From zenda@ix.netcom.com Mon Sep 8 18:34:33 1997 Return-Path: Received: from dfw-ix7.ix.netcom.com (dfw-ix7.ix.netcom.com [206.214.98.7]) by mrin51.mail.aol.com (8.8.5/8.8.5/AOL-4.0.0) with ESMTP id SAA22201; Mon, 8 Sep 1997 18:34:25 -0400 (EDT) Received: (from smap@localhost) by dfw-ix7.ix.netcom.com (8.8.4/8.8.4) id RAA15133; Mon, 8 Sep 1997 17:27:01 -0500 (CDT) Received: from sjx-ca24-02.ix.netcom.com(204.30.65.162) by dfw-ix7.ix.netcom.com via smap (V1.3) id rma014599; Mon Sep 8 17:20:35 1997 Message-Id: <3.0.3.32.19970908151446.006ab418@popd.ix.netcom.com> X-Sender: zenda@popd.ix.netcom.com X-Mailer: QUALCOMM Windows Eudora Pro Version 3.0.3 (32) X-Priority: 2 (High) Date: Mon, 08 Sep 1997 15:14:46 -0700 To: zenda@ix.netcom.com From: ZENDA Subject: ZENDA (Vol III,#27 ; 9/8/97) Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ ZZZ ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ ZZZZZZZZZZZ ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ ZZZZZZZZZZ ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ ZZZZZZZZZ ZZZZZZZ ZZZZZ ZZZZZZZ ZZZZZ ZZZZZZZZZ ZZZZZZZZZZZZ ZZZZZZZZ ZZZZZZZZ ZZZZZZZZZZ ZZZZZZ ZZZZZ ZZZ ZZZZZZZ Z ZZZZZZZZZZZ ZZZZZZZ ZZZZZZZZZ ZZZZZZZZZZ ZZZZZ ZZZZZ ZZZZ ZZZZZZ ZZ ZZZZZZZZZZ ZZZZZZ ZZZZZZZZZZ ZZZZZZZZZZ Z ZZZZ ZZZZZ ZZZZZ ZZZZ ZZZZ ZZZZZZZZZ ZZZZZ ZZZZZZZZZZZ ZZZZZ ZZ ZZZ ZZZZZ ZZZZZ ZZZZ ZZZZZZZZ ZZZZ ZZZZZZZZZZZZ ZZZZZZZZZZ ZZZ ZZ ZZZZZ ZZZZ ZZZZ ZZZZZZZ ZZZZZZZ ZZZ ZZZZZZZZZZZZZ ZZZZZZZZZZ ZZZZ Z ZZZZZ ZZZ ZZZZZ ZZZZZZZZ ZZZZZZ ZZZ ZZZZZ ZZZZZ ZZZZZ ZZZZZ ZZZZZ ZZZZZZZZZZ ZZZZZ ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ ZZZZZ ZENDA is a Weekly Assyrian Online Magazine ZZZZZ ZZZZZ ZZZZZ ZZZZZ Vol III, Issue 27 ZZZZZ ZZZZZ Eelool 8, 6747 September 8, 1997 ZZZZZ ZZZZZ ZZZZZ ZZZZZ zenda@ix.netcom.com ZZZZZ ZZZZZ P.O. Box 20278 San Jose, California 95160 U.S.A. ZZZZZ ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ T H I S W E E K I N Z E N D A The Lighthouse............. The 64th Assyrian American National Convention Good Morning Bet-Nahrain... Assyrians Arrested in June Still in Custody Iraq Receives Food and Medicine Surfs Up..................."I call it the Assyrian TV Guide" Surfers Corner............. An Open Letter From Darmozadeh Family News Digest................ Hrawi to Issue Citizenship for Immigrants Maronite Patriarch Warns: Planned Resettlements Epic of Gilgamesh at University of Toronto Calendar of Events......... Canadian Society for Mesopotamian Studies Khudra..................... September Through November 1997 Entracte................... San Jose's New Year's Eve Party Intelligentsia............. Regular Meetings and Classes Assyrian Surfing Posts..... Assyrian Cookery Pump up the Volume.........News & Reporter Back to the Future......... Nebuchadnezzer I Attacks Elam The Nestorian Monument in China Literatus.................. Half of My Kingdom to Cure My Child This Week in History....... Joel Warda Meets British Officials in New York Bravo...................... 1997 Assyrian Youth Pageant The Directory.............. ZENDA News Sources Bshena..................... Good Life, KSBW, KUIC, British Columbia, Chicago, Toronto, & Cincinnati Salute..................... Firas, Nenous, and Richard ---------------THE L I G H T H O U S E------------------ THE 64TH ANNUAL ASSYRIAN AMERICAN NATIONAL CONVENTION The site for the 1997 Assyrian American National Convention, held between August 27 and September 1, was the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Dearborn, Michigan. Thousands of Assyrians, from all ethnic and religious backgrounds, were gathered in one place to meet, exchange ideas, and be entertained. The hotel room accommodations, despite of the large crowds, were quite satisfactory and only a few petty violations were reported. The joint husband and wife team of Ator and Jeannie Golani, while keeping a tranquil pose, managed the traffic and security of all guests as best as could possibly be achieved under such circumstances. For the first time in the recent history of these Conventions sponsored by the Assyrian American National Federation, Assyrian history and politics enthusiasts were delighted to discover a rich spectrum of educational programs, seminars, speeches. Much of this effort was due to the superb work of the members of the Assyrian Academic Society in Chicago. The Convention Bazaar had over 30 vendor tables offering such novelties as Assyrian Phone Cards, an Assyrian Cookbook, and replicas of the ancient Assyrian tablets. Vendors were eager to sell the latest music video, Syriac New Testament, and T-shirt