ZENDA - February 29, 2000

From: Subject: ZENDA - February 29, 2000 Date: Thu, 8 May 2003 11:16:35 -0500 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: multipart/related; boundary="----=_NextPart_000_002A_01C31553.49C0D930"; type="text/html" X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.2800.1106 This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_002A_01C31553.49C0D930 Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Content-Location: http://www.zindamagazine.com/html/archives/2000/zn022900.htm ZENDA - February 29, 2000 =20 Z I N D = A M A G A Z=20 I N E=20

Volume=20 VI = ; =20 Issue 2
Shvadt 29,=20 6749 &nb= sp; &nbs= p; = ; = &= nbsp; &n= bsp; =20 February 29, 2000=20

To receive our weekly = notification message=20 or this issue in text format write to = z_info@zindamagazine.com.=20

T H I S W E E K I N Z I N = D=20 A

The=20 Lighthouse	The Forgotten Part of My = Homeland
Good=20 Morning Bet-Nahrain	Mild Earthquakes Shake Northern Iraq &=20 Urmia
News=20 Digest	Pope Celebrates Mass in Egypt, Syriac Prayers=20 Heard Culinary Event to Raise $100,000 = for=20 Assyrians
Surfs=20 Up	"God bless you and give your = strength"
Surfers=20 Corner	Premier Robert Carr Toasts Assyrians of=20 Australia
Assyrian=20 Surfing Posts	TV News Clip about Assyrian on the Internet -=20 Australia Church of the East in = Australia=20 Responds to Census 2000 Yahoo Assyrian = Online=20 Club The Assyrian Gilgamesh Dance=20 Group
Literatus	Shall This Nation Die?
Bravo	Trailblazer Award Goes to Chaldean = Council
Milestones	Mary Adam Warner
Pump=20 Up the Volume	Village & Villager
Back=20 to the Future	The People of the Flood & Oppenheim's=20 Discoveries
This=20 Week in History	An Assyrian Missionary in = Siberia
Calendar=20 of Events	February = 2000

All blue=20 links throughout this issue are hyperlinks to other sections on this = page or=20 featured websites.=20

THE LIGHTHOUSE=20

THE FORGOTTEN PART OF MY=20 HOMELAND

The following article was printed in the Renyo = Hiro=20 Magazine (Vol.4, No. 21, 1999 - 6749) - an Assyrian-Suryoyo publication = from=20 Belgium. I found it interesting from several perspectives. It = demonstrates the=20 impressions of an Assyrian activist from Turkey on the current situation = of our=20 Assyrian-Suryoyo communities in Lebanon. It also alludes to the = emergence of a=20 new Syriac cultural movement among the Maronites community. This = movement cannot=20 be neglected by the Assyrian national movement. It can help create a = cultural=20 and literary stronghold in Lebanon for Assyrians of all communities. The = Maronites and Assyrians are historically, linguistically, and = religiously=20 related and the strength of one community can be beneficial to the = other.=20

Tony Khoshaba

* * *

For us at Bahro Production, to visit many areas of = Bethnahrin=20 and not Lebanon would have been a big loss. From the first day of our = arrival in=20 Lebanon, the Assyrian-Suryoye displayed the love they have for Lebanon = and that=20 made us aware that this land is the most beautiful part of our = homeland.=20

Lebanon - the country of war and peace, a country of = beauty and=20 ruins, a country of sea and mountains. Lebanon - where the = Suryoye-Maronuyo=20 (Maronites) share a long history and together built this nation to = become the=20 most developed state in the Middle East. In Lebanon we have 1.5 = million=20 Maronites and half-million Assyrian-Suryoye from the other denominations = including the Chaldeans, Church of the East, Melkites, Syrian Orthodox, = Syriac=20 Catholic, etc.=20

In Beirut where the Christians have their churches = and the=20 Muslims their mosques and spend their days together, the post = civil war=20 Lebanon is being re-built. In fact, the word Lebanon has its = meaning in=20 the Syriac language: Leb (heart) and (a)non (God) or "the Heart of = God". =20 That the word Lebanon is a Syriac word was something new for = us. =20 Soon we learned that not only this word but many other villages and = cities have=20 Syriac names. Not only of the modern language that we know of = today, but=20 such names also come to us from the cuneiform writings of the = Assyrian-Suryoyo=20 kings etched on the stones in the area of the "Amoro Sea" or the = modern-day=20 Mediterranean Sea.=20

"The organizations in Europe and the USA often forget = that=20 Lebanon is also their homeland" told us an Assyrian-Suryoyo student at = the=20 University of Beirut. Many other individuals that we met expressed = the=20 same sentiment. "This is also your homeland " said Dr. Imad Chamoun. = "Come and=20 support us to build Lebanon for all of us" said Bishop Theofilos George = Saliba,=20 the most important leader of the Syrian-Orthodox community in = Lebanon.=20

Bishop Saliba With Other = Christian and=20 Muslim Representatives

The Syrian-Orthodox community has an = active social and=20 cultural life in Lebanon. The most ambitious among the organizations are = the=20 churches. The three bishops, Mor Theofilos George Saliba, Mor Afram and = Mor Mata=20 are leading the community. The "Mor Gabriel Project" is an unfinished=20 construction project which will in the future provide the = Syrian-Orthodox=20 community with a place to meet, work and pray together. To complete this = project=20 they need support from the west. In addition to the churches there is = the Syriac=20 Universal Alliance (S.U.A) which is mainly active in Lebanon. Its = president,=20 Habib Afram, explained to us the need for expanding contact with the=20 Assyrian-Suryoye organizations and every religious denomination around = the=20 globe. "Let's work together without making the name issue a problem" = said Habib=20 Afram.=20

The Maronite community in Lebanon has a long and = interesting=20 history. The Maronite church with its head, His Holiness Mar Betrous = Safer, is=20 influential in the politics of Lebanon. The history of the = Suryoye-Marunoye=20 church begins in the 7th century when Mor Maron decided to leave north=20 Bethnahrin and settle in Lebanon together with a number of followers = from the=20 Assyrian-Suryoye churches. His followers then called themselves = Maronoye. Until=20 the end of the 17th century the West-Syriac language was the spoken = language of=20 the Maronite church.=20

