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ZZZZZ ffff,0000,0000ZENDA is a
Weekly Assyrian Online Magazine ZZZZZ
ZZZZZ ZZZZZ
ZZZZZ Vol III, Issue 28 ZZZZZ
ZZZZZ Eelool 15, 6747 September 15, 1997
ZZZZZ
ZZZZZ ZZZZZ
ZZZZZ zenda@ix.netcom.com ZZZZZ
ZZZZZ P.O. Box 20278 San Jose, California 95160 U.S.A.
ZZZZZ
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0000,0000,ffff T H I S W E E
K I N Z E N D A
The Lighthouse............. Letters in Motion: Issa Benyamin
Good Morning Bet-Nahrain... ADM Delegation in San Jose, California
Surfs Up................... "highly offend the Assyrian Church"
Surfers Corner............. Lieden University Symposium
News Digest................ Coptic New Year
Assyrian Metal Rock Band
Calendar of Events......... Zowaa Delegation in Chicago
MESA Conference in San Francisco
Khudra..................... October-December 1997
Entracte................... No New Entries
Intelligentsia............. Meetings and Classes
Assyrian Surfing Posts..... The Maronite Research Council
Pump up the Volume......... Marble and Glass
Back to the Future......... Third Dynasty of Ur & Excavations in
Babylon
Literatus.................. Who Can Be Against Us?
This Week in History....... "New Assyria" Published in New Jersey
Bravo...................... When A Saint Walked Among Us
The Directory.............. ZENDA News Sources
Bshena..................... Ross Medical School, Los Angeles, Australia
Salute..................... Firas & Manfred
ffff,0000,0000----------------THE L I G H
T H O U S E------------------
LETTERS IN MOTION: A PERSPECTIVE ON THE ART OF ISSA BENYAMIN
Today's Assyrian language is undeniably the only "cultural glue" uniting
all facets of modern Assyrian identity. It is the remnant of a
historical experience molded by six thousand years of Mesopotamian
cultural and a Semitic linguistic tradition. In the age of the
electronic messages, TrueType Fonts, and PostScript printing we may find
ourselves paying less attention to the understanding of the
non-electronic visual arts of yesteryears. One such form of art is
Assyrian calligraphy and only one man has done so much to preserve this
unique form of art in the Twentieth Century- Rabbie Issa Benyamin.
Calligraphy is the art of producing elegant and stylized handwriting. It
is a form of art that has been studied since the cuneiform writing on
clay tablets was invented in Bet-Nahrain. To appreciate calligraphy one
must observe a master at work, the combination of the skill and
imagination that brings life to otherwise a few black symbols on a sheet
of paper. Issa Benyamin, editor of several Assyrian magazines, author,
and of course the most noteworthy calligrapher of this century is a
master animator, bringing words to life. His compositions are a fusion
of strong and delicate, stiff and curved lines, thick and thin shadows,
and a spectrum of ink consistency projected on leather. Issa's works are
alive with passion, dancing to the rhythm of nature, one with the master
and his people's historical perspective.
Each of Issa Benyamin's work on leather parchment recounts his lifetime
commitment to Assyrian language and handwriting. Over fifty years of
dedication that is. His best friends are the 22 letters of the Assyrian
alphabet which he affectionately calls the "22 pearls of our ancestors'
priceless inheritance." He creates magic by simply placing these letter
symbols in such a way as to depict a pictographic rendition of an idea as
abstract as "unity" and "love." His work attests to his complete
fascination with the Assyrian language and its visual symbols of
communication. Even though Assyrian language is spoken in over a dozen
different dialects yet its imprints on paper remain the same. Without
the slashes and dots, above and below the consonants, which serve as the
vowels all forms of spoken language disappear in the intangible and
silent pictographic form of communication scholars call Syriac writing.
Closely resembling the Arabic and Persian calligraphy, Issa's writing is
an amalgamation of many layers of visual poetry and music.
Unfortunately, unlike the Arabic calligraphy, Assyrian script is not as
revered by its practitioners and remains the most misunderstood form of
our visual arts. While the Islamic countries pride themselves in the
development of their form of writing (i.e. Kufi and Nastaleeq) Assyrians
remain indifferent to the evolution of one of the most mature form of
handwriting in the world. So well-recognized in the international arena
of calligraphy that in 1993 Issa Benyamin was invited to join a few
selected caligraphers representing a dozen nationalities to take part in
a unique artistic project. The result was the publication of "L'Esprit
de la Lettre", an art book in which modern Assyrian calligrphies of Issa
Benyamin adorns a few pages of this beautifully-designed book, alongside
Chinese, Arabic, Latin and other renowned forms of calligraphies. As in
any other of Issa's compositions his selections for this book demonstrate
the richness, power, beauty, and the unique spiritual and moral force of
the written Assyrian language.
Today, Issa Benyamin and his wife live in a quiet town in central
Illinois, a three-hour drive from Chicago. Dozens of his original work
are on display in the basement of his house, where he is rarely visited
by anyone from the largest community of Assyrians in the United States.
