From zenda@ix.netcom.com Mon Jul 7 05:51:18 1997 Return-Path: Received: from dfw-ix4.ix.netcom.com (dfw-ix4.ix.netcom.com [206.214.98.4]) by mrin56.mail.aol.com (8.8.5/8.8.5/AOL-4.0.0) with ESMTP id FAA07465; Mon, 7 Jul 1997 05:51:17 -0400 (EDT) Received: (from smap@localhost) by dfw-ix4.ix.netcom.com (8.8.4/8.8.4) id CAA14905; Mon, 7 Jul 1997 02:43:47 -0500 (CDT) Received: from sjx-ca73-18.ix.netcom.com(207.93.129.82) by dfw-ix4.ix.netcom.com via smap (V1.3) id sma014691; Mon Jul 7 02:43:28 1997 Message-Id: <3.0.2.32.19970707003957.006ad028@popd.ix.netcom.com> X-Sender: zenda@popd.ix.netcom.com X-Mailer: QUALCOMM Windows Eudora Pro Version 3.0.2 (32) Date: Mon, 07 Jul 1997 00:39:57 -0700 To: zenda@ix.netcom.com From: ZENDA Subject: ZENDA (Vol III,#20 ; 7/7/97) Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit 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 20 ZZZZZ ZZZZZ Tamuz 7, 6747 July 7, 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.............A Prognosis Through Diagnosis Good Morning Bet-Nahrain...Assyrian Killed in Baghdad Surfs Up................... "you gave me the run around" Surfers Corner............. To Our Readers in German-Speaking Countries Fishing Trip with AAS Assyriology in Israel The Truth Magazine News Digest................ Planet Hollywood in Beirut Calendar of Events......... No New Entry Entracte................... ADO Founding Party (July 12) Intelligentsia............. Meetings and Seminars Assyrian Surfing Posts..... Assyrian Websites in Sweden Pump up the Volume......... Fullness and Emptiness Back to the Future......... Shamshi-Adad I and Mar Ephraim Literatus.................. The Assyrians & the Iron Age This Week in History....... Col. Stafford Prevents Assyrians Bravo...................... Bet-Eil Assyrian Church The Directory.............. News Sources Bshena..................... Sweden, Holland, and Germany Salute..................... Lena, Firas, Michael, Raman, and Adrin EDITORIAL... At press time we still have not received the official report of the Second Congress of the Assyrian Democratic Movement held in May of this year in northern Iraq. ZENDA has learned that during the sessions of the Congress members of the European branches of ADM were questioning the ADM/U.S. officials on the claims of "mismanagement" and "lack of credibility" noted in the readers' articles published in ZENDA. Our readers' inputs were indeed not exercises in futility as some had pointed. The debate may well continue for a long time until an attempt is made to normalize the status of the Zowaa leadership in the U.S. and Canada through more pervasive channels of public communication. ============================================================================ THE L I G H T H O U S E ============================================================================ A PROGNOSIS THROUGH DIAGNOSIS Unfortunately the Assyrians have always ben very credulous, simple minded and naive. For their own ulterior motive provocation agents, domestic or foregin, have easily managed to chea, decieve, convince or sway them towards any desired direction or planned position, thus plays around with them like hand tools or guinea pigs. Emotionalism and squeamishness have often dimmed our vision to reasoning, purpose and self-esteem. As such we have never succeeded to complete building up our unfinished projects. True judgment has been distored, bias and prejudice taken over. One of the worst causes of our downfall has been the non-compatibility between our temporal and religious leaders. This naturally has had very serious effect upon the unity of our people. Such alienating sectarian or regional names as Maronites, Jacobites, Chaldeans, Talkipies, Alqooshies, Urumians, and Highlanders have stemmed from dissension on leadership or superiority. Today, these very brothers of the same flesh and blood, believe themselves belonging to an entirely different stock or entity; everything else but Assyrian. Whoever has caused this rfit, has done a terrific job indeed. We have been oblivious of our devoted leaders an benefactors of the past. We can be very good actors when following our hero's hearse, or will volunteer to be pallbearers for him even if we happen to be suffering from back ache. How did we feel about him and his honest, sincere services when he was alive? No doubt the leaders of the present generation everywhere re rather apprehensive of this ingrate attitude. Maybe that is why the great majority of our ablest men and women have assumed a retiring and disinterested disposition. Maybe that is one of the reasons why our leaders of the day are not as enthusiastic to serve as they used to, or as they should be. Finally, we have had no systematized or well governed policies to purse and act upon. The above criticism is not meant to offend anybody. On the contrary, it is my honest feeling that it is to our benefit to find out what ails us, and what curative measures we should take to better ourselves in the fight for or survival. Our blood is tired for lack of iron. It must