ZENDA Says...

As a child, I would often ask my grandmother, a survivor of the Great Exodus of the 1914-1918, to narrate perhaps for the hundredth time the story of the "Assyrian priest and his books."  After a lengthy introduction she would begin to explain how an old Assyrian priest was forced to leave his church and escape his village in Iran and begin the journey from Urmia to the Bakuba Camp in Iraq.  In a few months three quarters of the Assyrian population fleeing the villages of Iran had died of hunger, cold, and disease.  I asked her "What did the Qasha take with him?"  She'd reply, "Neither food, nor water, not even the holy water.  Just books.  That crazy man took lots of books with him."  I would then sit back and gaze at the little books I firmly held in my hands.  "Nana, what kind of books?" was my immediate reaction.  Her response would always be the same, "All kinds of books, small ones, big ones, thick ones, and old ones."

Today, I sit in my Zenda office in California and am often reminded of Nana's story.  Seventy years have passed since the Great Exodus and I truly believe that today I, too, would had done the same thing - as did the old priest and as have the Assyrians for the past twenty six centuries.  According to the 1990 Census conducted in the United States, the Assyrian population is one of the most educated minority group in America.  We have always abandomed our homes, families, homelands, and have carried only our books and knowledge to the lands of the unknown.

John Adams, the second President of the United States, once said "Let us dare to read, think, speak and write."  This week ZENDA lists the names of the daring young Assyrians who have committed themselves to breaking the chains of ignorance and dependence - the principal enemies of freedom.  Zenda concurs with the old priest from Urmia on that only a nation which nourishes the greatest number of readers, writers, thinkers, and speakers can truly be regarded as rich.  So ladies and gentlemen, fix your eyes on these names that are to follow...ZENDA proudly presents the future of our rich nation - the Class of 1998!

Wilfred Alkhas
Publisher

CLASS OF 1998 ASSYRIAN COLLEGE & UNIVERSITY GRADUATES

STUDENT	DEGREE	MAJOR	SCHOOL
Amira Abraham	M.D.	Obstetrics & Gynecology
Tara Abrahams	B.A. (Honors)	Human Resource Development
Alin Alkass	B.S.	Biology	University of Illinois at Chicago
Mariam Amro	B.S.	Building & Construction Engineering
Maureen Antar	Ph.D.	Pharmacy
David Arkis	B.S.	Civil Engineering
Fadia Audisho	A.A.S.	Accounting
Ramiz Aziz	A.A.S.	Computer Animation  & Graphic Art
Michael Azzo	B.S.	Accounting
Samira Benjamin	B.A.	Education & Earth Science
Charles Brikha	M.D.	Internist
Bianka Doomany	M.A.	Social Work & Personal Pupil Service Credential in Education	San Jose State Univeristy
Nadya Eliah	B.S.	Nursing & Flight Attendance Certification	Hawaii Pacific University / United Airline
Tony Eshaya	B.A.	Business Management
Roza Esho	B.A.	Human Resource Development
Dalia Jacob	M.D.
Karen Kando	M.D.	Pediatrics
Hani Khiziran	Cert.	Computer Control
Erik P. Khoobyarian	B.A.	Political Science	American University
Jennifer Kosiniski	B.A.	Criminal Justice
Nancy Lazar	J.D.	Law	Loyola University
Ronda Malik	B.S. (Honors)	Criminal Justice
Sankaow Mansor	B.A. S.	Economics
Bushra Mansour	B.S.	Computer Science
Benita De Mirza	B.S. (Honors)	Microbiology/ Chemistry & Psychology	University of Miami
Nanette Nisan	B.S.	Communication
David Odishoo	B.A.	Criminal Justice
Diana K. Oshana 1	M.A.	Human Resource Development & Training	Northeastern Illinois University
Domarina K. Oshana 2	B.A. (Magna Cum Lauda)	Developmental Psychology	Northeastern Illinois University
Donna K. Oshana 3	B.A.	Speech Communications	Northeastern Illinois University
Robert Oshana	B.S.	Computer Science/ Mathematics	Northeastern Illinois University
Farid Shamoon	A.A.S.	Management Supervision
Reita Sultan	A.A.S.	Engineering
Rony Sultan	B.S.	Computer Science
Carol Talia	A.A.S..	Travel & Tourism
Nahrain Yacoub	MBA	Finance
Ninos Yacoub	B.S.	Mathematics & Computer Science
Rebekah Saras Yonan	M.A.	Intercultural Relations	Lesley College
Alfred Yousif	Ph.D.	Civil Engineering

 
1    Diana has been employed by Motorola, Inc. for the past three years and thanks to complete financial funding from Motorola, was able to successfully obtain her Master's degree in HRD.