Last April a group of Assyrians visiting friends in Chicago and parting
from their Assyrian language instructor, Rabbie Nimrod Simono, had an
unprecedented opportunity to visit Issa Benyamin and his collection of
work at his residence. Watching Issa explaining his art is truly a
spiritual experience. The Assyrian community in San Jose has agreed to
bring a generous sample of Issa's original work to California and invite
him to spend a few weeks with the Assyrian language students and
enthusiasts. Rabbie Issa Benyamin has accepted this offer and will join
this most fortunate community in California where he will display his
work at a local gallery and teach an Assyrian language and art
appreciation class to adults.
Meanwhile, ZENDA invites all Assyrian organizations around the world to
organize an international effort in preserving the art of Assyrian
calligraphy by inviting Rabbie Issa Benyamin and help display his work
for the viewing enjoyment of Assyrians and non-Assyrians alike. To learn
more about Rabbie Benyamin visit http://www.edessa.com/art/isa.htm where
in addition to his biography a selection of his most enduring work can be
closely examined.
Issa's work unifies the historic vision of Assyrian unity and love in an
art form that integrates stylized symbols, poetry, and idealism. It is
indeed an esthetic snapshot of letters in motion possessing a magical
power to transfix the viewer and bringing us closer to the artist's
motifs and our ethnic identity. Issa Benyamin's Assyrian calligraphies
are hidden treasures that must be re-discovered and shared by all who
struggle to fortify the Assyrian cultural heritage.
ffff,0000,0000----G O O D M O R N I N G
B E T - N A H R A I N-----
ZOWAA IN SAN JOSE HOSTS POLITICAL RALLY FOR ADM DELEGATION
(ZNDA: San Jose) On Friday evening, the local chapter of the Assyrian
Democratic Movement in San Jose, California, hosted a political rally to
honor the official ADM delegation visiting from northern Iraq. At this
small gathering Misters Younan Hozaya and Ishmael Nanno delivered a brief
report on the progress of ADM's Projects and requested financial and
moral support from the Assyrian communities abroad. The following is a
list of a the accomplishments noted:
1. helped organize the Unions of Assyrian University Students in Dohuk
and Arbil.
2. daily broadcast of two radio and television programs; with over 8
hours of daily programming.
3. operation of 17 schools in which over 3,500 Assyrian students, grades
1 through 6, study mathematics, sciences, and reading and writing; all
subjects are taught in Assyrian. Over 30,000 Assyrian school books and
instructional materials are already in use. The superior quality of
instruction has prompted other nationalities to request such a curriculum
for non-Assyrian pupils.
4. held a conference to discuss the current status of the educational
projects including the operation of elementary schools in Dohuk and
Arbil. 60 instructors and administrators participated in a 3-day
conference and discussed several issues. It was agreed that the school
curriculum must be expanded to cover high school subjects.
(ADM delegates noted that regular school transportation, design of an
effective curriculum, and translation of technical material from other
languages to modern Assyrian (Syriac) remain the most laborious and
troublesome tasks facing the Assyrian instructors and school
administrators.
5. ADM (Zowaa) is an active participant in the round of talks in
northern Iraq, Ankara, Damascus and with the U.S. State Department; is a
member of the Iraqi National Congress (an umbrella organization
established to unify all anti-Saddam Hussein forces to help create a
post-Saddam democratic government to Iraq); and is often asked to help
mediate between the two Kurdish factions during high-level discussions
moderated by the U.S. and Turkey.
(Yosip Yacub, an ADM official, is currently in Ankara, Turkey).
Mr. Younan Hozaya is a mechanical engineer who until two years ago lived
in Baghdad and was recently elected to the ADM Central Committee. He
assists in the publication of the ADM Newsletter, Bahra, and the
preparation of textbooks for Assyrian students. Mr. Ishmael Nanno is
also a mechanical engineer, a member of the Kurdish Parliament since 1992
and the ADM Central Committee. Mr. Nanno is the father of six-years-old
Yokhana Nanno whose heart ailment was treated during his brief stay in
the United States.
The ADM delegates emphasized the hardships faced "daily" by the thousands
of Assyrians in the North and asked the audience for their continued
support of ADM's efforts despite of the political disputes and
resentments towards individual efforts and ADM representatives outside of
Iraq. "We are not angels," commented Mr. Hozaya, "only human. Yet we
have accomplished so much since 1991. With the financial support
received through the efforts of the Assyrian Aid Society we have and will
do more. Our goal may seem unreachable, but our path is straight. We
follow one path and one direction even if it means that we must, as we
have, to sacrifice our lives and the luxuries you enjoy abroad."