Dr. Imad Chamoun, Head of the Syriac = Cultural=20 Front
After=20 the 17th century the Maronites switched to Arabic. Today, only the = church=20 liturgy and prayers are conducted in Syriac. The Maronoye, in = general, do=20 not know that they are Assyrian-Suryoye and furthermore do not know that = some=20 prayers are read in Syriac. When we asked a 27-year-old woman, studying = at the=20 university, about those particular prayers of the Maronite Church, she = replied:=20 "I think they are in Hebrew". Similar responses indicated to us = that a=20 large group of the Suryoye-Marunoye are ignorant of their own = history. On=20 this matter Dr. Imad Chamoun and his organization the "Syriac Cultural = Front of=20 Lebanon" are working to alter this dilemma. They organize educational = activities=20 for the Maronoye to make them aware of their history. "For this we need = support=20 and full understanding from the Assyrian-Suryoye political = organizations" said=20 Dr. Imad Chamoun. We believe that in the word "Suryoyo " lies the Unity. = All the=20 groups can use the Suryoye name because this is the oldest term used = since=20 Christianity and therefore the most logical word that will help unite = this=20 nation. We do not need all the names we simply could place it in the = following=20 manner: "Suryoye-Assyrians, Suryoye-Maronoye, = Suryoye-Chaldoye,..."=20

The social and cultural life of the Suryoye-Marunoye = is in full=20 progress. In the Assyrian Cultural Association where we met Mr. = Shoukri=20 Mourad, members meet every Sunday and carry every type of conversation. = On=20 Sundays, nearly 50 young boys and girls visit the ACA which happens to = be one of=20 the oldest organizations in Lebanon.=20

Mar Yakuob Church runs the music and dance group = called "Rama"=20 (High) that practices every evening. The Rama members from Maalula = call=20 themselves Aramiac, others call themselves Malkoye, some Assyrian, = Suryoye and=20 soon the group will have its first Maronoyo. The instructor, Abud = Sehdo-Gallo=20 says: "Unity does not come about by talking about it, rather by working=20 together. Neither does it happen through politics but in the daily = activities like dancing and making music together. In this group = there are=20 no differences and discrimination; we dance to our cultural music and = songs. All=20 of us enjoy it and feel that it is belongs to all of us."=20

Robert Gabriel of the Kneshto d' Rohmay Leshono = Suryoyo (Syriac=20 Cultural Front) welcomed us in Syriac at their new facility. Each = year SCF=20 will be offering Syriac language lessons for students from Lebanon and = around=20 the world. Robert Gabriel explained that: "Every person who says = that he=20 or she loves this language can come for only two months and receive an = intensive=20 training in the Syriac language. He or she will then leave Lebanon = speaking and writing in Syriac". Father Elyas comments that = "No one=20 can claim that he/she cannot speak or write in Syriac any longer; it = will only=20 cost you two months of your life." I guess that he meant = that we too=20 should consider coming to Lebanon and learn to read and write Syriac. = The=20 Kneshto d'Rohmay Leshono Suryoyo is working on the production of a=20 Syriac-English dictionary. Soon we will be able to order a copy = from=20 Lebanon.=20

The Taw-Meem-Simkat School (Assyrian Orphanage and = National=20 School) recently celebrated its 100th anniversary in Beirut. One = of its=20 famous members was the great Malfono Naoum Faik. We closely = witnessed the=20 financial challenges of teaching their Assyrian-Suryoye children. = There=20 are many parents who are unable to pay the tuition. Yet the school = continues to teach their children simply because they are=20 Assyrian-Suryoye. One morning we went to the school and visited a=20 class. The children stood up and said; "Brikh Safro" to us. = The=20 Syriac teacher Gabriel Aydin told us that these children are practicing = the=20 Syriac they learn in their every day lives. "We start by simple words = like=20 shlomo", told us Gabriel Aydin.=20

In most of the households Syriac is no longer spoken. = This is=20 very painful. The "Taw-Meem-Simkat" school needs financial support from = the USA=20 and the European Community, according to the school principle, Mr. Shabo = Sawma.=20 "For every Suryoye-Assyrian it would not be too difficult to make a = monthly=20 donation of 20 U.S. dollars to provide an Assyrian-Suryoye pupil a good=20 education in Lebanon. We hope that people are prepared to make = such=20 donations", said Mr. Shabo Sawma. The Assyrian-Suryoye schools, = churches=20 and cultural associations face similar financial problems and still = continue to=20 support the people and organize many activities. The youth members are = trying=20 very hard to learn the Syriac language and their history.=20

The economic condition in lebanon is worsening. The = country is=20 working to re-build everything with its own resources. This is one = of the=20 factors contributing to the rise in living costs. The Lebanese pay = in=20 dollars but they receive in Lebanese lira. Lebanon needs more = improved and=20 open economic ties with other countries. The possibilities are=20 endless.=20

I believe that there is much work to be done in = Lebanon and the=20 Assyrians-Suryoye-Maronoye in the Diaspora must shoulder some of the=20 burden. If we do not begin to pay attention now, a large = number of=20 our population will leave Lebanon - - something we must prevent at all=20 cost.=20

Attyia Gamri =
Holland

Ms. Gamri reports for the Assyrian television = program,=20 Bahro Productions, produced in Europe and is a staff member of Zinda = Magazine's=20 Z-Crew.=20

To subscribe to Renyo-Hiro send your email to=20 renyo.hiro@skenet.be=20

=20

GOOD MORNING = BET-NAHRAIN=20

MILD EARTHQUAKES SHAKE NORTHERN = IRAQ &=20 URMIA

(ZNRU: Istanbul) On = Saturday three=20 tremors ranging up to 5.0 on the Richter scale shook the Turkish-Iraqi = border=20 region. "These are not of the scale that would cause any damage,'' = a=20 spokesman for the Kandilli observatory in Istanbul told = Reuters.=20

The first tremor of magnitude = 5.0 struck at=20 10:18 a.m. local time (3:18 a.m. EST). It was followed by a 4.0 tremor = at 11:29=20 (4:29 a.m. EST) and another of 3.8 at 11:35 (4:35 a.m. = EST).=20

Two devastating earthquakes hit = Turkey in=20 August and November last year, killing at least 18,500 people and = wreaking=20 widespread damage in the industrialized northwest.=20