2    Domarina has been accepted at the University of Chicago and will be pursuing her Ph.D. in Developmental Psychology in the Fall of '98.  Her field of interest will be Research and Analysis.  Her first Research paper was presented at The 27th Annual Symposium of the Piaget Research Society, June, 1997 in Santa Monica, CA.  Title:  Pier Interaction:  "The Joint Role of Knowledge Stability, Social Dominance and Scaffolding in Learning."  Her second Research paper was presented at The 6th Annual Creative Arts and Research Symposium of NEIU. Title:  "The Relationship Between Children's Social Perception and Their Learning in Peer Interaction."

3    Donna is currently seeking a position with the Federal Government and will start Graduate school in the Fall of '98.  Her graduate studies will be geared toward 
Public Administration.

CLASS OF 1998 ASSYRIAN HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES

STUDENT	HIGH SCHOOL	LOCATION / COMMENTS
Zina Aboona	Niles West	Illinois
Christian Abraham	Niles North	Illinois
Stella Alkass	Main East	Illinois
Sylvana Audisho	Schaumburg	Illinois
Leena Baba	Mather	Illinois
Tania Babella	Mather	Illinois
Natalie Nahrain Beitashour
Stella Benyamin	Niles North	Illinois
Atur Bit-Ivan	Mather	Illinois
Ninort Brendaro	Mather	Illinois
Ramcin Cannon	Mather	Illinois
Ronny Constantine	Mather	Illinois
Hilda Daniel	Mather	Illinois
Ronny Daniel	Mather	Illinois
Sharen Dankha	Main East	Illinois
Helen David	Niles North	Illinois
Nabih David	Deerfield	Illinois
Rony Dawood	Senn	Illinois
Ramsen Eisha	Mather	Illinois
Linda Eshaya	Good Counsel	Illinois
Achour Esho	Niles North	Illinois
Danny Georges	Niles West	Illinois
TAnia Guiwargis	Evanston Township	Illinois
Sargon Hajey	Mather	Illinois
Daniel Hanna	Gordon Technical	Illinois
Dina Hermiz	Mather	Illinois
Josephine Hermiz	Amundsen	Illinois
Zia Iskander	Niles North	Illinois
Robert Kacho	Libertyville	Illinois (Honors Student)
Ziya Kakoo	Glenbard East	Illinois
Tony Kalogerakos	Holy Cross	Illinois
Vivian Khizickia	Niels North	Illinois
Gina Khoshaba	Mather	Illinois
Sunny Khoshaba	Senn	Illinois
Jouliana Lazar	Larkin	Illinois
Vivian Lazar	Good Counsel	Illinois
Linda Malik	Mather	Illinois
Ninva Mansor	Niles North	Illinois
Babylonia Marcus	Glenbrook South	Illinois
Shamiran Markos	Mather	Illinois
Rita Neesan	Niles West	Illinois
Tanya Odisho	Mother Seton Regional	Clark, New Jersey
Rema Oraha	Mather	Illinois
Pauline Oushana	Glenbrook South	Illinois
Sonny Peera	Central	Illinois
Hani Pourshabazi	St. Gregory	Illinois
Frederick Rasho	Niles West	Illinois
Florida Sarkis	Mather	Illinois
Steven Shilaita	Niles North	Illinois
Danny Shamoon	Lane Technical	Illinois
Sharbel Shamoon	Lane Technical	Illinois
Mariam Shando	Niles West	Illinois
Ninos Shaoul	Notre Dame	Illinois
Eva Shlimon	Elk Grove	Illinois
Emil Soleyman*	Oak Grove	California
Clara Sommo	Amundsen	Illinois
Danny Taliya	Gordon Technical	Illinois
Ankido Tamras	Niles West	Illinois
Ator Yacoub	Mather	Illinois
Nineveh Yacoub	Niles North	Illinois
Karolin Yaghianian	Mather	Illinois
Sharbel Yokhana	Main East	Illinois
Baneta Nahrain Youkhana	Ceres	Ceres, California
Roudi Youkhana	Gordon Technical	Illinois (Honors Student)
Niven Youkhana	Niles West	Illinois
Suzie Younan	Grace M. Davis	Modesto, California
Tanya Younan	Good Cousel	Illinois
Nora Yousif	Niles West	Illinois
Madlen Youssefi	Leland	San Jose, California
Steven Zakaria	Mather	Illinois
John Zaya	Rolling Meadows	Illinois
Zina Zaya	Rolling Meadows	Illinois
Zando Zando (Deacon)	Mather	Illinois