Misters Hozaya and Nanno will be the guests of a fundraising dinner
hosted by the Assyrian National Alliance in Chicago on Saturday,
September 20 (see CALENDAR OF EVENTS).
ffff,0000,0000-----------------------S U R F
S U P !----------------------
"Your report in the last issue of ZENDA concerning the attitude of the
Assyrian Church of the East towards the three detained Assyrians in the
Jazeera region (of North Eastern Syria) has surprised me, for it is
actually incorrect and totally unfair. The fact that there were no
public
statements made by the Assyrian Church officials concerning this
situation
does not mean that we are indifferent about the matter. We actually did
and
we still are following up this development. Right after the arrest
took
place, this past June, the Assyrian Patriarch, His Holiness Mar Dinkha
IV,
was immediately informed and consequently employed all that was available
to
him to ensure their release from detention; he continues to monitor the
situation with sensitivity and concern. His Holiness, the hierarchy,
the
clergy and all the faithful in Assyrian Church of the East are and have
always been seriously concerned, in every spiritual and fraternal sense,
with
the welfare of our sisters and brothers and the changing situations
they
undergo in the Middle East. Please allow me to say that it is
irresponsible
to publish unsubstantiated assertions suggesting otherwise. I am sure
you
know that publishing statements which accuse the Assyrian Church of the
East
or her Patriarch of indifference in matters of such sensitivity will
highly
offend the Assyrian Church clergy and faithful and will not, at all,
serve
the overall progress of our people. I pray that the fine quality of
accurate
and objective reporting which your newsletter has provided its readers
will
continue to be the most important aim for the staff of ZENDA. May God,
the
Father of all creation, bless us all and enlighten our minds and hearts
to
seek communion with him and solidarity with one another."
Mar Bawai Soro
Bishop
General Secretary of Inter-church Relations
Assyrian Church of the East
[A ZENDA Historical Note: Today is the birthday of Mar Dinkha IV,
Patriarch of the Assyrian Church of the East, born in Arbil, Iraq, in
1935.]
************************
"I'd like to express my gratitude to Zenda's staff for all their support
for Karmela's cause in the form of spreading the word around and
reflecting all different points of views about this issue, "UNBIASED" and
as it is expected from a true people's media.
I, myself am a new subscriber to your magazine, but even by reading only
2 issues of Zenda, I can tell that this on-line magazine has a great
potentiality to fill the "HUGE GAP OF COMMUNICATION" between all
Assyrians from all walks of life and put an end to the "MISCOMMUNICATION"
which is "THE MONSTER" that can swallow up the blossoms of a nation's
unity and raise the
brother against the brother.
I shake your hands and wish you success in keeping this magazine away
from all authoritarian minds who would like to control the others way of
thinking and leave the doors open for all Assyrians, despite all their
differences in the way that they may interpret each issue. We can only
notice the rough edges by looking at them directly under the Sun
light."
Emil Darmozadeh
Los Angeles, California
[Mr. Darmozadeh is the brother of Karmela Darmozadeh who recently
received a substantial amount of financial contribution to cure her
life-threatening blood disease in London, England. ZENDA will follow the
story of Karmela's medical treatment as more information becomes
available].
************************
HUMAN ASSISTANCE AS A POLITICAL WEAPON?
"It's a fact that the Assyrian nation is going to suffer a lot because of
mistakes committed by individuals. If our sympathy and engagement for our
nation/people is always going to be valued in dollars and pounds it's
hard to imagine the end. One of the consequences will be that ambitions
and visions are of less importance then for example beautiful cars and
nice clothes. I refuse to believe that it will go so far, but after
having read Zenda (25th of August) the reality seems to be the opposite.
As a person without any specific experiences from Assyrian national
work
in the USA and Canada, it's hard to comment the situation there. But in
Europe we as Assyrian youngsters are not familiar with the mentality
presented by Ashour Simon Malek in Zenda. What kind of objects is reached
when we distribute a list of individuals and organisations who have
contributed to our sick sister, Karmela Dermozadeh. What's proved when we
read that BNDP has contributed with XXX dollars to her? And what are we
supposed to think when the person declares. "Let it be known to all
Assyrians that if the Assyrian Aid Society in Canada will not help I will
personally take legal action and have them charged with every criminal
offences that may be encountered in Canada." My first impression is that
Mr A.S Malek is giving us a promise that will liberate our nation from
some sort of pain. That's not true, nor does it prove anything about the
organisations which have contributed with 100 dollars or what ever. The
only truth seems to be that certain groups of individuals is trying to
take advantage of our dearest sister Karmelas misfortune. As if I'll be
better when people know that I have
sacrificed a certain amount for a daughter of my nation? Let us respect
the job performed by each individual, some will do good things today and
others tomorrow. It's very simple. Let us respect the constitution of the
Assyrian Aid Society in Canada, which benefits thousands of Assyrians in
the north of Iraq but can't act on behalf of individuals. Is that to
complicated? We understand that and I think Mr A.S Malek also does. But
his promise to "take legal action" does only prove that his anger
directed at AASS it's more a question of some personal dispute then a
heroic mission for his nation or for Karmela.
We should all learn something: we are living in post-industrial
societies, where respect and tolerance are virtues. I might dislike an
idea, but there are certain places where our criticism can be performed.