Designs. Although there was no apparent common theme to this year's convention it was not too difficult to realize the significance of this year's gathering. By simply looking at the Middle Eastern delicacies served at Hyatt's Kafay's Restaurant and hearing Arabic spoken as often as English or Eastern Assyrian it was clear that this was to become a historic event. Indeed it was. It was at this year's Convention that all hopes of bringing together the Chaldean and Maronite factions of the greater Assyrian nation were rekindled. CONVENTION HIGHLIGHTS: Ishmael Benyamin & Father Benny Yadqar: delegates to the AANF Executive Meetings heard about the distressing conditions of the Assyrians in northern Iraq. Mr. Benyamin, an official in the Assyrian Democratic Party's Central Committee from northern Iraq, and Father Benny Yadqar, a clergy of the Chaldean Catholic Church spoke about their communities and requested continuous support of the Assyrians in the United States. Both speakers received a warm reception and the AANF officials promised an unspecified amount of money on behalf of the Assyrians in the United States to both representatives. Dr. Waleed Phares: president of the World Lebanese Organization astonished the delegates to the AANF meetings and the participants of a Saturday afternoon lecture when he spoke of the Maronite people's decision "to go back to the origins of their ethnic background" and the Maronite Patriarch's decision "to form a committee to discuss the Syriac (Assyrian) origins of the Maronite language." Dr. Phares called the Syrian Orthodox, Maronite, and Chaldean divisions "the Assyrianities" of the greater Assyrian nation. He called for the unification of all these factions as a dominant Christian force in the Middle East. Dr. Jacoub Mansour: chairman of the Chaldean Federation of America, representing over one hundred thousand Chaldeans, briefly discussed the importance of bridging the historic gap between the Chaldean and non-Chaldean Assyrian communities in the United States. Assyrian Academic Society's Cultural Programs: large crowds of people sat through hours of cultural and political discussions and enthusiastically listened to the informative lectures by historians, politicians, and the clergy. Reverend Sarhad Jammo and Abdul Masih Saadi's lectures on the history and contributions of the Syriac Churches pleased a huge number of attendees. Several films on the ancient history of Mesopotamia, its cities and kings were shown at intervals. People were also invited to examine the ancient art of making cylinder seals and amulets. A complete history of the Assyrian tragedies was skillfully narrated by Dr. John Michael. Robert de Kelaita cleverly outlined the history of Assyrian law, a topic in much need of academic investigation. Dr. Waleed Phares outlined the history of a Syriac-speaking community in today's Lebanon from 675 AD until its independence from French colonialists followed by the Arabization of this Christian community until the present time. Dr. Emanuel Kambar provided for his audience a series of historic documents which outlined the history of several individuals and political groups' efforts to create an Assyrian national leadership in the Twentieth Century. His remarks on the rise and fall of the Assyrian Universal Alliance were quite enlightening. Political Parties Representatives: John Nimrod (AUA), Pnoel Hormez (BNDP-Iraq), Abgar Malool (ADO), Yousip Shikwana (ADM-Detroit), Awdisho Dinkha (Khorara), and Ishameil Benyamin (ADM-northern Iraq). All representatives stressed the importance of unity among all political factions and thanked the Federation for its monetary support in the past. Youth Excellence Pageant: (see BRAVO) Five young ladies and four young men competed in this year's Pageant. The runner-up from last year's contest in Modesto, California, was this year's winner - James Petros - who won a $U.S. 1000.00 award and a public recognition at this year's Presidential Banquet. Election of Carlo Ganjeh: Mr. Ganjeh was elected as the Executive Vice-President of the AANF. The election process was clouded in shrewd politicking among the delegates. As usual the AUA elements in the Federation were determined to help elect an AUA-sympathizer to the this post. Hence both Mr. Ganjeh and his rival, Cyrus Amirfar of Turlock, California, were deemed suitable for this position. At the end, not even Mr. Amirfar's threat of diffusing AUA's $10,000 budget, paid annually by the Assyrian American Civic Club of Turlock, could block Carlo Ganjeh's victory. Mr Ganjeh is a member