In Iran, an earthquake = measuring five on=20 the richter scale hit the city of Urmia at 11:48 hours local time (08:18 = GMT)=20 Saturday, causing panic among citizens. The epicenter of the = tremor,=20 the second hitting the city in one day, was registered at 30 kilometers = west of=20 Urmia, by the East Azarbaijan seismological network affiliated to the = Tehran=20 university geophysics center.=20

Another 4-degree quake had = already shook=20 the city at 04:13 hours local time (00:43 GMT) Saturday morning. = No=20 reports have yet been received at Zinda presstime as to possible damage = or=20 casualty as a result of the two tremors.
=20

NEWS DIGEST=20

POPE CELEBRATES MASS IN EGYPT, = SYRIAC=20 LANGUAGE HEARD

(ZNZT: = Vatican) Last=20 Friday, 20,000 Christians in Egypt from several orthodox churches = attended=20 a Mass celebrated by John Paul II on his second day in Egypt. For = the=20 first time in the land of the Pharaohs, a large-scale Mass was = celebrated=20 outside a church in a public place. The huge Sports Palace was = made=20 available, free of charge, by the Egyptian government. The liturgy = was=20 that of the Holy Family.=20

The Pope spoke about the unity = of=20 Christians. He said that dialogue and closeness would contribute to find = solutions to the problems that today continue to place obstacles to full = communion. "In order to do this common work, which should bring = together=20 all the members of the same nation, it is right that everyone, = Christians and=20 Muslims, while respecting different religious views, should place their = skills=20 at the service of the nation, at every level of society," the Holy = Father=20 emphasized.=20

The liturgy was extremely = varied and=20 festive. It included the Syriac prayers in addition to the Coptic, = Greek,=20 Armenian, and Latin. Egyptians offered dates, cotton, sugar cane, = and=20 doves as a sign of peace; the Sudanese refugees offered a cup, in sign = of=20 communion, and an ostrich egg, symbol of fertility.=20

=20

CULINARY EVENT TO RAISE = $100,000 FOR=20 ASSYRIANS

Courtesy of The Tree of Life Quarterly=20

On Friday, 28 April 2000, the = AAS is=20 planning a banquet in the elegant Garden Court of the Palace Hotel in = San=20 Francisco. The goal is to raise $100,000 to be used for specific = named=20 projects in north Iraq.=20

The menu will be prepared by = five or six=20 Middle Eastern chefs and will be an exceptional showcase for their=20 talents. Additionally, the Palace Hotel is attempting to bring in = one of=20 the Starwood Hotel chefs from the Middle East. Some of the finest = of all=20 California wines will be served.=20

George Zaia of Babylon Printing = in=20 Milpitas, California will be the dinner chairperson. Babylon = Printing has=20 been donating the AAS printouts, the quarterly Tree of Life, and this = year's=20 full color Christmas cards.=20

Dinner tickets will be = available for=20 $200.00 per person. For more information write to:=20

Assyrian Aid Society of=20 America
350 = Berkeley Park=20 Boulevard
Kensington, CA=20 94707
=20

SURF'S UP!

=93Just a note of thank you for your hard = work and=20 dedication in bringing us Zinda on a regular basis. God bless you and = give you=20 strength to continue for many years to come, well into the new turning = point of=20 our nation where once again we can have a choice to return=20 to.=94=20

Ninous Younan =
Canada
=20

SURFERS CORNER=20

PREMIER ROBERT CARR = TOASTS ASSYRIANS=20 OF AUSTRALIA

The Honorable Robert John Carr, M.P. is the New = South=20 Wales (Australia) Labor Premier who has led his party fo over a = decade. He=20 is also the Minister for the Arts and Minister for Citizenship in the = New South=20 Wales Parliament. The following is a speech given last year by the = Honorable Robert John Carr at the Fourth Annual The Assyrian Australian = Academic=20 Society Ball:=20

My parliamentary colleagues = here tonight,=20 Janice Crosio of the federal parliament, Carl Scully the minister for = transport=20 in N.S.W., John Hatsistougis member of the state Upper House, Joe = Tripodi of=20 course, His Grace the Bishop, Chris Bowen the mayor of Fairfield, = Councilor=20 Anwar Khoshaba, Stepan Kerkyasharian the chair of the ethnic affairs = commission=20 of N.S.W., Mr. Anwar Atto, ladies and gentlemen.=20

It is a great pleasure for me = to be here=20 tonight and to affirm my association with this wonderful community. I = was first=20 introduced to the community by Janice Crosio in 1988 at a great = celebration at=20 the Nineveh Club.=20

Carl Scully was there, not yet = a member of=20 parliament but a councilor himself, but now he's here tonight with you = as=20 minister for transport, but only there because you've been generous = enough to=20 support him in elections and I know that he's grateful for the = opportunity=20 you've given him.=20

That was a very memorable night = for me at=20 the Nineveh club, my first meeting as party leader with the Assyrian = community.=20 Carl and Anwar and Janice might remember that we were mobilised onto the = floor=20 to do a dance. And we were in a line, I thought we danced very, very = well, and=20 there was a photo of it which I was very proud of and I stuck it up in = my=20 office.=20

But then I was honoured to be = taken on an=20 inspection with the Bishop, with Anwar, of your Cathedral while it was = under=20 construction. Then I remember vividly in late 1990, I remember the day, = I think=20 it was the first or second weekend in December 1990, being there with = your=20 Patriarch from the United States at the dedication of the Cathedral. = It's vivid=20 in my memory.=20

So I've got some rich = associations with=20 your community, but I think it's important that you know that the = Premier of New=20 South Wales knows your community, feels warmly about your community and = cares=20 for its welfare. And I'm proud of it.=20

Now, I knew a little of the = history but not=20 the extent of the history of Assyrians. Recently Helena and I were in = Paris. We=20 had an hour or so spare to go to the Louvre. Some friends of ours said, = "What=20 part of this great museum would you like to see?" I said "I'm going to = leave it=20 to you." And they said "We must see the Mesopotamian rooms in the=20 museum."=20

So we went there and I was = dazzled by the,=20 room after room, testifying to the riches of the civilisation created = between=20 the Tigris and Euphrates. There indeed were the first, they'd be the = first,=20 cuneiform scripts. And there in ancient language told on stone was the = story of=20 a king who had been found as a baby among the bulrushes and adopted by a = family.=20