But it's a criminal act when we are trying to win political sympathy by
taking advantage of a persons misfortune. Awareness of this fact can only
be confirmed by a change in our attitude and behavior.
It is however important to point out that there are thousands of
Assyrians suffering from different diseases or famine. It would be a huge
and terrible mistake to compare the misfortune of one person with that of
others. But in any case Karmela is neither the first or the last. Every
organisation should be aware of this fact and consider whether we should
help one person in one case and not others in other cases. In the AASS's
case they have their policy, which should be respected. But that doesn't
exclude that individuals working within or members of ZAWAA will not help
Karmela or others. I personally recommend every Assyrian to stand up for
Karmela, not with regard to A. S Malek's insignificant heroic "threat",
just because she is a daughter of our people and a mother of two
children. The question that follows is
whether the same (Malek) person will stand up again accuse those who
are
not assisting thousands of starving children in Iraq, prostituted
Assyrian girls in Amman, or children of those who are killed by any of
the regimes in our homeland.
Let us all pray for Karmela, that she will survive and that be able to
return to her children and husband. We also hope to be saved of such
criticism performed by A.S Malek in the future. None the less I think he
owes Karmela and her entire family an apology for his "promise". It has
only caused them nothing but harm and more pain.
Ahiqar DeBasso
Stockholm, Sweden
************************
"In respond to Ashour Simon Malek's post in vol.III, issue 27, on Sep. 8,
1997, I must admit that I do not know where this ZENDA reader is coming
from, but I know this for sure, that he does not know much about the
Assyrian Aid Society, and its mission. I will ask four simple
questions:
1. Have you been to North of Iraq to see what these funds, AAS is
collecting, are being used for? Please go and check for yourself.
2. Do you know anybody who has gone to North of Iraq and came back and
you got in touch with and asked him/her that question? There are few who
went to Garbia go ahead and ask them, you can not get any better picture
that the eye that saw it.
3. Have you given yourself a chance to attend any rally organized by
Zowaa to explain these thoughts you mentioned? I beg of you to do so, one
hour of your time to get answers from the source itself, and not
groundless accusations.
4. Did you buy any of Assyrian Aid Society's videos or may be watched
Ashur Sargis' Video (an Assyrian vocalist who recently visited northern
Iraq) he took when he was in North of Iraq which shows where these funds
are going?
I hope your answer is not YES to any of the above, because if you said
yes, you would have not said what you said, and your attacks are
definitely of a personal nature and of NO FACTS to them. And if you said
NO to any of the above, which looks the case to me, then I wish you do at
least one, because you will change your mind then.
Be honest with yourself when answering these questions, and give yourself
a chance to know this wonderful organization from a closer distance,
because, despite the pitfalls, with it's help and the help of our
churches our brothers and sisters in North of Iraq today are standing
alive proud of being Assyrians."
Fred Aprim
San Jose, California
************************
CONVENTION OF INCONVENIENCE
"The 64th annual convention is over, the count down has started for the
65th convention. Committees will rush searching for a new location, with
a new agenda, entirely different from the previous one, open house, dance
party, 2 dance parties, 2 dance parties, banquet. And of course, the
picnic. Results, overcrowding, overselling tickets, awards to Assyrian
man and woman of the year for accomplishing nothing. Then what? How long
this circus will go on? Do we have capable people to run conventions?
Does the AANF realize that their clientele of adults and families is
declining and teenagers 18 year of age and younger are taking over?
Someone might say, that's what we want, our
teenagers ( the future of our nation) to come and get involved in
Assyrian events. I got news for you my friends, the AANF convention is
becoming a good place for teenagers to exercise every non-Assyrian habit.
Legal drinking, drugs, ten to fifteen to a room, private parties, sex and
you name it. Not to mention, their attire with men wearing not one but
two or more earrings on each ear loop. No Assyrian language is spoken
among them, as a matter of fact our Assyrian kids have adopted a new
dialect of English that is some how a cross over between Latino and
Afro-American, spiced up with vulgar language.
Where is the federation? How many consultants have they hired to study
or youngster behavior and their departure from their ethnicity? The 65th
convention will be worst than the 64th convention for one simple reason,
the adult crowd will not attend next year. Finally, it is time for the
AANF to hold the convention at a convention center and keep the hotels
for lodging only. Otherwise, their will be no hotels available for us to
accommodate us."
Martin Mirza
Wheeling, Illinois
************************
BITS & PIECES
"The politics of the Assyrians has developed in such a short period to
reach
the level of politics of the world that is described as 'Dirty
Politics'.
For a few years, when the Federation (Assyrian American National
Federation) was under the control of a pro-ADM (Assyrian Democratic
Movement) administration, namely the Political Arm of the AUA (that has
been suspended
since), no one made a comment about AUA Secretary General being ignored
at
the ceremonies and other meetings- certainly the ADM representatives did
not
mind.