of the Assyrian American Association of San Jose and a former president of the Assyrian United Organizations of California. Surfers Gathering: several Assyrian Internet surfers met to discuss the current status of all Assyrian Internet services provided for the general audience. This year's hot issues were dealing with inflammatory remarks posed by non-Assyrians, improving the use of the Assyrian Usenet, soc.culture.assyrian, and the popular AssyriaLink discussion group. The main goal of this gathering is to familiarize users of the Internet with the people behind the web pages, discussion groups, and other Internet services provided by Assyrian surfers. Entertainment Program: As always the more peaceful gathering during daytime turned to an overcrowded convention after all meetings and lectures were adjourned. The facilities proved small for the ardent crowds determined to see the popular entertainers selected for this year's convention. This was of course expected. Both Saturday and Sunday parties were jam-packed. Friday and Saturday night entertainment was delicious, crowds were too large to handle, live music was excellent, but only for those who managed to pass through the crowds standing in expectation at the lobby and the hotel corridors leading to the dance halls. The security personnel were able to clear the crowd on Saturday but nothing could be done about the several annoying fire alarms between the hours of 2 and 3:30 on Saturday and Sunday mornings. On Sunday three Assyrian girls were arrested for disorderly conduct. There were unconfirmed reports of drug arrests also; ZENDA could not verify such allegations. In all, it was very clear that the number of people attending the entertainment programs at such annual conventions has passed the threshold point and unless a viable solution is reached such activities must be stopped. The inconvenience imposed upon the cordial guests of these conventions must be given greater priority than the monitory value of such activities. Monday's Picnic: beautiful location, plenty of food, convenient shuttle transportation to and from Hyatt Regency, and great entertainment inside a huge blue tent. Sports: The Soccer team of Turlock, California won this year's championship. Other Memorable Events: -participation of the head of other Assyrian Federations in Germany (Essa Hanna), Australia (Denkha Warda), Holland and Sweden -introduction of Assyrian boxing champion, Anwar Oshana at the Banquet -political discussions at Kafay's Restaurant's breakfast tables -the Adult-Only elevators -Neshra's giant Internet Bulletin-Board in the lobby -the schizophrenic T-shirt designs: Proud to be Chaldean; Proud to be Assyrian, Proud to be Assyrian-Chaldean, etc. -Unveiling of the head-piece of Queen Samiramis statue at the Presidential Banquet -presenting the AANF Annual Awards: Assyrian Man of the Year- Aprim Rayes, former AUA General Secretary Assyrain Woman of the Year- Irene Wards, AANF Ways & Means Committee Affiliate of the Year- Assyrian Social Club of Michigan Non-Assyrian Man of the Year - Dr. Sinno Arib, Chicago Non-Assyrian Woman of the Year - Pat McKlowski (special secretary to Governor Jim Edgar) DISSAPPOINTMENTS Sunday Night's Banquet: in ten words or less- extremely long speeches, distasteful food, good service, "Did anybody dance?" AANF Meetings: as if this would come as a surprise to anyone, practically no crucial decision was made at the 4-days-long meeting of the AANF delegates from 30 Assyrian organizations in the United States. Resignation of Marian Younan: the youngest officer elected to the Executive Committee in the history of the AANF resigned from her post as the Executive Secretary of this 64 year-old organization. ZENDA has obtained a copy of Ms. Younan's letter to the AANF delegates which will be published in our next issue. ****** By now participation at the Annual National Conventions in the United States have become an athletic event requiring physical stamina and emotional endurance. Climbing up and down eleven flights of stairs while tens of people are waiting for the next elevator to reach their floor level, sleepless nights for three consecutive days because of boisterous and disorderly conducts of the teen-agers in the adjacent room, and standing-only entertainment for hours at a time in the lobby and hallways of these large hotels require athletic abilities equivalent to those demonstrative of decathlon competitions. Well, so we are exaggerating a bit more than our share. Yet to our surprise while the Assyrian National Convention which has