There was the story of an = administration=20 that got out of touch with its people, faced a revolt by a peasant = leader and a=20 government that introduced wide-ranging and popular reforms as a start,=20 thousands of years before the birth of Christ. It's all told there. And = there,=20 on another stone, was the first Crimes Acts, setting out all the crimes, = all the=20 breaches.=20

Now these are very, very = important because=20 theirs are reminders of the origin of civilisation. Because the ideas = and the=20 notions developed between the Tigris and Euphrates took hold in Persia, = and took=20 hold in India and took hold in ancient Greece. And I know that is what = our young=20 people are studying when they pursue that new ancient history syllabus = for the=20 HSC, which is now on offer in our schools.=20

But it's very interesting to = see in the=20 Louvre, the great artwork, the great reliefs, the great sculptural = reliefs on=20 the walls of cities and to be reminded of what existed of Babylon, the = great=20 structures of Babylon that made it indeed a wonder of the = world.=20

But yours is, of course, a = Christian=20 civilisation and Aramaic is the language of Christ. I don't think, there = are no=20 other people who can boast that theirs is the language of = Christ.=20

Now I, as a Premier with a keen = interest in=20 education. I want to applaud your community for its focus on education, = like a=20 lot of migrant communities, but more than any I can think of. You're = intent on=20 seeing that these wonderful young people, in the choirs we've listened = to=20 tonight, can go on to play a full role in our society and they can only = do it if=20 they've got a sound education.=20

The American writer Sorbello = said, "Words=20 are the poor boy's best friend" and we see that the boys and girls have = got a=20 sound education. There is no limit to what they can contribute in our = democratic=20 and multi-cultural society.=20

That's why I applaud your focus = on=20 education then, and I applaud your determination to see that your = language, your=20 culture, your history, continues to live here in Australia. Australia's = a richer=20 country because you assert that Assyrian is a live culture and the = language is=20 alive and your young people should know about these things. I = congratulate you=20 on all of that.=20

Now you've got a great friend = and a=20 champion, not only in Tripodi and Scully, Crosio, Hatsistougis a new = member of=20 parliament, but in this man, the first Assyrian elected to Fairfield = council.=20 He's a wonderful man; he's a friend to us all. I think we're united in = saying=20 that Anwar's a friend of ours, a good advisor.=20

Last Sunday, when I went to = Cabramatta to=20 open a Lao-Chinese community centre, there's Anwar! I said, "you're not = Laotian=20 and you're not Chinese!" But he's playing his role as his mayor, Chris = Bowen=20 would expect him to do in = seeing =20 that we're a Multi-cultural society, seeing that we work as = a=20 multi-cultural society, that we all work together in this diverse = society=20 building a greater and a better Australia.=20

So I congratulate Anwar = Khoshaba for being=20 the first Australian-Assyrian to be elected to public office as mayor of = Fairfield City and I know he's an inspiration to you young people who = surely=20 aspire to playing a full role in our democracy, in the Australian=20 democracy.=20

And Fairfield is of course one = of the most=20 culturally diverse municipalities of Australia. And do you know what? = Australian=20 multi-culturalism works, it works well, because we've developed the art = of=20 getting along with one another and assisting one another and being = co-operative,=20 of having an over-arching loyalty to Australia but at the same time = being able=20 to be proud of all the cultural backgrounds that we represent. And = that's the=20 marvelous thing about Australia and that's why we're united in our = dedication to=20 see that this Australia goes from strength to strength.=20

I congratulate the Assyrian = Australian=20 Academic Society for organising this event. I wish you all an enjoyable = evening=20 and I look forward to having a long association with you as I've had a = long=20 history of association with you, representatives of a wonderful = community and a=20 great part of Australia.=20

Purely = Academic=20
October 1999 - Volume 5 No.=20 1=20

Purely Academic is the quarterly magazine = produced by the=20 Publications Sub-Committee of the Assyrian-Australian Academic = Society. =20 For more information click=20 here.

MILESTONES=20

Mary Adam = Warner

71, passed away on January 10 in San Francisco. = Mary was=20 the daughter of Jack and Almas Lazar and sister of William Lazar. = Mary was=20 the president of the Luxor Cab Company. She is survived by her son = David,=20 daughter-ini-law Jennifer, and their four children; and by her nehews = Bill,=20 John, and Dennis Lazar. Her funeral was held at Mar Narsai Parish = and=20 attended by 300 friends and family members.=20

Courtesy of The Light = Newsletter - Mar=20 Narsai Parish / Church of the East

=20

ASSYRIAN SURFING = POSTS=20
Links to Other Assyrian=20 Websites

TV News Clip=20 about Assyrian on the Internet - Australia

Church = of the East=20 in Australia Responds to Census 2000 Issue (in=20 Assyrian)

Yahoo=20 Assyrian Online Club

The=20 Assyrian Gilgamesh Dance Group

=20

LITERATUS

SHALL THIS NATION=20 DIE?

From the book "Shall This Nation Die" =
By: Rev. Joseph Naayem
An=20 Historical Essay On The Assyro-Chaldean Christians
By: Rev. Gabriel Oussani
St.=20 Joseph=92s Seminary, Dunwoodie, New York
1 October=20 1920=20

The Rev. J. Naayem, the author = of this work=20 (Shall This Nation Die), and an eye-witness of most of the horrible = scenes of=20 massacres herein described, has requested me to write an introduction to = this=20 English version of his book for the benefit of the American public, = which is=20 perhaps not so well acquainted with the history, geography and religion = of the=20 Assyro-Chaldean Christians who suffered during and after the great war=20 (1915-1920) at the hands of the unscrupulous Turks, indescribable = torture, and=20 who lost through murder and famine 250,000 of their=20 membership.=20

Having the interest and the = welfare of this=20 unfortunate nation at heart, being myself a native of that unhappy land, = and=20 having already known of these things through direct correspondence with = bishops,=20 priests, merchants, friends and relatives in Mesopotamia, I gladly = accede to his=20 request, hopeful of awakening in the loving hearts of the American = people a=20 genuine sympathy and commiseration for this martyred race, one of the = most=20 ancient and glorious nations; but, alas, decimated and reduced to ruin. = Never in=20 the past have the American people had such opportunity of extending a = helping=20 hand to oppressed Christian nations as they have at the present time in = Upper=20 Mesopotamia.=20