be replenished and revitalized without further delay. Our bones have become brittle and fragile for want of lime, a very unhealthy condition that weakens our entire skeletal framework. I feel it is my moral duty and obligation to lot our people know that on close examination our diagnostic card shows several punch lines which look very much like musical notes. If played on some musical instrument, it will sound like "Nearer My God to Thee." Believe it or not, that is the prognosis. ----- From an article by the late Malcolm L. Karam which appeared in the July 1964 issue of the Assyrian Star Magazine. Mr. Karam was the Editor-in-Chief of the Assyrian Star Magazine and a president of the Assyrian American National Federation. ============================================================================ G O O D M O R N I N G B E T - N A H R A I N ============================================================================ ASSYRIAN KILLED IN BAGHDAD On May 23, 1997, Kamal Kiriakos Ablahad, an Assyrian, was killed in Baghdad with a shot in his head. Mr. Ablahad was employed at the residence of Jamal Al-Tikriti, the son-in-law of Saddam Hussein. According to the Assyrian International News Agency report, following the shooting, Mr. Ablahad was immediately rushed to the hospital where he was pronounced dead. The medical examiner's report declared the death a suicide and the victim's kidneys were removed for organ transplantation. Mr. Ablahad's right index and middle fingers were shot off as well. In leau of such evidence it is believed that Mr. Ablahad was killed execution style and that prior to being shot, he had raised his right hand in an attempt to shield his head and face from the gunshot. The bullet then passed through his fingers and head. ============================================================================ S U R F S U P ! ============================================================================ "For those of us living in Florida, far from the centers of Assyrian activity, do you think you could publish one or two of the poems written by Ninos Aho and Yosip Bet-Yosip, the poets you wrote so glowingly about? In fact, for those of us so far removed by fate and circumstances, when an event of this nature occurs, could you share some its substance with those of us unable to attend? I, for one, would like to be as much a part of the Assyrian community as my residency in Florida allows. If you have other Assyrian subscribers in Florida, please let them know of my e-mail address so I can contact them. Sincerely, Grace Yohannan eagle.global@MCI2000.com Apopca, Florida [Per your request we will include Bet-Yosip and Aho poem in our August 4 issue of ZENDA]. ****************** "In your latest issue of ZENDA you have the AAS history class listed as 'Syriac Church History Class.' After giving it some thought, we have recently renamed this course to "Eastern Church History Class" because 'Syriac' is a technical term used by Western Scholars to describe, specifically, the language of the Assyrian people. It does not describe a Church, a community, a nation, etc. Just thought you would like to know." Raman Michael Chairman of Public Relations Assyrian Academic Society Chicago, Illinois ****************** "This week's Zenda is AWESOME!" Ramin Daniels San Jose, California ****************** "I hope that the Zenda staff is planning on doing something special for the first ever Zenda Baby!!!!" Vian Younan The Dominicans [How about a one-year subscription to ZENDA Vol XXI.] ****************** "On May 17 , 1997 @ 6:29 PM regarding my post on AAA club of San Jose , YOU WROTE : "Dear Frederick Please note that your message was posted on AssyriaLink and cannot be posted in ZENDA. ZENDA newsletter only publishes original messages sent directly to our mailbox. Please feel free to submit a new message. Staff of ZENDA" You gave me the run around for so long and tried so hard to make the article look like some sort of an attack on certain members of AAA club , which you are a member of too ,diverting the attention from the real reason why that post was written. Yet in today's ZENDA vol. III , # 19 dated 6/30/97, you published an article by Ashur Simon Malek , titled 'CONFLICT OF INTEREST', which was posted on Assyrian link on 6/28/97 . This behavior on your part is a conflict of interest , it is simply telling me that you publish what you like .And that is very dangerous." [ZENDA urges its readers to submit articles not previously published in other Internet sites. Meanwhile, it reserves the right to publish any articles it deems suitable for its general readership.] ****************** "Your last issue (June 30) included a section astutely titled 'Clear and Present Dangers: 3 Critiques of Today’s Assyrian Organizations'. I am afraid that the problem is far worse than the average Assyrian realizes. The three 'critiques' are telling for what they point out. (1) Dorina GOLPASHIN assumes that leaders of Assyrian organizations abide by an honorable understanding that they are meant to serve and to inform