This commemorative edition includes all of the features published with the Chaldean Story series, made possible with generous support from Michigan Stories, a Michigan Humanities Grants initiative.
ARE YOU HIRING? PLEASE
ARE YOU HIRING? PLEASE CONSIDER INVESTING IN ONE OF OUR NEW AMERICANS. WHAT WE DO The Career Services Department at the Chaldean Community Foundation offers one-on-one assistance to help clients identify goals and develop careers. • Career Fairs • Employer Referrals • Job Application Completion • Training Opportunities • Resume Building • Mock Interviews • Cover Letter Writing • FAFSA Completion To inquire about adding your open positions to our job bank and hiring one of our clients, please call or email Elias at 586.722.7253 or elias.kattoula@chaldeanfoundation.org Chaldean Community Foundation | 3601 15 Mile Rd., Sterling Heights, MI 48310
METRO DETROIT CHALDEAN COMMUNITY | JULY 2024 | VOL. 21 SPECIAL ISSUE 4 From the Editor Telling the Chaldean story By Sarah Kittle HISTORY 6 Chaldean Cultural Roots Innovations that shaped civilization By Sarah Kittle 8 Who Are the Chaldeans? From ancient lands to modern times, a small community continues to leave its mark By Cal Abbo 10 Origins of the Written Word: Cuneiform By Adhid Miri, PhD 12 Why Language Matters Saving Sureth By Cal Abbo SPIRITUAL LIFE 14 Going to Church Changing traditions of worship from Tel Keppe to Detroit By Cal Abbo 16 Detroit: The City of Faith Chaldean faith traditions featured in new PBS documentary By Sarah Kittle 18 Changing Education Chaldeans have changed how Michigan learns By Cal Abbo BOUND FOR MICHIGAN 20 From Mesopotamia to the Motor City Part 1: Early Chaldean settlers successfully navigated the change from agrarian villages to an industrial city lifestyle Part 2: How pioneering Chaldeans created a community in Detroit Part 3: New ventures in a new land By Cal Abbo GROWTH & PROSPERITY 26 Her Story Chaldean women making history By Sarah Kittle 28 Prime Time Entertaining the Iraqi Prime Minister By Sarah Kittle 32 Beyond the Silk Road Event explores four stories of trade and entrepreneurship By Sarah Kittle 36 Growing Pains Michigan marijuana business remains a perilous pot of gold The Risks of Cannabis By Paul Natinsky 38 Thank You for Your Service A Salute to Chaldean American Veterans By Sarah Kittle 40 Dreaming Bigger Dreams A profile of Thomas Denha By Adhid Miri, PhD 42 Sharing the Chaldean Story Nick and Randy Najjar contribute to the traveling StoryCorps series By Cal Abbo 44 Numbers Paint a Picture Walsh College survey reveals striking demographic data about Metro Detroit’s Chaldeans By Cal Abbo CHALDEAN CUISINE 46 In the Beginning: Mesopotamian Beer By Adhid Miri, PhD 48 Spicing Up Michigan Chaldean cuisine becomes mainstream By Cal Abbo 54 First Tango with Mango Iraqi Amba By Adhid Miri, PhD 56 The Mexican Connection A mother and daughter prepare Pozole and reminisce of family memories By Z. Z. Dawod 58 That’s Amore Tania’s looks to expand its ‘stuffed pizza’ footprint By Paul Natinsky 60 7 Mile’s Kabob King A Tribute to Bahi Jarbo By Crystal Kassab Jabiro ARTS & CULTURE 62 Honoring History Birth of the Chaldean Cultural Center By Cal Abbo 66 Beth al-Nahrain 2nd Annual Writers of Mesopotamia Conference By Adhid Yousif Miri, PhD 68 Chaldean Immigrant Media Pioneers In Michigan and the United States By Adhid Miri, PhD 70 From the Archive Faisal Arabo, Chaldean Media Pioneer 72 Weaving a Narrative The Rich Complexity of Middle Eastern Folklore By Dr. Adhid Miri & Sarah Kittle 74 Music Men Omar Jarbo Raad Hakeem By Weam Namou 78 From the Outside Chaldean Americans are a uniquely close-knit community By Sarah Kittle 80 Event West Bloomfield Group Tours the Chaldean Cultural Center Photos by Alex Lumelsky 82 A Night of Culture Celebration is a highlight of the year-long Chaldean Story series By Cal Abbo CHALDEAN STORY CHALDEAN NEWS 3