no significant monetary value to the AANF (average net income = $35-50,000) and is a continuous source of embarrassment to the Convention organizers dealing with the management of their local hotels and convention centers, continues to draw bigger crowds. As one conventioneer standing by King Sargon's Statue outside of the Banquet Hall remarked on Sunday: "if you organize it, they will come." ----G O O D M O R N I N G B E T - N A H R A I N----- THREE ASSYRIANS ARRESTED IN JUNE REMAIN IN CUSTODY, MOVED TO DAMASCUS (ZNAD) The three Assyrians, Mr. Bashir Saadi, Mr. Yonan Talya, and Mr. Aziz Ahe , who were arrested on June 24th by the Syrian authorities are still under detention without access to an attorney. Recently they were transferred to Damascus. All three men were arrested for launching a water supply project to improve the conditions of the Khabur villages and their inhabitants. Various Assyrian and non-Assyrian organizations from Europe have expressed concern and sent appeals to the Syrian President Hafiz Al-Assad. The leadership of both Assyrian Church of the East and the Syrian Orthodox Church remain indifferent on this issue and have not made any comments regarding these arrests and the plight of the Assyrians in the Jezire region. Mor Ignatius Zakka Iwas I Patriarch of the Syrian Orthodox Church Damascus/Syria Tel.: + 963-11-543 0122 Fax: + 963-11-543 2400 and Mar Dinkha IV Catholicos Patriarch of the Church of the East Chicago/USA Tel.: + 1 (773) 465 4777 Fax: + 1 (847) 966 0012 IRAQ INSISTS ON TIMETABLE FOR FOOD AND MEDICINE UNDER UN ACCORD (ZNAF: Baghdad) Iraq insisted yesterday that the United Nations respect a timetable for deliveries of food and medicine under the oil-for-food accord. On Saturday, the UN coordinator for humanitarian affairs in Iraq said the country has received 75 percent of the amount of food it was to get under the first term of the accord which ran from December to June. Around 1.7 million tonnes of food have been imported, Eric Falt said. Under the agreement, Iraq was allowed to import nearly 2.2 million tonnes of food but the first imports only arrived in March. Also during the first term, Iraq received 20 million dollars worth of medicine, or only 10 percent of its allocation, Falt said. The oil-for-food agreement, which was renewed in June, partially lifted for humanitarian reasons the embargo imposed on Iraq after it invaded Kuwait in August 1990. Iraq has repeatedly complained of delays in food deliveries. Its contracts with foreign suppliers have to be approved by a UN sanctions committee. -----------------------S U R F S U P !---------------------- "I just wanted to take this time and tell you guys what a great job you have been doing. Your newsletter is informative to the adults and to our youth. I enjoy learning the Assyrian vocabulary you have, and knowing about the latest Middle Eastern news. I can't lie though, I also love to scan through the Intelligentsia, and especially through the Entracte. I call it the Assyrian TV guide. It's nice when friends call just before the weekend and ask me if there is anything going on , I just click on Zenda to find out if there is special lectures, parties, or any other attractions coming up. It's also nice to have the History section for those like myself, who don't have the time to read books deep about our history yet want to learn about it. You make it all possible and easy to scan through a paragraph and learn a little bit at a time about where we come from. I know that putting this newsletter up for all Assyrians takes a lot of hard team work. I also know that it takes a lot of researching books, artifacts and so on. Therefore, I just wanted to take this time and say that I really enjoy your newsletter and I love the fact that I can tell my friends about the new things I learned, for example like where the word honeymoon came from, or King Hamurabis Laws etc...So, please continue the great job you have been doing! Thanks, A Grateful Reader" Linda S. Zaia Milpitas, California [We're speechless!] ******************* "Zenda has grown to be a consistent publication that is read by many. Therefore it is imperative that it takes shape in as far as responsible journalism. I do not mean to insult the newsletter or its staff, only to suggest that some journalism practices to be adopted. When a report against or regarding a person, group, or organization is received by a journal or any type of media, its common practice that the journal would contact the person, group or organization informing them of the complaint, comments