The sufferings of the Belgian, = French,=20 Polish, Serbian and Austrian peoples during the great war completely = fade away=20 by comparison with what the helpless countries of the Near East suffered = and=20 endured, and are still enduring, from the Turkish and Kurdish ravages = and=20 cruelties. The excellent work done by the Near East Relief Committee has = accomplished much; but a great deal more must be done, and done quickly, = if the=20 Christianity of the Near East, and specially of Mesopotamia and Persia, = is to be=20 rescued from immediate and total destruction. The well-merited relief so = generously extended to the suffering Armenians has in a way so = completely=20 focused the attention and the generosity of the American people on this=20 unfortunate race, that the other, -- smaller, but just as unfortunate, = -- races=20 of the Near East have been to a great extent lost sight of. These = smaller=20 Christian nations, and particularly the Assyro-Chaldeans, suffered as = much at=20 the hands of the Turks as the Armenians, and proportionately more, and = thus=20 deserve as much sympathy and help.=20

Ethnographically, the modern=20 Assyro-Chaldeans are the descendants of the Ancient Babylonians, = Assyrians and=20 Arameans, who for many millenniums inhabited and ruled over the Tigris - = Euphrates valley, Upper Mesopotamia and Syria, and who were the = political=20 masters of the Near East for many centuries before the Christian=20 era.=20

With the downfall of the = Kingdoms of=20 Assyria and Babylonia (7th and 6th centuries B. C., respectively) and = the=20 political ascendancy of the Medians, Parthians, and Persians (from circa = 6th=20 century B. C. to 6th century A. D. especially during the reign of the = Sassanide=20 dynasty), they suffered many political and later on religious = persecutions, but=20 stood the test heroically. Incidentally, their very ethnographic = identity and=20 their national spirit of independence were completely crushed. They = were, so to=20 say, engulfed in the many religious, racial and political whirlpools and = currents which swept over their country for more than ten full=20 centuries.=20

Under the Arab domination (from = the 7th to=20 the 13th century A. D.) they once more prospered, and developed the = greatest and=20 most extensive Christian Church of the Near East, enjoying vast = political and=20 religious privileges, marred at times by occasional and local = adversities. From=20 the 13th century on and until our own day, however, this heroic = Christian nation=20 suffered such untold misery and persecutions at the hands of the cruel = Tartars,=20 Mongols and Mohammedan Turks that at the beginning of the 20th century = this once=20 great and fertile country, this glorious and powerful nation, was = reduced to=20 less than one-tenth of its former size. The Assyro-Chaldean nation = embraced=20 Christianity, if not during the first, certainly during the middle of = the second=20 century. Setting aside the controversy as to the early evangelization of = Edessa=20 in Upper Mesopotamia during the reign of King Abgar (circa 35 A. D.) and = the=20 traditional propagation of the Gospel throughout Mesopotamia by the = Apostles=20 Thomas, Addai and Mari, it is unanimously agreed by all scholars that = towards=20 the end of the second century the Christian religion had penetrated into = the=20 whole country inhabited by the Assyro-Chaldeans. In the 3rd and 4th = centuries,=20 they already possessed a highly developed and well organized hierarchy, = with=20 numerous dioceses and churches, a Patriarchal See, stationed at=20 Seleucia-Ctesiphon on the lower Tigris and a Christian population = exercising, at=20 times, a far-reaching political and religious influence over the = Sassanian=20 dynasty of Persia and the Arabian dynasty of Hira. During the 4th, 5th = and 6th=20 centuries, the Assyro-Chaldean Church became so extensive and powerful = that it=20 excited the fear and the hatred of the Sassanian kings of Persia, who = determined=20 to exterminate it with a series of almost uninterrupted persecutions and = unheard-of cruelties. Hundreds of thousands of martyrs gave their lives=20 willingly for the faith of Christ. Patriarchs, bishops, priests, = virgins,=20 widows, children and adults, noble and poor, vied one with the other in = their=20 faith and love for Christ, and were massacred with tortures the like of = which=20 was not even dreamed of by the most cruel of Roman Emperors. And if the = number=20 of martyrs in the Roman Empire during the first three or four centuries, = according to a generous estimate, may have reached the grand total of = 200,000,=20 that of the Assyro-Chaldean martyrs in the Persian Empire, form the 3rd = to the=20 7th century, must have reached the half million mark and perhaps twice = that=20 number. Entire cities and whole districts were destroyed and their = Christian=20 inhabitants slaughtered.=20

Monasticism also penetrated and = flourished=20 early among the Assyro-Chaldean Christians. The mountains of Assyria and = Kurdistan teemed with hundreds of their monastic institutions, and their = inmates=20 equaled and often surpassed the most austere and absurd asceticism of = the early=20 Egyptian and Syrian monks and anchorites. Great schools of theology and=20 philosophy also flourished within this great church, and it is well = known fact=20 that Arabian philosophy, mathematics, medicine, the arts and science of = the=20 Middle Ages, though to a great extent of Greek origin, penetrated the = Abbaside=20 Empire through the influence of the numerous Nestorian and Jacobite = scholars and=20 schools of learning; and thus preserved Western culture from utter = destruction=20 and made possible its reintroduction into Europe through Spain at the = hands of=20 the Mohammedan Arabs.=20

Up to about the middle of the = 5th Christian=20 century, the Assyro-Chaldean Christians professed the same Orthodox = Christian=20 Faith. In 429, Nestorius, a native of Syria and Patriarch of = Constantinople,=20 began to preach his doctrine that in Christ there were two distinct = persons (the=20 human and the divine) just as there were in Him two distinct = corresponding=20 natures, and thus denying the Divine Maternity of the Virgin Mary, = condemned by=20 the Council of Ephesus (431) and repudiated by the whole Church of the = West, and=20 finding no outlet for his doctrine in the Roman Empire, Nestorius, or = rather his=20 Syrian followers and admirers, bishops, priests and monks, found in = Mesopotamia=20 and Persia a fertile field for their teaching. Aided by the Sassanian = kings of=20 Persia, the inveterate enemies of the Roman Empire and of the Western=20 Christianity, they succeeded in propagating Nestorianism throughout the = length=20 and breadth of the Persian Empire, with the result that within a few = decades the=20 vast and powerful Christian Church of Persia embraced the Nestorian = doctrine and=20 thus separated itself from the Christianity of the West, becoming an = autonomous=20 church.=20