* Emil will attend UC Berkeley in the fall and will be pursuing a degree in neurobiology.

(ZNAF: Washington) The US State Department will soon launch a program to support some
73 groups opposed to Iraqi President Saddam Hussein.  Congress has recently approved funding for the plan that will help the exiled groups collect evidence against Saddam, said Assistant Secretary of State Martin Indyk.  "We will be launching an effort to help them organize and coordinate their case against Saddam Hussein, particularly his brutality, his war crimes, and will be going forward in an effective way," said Indyk at a State Department media seminar.  "I don't place a high probability in their ability to overthrow Saddam but it's important they demonstrate there's a different way of life for the Iraqi people," Indyk said.  Congress has already authorized $5 million for Radio Free Iraq, a government-sponsored outfit that will broadcast news into the Islamic nation that would otherwise be censored. In addition, the Congress has approved in principle another $5 million to support the Iraqi opposition.

"I am so proud to submit the names of all of my three sisters who obtained their degrees from college this Spring :-)  Thank you in  advance for all that you do to bring Assyrians together.  Would you also be so kind as to include my parents and brothers' names (Peter & Shamiran and brothers Douglas and Emmanuel)? My parents have been the driving force behind each and every one of us as we pursued
the road to education.  Forever, encouraging and motivating us to strive for success and financial stability through education and hard work.  Never letting us forget that we are Assyrians first and foremost and instilling a strong sense of religion in us which has seen us through many a nightmarish "thesis or term paper."  Thank you staff of Zenda and God bless :-)

Doris Oshana
Chicago, Illinois

Ms. Oshana's sisters are Diana, Donna, and Domarina.  Please see our proud list of University Graduates in this week's The Lighthouse section.

Vian & Marian Younan
Modesto, California

Georgette Ertas
Australia

Mel Jackob
California

Opening Ceremony
Thursday, July 2        7:30 to 9:30 p.m.             Willow Glen High School Mail Gym         Free

Games
Friday, July 3            9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Saturday, July 4        9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.       Willow Glen High School
                                                                       $2.00 per person ( good for all day and all the games )

Award and Celebration Party
Saturday, July 4        8:30 p.m.                         Mediterranean Center, Hyatt San Jose - Airport
                                                                      Entertainment:  Franco and his band;  D.J. Noel
                                                                      Admission:  $15.00 per person
                                                                      A.U.O.C. Affiliate Athletes Free
Olympics Picnic
Sunday, July 5          11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.     Saratoga Springs Picnic Grounds
                                                                      Admission:  $5.00 per person
                                                                      A.U.O.C. Affiliate athletes free

Hotel Accommodations
Hyatt San Jose - Airport
1740 North First Street
San Jose
Special rate of $69.00 has been reserved for the " Assyrian Olympics "
For Reservation, please call (800) 824-6835

If interested in competing in Tennis, Table Tennis, Pool, Chess, or Backgammon games, please call:

Wilson Eshou          (408) 980-1797
Jacklin Bejan           (408) 263-0984
AAA of San Jose     (408) 927-8100

With Permission From the New York Times
Thursday, June 11, 1998, page B12.