AUA executives have been condemned, by ADM amongst others, for having
communication with the present regime of Baghdad. The same ADM
encouraged
and supported AUA Political Arm in defying AUA and worked jointly in
giving
pre-mature birth to Awyoota (Assyrian National Alliance). Guess who were
sitting side by side amongst the recognised Assyrian political
0rganizations, at the head table! You guessed it: AUA's General Secretary
Mr. John Nimrud and Mr. Shmail Benyamen of ADM. AUA political arm!!! I
guess it was forgotten by its friends of yesterday. The reason? I leave
that for the reader to figure out. Don't misunderstand, ADM is not guilty
of dealing with the regime of Baghdad, by associating publicly with AUA,
as the motive for such turnaround is the almighty dollar of the AANF
which is under the control of AUA this term.
The other recognised party was Bet-Nahrain (the smaller split
differentiated
from its other split by its tail 'Iraq'). Another member of Awyoota,
Bet-Nahrain did not dare to mention Awyoota in its address of the
delegates.
Assyrian Liberation Movement (Zowaa Khorara) was the third member of
Awyoota that was recognized in this gathering. Its address of the
delegates was the work of genius. The representative of ALM, said 'the
Assyrian Liberation Movement was born on the foundation of Assyria of the
Assyrians' He went on to say 'We are happy to see ZOWAA being born on our
Homelands, and we are throwing all our power behind ADM (All three
persons)'. Well, ADM does not stand for Assyria of Assyrians, in fact it
stands for "Democratic Iraq and the recognition of the presence of the
Assyrians as a distinct people". In
reality, the rebirth of ADM seem to stand for Kurdistan on Assyrian
Homeland
in exchange for human and cultural and educational rights of the
Assyrians
existing in the occupied Assyria.
Unity? I read in the commentary of Zenda that all of the Assyrian
Political
organizations and parties, that were present spoke of unity.
Unfortunately
that is not the case. The three member Assyrian Liberation Movement spoke
of
what is popular nowadays, 'support our people in country "Atra"'. What
atra?
We have a homeland and the Kurds almost have the Atra. ADM representative
spoke of ADM and its struggle and the need for the support from our
people in Diaspora. I did not hear even s syllable resembling the word
unity. BNDP(Iraq), should set an example of unity by uniting with its
split twin
BNDP, then and only then one can take their call for unity seriously.
AUA that was established to unite the Assyrian organizations to form a
leadership, has turned into an organization itself, sort of like an
umbrella
missing the vinyl.
I said in the beginning of this message that our political organization
has
advanced to the level of international politics that practices at times
'dirty politics', in fact they have surpassed them by practicing what
they
believe, being 'politics is dirty'."
Nenus Younan
Toronto-Canada
ffff,0000,0000-----------------S U R F E R S
C O R N E R------------------
LIEDEN UNIVERSITY SYMPOSIUM
Dear Editors,
I would like to inform you about a symposium at Leiden University,
17-18 October 1997, on the history of the East-Syrian (Assyrian and
Assyro-Chaldean) Christians. For more information, let your readers
contact
undersigned,
Dr. Heleen Murre-van den Berg
hlmurre@rullet.leidenuniv.nl
East-Syrian Christians in the Ottoman Empire (c. 1600-1800)
17-18 October, 1997
Friday
Dr. H.L. Murre-van den Berg (Rijksuniversiteit Leiden)
"The Church of the East in the 17th and 18th Centuries: Bet Israel
Alqoshaya and the Periodization of History"
A. Mengozzi (Rijksuniversiteit Leiden)
"Israel Alqoshaya and Yausip Tilkipnaya and the Beginnings of Sureth
Literature"
Prof. F.A. Pennacchietti (Universit… di Torino)
"Neo-Aramaic and Persian Glosses in the Syriac Translation of the
Pseudo-Callisthenes and the Literary Traditions around the School of
Alqosh"
Prof. G. Goldenberg (Jerusalem, Hebrew University)
"Early Neo-Aramaic and Present-day Dialectal Diversity"
Dr. J.F. Coakley (Cambridge MA, Harvard University)
"The Patriarchate of the Church of the East in the 17th Century"
Dr. G.J. Reinink (Rijksuniversiteit Groningen)
"A Chaldean aksa d-kahna in an East-Syrian Ms. from the University
Library of Groningen"