Hardly had this been = accomplished when a=20 new christological heresy appeared on the horizon,--that of Eutyches, = another=20 Syrian monk, and Abbot of Constantinople. In his opposition to = Nestorianism,=20 Eutyches ended by maintaining that as in Christ there was but one = person, so=20 also His two natures became so thoroughly united or unmixed as to form = but one=20 composite nature. He was deposed and his doctrine condemned by the = Council of=20 Constantinople (448) and of Chalcedon (451).=20

Finding again no outlet in the = West, this=20 new teaching began to spread in Syria, Egypt, Armenia, Mesopotamia and=20 throughout the Persian Empire, rivaling in its rapid spread Nestorianism = itself;=20 with the result that throughout all the following centuries and till our = own=20 days, Assyro-Chaldean Christianity, which in the 10th and 11th centuries = boasted=20 of not less than 500 dioceses, thousands of churches and millions of = adherents,=20 reaching in its extension from Central Asia, China, Tartary, Mongolia, = India=20 (Malabar), Persia, Mesopotamia, Syria, Cyprus and as far as Egypt, = became=20 divided into two great rival Churches, viz., the Nestorian Church, and = the=20 Eutychian or Jacobite Church.=20

From the 14th century, however, = and as late=20 as our own day, missionaries from religious orders of the Roman Catholic = Church=20 centered their activities on converting these people, with the result = that ever=20 since, and for the last six centuries hundreds of thousands of these=20 Assyro-Chaldean Nestorians and Jacobites entered the Roman Catholic = Church,=20 preserving, however, their own national and ecclesiastical language, = liturgy,=20 church discipline and customs. At present, therefore, the = Assyro-Chaldean=20 Christians are divided into four big sects or churches, with their own=20 corresponding hierarchy and distinct church organization and government, = differing but slightly in their faith, in their liturgy and liturgical = language=20 (rather dialects of the same language), church discipline and = ecclesiastical=20 customs.=20

At the beginning of the great = war,=20 according to more or less reliable statistics, the total numbers of the=20 Assyro-Chaldean Christians in Turkey and Persia was about was about = 700,000 -=20 800,000, scattered over the plains of Babylonia, Mesopotamia, Upper = Syria and=20 the mountains of Assyria, Kurdistan and Persia, whereas at the present = time,=20 having lost more than 250,000 souls at the hands of the tyrannical = Turks, Kurds=20 and Persians, they hardly number 500,000, many of whom had to abandon = their=20 country and homes and flee into Russia, Syria and Lower=20 Mesopotamia.=20

They are the = following:=20

1. The Nestorian = Assyro-Chaldean --=20 commonly called Nestorians (before the war #ed circa=20 250,000).=20

2. The Catholic = Assyro-Chaldeans --=20 commonly called Chaldeans (before the war #ed circa = 150,000).=20

3. The Eutychian = Assyro-Chaldeans --=20 commonly called Jacobites (before the war #ed circa = 250,000).=20

4. The Syrian Catholic = Assyro-Chaldeans --=20 commonly called Catholic Syrians (before the war #ed circa 50,000) Owing = to the=20 staggering losses, it is almost impossible to give accurate statistics = of the=20 Assyro-Chaldean Christians at the present time. When the whole tale of=20 destruction is told and the condition of the country becomes normal = (keeping in=20 mind the horrible slaughter of 250,000 souls, the total destruction of = the=20 churches, the burning of thousands of homes, the killing of a dozen or = more=20 bishops and hundreds of priests, the plunder and spoliation of public, = private=20 and church properties, the ravages of hunger, starvation, violence, = disease,=20 poverty, deportation, tortures, amputation and mutilation of thousands = still=20 alive and rendered helpless and in a state of abject poverty, ridicule = and=20 shame), then, and onlt then, will the American people be enabled to form = an=20 adequate estimate of the terrific losses in property and human life, in = domestic=20 and personal happiness, in religion and education among the unfortunate=20 Assyro-Chaldean Christians. For this reason Father Naayem=92s book is of = timely=20 interest, as it will give the American public an accurate, though meager = pen=20 picture of the horrible sufferings of but a small portion of the = Assyro-Chaldean=20 Christians. America and American principles of justice and liberty, = American=20 love for suffering humanity and American charity are the only hope of = stricken=20 Eastern Christianity, and the one bright star in the once brilliant, = but, alas,=20 now darkened Eastern sky !
(page xv - xxvi)=20

Little = Wahida=20

About the same time when = visiting Mr.=20 Antoun Roumi at Aleppo, I met Wahida, a little Chaldean girl of = Diarbekir, aged=20 twelve, who was related to Madame Roumi. Her mother, a survivor of the = massacres=20 (the Turkish massacres of 1918), had been unable to support her, = her=20 father having been killed by the Turks and her home plundered. I asked = her to=20 tell me what she had seen and she gave me the following details; My = father,=20 Naoum Abid, was a Municipal Commissioner, who in fear of being killed = concealed=20 himself during the arrests. One day the patrol came to our house, and, = under=20 pretense of buying brandy, which we sold, induced us to open the door. = They=20 entered, and, after searching every hole and corner of the house, found = my=20 father and carried him away to prison. Mother and I began to=20 cry.=20

Some days later a warder came = to tell me=20 that my father wanted to see me. I went to him immediately. Father = kissed me=20 fondly and cried, asking me how mother and my little brothers, Michael = and=20 Suleiman, were, and how they were bearing up. He cried again and I did = what I=20 could to console him. When I had been three hours with him, a policeman = took me=20 away from him upstairs to a room in an upper story which overlooked that = in=20 which my father was kept. Through a window I saw policemen go into his = cell,=20 executioners, armed with clubs, and soldiers who used the butts of their = rifles,=20 struck my father terrible blows. They hit him many blows with their = daggers.=20 They put out his eyes with a knife which had a sharp point, and cut his = stomach=20 open. I wept and cried for a time and then I opened the door and ran=20 away.=20