the people. She refers to the example of the Benjamin Adams Will. Unfortunately, Golpashin is much too flattering in what she expects of the 'leaders' affected by that Will. I shall return to this in a moment. (2) Ashour Simon MALEK refers to some of the Assyrian leaders in Canada. He claims they have routinely acted in disregard of conflict of interest. He describes this as unethical. He wonders how some even-handed overseeing might be instituted. (3) Ramin DANIELS targets his comments at the Assyrian American National Federation. If ever there was an organization in search of an identity, it has to be this one. Daniels correctly observes that the AANF has never served the Assyrian people as such. It has been nothing more than the distillation of a group of affiliates, many of them ragtag in the full sense of that term. These affiliates, said to be around 30 in number, consist of large units such as the one located in Turlock, to others which are best described as 'paper' organizations, i.e., groups which supposedly have at least 20 'members', but which in reality are nothing more than the preserve or one or two persons. The Federation is in sore need of internal redesigning. Without such streamlining, it can never be in a position to develop sensible, long-term projects. Under the present circumstances, it is well-nigh impossible for AANF to adopt a relevant agenda. For this reason, the principal business of the AANF as it flits coast-to-coast for its NEC meetings is to amend inane by-laws relating mostly to the venue and arrangements for the next annual sha’ara (social celebration). Let me return briefly to the issue of the Benjamin Adams Will. As many know, I have been writing about the performance and the behavior of 6 Assyrian organizations who have been named to receive sizeable sums under this Will. After making some simple inquiries of these six groups about their plans for the funds, only the Assyrian American Association of Southern California (AAASC) demonstrated a sensitivity for the right of the Assyrian people to know how these trust monies will be spent. The farcical reaction of the other five more than reinforces the criticisms which have appeared in Zenda and elsewhere. The most disgraceful performance of any of these organizations has been that of Zowaa and its non-profit spin-off, the Assyrian Aid Society. Lincoln Malik is the head of Zowaa in North America. Malik and local supporters of ADM met in San Jose just a few days ago, to hear his report on the situation in north Iraq following his recent visit. In the discussion period, he was asked about questions which have been posed regarding the Benjamin Adams Will. Pointing to my columns in 'Kibitzer', Malik described me as 'anti-Zowaa'. The other name for ZOWAA is 'Assyrian DEMOCRATIC Movement'. I write the word DEMOCRATIC in capital letters, because Mr. Malik should be ashamed for ignoring it. Although he is by no means the first of our Bonapartist manques, certainly with his education he ought to make an effort to distinguish between dissent and betrayal. What exactly has been this 'stab in the back' by me? As far as I know, I have only tried to indulge in critical thinking. Even when I have passed judgment on some of the other organizations, I have refrained from doing so in the case of Zowaa. No matter that. What is unforgivable is that I have even dared to ask Malik and his coterie for a simple explanation about their plans for these Will funds. The Will explicitly limits the use of these funds. Not surprisingly, it is a matter of Assyrian public interest to know what will be done with the monies. Not satisfied to besmirch me as 'anti-Zowaa', Malik at the same meeting described me as an opportunist who took advantage of Zowaa hospitality in north Iraq by misrepresenting that I was a 'friend' of Malik. This is patently untrue, and it does a disservice to Zowaa in north Iraq. Assyrians should know that anytime they choose to travel to that area, they will be warmly received by various Assyrian constituencies, including the people from Zowaa. In fact, overseas Assyrians are urged to visit there. This is not only a way to boost Assyrian morale in the homeland, but it also has merit in the perception it leaves with the Kurdish majority about our concern for our brothers who are there. In the small world of Assyrian activists, I include among my friends the many members of the Zowaa community in Iraq, in Syria, in the U.K., and in the U.S. By his pettiness, Malik more than validates the judgment of many others who have written that he does not deserve the mantle of spokesman for Zowaa." Francis Sarguis Santa Barbara ****************** "Shlomo/shlama.ahunone oromoyo/athuroye/kaldoye...! I got your letter ahunone. I really became very glad to know about my brothers Athuroye. I'm from TOR*ABDIN qritho qusnoyo, I'm 26 years and I studied Suryoyo in TOR*ABDIN and i speak Turkish, Kurdish, and Arabic a little bit...I have lived in Sweden for 6 years. At present the most that interest me is to know more about my