Dr. H. Teule (Nijmegen, Instituut voor Oosters Christendom)
"The Ascetic Florilegium in Ms. Charfeh 86 and its Connections with
East-Syriac Ascetic Literature"
Saturday
Dr. C. Ciancaglini (Universit… di Torino)
"The Transmission of the Syriac Pseudo-Callisthenes"
Mr. D. Wilmshurst (Oxford)
"Founding a New Patriarchate: Eliya X, Joseph I, and the Muslim
Authorities"
Dr. B. Heyberger (Strasbourg, Universit‚ des Sciences Humaines)
"Pour une ‚tude de l'‚change culturel entre chr‚tiens orientaux et
catholicisme latin: problŠmes et m‚thodes"
Dr. A.H. de Groot (Leiden)
"Ottoman Administration and its Christian Subjects:
Changes in the Millet System under Influence of Western Missions"
Prof. L. Van Rompay (Rijksuniversiteit Leiden)
"Alqosh as a Channel of Transmission of Syriac Literary Culture"
[Dr. Murre-van den Berg, a ZENDA reader and academic advisor, teaches at
the University of Leiden-Netherlands in the Department of Languages and
Cultures of the Near East. Leiden is a medium-sized town situated 17
kilometers northeast of The Hague and 41 kilometers southwest of the
Dutch capital, Amsterdam. In 1988, the Faculty of Arts and the Faculty of
Social Sciences established the Centre of Non-Western Studies (CNWS). On
16 June 1994, the Research School CNWS, as it was henceforth called, was
officially recognized as a Research School by the Royal Netherlands
Academy of Sciences. The goal of the Research School is "to further
Asian, African, and Amerindian studies in the humanities, the social
sciences, and law; to strengthen cooperation between the disciplines
involved, to intensify the collaboration with national research
institutes and museums in Leiden, and to stimulate internationalisation
of research and teaching in the various relevant areas
and disciplines." CNWS is currently overseeing or sponsoring the research
works of some 120 senior researchers and 85 Ph.D. students. ZENDA will
follow up on the proceedings of this important conference in the
Netherlands and invites its readers in Europe, particularly Holland, to
take advantage of this unique gathering of scholars on the history and
development of the Assyrian ecclesiastical, linguistic, and social
progress in the past three centuries].
ffff,0000,0000-----------------N E W S D
I G E S T-------------------
EGYPTIAN-CHRISTIANS CELEBRATE COPTIC NEW YEAR
(ZNDA: Cairo) Nearly nine million Coptics or Egyptian-Christians around
the world, celebrated the beginning of their New Year on 11 September.
On this day the Dog Star, Sirius, reappeared in the sky of Egypt. In
ancient Egypt this annual event signaled the flooding of the Nile River
and so a new planting year would commence. The martyrs of the Coptic
Orthodox Church are remembered on this day. Red clothes are worn to
recall the blood of the martyrs spilled through centuries of persecutions
under Islamic rule. The Coptic Synaxarion (selected biographies of
Martyrs and Saints for
each day of the year) and the Coptic "Difnar" (Antiphons for the Saint
or Saints of the day) relate the stories of such acts of martyrdom. The
Feast of the Martyrs is celebrated on the first day of Coptic New Year,
or the First day of Tut, which usually coincides with 11 or 12
September.
[ZENDA wishes its Coptic readers in Los Angeles and Canada a happy new
year and prays for peace in Egypt where today over 6 million Coptics face
religious discrimination and persecution (see
http://www.copts.com/usdept97.htm .]
ASSYRIAN BLACK METAL BAND ROCKS ISRAEL
(ZNDA: Chicago): A group of Israeli musicians, referring to themselves
as the "descendants of our mighty Assyrian race" have penetrated the
nearly-dead market for Metal Music with their two CD's entitled "As
Jerusalem Burns" and "The Siege of Lachish." The band is called
Melechesh and their music is called the "Assyrian Mesopotamian Black
Metal." Melechesh members are from Jerusalem and their music is a blend
of high volume, grindy guitar with shrieking vocals and Gregorian chants.
One music commentator suggests "to turn this up way loud!" It
continues: "Is this the Middle-Eastern Emperor? The Assyrian Dissection?
The Mesopotamian Cradle of Filth?" For more information visit
http://www.blackmetal.com/melekesh.html .
ffff,0000,0000--------C A L E N D A R
OF E V E N T S------
Sep 20 Fundraising Dinner for ADM Delegation to the U.S.