I rushed home, crying, and told = my mother=20 what had happened. She became hysterical and began to tear out her hair. = My=20 little brother ran to tell all our relatives the terrible news, and all = began to=20 mourn. Mother, foreseeing what would be in store for us, soon made plans = for us=20 to flee. Like a brave woman, she gathered all her children together, and = by=20 crossing from one terrace roof to another we finally found a safe place = in which=20 to shelter. In this way she saved us from death. When the storm had = passed we=20 returned home and found that all our furniture had been=20 stolen.=20

Not being able to live in an = empty house,=20 and having no money or other resources, my mother had to take service in = Turkish=20 families at Diarbekir in order to support us. But not earning enough to = feed us,=20 she was obliged to send some of us to my uncle Petioun, at Aleppo. (page = 195)=20

What Happened at = Kharput=20

At the end of 1918, I met, at=20 Constantinople, Djordjis Toumas Keshishe, a business man of Kharput, who = had=20 been an eye witness of the massacres which took place in that town. I = wrote down=20 the following account, word for word, at his dictation, and, the better = to=20 authenticate the details of his narrative, obtained his signature to my=20 notes. =

The Turks commenced by = arresting certain=20 men of note, in particular the schoolmasters. Among others, they seized = Oshous=20 Yussef, Professor at the American college and editor of the = =93Murched,=94 (Monitor)=20 the Assyro-Chaldean organ of the town. If I remember rightly, this was = at the=20 beginning of May, 1915. Those arrested were imprisoned for a fortnight. = Their=20 houses were searched, but happily nothing of a compromising nature was=20 discovered. The dwellings of the Assyro-Chaldeans or Jacobites were also = subjected to the same measure.=20

Meanwhile, Sabit Bey, Governor = of the town,=20 betook himself to Erzerum, where, on a pretext that there was an = epidemic of=20 Typhus, he closed all the schools. From Erzerum he returned as far as = Mezre on a=20 Friday some days later.=20

Taking up his quarters at the = Seraglio=20 (Government House), he held a council which lasted for over an hour, = during=20 which time Christians were forbidden to enter the building. I happened = to be=20 with friends in the courtyard of the church, where I noticed armed = soldiers=20 making their rounds. Towards nine o'clock I saw them leading off an = Armenian=20 whom they had arrested. In the evening my little brother Yohanna, a boy = seven=20 years of age, came to see me at the church, saying that my father was = asking for=20 me.=20

Leaving the church, I = discovered to my=20 surprise that all the Christians I met were in great alarm. I arrived = home to=20 find my aunt and other relatives weeping, and learned that my uncle = Barsom=20 Keshishe, a tradesman, had been arrested. My father, white as a sheet, = and very=20 much upset and worried, was speechless in a corner. Not until an hour = later did=20 he break silence. =93 I was in the market place,=94 he told us, =93when = the Governor=20 came with the Commandant to Government House. There they had a long = discussion.=20 A quarter of an hour later the market place was surrounded by the = militia, who=20 picked out all Christians over fourteen years of age, arrested them and = put them=20 in prison ; among them my poor brother Barsom. I managed to save myself = with=20 great difficulty, thanks to Kevork Agha, who foreseeing that a general = arrest=20 was imminent, advised me to flee. A few minutes later he himself was = arrested,=20 savagely knocked about and taken to prison. From a distance I witnessed = also the=20 arrest of two brothers, Boghos and Marderos Chatalbashe, Abraham Tasho = and many=20 others. I myself was twice arrested in the street, but Providence willed = that I=20 should be let set at liberty.=94=20

Next day about eight o'clock a = public crier=20 announced from the top of the citadel: =93Christians, know that he who = does not=20 open his shop as usual will be court-martialed and condemned to death. = Why are=20 you afraid ? You run no risk. Take courage !=94 My father having little = confidence=20 in the words of the public crier feared to open his shop. I thought of = going=20 myself, but changed my mind, and my uncle, taking the keys, went to open = the=20 premises.=20

Before many hours had passed we = learnt that=20 all tradesmen in the market place had been arrested. During the day = police=20 agents and soldiers came to our house with a list of names on which = figured that=20 of my father whom they intended to apprehend. My mother went to the door = and=20 declared that all the men were out. As a matter of fact we had all fled = by the=20 roofs to the Bishop's residence, were we found Bishop Mansour in his = room,=20 praying. Since our presence might cause his arrest, we left his house, = my father=20 taking refuge with Minasse Agha Chatalbashe, and my cousin and I = concealing=20 ourselves in the house of Ashour Effendi.=20

Some time later my mother = arrived in tears=20 to say that the soldiers were coming every few minutes to worry her, = declaring=20 that at all costs they must have her husband and her sons. They said = that they=20 wished to take my father to Government House to ask him a few questions, = after=20 which he would be released. Fearing that the savages would harm his wife = and=20 family, my father bravely decided to return to the house. There he met = the=20 soldiers who were waiting to take him. He begged them to allow him to = change his=20 clothing and to embrace his children before he left. One of my aunts = appeared=20 with her baby in her arms. In her exasperation she said to the=20 soldiers:=20

=93You cowards, you have = snatched my=20 husband from his home to take him to Mezre! Now you want to take my=20 brother-in-law! Are you not afraid of the anger of God ? What have these = innocent people done that you should treat them in this way=20 ?=94=20

=93Do not be anxious!=94 = hypocritically=20 answered the soldiers. Your men will soon be back=20 home.=94=20

Meanwhile the populous = Christian quarters=20 were emptied, only a few young people remaining. Almost all the men were = taken=20 to Mezre, where they were shut up to the number of fifteen hundred in a = large=20 building called =93Kirmisi Konak.=94 (The Red Palace) No one was allowed = to speak to=20 them, but their relatives were permitted to bring them = food.=20

As the Turks said that they = only required=20 the Armenians, the Bishop (of the Assyro-Chaldean), with two prominent = members=20 of his congregation, Elia Effendi Tasho and Bedik Zade Arakel, went to = see the=20 Governor, the Commandant and the Deputy, and begged them to spare his = flock=20 since they were not Armenians and belonged to no political party. Bedik = Zade, a=20 very influential Moslem, who was present, asked the Governor with tears = in his=20 eyes: =93Why do you treat this unhappy people in this way ? They are = absolutely=20 guiltless!=94=20