Gourji M. Raby [Rabee`] died on June 8, 1998.  A physician of Iraqi-Jewish origin whose career spanned six decades and two cultures.  He was a graduate of the first medical school class of the University of Baghdad in 1932 and, in time, became the personal physician of the Iraqi royal family and of the political elite in the Middle East.  In 1966 he immigrated to the U.S. and successfully re-began his career at the age of 60, eventually becoming the Director of Ambulatory Care Services at Queens Hospital Center before retiring at age 81.  He is survived by his wife Rachel, his daughters Yvette, Joyce and son-in-law Frank Reiss, his sons Samir and Khether and daughter in law Katie, and grandchildren Alexander, Annabel and
Sammy.  Dr. Raby was much loved and respected among his circles of Assyrian friends.

June 27	CERES/MODESTO, CALIFORNIA NEW MAR ADDAI CHURCH FUND RAISING RECEPTION For the New Mar Addai Church Project on Monte Vista Avenue, Turlock  Guest of Honor:  Mar Melis Zaya, Bishop of Australia & New Zealand  8:00 PM  Bet-Nahrain Assyrian Cultural Center  3119 Central Avenue  Ceres  Your RSVP must be received by 19 June 1998.  Any amount of contribution would be greatly appreciated.  Send donations to:  The New Assyrian Church of the East Mar Addai Parish P.O. Box 3216  Turlock, CA  95381
June 28	SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA ASSYRIAN MOTHERS DAY Ladies Auxiliary Committee of Assyrian American Association of San Jose Luncheon and Assyrian Women Arts and Crafts Exhibition  Selection of " Mother of the Year "  1:00 p.m.  BETA, 20000 Almaden Road Ticket Price:  $10.00 ( Includes lunch, tea and cake, and a surprise raffle  ticket ).  For more information: 408-927-8100
July 3-4	SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA 6th ANNUAL ASSYRIAN OLYMPIC GAMES Assyrian Teams from Five Cities in California Competing in Several Sports  Los Angeles, Modesto, San Diego, San Jose, Turlock  Participants include over 100 athletes from San Francisco Bay Area  Games:  9:00 AM-5:00 PM (Friday & Saturday)  Willow Glen High School  For Schedules & Hotel Information See Next Week's ZENDA
July 19	CHICAGO, ILLINOIS ASSYRIAN ACADEMIC SOCIETY'S GENERAL BODY MEETING Assyrian National Council Office  6352 North Fairfield  6:00 PM  Refreshments will be served.  All are welcome to attend.
Sep 2-7	WATERBURY, CONNECTICUT ASSYRIAN AMERICAN NATIONAL CONVENTION  Sponsored by the Assyrian American National Federation
Sep 11-24	TEHRAN-IRAN 22ND WORLD CONGRESS OF THE ASSYRIAN UNIVERSAL ALLIANCE  For more information see ZENDA:  JUNE 8: SURFERS CORNER
Through   2001	CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS NUZI & THE HURRIANS:  FRAGMENTS OF A FORGOTTEN PAST Hurrian settlements in Bet-Nahrain during mid-2nd millennium B.C.  More than 100 objects excavated by Harvard between 1927 & 1931  Harvard University's Semitic Museum  -cuneiform tablets  -seals  -glasswork  -pottery  -beaded jewelry  -lion statuettes from the temple of Ishtar at Nuzi

 

ENGLISH	MODERN ASSYRIAN	GENDER	EXAMPLE
University	Bet-Sobeh	Feminine	Harvard University:  bet-sobeh 'd Harvard
High School	maad/raash/ta  raab/ta	Feminine	Shooshan H.S.:  maadraashta raabta 'd Shooshan

 

JUNE	FEASTS & MEMORIALS	ASSYRIAN CHURCH
5	Golden Friday:  The Disciples First Miracle	CCC , ACE
7	Pentecost	SOC
7	2nd Sunday of the Apostles	ACE
11	Feasts of the Holy Eucharist (Corpus Christi)	CCC
14	3rd Sunday of the Apostles	ACE
18	Memorial of St. Ephrem (Mar Aprim)	CCC
19	Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus	CCC
21	4th Sunday of the Apostles	ACE
26-28	Fast of the Apostles	SOC
28	5th Sunday of the Apostles	ACE
29	St. Peter & St. Paul	SOC

 
AAC = Ancient Assyrian Church of the East
ACE = Assyrian Church of the East
CCC = Chaldean Catholic Church
MCC= Maronite Catholic Church
MOC = Malankara Orthodox Church
SKC = Syrian Knanaya Church
SOC = Syrian Orthodox Church

BC (2430)

The earliest documented slave sale in the world was recorded in the Mesopotamian city of Girsu.  At this time slaves were not held in large numbers and were not very important in supplying labor.