Assyrian National Alliance (Awyoota)
Assyrian Social Club (Khodra)
7:30 PM
Chicago
Donation: $50.00
Sep 20 Canadian Society for Mesopotamian Studies
"Gilgamesh, the Hero Who Saw Everything"
University of Toronto, Room 140
10:00 - 1:00 PM
Toronto, Canada
Nov 22-24 Middle East Studies Association's 31st Annual Meeting
San Francisco, California
Hyatt Regency San Francisco
http://www.mesa.arizona.edu/mesa97.htm
Selected Topics:
-Christian Persian Notables: Patrons and Leaders in East Syrian
Christian Society
-Iraq and the Assyrians, 1925-1933
-Dawn at Tell Tamir: The Assyrian Christian Survival on the Khabur
River
-The Future of Iraq
-Recognized Religious Minorities in Iran
-An Ethnic Perspective on State Formation in Iraq
-Lebanon's Culture and National Identity
-Sons of Noah in Eastern Christian Tradition
Dec 11-13 British Association for Near Eastern Archaeology
1997 Annual Conference
University of Durham
United Kingdom
http://www.dur.ac.uk/Archaeology/confs/BANEA.html
Through In the Presence of the Gods: Art from Ancient Sumer
Mar 8,1998 The Smart Museum of Art
5550 South Greenwood Avenue
Chicago
Free Admission
ffff,0000,0000----------------------------K H U
D R A--------------------------------
Oct 10 Dokhrana 'd Mar Elia (Elijah the Prophet)
Oct 17 Anniversary of Mar Dinkha IV's Consecration (1976)
Patriarch of the Church of the East
Oct 31 Dokhrana 'd Mar Elia (of Hirta or Khirata)
Nov 1 Dokhrana 'd Mar Mikha d'Alqosh
Nov 3 Dokhrana 'd Mar Gewargis, Sahda (The Martyr)
Nov 19 Commemoration of Mar Yacoub m' Pasqa
Nov 22 Dokhrana 'd Mar Odisho d'Urmi
Dec 7 Annunciation of the Virgin Mary (Soobara)
Dec 8 Immaculate Conception
Dec 13 Mar Yacub d'Nsiven (St. James of Nisibin)
Dec 20 King Abgar V
Dec 22 Mar Yousip (St. Joseph)
Dec 25 Christmas (Julian Calendar)
ffff,0000,0000-------------------------E N T R
A C T E-----------------------------
Dec 31 New Year's Eve Party
Assyrian American Association of San Jose
Entertainers: Black Cats & Franco
Marriott Hotel
Santa Clara, California
ffff,0000,0000------------------------I N T E L L I
G E N T S I A-------------------------
CHICAGO Assyrian Athletic Club Soccer Development Program
Ages 7-14
7:45-9:45 PM
Mondays
Warren Park Gymnasium
Western Avenue & Devon Street
------------------------------------------------------
HARVARD 1997-98 Syriac Classes Taught by Dr. J.F. Coakley
UNIVERSITY Elementary Syriac
Instructor: J. F. Coakley
Basic Syriac grammar and syntax with selected readings from
the Syriac Bible and other early texts.
------------------------------------------------------
Readings in Syriac I
Historical and theological texts, and early poetry
------------------------------------------------------
Readings in Syriac II
Special attention to exegetical texts and to reading
manuscripts.
------------------------------------------------------
NORTH Assyrian Boy Scouts
HOLLYWOOD Assyrian American Association of Southern California
Assyrian Club
5901 Cahuenga Blvd
North Hollywood, California
9:30am to 12:30pm
Sundays
Contact Sargon Gewargis @ fishtale@juno.com
(818) 891-3705 after 7:30 PM
------------------------------------------------------
Assyrian Student Union
California State University, Northridge
Assyrian American Association of Southern California
Assyrian Club
5901 Cahuenga Blvd
North Hollywood, California
6:00pm
Contact Sargon Gewargis @ fishtale@juno.com
(818) 891-3705 after 7:30 PM
------------------------------------------------------
SAN JOSE Assyrian Language Classes (Adults)
Instructor: Dr. Ashur Moradkhan
Sundays
7:00-9:00 PM
AAA of San Jose BETA
------------------------------------------------------
Citizenship Classes
Instructor: Jacklin Bajan
Mondays & Tuesdays
7:00 PM
AAA of San Jose BETA
20000 Almaden Road
------------------------------------------------------
Maestro Nebu Issabey's Nineveh Choir Practice
AAA of San Jose BETA
8:00 PM
Thursdays
------------------------------------------------------
TORONTO Nisibis School
10:30-1:30
Saturdays
The Church of the East
Toronto, Canada
ffff,0000,0000-----A S S Y R I A N S U
R F I N G P O S T S-------
The Maronite Research Council:
http://plaza.v-wave.com/maronites/
ffff,0000,0000---------------------P U M P UP
THE V O L U M E---------------------
0000,0000,ffff English Modern Assyrian
Glass zgho/ghee/ta [F]
Marble shee/sha [F]
Note: pronounce "gh" in zghogheeta as the "gh" in Assyrian "Baghdad".
____________________________________________________________________________
F = Feminine M = Masculine P = Plural
0000,0000,ffff---------------B A C K TO THE
F U T U R E------------------
BC (2112) The Third Dynasty of Ur is founded in southern Mesopotamia
(Bet-Nahrain) by the Sumerian king, Ur-Nammu, and ends with the capture
of Ur by the Elamites (western Iran) in 2004 BC During this time Ur, a
port city, became an important center for trade. The moon-god, Sin, was
worshipped in the impressive Ziggurat of Ur, built by Ur-Nammu and
restored 1500 years later by the Chaldean ruler, Nabonidus.
<<<< Cultural Atlas of Mesopotamia, Roaf >>
AD (1899) Excavation of the ancient city of Babylon begin under the
direction of Robert Koldeway, an architect, sent to Mesopotamia by the
Konigliche Museen zu Berlin to investigate the ruins of Bet-Nahrain.
<<<< The Ishtar Gate, Marzahn >>
ffff,0000,0000----------------L I T E R
A T U S-------------------
WHO CAN BE AGAINST US?