brothers and sisters athuraye kaldaye... me if you ask I'm suryoyo, but I think the main thing is not name the important things are to close each other love eachother, to reconciliation if we really want to exist as one nation one flag, one God.. So I wish you successful future and happy days. And Liberation for our mother BETH_NAHRIN that I miss 24 hours. bye bye until further I send you more about me and my proposals and point..... Iskender Aryo Sweden ============================================================================ S U R F E R S C O R N E R ============================================================================ ZENDA readers are invited to respond to the following request(s) by either directly writing to the author(s) or sending a reply to ZENDA. **************************************************************************** TO OUR READERS IN THE GERMAN-SPEAKING COUNTRIES Lieber Leser/ liebe Leserin, Es waere sehr nett, wenn Du den selben text ohne benutzung von Umlaute uns zuschickst, denn sonst ist es unmoeglich den zu lesen. Alles, was Du tun solltest, waere die Umlaute wie auf der Schreibmaschine zu schreiben, d.h. "ae" oder "oe" oder "ue". Dann koennten wir dein Text verstehen, uebersetzen und in der naechsten Ausgabe erscheinen lassen. Danke im vorraus fuer die Bemuehung und das Mitarbeiten ZENDA Mitarbeiter --------------------------------------------------- GONE FISHING WITH AAS To ZENDA Readers in San Jose and the Bay Area: For those of you who love to Fish, here is an opportunity to fish with your Assyrian brothers and help in raising money for our people back at homeland. Assyrian Aid Society of San Jose present the first fishing trip Date: July 12th, 1997 Price: $40.00 The ship will be leaving from Santa Cruz Boardwalk at 6:00 am and return at 2:00 pm. Seats are limited to 24 peoples only. For registration and direction please contact Youkie Khaninia at 408 226-9724 home 415-968-9241 work Assyrian Aid Society of America San Jose, California --------------------------------------------------- ASSYRLIOLOGY IN ISREAL We are happy to announce the establishment of the "Israel Society for Assyriology and Ancient Near Eastern Studies" (ISAANES). The founding meeting was held 18 June, 1997 at Bar-Ilan University, hosted by the Samuel Noah Kramer Institute of Assyriology. The meeting was chaired by Jacob Klein. Pinhas Artzi offered opening remarks concerning the goals of the organization. He was followed by Hayim Tadmor who presented some personal reflections of the development of Assyriology in Israel and then read a paper on "Assyrian and Babylonian Royal Inscriptions- An Interim Assessment." The lecture was followed by a discussion of the goals and organization of the new society. The goals of the society are "To develop and promote the scientific study and academic instruction in Israel of Assyriology and ancient near eastern studies on the basis of primary epigraphic sources; to encourage cooperation between Assyriology and scholars in other areas of ancient near eastern studies both in Israel and abroad; to hold scientific conferences; to encourage cooperation with parallel organizations outside Israel; to foster public knowledge of the ancient near east." For further information contact: The Israel Society for Assyriology c/o S. N. Kramer Institute of Assyriology Bar-Ilan University Ramat-Gan 52900 ISRAEL Avigdor Horovitz at victor@bgumail.bgu.ac.il --------------------------------------------------- A NEW ASSYRIAN MAGAZINE IN HAMILTON, CANADA The Shamiram Assyrian Association Inc. of Canada is now preparing its first Assyrian magazine in Hamilton- "The Truth" - expected to be out of print in the beginning of July 1997. Shamasha Moshi Sarkis, the Association president, is an outspoken member of the Assyrian community on the reform and development of the Assyrian schools and social issues. Formerly a Captain in the Assyrian Levies (A British-trained Assyrian army in the Middle-East during WWII) Sarkis has been sharing his experience, his wisdom, his devotion, and his energy for our Assyrian community in Canada. He has also produced and managed the first Assyrian TV in Hamilton, Canada from 1993 through 1994. Currently, Shamasha Moshi Sarkis is attending McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, and studies Theology while performing his weekly church duties. His teaching over many years of Assyrian language (grammar, reading, spelling, writing) has brought many benefits to our Assyrian youth in Hamilton. Please feel free to send your articles, news or any announcements of activities about our Assyrian community to the Shamiram organization. For further information regarding the "The Truth" Magazine, please contact the organization or call Shamasha Moshi direct at his home number (905) 318-6174. You may also email the organization at the following address: ai313@freenet.hamilton.on.ca The Organization's mailing address: Shamiram Assyrian Association of Canada Inc. Box 37003, Barton Postal Outlet Hamilton, Ontario L8L-8E9 Canada Ashur Simon Malek