Life in the Ancient Near East, Snell

The Ming dynasty had by this time gained control of China.  The Ming emperors, unlike their predecessors, disliked foreigners and anything foreign.  Hence, the Assyrian church in China came to its end before the close of the Fourteenth Century.

The Nestorian Churches, Vine

Two of the characters in David Hailstone's non-stop action adventure novel, SIX FACES, are Assyrian. Find out how the Persian Gulf War altered their lives forever.

Quote from Chapter 1: "Mason's instant impression was that of one who is gazing at a rare objet d'art for the first time. As he admired her beautiful, chiseled face, he felt as though he was looking at the faces of the glorious Assyrian Kings -- Tiglathpileser, Shalmaneser, Sargon, Ashurbanipal, and of course
their famous queen, Shariram, who successfully ruled for three years. And looking further into her dark eyes, he could almost see the courage and strength of her people and the pain of the persecutions that they have had to endure over time."

Quote from Chapter 14: "'...Younia, what are your thoughts on being an Assyrian in today's world?'
Younia spoke softly. 'I am both honored and saddened to be an Assyrian. Honored by my rich heritage and saddened by the fact that our people have no native homeland. We are a people cast to the winds. I have cousins in America, Australia, England, Russia, Turkey, Iran, Iraq, Canada and Germany. We are an international lot. We fly a flag with no soil to support it. But we still have our customs, our language and our love for one another. Who knows what the future will bring.'"

Virginia Lindsey, editor
Mother Lode Books

SIX FACES is a novel by David Hailstone.  For more information email to val@motherlodebooks.com  or write to 7378 W. Atlantic Blvd., Box 228 Margate, FL 33063    Web: http://www.motherlodebooks.com 

June 24, 1906:  The Assyrian Newspaper, "Kokhva" or STAR, under the direction of Rabbie Youkhanan Moshe, is published in Urmia, Iran.

CORPORATE ACCOUNTS	UNIVERSITY ACCOUNTS	PERSONAL ACCOUNTS
FlashNet Communications Hewlett-Packard One Touch Systems	University of California, Davis	Melbourne, Australia Seattle, Washington

                             

This Week's Contributors:                                                                  in alphabetical order

Jacklin Bejan	San Jose, California	Calendar of Events  Surfers Corner
Zaineb Istrabadi	New York	News Digest
Nadia Joseph	Chicago	The Lighthouse
Raman Mikhael	Chicago	Literatus
Francis Sarguis	Santa Barbara	Surfers Corner

 
Thank You For Referring ZENDA to a Friend:

Ghassan Hanna	California
Lena Mushell	San Jose, California

 

The Directory of ZENDA News Sources

ZNAA (Assyrian Academic Society-Chicago)
ZNAD (Assyrian Democratic Organization)
ZNAF (Agence France-Presse)
ZNAH (Al-Ahram Newspaper, London)
ZNAI  (Assyrian International News Agency)
ZNAK (American Kurdish
ZNAM (Archeology Magazine)
ZNAP (Associated Press International)
ZNBN (Bet-Nahrain Inc/ KBSV-TV "AssyriaVision")
ZNCN (ClariNews)
ZNIF (Iraq Foundation)
ZNDA (Zenda: zenda@ix.netcom.com)
ZNIN (Iraqi National Congress)
ZNLT (Los Angeles Times)
ZNMN (San Jose Mercury News)
ZNMW (Mideast Newswire)
ZNNQ (Nabu Quarterly)
ZNNV (Nineveh Magazine)
ZNNY:  New York Times
ZNQA (Qala Atouraya- Moscow)
ZNRU (Reuters)
ZNSH (Shotapouta Newsletter)
ZNSJ (San Jose Mercury News)
ZNSM (Shufimafi Lebanese News)
ZNSO (Syrian Orthodox News "SOCNews")
ZNTM (Time Magazine)
ZNUP (United Press International)
ZNUS (US News & World Report)