responsibilities 

to each other. A written contract 

is always better than an oral agreement. 

Know your rights and know the 

landlord’s too to avoid any conflicts. 

You must think about what makes 

better sense for you and your family. 

While many immigrants come to 

America with all their life’s savings, 

many arrive with very little money. 

Depending on home values, it may 

be better to rent because you will not 

have the burden of maintenance when 

an appliance or something even more 

expensive like plumbing breaks down. 

That is typically taken care of by the 

landlord. Also, the flexibility of leaving 

when your lease ends will make 

moving more convenient. 

Immigrants and refugees are available 

to get rent assistance in Michigan 

for up to 12 months. This program 

helps take the burden off people who 

are resettling and seeking to build a 

new life here. 

Buying a home 

Obtaining a mortgage is not easy for a 

newcomer (even those with cash down 

payments), but it is not impossible. 

You can apply for special loans, like 

an FHA loan, but without established 

credit scores, mortgage rates will be 

higher, and you will likely need a cosigner. 

Certainly, there are benefits to 

purchasing a home, and the greatest 

opportunity is that of building equity. 

You can also take mortgage interest 

deductions on your taxes. Plus, you 

can truly make the home yours by customizing 

it to your style. 

But there is also a downside. Just 

as a house can increase in value, it 

can also decrease. And it costs more 

Before you rent or 

buy, ask yourself: 

• Is this a neighborhood my family 

and I could survive and thrive in? 

• Are there English language 

learning support programs at 

school for my kids? 

• Should I build a life and career 

here and then buy a house? 

• Can I put half of my income 

aside for rent and other necessary 

expenses? 

• Can I let go of wants and focus 

on needs for the short-term? 

If you cannot definitively answer 

all these questions, you should 

rethink your priorities before you 

enter into a lease or purchase 

agreement. 

to own a home than to rent. Homeowners 

spend an average of approximately 

$3,000 a year on maintenance 

alone! 

With nearly 30 years of experience, 

real estate agent Riyadh Ronnie 

Mansour has assisted numerous 

first-time homebuyers. He claims that 

a very small number of those were recently 

arrived immigrants with a lot of 

money. Mostly, the newcomers just try 

to get by and adjust to being in a new 

environment. 

“Buying a house comes with a lot 

of obligations and expenses,” Mansour 

said. “You have to consider how many 

people are in the family and how many 

of them can work to pay for these expenses. 

You have to be ready for that.” 

Mansour advises that newcomers 

gain employment, become taxpayers, 

and establish credit to prepare 

themselves for homeownership. They 

should have some stability before purchasing 

a house. 

“This is how you show you are a 

good citizen and a good American,” he 

added. 

For more information, you can go to 

https://www.michigan.gov/mdhhs/ 

assistance-programs/cash/refugee/ 

refugee-assistance-services. Riyadh 

Ronnie Mansour with Century 21 can be 

reached at 586-321-0700 and is fluent in 

Sureth and Arabic as well as English. 


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. 


ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT 

CHALDEAN 

STORY 

Raad Hakeem: Music Man 

BY WEAM NAMOU 

Born in Alqosh, Iraq, Raad Hakeem, 

32, has been playing the 

tamboura since the age of eleven. 

Known in Turkish as saz, the tamboura 

is a musical stringed instrument 

with a long neck and round body. It belongs 

to the lute family and is known 

for its rich, resonant sound. It is commonly 

used in Indian classical music, 

although it has found its way into various 

genres of world music and fusion 

styles due to its unique tone and versatile 

nature. 

Hakeem was taught how to play 

this instrument by his paternal uncle. 

“Whenever he left to serve in the army, I 

would use his instruments,” remembers 

Hakeem. “I practiced a lot during school 

breaks. The hardest thing was trying to 

find time to play and study too.” 

His father also dabbled with various 

musical instruments, so music 

was in the family genes. But only in 

Hakeem’s case did this aptitude turn 

from hobby into a full-time career. 

Early on, Hakeem’s talents gained 

recognition from the neighborhood. 

His family had a store in town where 

he’d sit and play the tamboura. People 

stopped to listen and enjoy his music. 

“Our house was on the way to the 

monastery,” he said, “so people who 

passed through would come over and 

insist that I play something.” Over 

time, they asked him, “Why don’t you 

get on TV and radio stations so the 

world can hear what you play?” 

At age sixteen, he began doing interviews 

for different channels. Locals 

invited him to play at gatherings. Little 

by little, he started performing with 

bands, and nowadays, he mostly does 

solo shows. 

Because of the dire situation there, 

Hakeem left Iraq in 2011. He lived in 

Lebanon where every day after work, he 

continued to play with the musical instruments 

he brought from Iraq. “During 

that time, I learned a lot of famous Arabic 

songs by the legendary Abdel Halim 

Hafez and Fairuz,” recalls Hakeem. 

These practices led him to create 

his own rhythms that combined Arabic, 

Iraqi, Turkish, Chaldean, Assyrian, 

Lebanese, and Egyptian music. “I took a 

Upcoming Shows 

Raad Hakeem will be one of the artists featured in the West Bloomfield “Meet 

Your Neighbors” event on Thursday, September 28. A multicultural experience, 

the event runs from 4-7 PM at the Connect Senior Center located at 33230 West 

14 Mile Road. All ages are welcome, and light refreshments will be provided. 

The Chaldean News will have a booth at the event, participating as part of the 

Great Michigan Stories Project. 

Raad will also be at the Chaldean Cultural Center’s Founders Gala on Friday, 

October 20 from 6-11 PM at Shenandoah Country Club. Tickets and sponsorship 

information are available on the Center’s website at chaldeanculturalcenter.org/ 

event/2023-founders-gala. 