etc, allowing them to give their side of the story. If that person or group declines to comment, it is usually reported as such. An example is the latest attack against the executive of the Assyrian American Association of San Jose, as reported in the last issue of Zenda. Only a suggestion for your consideration. Nenous Younan Toronto, Canada ******************* "I'm one of ZENDA reader in Germany and I have to ask you all to excuse my bad English, but I would like to say some words about KARMELA vs. ZOWAA: It is really nice to see how concerned our people are about Karmela, but I just cannot understand, why some of our people use every little thing to make ZOWAA bad. As far as I know, ZOWAA is a political party, which tries to help Assyrians back in the homelands (Iraq, Iran, Syria and Turkey). That's why I completely understand their point of view, if they say, they can not help an individual! I was trying to think about a political party helping an individual, so I imagined what would happen, if every single needed German would go to Helmut Kohl and ask for a personal help?!!!! That is funny, isn't it? Of course, we Assyrians do not have a country, so all Assyrian politician also work like social workers and try to help every single Assyrian, as far as they can, but please don't let us to forget who we are and what is our goal? We have to support our political Parties: MTAQASTA, ZOWAA and even the AUA, and let them do their actual and real job!! Adrin Takhsh Berlin, Germany ******************* "Let Us all Give A Helping Hand in Saving Life of Our people, Not Only in North of Iraq, But in All Bet-Nahrain And Elsewhere. I would like to express my thanks to Assyrians in Hamilton and friends of ASSYRIA for their financial contribution in our fund raising for Karmela Darmozadeh's Bone Marrow Transplant hospital fee. It is truly a matter of life and death if a person does not have such and operation. It is sadly to know that many of our people from all over the world can't get such operation to be done due to their lack of financial to pay for such operation. It is also sadly to see that there is no such organization that help our Assyrian people. A call for establishment of Assyrian Red Cross is needed to rescue our Assyrian people without any discrimination. My final say, let us all give a helping hand in saving life of our people, not only in North of Iraq, but in all Bet-Nahrain and elsewhere. We should help our people not in North of Iraq, as Assyrian Aid Society driving through in requesting donations that no one truly knows where the money are going. Karmela Darmozadeh, a 36 years old Assyrian mother with two children from Iran deserve to be helped by all of our Assyrian organizations, however, the so called Assyrian Aid Society have donated "Zero" toward helping this unfortunate lady in her calls for help, neither members of Assyrian Aid Society Executive Committee in Toronto have any wisdom to realize the magnitude of their mistake. Today, I rest the results in hands of our people to judge when they donate their money to such an organization, and I rest my case in near soon to our Canadian courts to bring them to justice for their criminal activities.... in Toronto and surrounding. Chairman The Assyrian Universal Alliance of Canada, Mr. Emmanuel Yalda and group of volunteers went to many Assyrians in Hamilton and surrounding requesting their help in joining to help Karmela. The following is the result of Mr. Emmanuel Yalda devotion to help such unfortunate Assyrian mother: Donations Received Assyrian Residential & Friends of ASSYRIA $1,651.00 Assyrian Businesses and Friends of ASSYRIA $ 365.00 Assyrian Organizations in Hamilton $ 640.00 Total Donations Received $2,656.00 Expenses Gas ( Transportation Expense - 9 days) $ 65.00 Printing Materials $150.00 Bank's Fees $ 52.00 Total Expenses $ 267.00 Net Amount Forwarded To Karmela's Account in England $ 2,389.00 Canadian Ashour Simon Malek Hamilton, Canada ******************* "I have heard of an assyrian soccer squad in Sweden.....ASSYRISKA FF. I think that was the name.....well to get to the point...TELL US MORE!!!! and also since my brother collects jerseys and hats.....is it possible to purchase their gear ....and while on that subject also is it possible to purchase ASSYRIAN WINGEDBULL gear." Karl Benjamin Arizona State University [As a ZENDA staff member once said "a good website is worth a thousand emails." Go to http://www.toptown.com/hp/xshadow/aff/index.htm and find out for yourself about this very exciting Assyrian soccer team in