Ontario, Canada ============================================================================ N E W S D I G E S T ============================================================================ PLANET HOLLYWOOD TO OPEN IN BEIRUT (ZNSM: Beirut) Lebanese businessman Khaled Ali Mammoud, owner of Center Point SAL, announced that his company will open a Planet Hollywood restaurant in Beirut, Lebanon next year. The restaurant, which will be located in Verdun, will be 49 percent owned by Saudi prince al-Waleed bin Talal. Mr. Hammoud said that superstar Michael Jackson will attend the official opening in 1998, and that "a host of stars will be arriving each week to donate memorabilia." ============================================================================ Z I G G U R A T ============================================================================ Am Samstag, 12. Juli 1997 (12.04.6747) feiert die Assyrisch Demokratische Organisation (ADO) -Deutsche Sektion- ihr 40jaeriges Bestehen im Saal der syrisch-orthodoxen Kirche in Willy-Brandt-Allee 14 65187 Wiesbaden Saengerin: Juliana Jendo ============================================================================ C A L E N D A R OF E V E N T S ============================================================================ Jul 1,1997 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 Jul 7 XLIV Rencontre Assyriologique Internationale International Congress of Assyriology and Near Eastern Arch. Venice, Italy Jul 19-20 National Executive Committee Meeting Assyrian American National Federation Sponsored by the Assyrian American Social Club of Michigan Quality Inn One West Nine Mile Hazel Park, Michigan 48030 (313) 399-5800 Rooms are reserved at the rate of $39.95 plus tax. Jul 20 A Concert by the Assyrian Violinist, David Yonan Mathaeikirchstrasse 1 Musikinstrumenten Museum, Curt-Sachs Saal Berlin 11:00 am Aug 26-Sep 2 Assyrian American National Convention Hyatt Regency Dearborn Fairlane Town Center Detroit, Michigan All Single,double,triple,quad rooms: $95 per day Reservations: (313) 982-6880 Reservations must be made by August 7 ============================================================================ E N T R A C T E ============================================================================ July 12 40th Founding Anniversary Party Assyrian Democratic Association Ontario, Canada ------------------------------------------------------ 40th Founding Anniversary Party Assyrian Democratic Association Willy-Brandt-Allee 14 65187 Wiesbaden Germany Entertainer: Juliana Jendo ------------------------------------------------------ A Night Under the Stars: Romance, Dance, & Fine Dining Open Bar, Dinner, Dessert, & complimentary valet parking Entertainers: Franco and the Stars Location: AAA of San Jose BETA (Social Building) San Jose, California 7:00 pm $45.00 per person For reservations contact Caroline Nasseri at (408) 268-7990 Tickets will not be sold at the door ============================================================================ I N T E L L I G E N T S I A ============================================================================ CHICAGO Eastern Church History Class "A New Exposure to the History of Eastern Christianity Instructor: AbdulMasih Saadi North Park College Carlson Tower, Room C43 3225 West Foster Avenue Chicago, Illinois June 25-Aug 13 7:00-9:00 pm; weekly (9 weeks) Registration Fee: $ 80:00 (tax-deductible) Tuition reduced based on financial need. 1-800-454-8979 or email history@aas.net Sponsored by the Assyrian Academic Society of 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 Nisibin School Assyrian Language Classes Ages 5-14 10:00-1:00 pm Saturdays AAA of San Jose BETA 20000 Almaden Road ------------------------------------------------------ Assyrian Language Classes (Adults) Taught by Dr. Ashur Moradkhan Sundays 7:00-9:00 pm AAA of San Jose BETA ------------------------------------------------------ Citizenship Classes 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 Youth Network Union (Central Europe) ator@hem2.passagen.se An Assyrian Website in Swedish http://hem1.passagen.se/samra/ ============================================================================ P U M P UP THE V O L U M E ============================================================================ English Modern Assyrian Fullness mil/yoo/ta [F] Emptiness shri/qoo/ta [F] ____________________________________________________________________________ F = Feminine M = Masculine P = Plural ============================================================================ B A C K TO THE F U T U R E ============================================================================ B.C. (1813) Shamshi-Adad I reigns in Assyria from Shechna in the upper Euphrates River region, or more precisely upper Khabur River. He called his capital Shubat-Enlil or "where Enlil dwells." << Assyrian Origins, Harper, et al>> A.D. (373) dies, Mar Ephraim (Ephrem Syrus), the most voluminous and widely-read of all Assyrian theologians and scholars. << The Death of a Nation, Yohannan >> ============================================================================ L I T E R A T U S ============================================================================ THE ASSYRIANS AND THE IRON AGE (1245-606 B.C.) Myth: The Assyrians only existed for a short period of time in the history of Mesopotamia and have no more claim to it than the claim of Persians, Arabs or Ottomans for example. FACT: From "The Arts of Assyria", By Andre Parrot, Golden Press, New York, 1961, Chapter 1, page 1 THE Assyrians, who gained control over Mesopotamia in the thirteenth century B.C. were by no means newcomers to the region. Indeed, of all the peoples that had dominated Mesopotamia during the previous two thousand years, none had an older claim to the country than they. We find them dwelling in the Upper Tigris region at the very dawn of history and an inscribed tablet of the eighth century B.C. lists the names of no less than one hundred and seven Assyrian kings. In all, from the earliest times to the downfall of the Assyrian empire, one hundred and sixteen kings successively occupied the throne of Assur. This continuity is all the more remarkable when we compare it with the eleven kings of Akkad, the five of the Third Dynasty of Ur, the eleven of the First Dynasty of Babylon and even the thirty-six Kassite monarchs. This is not to say that Assyria enjoyed independence, still less hegemony, throughout the period. Several times Assur and Nineveh came under foreign rule; Akkadians and Sumerians occupied both cities for a while. Nevertheless Assyria preserved her racial integrity and lost nothing of that spirit of enterprise which had led her to found trading stations and colonies in far-off Anatolia in the late third and early second millennium B.C. Note: An Assyrian king list (compiles by Wilfred Alkhas) is available at http://aina.org/aol/kinglist ============================================================================ T H I S W E E K I N H I S T O R Y ============================================================================ July 10, 1933: Col Stafford, a British officer in Iraq, threatens the more than 100 Assyrian tribal leaders to prevent them from their crossing into Syrian territory under the French protection. ============================================================================ B R A V O ============================================================================ SHAMASHA YOUNA HERMIZ TRUST FUND REVISITED Bet-Eil Assyrian Church in San Jose, California has donated Three Hundred U.S. Dollars to Shamasha Youna Hermez Trust Fund since May 1997. Other members of this congregation had previously donated to this Trust Fund noted in a previous issue of ZENDA. All such donations are distributed through the Welfare Committee of this non-denominational Assyrian church. Shamasha Yonan Hurmiz Trust Fund Scotiabank 1839 Albion Road Rexdale, Ontario Canada Account # 555-820-955-884 ============================================================================ the D I R E C T O R Y ============================================================================ ZNAA (Assyrian Academic Society-Chicago) ZNAD (Assyrian Democratic Organization) 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 ============================================================================ Zenda welcomes our new on-line subscribers from: CORPORATE ACCOUNTS UNIVERSITY ACCOUNTS PERSONAL ACCOUNTS Sweden [4] Holland [2] Germany [2] ============================================================================ S A L U T E ============================================================================ Zenda wishes to thank the following individuals & organizations whose contributions appear in this issue: Firas Jatou Chicago, Illinois Lena Mushell San Jose, California Adrin Takhsh Berlin, Germany ...and Raman Michael, thanks for your understanding! and the following individual(s) for introducing ZENDA to our new readers: Michael Zaia --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Our Upcoming Issues: July 14: Special Issue: 40th Anniversary of Mtakasta (ADO) July 21: Special Issue: Assyrians of Georgia (Gorjistan) Aug 4: Special Issue: Assyrian Martyrs Days --------------------------------------------------------------------------- ZENDA is a weekly online newsletter distributed on Mondays. Views expressed in ZENDA do not necessarily represent those of the ZENDA editors,or any of our associated staff. This publication reserves the right, at its sole discretion, not to publish comments or articles previously printed in or submitted to other journals. ZENDA also reserves the right to publish and republish your submission in any form or medium. Distribution of material featured in ZENDA is not restricted, but permission from ZENDA is required. This service is meant for the exchange of information, analyses and news. To subscribe, send e-mail to: zenda@ix.netcom.com with the message body "subscribe ZENDA Firstname Lastname". To unsubscribe, send e-mail to the above address, with the message body "unsubscribe ZENDA".