Raad Hakeem will be a featured performer 

as part of CN’s Chaldean Story series at 

West Bloomfield’s “Meet Your Neighbors” 

on Thursday, September 28. 

CHALDEAN 

STORY 




chance with this kind of music and people 

liked it,” he said. “That inclusivity is 

what makes my style unique. It reaches 

various cultures and ethnicities who are 

at the same event. I haven’t seen anyone 

else do what I do in this way.” 

Hakeem arrived in the United 

States in August 2013. He was in his 

early twenties and realized that people 

here didn’t know the quality of his 

music. “It took a while for them to understand 

and have confidence in my 

work,” he said. “Since 2021, I’ve been 

doing this full-time.” 

Hakeem visited Iraq in 2022 for six 

days, going to Duhok, Erbil, and Alqosh. 

“I can’t describe the feeling of going 

back to your hometown and seeing the 

people that you love,” he said. “It was 

great, and the people were great.” 

He performed at a couple of parties, 

for no charge. He did so out of 

love for the community and because 

many could not afford to pay. They 

lived under difficult circumstances, 

though they try not to show it. “These 

are my people and I wanted to make 

them happy,” he said. 

He noticed big changes since he 

left, such as social media. “Nowadays 

everyone has a phone and can watch 

online the entertainers and musicians 

that they like,” he said. 

Hakeem credits his musical success 

to his ambitious attitude, persistence, 

and the support of people. He listened 

to his audience and created tunes that 

resonated with them. They therefore 

appreciated his work and booked him 

regularly until he became so in demand, 

he saw that he could make playing 

the tamboura a full-time career. 

In the future, Hakeem would like 

to reach composers in the Arab World 

and work with them. This would 

broaden his audience and give him a 

global presence. 

He’s happy to help other artists 

grow in their fields, but only if they’re 

ambitious. “If they don’t have ambition, 

then they’re wasting my time,” 

said Hakeem. “You must have the will 

to pursue your dreams,” he went on. 

“When you love your work, you will 

always succeed. By loving it, you are 

giving it value, and in return people 

will give it value. You must hold on to 

the work and take it seriously.” 

Contact Raad Hakeem at (586) 277-9691 

or by email at raadhakeem@gmail.com. 


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EDUCATION continued from page 34 

is compulsory through age 11. Secondary 

education in Iraq is six years in 

duration and completed in two stages: 

Intermediate and Preparatory. 

Even though it is now gone, ISIS 

damaged the Iraqi education system 

severely. One out of every five schools 

in Iraq were put out of use. The terrorist 

group really hurt the country’s education, 

by closing some schools and 

using others as a place to radicalize 

children. Parents were forced to send 

their children to these schools under 

the threat of death. 

Even after ISIS was expelled, many 

children were out of school for two years, 

because of the closure of many schools. 

This meant the loss of two school years 

and the need to catch up educationally. 

Unfortunately, the Iraqi government 

does not dedicate enough budget 

for the education of the country’s 

youth. Most of the Iraqi government’s 

budget is spent on religious institutions 

and the military. 

Even if the situation is quite dire 

when it comes to education in Iraq, international 

organizations have not left the 

country without help. For example, UNI- 

CEF has made tons of improvements, 

building new schools and fixing existing 

water systems in addition to training 

more than 50,000 teachers and supplying 

children with school materials. UNI- 

CEF has helped around nearly 700,000 

children access education in Iraq. 

U.N. statistics indicate that the average 

Iraqi boy over 15 has less than 5 

years of schooling and nearly half of 

Iraqi girls have none. Bombing, looting, 

and burning (including the education 

ministry headquarters) in 2003 

administered the coup de grace to the 

old system—and created a golden opportunity 

to build a new one. 

The fight for education is far from 

over in Iraq, and children continue 

to search for glimmers of hope. Children’s 

education is key to the rebuilding 

of society in Iraq and mandatory 

for the troubled nation to achieve a 

sustainable peace. 

Educating children is the best hope 

for the future of Iraq. Let’s hope that this 

will happen in the years to come. 

Sources: Christians in Iraq by Saad 

Salloum, Jews of Iraq by Yacoub 

Yousif Goriya, A journey in the 

History of Iraqi Jews by Yousif Rizq 

Alla Ghanima, Articles by: Jonathan 

Sciarcon, Dr. Aziz Asaad, Karam Jasim 

Mohammed, Ukrainian National 

University, Jassim Mohammed 

Rajab, Fadi Salam Iliya, CRS, Majid 

Khadduri, Billy Briggs, UNICEF. 


EVENT 

1 

2 

3 

4 

West Bloomfield Group 

Tours the Chaldean 

Cultural Center 

PHOTOS BY ALEX LUMELSKY 

A 

group from the Jewish community and West 

Bloomfield leadership visited the Chaldean 

Cultural Center inside Shenandoah Country 

Club on Saturday, August 5. This was the first of a series 

of events for the year-long Chaldean Story project, 

made possible with support from Michigan Humanities 

Grants. Guests enjoyed a guided tour of the museum 

with a history lesson by Executive Director, Weam 

Namou. The event, coordinated by Sharkey Haddad 

of the Chaldean American Chamber of Commerce, included 

a luncheon and discussion. Sharkey is one of 

the project advisors for the Chaldean Story initiative. 

1. Event participants pose in front 

of the Chaldean Cultural Center. 

2. Judy Jonna leads a tour. 

3. Weam Namou explains some 

of the displays in the Center. 

4. Nick Najjar provides a 

first-hand account of current 

conditions in Northern Iraq. 

5. Sharkey Haddad gives an 

impassioned presentation. 

6. Dr. Adhid Miri leads a discussion 

during the post-tour luncheon. 

5 6 

CHALDEAN 

STORY 





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SEPTEMBER 2023

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