Sweden. Assyriska FF was established in 1974 and numerous times has since advanced to Division 1.] -----------------S U R F E R S C O R N E R------------------ AN OPEN LETTER FROM KARMELA DARMOZADEH'S FAMILY Dear Fellow Assyrian Brothers & Sisters, I'm writing to you to thank you all for your braveness, sympathy and for becoming a symbol of unity in response to Karmela's call for help. You all showed how much you care and together what great goals our nation can achieve. We as Karmela's family, will never forget that how quick and how strong the powerful arms of this great nation opened up to shelter us and to give us the sense of the comfort, as we have never experienced before. My Brothers and Sisters, Allow me to shake your hands and kiss your faces and share our greatest happiness with you: "You did it. We have achieved our goal and raised the amount which was required for Karmela's Operation" Thank you all.....Please spread the word and inform everybody that there is no more need for new donations. Now all we need is your prayers. Please pray for Karmela to undergo the transplant successfully and go back to her family as a healthy Assyrian mother. On behalf of Karmela's Family, Sincerely Yours, Emil Darmozadeh PS: We do not have the contact information and addresses for many of volunteers and organizations who have tirelessly worked to raise the donations for Karmela. If you are a member of such organizations, please forward the address, phone number and contact information for your organizations to us, so we can follow the Karmela's wish to express her gratitude to them. -----------------N E W S D I G E S T------------------- MARONITE PATRIARCH WARNS OF PLAN TO RESETTLE PALESTINIANS (ZNRU: Beirut) Maronite Patriarch, Nasrallah Butros Sfeir, last week warned of a potential scheme to empty Jezzin of its indigenous population and resettle Palestinian refugees in its place. He added that the inhabitants of the area "are being killed for reasons they do not understand". His Excellency was referring to a spate of roadside bombs attacks which killed several civilians in the last two months. HRAWI TO RESTORE CITIZENSHIP TO LEBANESE EMIGRANTS (ZNRU: Beirut) The Lebanese President, Elias Hrawi, told an audience of 1,500 Lebanese-Brazilians in Brasilia that he plans to push ahead with a legislation that would restore Lebanese citizenship to emigrants. Prominent Moslem ministers have vehemently rejected the draft bill, saying that it would "destroy national unity" and "violate the Taif Agreement", and asking that it be "reconsidered". The naturalization of the Lebanese in Diaspora, most of whom are Christians, aims to restore the sectarian balance tipped in favor of Muslims after the 1994 citizenship law which gave more than 200,000 mostly Muslim foreigners Lebanese citizenship. Some analysts believe the draft bill may also be linked to a "secret" decision to settle Palestinian refugees in Lebanon permanently and grant them Lebanese citizenship. Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said yesterday that his country would withdraw from the buffer zone it occupies in south Lebanon if Lebanese or international troops were deployed on the border. ANNUAL CSMS MEETING, EPIC OF GILGAMESH (ZNDA: Chicago) The Canadian Society for Mesopotamian Studies will be holding its 1997 Annual Meeting and Symposium on the morning of Saturday, September 20, 1997 at University College room 140, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada. The topic of this year's symposium is: "Gilgamesh: The Hero Who Saw Everything." The symposium will take place 10:00 am to 1:00 pm. The following four papers will be presented: 1) R.F.G. Sweet, University of Toronto "The Myth of the Heroic Past" 2) D.R. Frayne, University of Toronto "Gilgamesh in Ancient Art" 3) P. Michalowski, University of Michigan "The Many Lives of Gilgamesh: The Gilgamesh Narratives in Cultural Context" 4) A.R. George, University of London "What's New in the Gilgamesh Epic?" The purpose of the Society is to stimulate interest among the general public in the culture, history, and archaeology of Mesopotamia. The Society is a chartered non-profit organization with no political or ideological affiliations or functions. For further information on the Society, see the Society's website at: http://www.chass.utoronto.ca/nmc/rim/csmshome.html --------C A L E N D A R OF E V E N T S------ Sept 20 Canadian Society for Mesopotamian Studies "Gilgamesh, the Hero Who Saw Everything" University of Toronto, Room 140 10:00 - 1:00 pm Toronto, Canada 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 ----------------------------K H U D R A-------------------------------- Sep 8 Virgin Mary (Birthday) Sep 14 Festival of the Holy Cross 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 -------------------------E N T R A C T E----------------------------- Sept 12 Assyrian Chaldean Catholic Church (St. Mary's) Annual Party Entertainer: Walter Aziz Fairmont Hotel, San Jose $20 per person Dec 31 New Year's Eve Party Assyrian American Association of San Jose Entertainers: Black Cats & Franco Meriott Hotel Santa Clara, California ------------------------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 -----A S S Y R I A N S U R F I N G P O S T S------- Assyrian Cookery: Exotic Foods that Outlasted A Civilization www.assyriancookery.com ---------------------P U M P UP THE V O L U M E--------------------- English Modern Assyrian Refrigerator maagh/raa [F] Washer mas/yan/ta [F] ____________________________________________________________________________ F = Feminine M = Masculine P = Plural ---------------B A C K TO THE F U T U R E------------------ B.C. (1120) Nebuchadnezzer I, the most significant king after Hammurabi, brings about a new political and cultural resurgence to southern Bet-Nahrain. He marches into Elam (western Iran), burning and destroying everything. After slaying the Elamite king, Nebuchadnezzer attempted to conquer Assyria in the north but was driven back by the Assyrian king Ashur-reshi-shi. <> A.D. (781) The Nestorian Monument, a stone recording the bringing of the Christian Faith into China, was erected with an inscription in Chinese and Syriac at Singan-Fu in the province of Shen-Si. This is the earliest record of any Christian mission in China. << The History of Yaballah III, Bar Sauma >> ----------------L I T E R A T U S------------------- HALF MY KINDGOM TO THE MAN WHO CURES MY CHILD To the king, my lord: your servant Adad-Shumu-Usur. Good health to the king, my lord! May Nabu and Marduk bless te king, my lord! As to what the king, my lord, wrote to me: "I am feeling very sad; how did we act that I have become so depressed for this little one of mine?" -had it been curable, you would have given away half of your kingdom to have it cured! But what can we do? O king, my lord, it is something that cannot be done. <> ----------T H I S W E E K I N H I S T O R Y---------- September 12, 1917: Reverend Joel Ward, author of "The Flickering Light of Asia" meets with British officials in New York, discussions which eventually lead to the presentation of Assyrian Question at the 1919 Paris Conference. -------------------------B R A V O--------------------------- CONTENSTANTS AT THE 1997 ASSYRIAN YOUTH PAGEANT IN DETROIT, MICHIGAN This year's contestants were: Sandra Younan Chicago read a poem she had written for her diseased friend, Amy, called "Rain" James Petros San Jose pre-Med student; outlined his academic and artistic accomplishments; and gave a speech on "Why Must Assyrians Unite." Vian Benjamin Detroit Sang a song she had written: "Mother Bet- Nahrain Sings for Her Children" Danny David Detroit read a poem Andrew Younan Detroit attending a seminary, red from the Second Day of 3-Day Fasting of the Rogation of Ninevites Sorya Smith Flint, MI played violin, selections included "Chardis" and "Assyrian Sheikhani" Anokeen Sargoni San Jose played piano: Chopin's Waltz in A Minor Chris Petros Detroit speech on "importance of being a Chaldean-Assyrian and Our Christian Faith Dora Hermiz Detroit speech on "Legacies Left Behind- using the Epic of Gilgamesh as an illustration" WINNERS; First Prize $1000.00 James Petros Second Prize $ 750.00 Anokeen Sargoni Third Prize $ 500.00 Chris Petros Fourth Prize $ 250.00 Andrew Younan ----------------------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) -----------W E L C O M E T O Z E N D A---------- CORPORATE ACCOUNTS Good Life Chiropractic KBSW, Salinas-California KUIC, Sacramento-California UNIVERSITY ACCOUNTS PERSONAL ACCOUNTS British Columbia, Canada Chicago, Illinois Cincinnati, Ohio Toronto, Canada ---------------------S A L U T E------------------------ This Week's Writers & Reporters: Firas Jatou Chicago, Illinois News Digest Nenus Younan Toronto, Canada News Digest & We Thank The Following Individuals For Referring Us to A New Reader: Richard Samuel Chicago, Illinois ZENDA WISHES TO THANK AN ANONIMOUS AND VERY GENEROUS READER'S GIFT OF SEVERAL HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS "TOWARDS THE CONTINUED SUCCESS OF THIS ASSYRIAN MAGAZINE." 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