There are many nations mentioned in the Old Testament, but there are only
three that are particularly blessed. "Blessed by Egypt my people, and
Assyria the work of my hands, and Israel mine inheritance." Our blossoms
may be crushed, our leaves may be dry, but we are seriously sustained,
strengthened, and upheld by the faith that comes from the core of our
roots in God's Book and His promise. We may be forgotten by many modern
nations and peoples, but not by the One who raises up nations from dust
and humbles them to dust. We may be of no significance to the world of
today, but we are of supreme significance to God whose nations are the
world of His hands, His people, and His inheritance. We may have many
foes and few friends, but we have no substitute. We are a unique people,
and one day in God's own good time and place we are going to play a
unique role. A nation rooted in the Bible cannot be snuffed out like a
candle or plucked out like a flower. A nation promised to form a highway
with the nations, and particularly blessed, cannot perish. We are an
echo of eternity. If God sustains us, who will overthrow us? If He is
with us, who can be against us? If He is going to build a highway
through us, who is going to block it?
<<<< Between Hope and Hopelessness, Rev. Peter Talia >>
ffff,0000,0000----------T H I S W E E K
I N H I S T O R Y----------
September 15, 1916: The first issue of the Assyrian magazine "New
Assyria" was published in Jersey City, New Jersey, under the editorial
direction of Charles Dartley.
ffff,0000,0000-------------------------B R A
V O---------------------------
WHEN A SAINT WALKED AMONG US
Last night, standing up in his private attire, Father Benny Yadgar
addressed the small but active members of the Bet-Eil Church in San Jose,
briefing them on his mission to obtain financial support for the Assyrian
families, particularly children, in Georgia (Gorjistan). In the past two
and half months of his visit to the United States he has collected
107,000.00 dollars in pledges and donations for the Georgian Relief Fund
he founded in 1995. While responding to the questions posed from this
audience whose Christian faith centered around the most extreme opposite
pole of the Roman Catholic Church, Father Benny seemed dissatisfied with
his own past fundraising performance. His voice trembled at times.
Perhaps he is not impressed with the conduct of his fellow Assyrians
living in the world's most affluent nation. In his comments he explained
how Mar Avrahim, the Chaldean Catholic Bishop for the North American
Diocese, has authorized him to make his "1997 collection" to last until
the year 2000- a mere $25000.00 per year budget to save the lives of
thousands of children and elderly living in the harshest conditions
facing Assyrians. He thanked ZENDA and his mission's current and future
contributors and pleaded that no praises for him be uttered by those
present. "Your praises for me and my work will only paralyze my efforts.
For the horrific torment our people have endured during 70 years of
Communist oppression a few years of my life are not worthy of mentioning.
I am only doing what must now be done."
Father Benny will return to Georgia on Friday, 19 September. He will
carry with him a few pieces of clothing, two suitcases filled with
medicine, his exhausted body, and the names of several Assyrians
concerned for his Mission, the future of Assyrians in Georgia, and
perhaps Father Benny himself. And for those of us blessed by his
presence, in hope of once again meeting him face to face, only one
thought will assuage our aching heart. We will know that when we,
satiated in the luxury of our material lives, most desperately needed him
he came to us and preached the true gospel of our forefathers in
Bet-Nahrain. We will say to posterity that we saw and understood that a
saint walked among us.
ffff,0000,0000----------------------the D I R E
C T O R Y------------------------
ZNAA (Assyrian Academic Society-Chicago)
ZNAD (Assyrian Democratic Organization)
ZNAF (Agence France-Presse)
ZNAM (Archeology Magazine)
ZNAP (Associated Press International)
ZNBN (Bet-Nahrain Inc/ KBSV-TV "AssyriaVision")
ZNDA (Zenda: zenda@ix.netcom.com)
ZNMN (San Jose Mercury News)
ZNNQ (Nabu Quarterly)
ZNNV (Nineveh Magazine)
ZNRU (Reuters)
ZNSH (Shotapouta Newsletter)
ZNSJ (San Jose Mercury News)
ZNSM (Shufimafi Lebanese News)
ZNTM (Time Magazine)
ZNUP (United Press International)
ZNUS (US News & World Report)
ffff,0000,0000-----------W E L C O M E
T O Z E N D A----------
CORPORATE ACCOUNTS
UNIVERSITY ACCOUNTS
Ross Medical School, The Caribbeans
PERSONAL ACCOUNTS
Australia
Los Angeles
ffff,0000,0000---------------------S A L
U T E------------------------
This Week's Writers & Reporters:
Firas Jatou Chicago News Digest
& We Thank The Following Individuals For Referring Us to A New Reader:
Dr. Manfred Alkhas San Jose
ffff,0000,0000---------------------------------------------------------------------------
0000,0000,ffffIn Our Upcoming Issues:
Sep 22: Sex & Sexuality in Ancient Assyria
Sep 29: The Urmie Manifesto
Would you like to know more about a particular topic on Assyrian culture,
arts, history, language, politics, etc. Drop us a note!
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
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