The Governor and his friends = then promised=20 to refer the matter to Constantinople, and obtain pardon for the = Assyro-Chaldean=20 community. Some days later a favourable reply did come from the central=20 authorities and thus the Assyro-Chaldeans were spared. In spite of the = order,=20 however, the Governor failed to release the fifteen hundred of our=20 co-religionists who had already been apprehended with the Armenians and = taken to=20 Mezre. All, without distinction, were put to death outside the town. = Happily my=20 father was still in prison at Kharput.=20

After these events the public = crier=20 announced that the Christian inhabitants of each quarter were to quit = the town=20 in turn and take the road to Urfa. The Assyro-Chaldeans were to leave on = Wednesday. As my father was =93Moukhtar,=94 (something like an Alderman) = he was=20 released from prison to assist in the census of our quarter. On its = completion,=20 not withstanding the order that the Assyro-Chaldeans should be spared, = he was=20 reincarcerated.=20

The public crier repeated the = order for the=20 deportations, and the five hundred and fifty-six Armenians and = Assyro-Chaldeans=20 in prison were released to accompany their families into exile. By good = fortune=20 the public crier announced one day that the Chaldeans could remain = behind. The=20 happiness of our community can be imagined. There were rejoicing = everywhere, and=20 our leaders visited the Governor and made him a present of L. T. 500 in = gold. At=20 the same time they begged him to transmit the order of the central = authorities=20 for the sparing of the Assyro-Chaldeans to the suburbs in which a great = many of=20 them lived.=20

We next went to see the = =93Mudir=94 (Mayor) of=20 one of those suburbs, who had come to town and asked him in view of the = order to=20 spare the Assyro-Chaldean villages. Hoping to gain his favor, we made = him=20 presents. He promised to do so, but on returning to his village the = barbarian=20 put everyone of them to death, even to the women and children. In the = little=20 town of Adyaman, hardly a trace of the Christians remained, all of them = having=20 been hacked to death with axes and thrown into the river which watered = the=20 locality. The priests in particular had been tortured with indescribable = savagery. The following are the names of some of the places inhabited by = the=20 Assyro-Chaldeans: the town of Malatia and the villages of Chiro, Aiwtos = and=20 Guarguar.=20

Three months after the tragedy = just=20 recounted, the Governor being absent, all the Assyro-Chaldeans were = re-arrested=20 one night and sent to the Kirmisi Konak. A knock came to our door. It = was=20 Abdennour, a fellow Christian who wished my father to come to his house. = This he=20 did, and on his return he told us that a Turk had been to Abdennour = making=20 inquiries for him. It was a tradesman with whom my father had some = dealings, and=20 to whom he owed some money. This the creditor was hastening to claim as = he had=20 learnt that all the Assyro-Chaldeans were to be arrested next day. My = father=92s=20 words terrified us, and we felt that this time all was over. At dawn my = father,=20 my cousin David and I fled and hid at the bottom of a well, requesting = our=20 relatives to dig a hole and bury all our valuables and merchandise in a = corner=20 of the garden. Every moment we expected the arrival of the wretches who = were to=20 lead us to our deaths. At length towards mid-day a relation who was in = the=20 secret of our hiding place called down to us from the opening of the=20 well:=20

=93Come out. There is = nothing to fear. The=20 massacre of the Assyrians has been stopped.=94=20

During the massacres of Kharput = I lost my=20 uncles, Barsom Keshishe, Boghos and Mardiros ; my cousins Nouri and = Ohannes, and=20 also Ashour Youssouf, Donabet and Kework Kerbez, who were otherwise = related to=20 me.=94 (pages 207-215)=20

Prepared by Fred = Aprim=20
California =
=20

BRAVO=20

TRAILBLAZER AWARD GOES TO = CHALDEAN=20 COUNCIL

Last week in Lathrup Village, Michigan, the Arab = American and=20 Chaldean Council was honored by
Ameritech-Michigan for=20 its efforts in bringing about progressive change in the Metro Detroit = area and=20 across the state. The council received the Robert L. Hurst Trailblazer = Award at=20 the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History. =
=20

=20

PUMP UP THE = VOLUME=20

ENGLISH	MODERN=20 ASSYRIAN	GENDER
Village	Ma/ta	Feminine
Villager	Ma/ta/ya or =20 Ak/ka/ra	Masculine=20

BACK TO THE = FUTURE

BC (2900)=20

The period between 2900 and 2700 B.C. in southern = Bet-Nahrain=20 (Mesopotamia) is referred to as the Early Dynastic I or the Golden = Age. =20 During this time a natural catastrophe may have ensued similar to the = Flood=20 described in the Bible. The Sumerian word for "flood" is "marru", = a word=20 later used in describing the "people from the west" or the "Amorites"- = the=20 people of the Flood.=20

The Ancient Near East, Hallo & = Simpson=20

AD (1899)=20

Baron Max von Oppenheim, A German diplomat who had = traveled=20 widely in the Arab countries and acquired an intimage knowledge of the = locals,=20 was commissioned to reconnoiter the line of a projected railroad to be = built by=20 German engineers from Istanbul to Baghdad. Oppenheim later = occupied=20 his time excavating the archeological site of Tel Halaf where he found = some of=20 the finest pre-historic artifacts in Mesopotamia..=20

The Rise of Civilization, Oates & = Oates=20
=20

THIS WEEK IN=20 HISTORY

March 1, 1898: The body of the Assyrian missionary, Rev. = Yacoub=20 Yalqu d'Qarajalu, is buried in a village located in eastern Siberia, = north of=20 Manchuria, China.=20

CALENDAR OF = EVENTS

Mar = 28	LONDON=20 LONDON CENTRE FOR THE ANCIENT NEAR EAST=20 LECTURE "Reading and writing cuneiform past and = present"=20 Christopher Walker 6:30=20 PM British Museum, Great Russell St. = WC1. Lecture=20 theatre. Tickets 7.50 pounds = Contact 020 7323 8566
Apr = 12	LONDON=20 LONDON CENTRE FOR THE ANCIENT NEAR EAST=20 LECTURE "Egypt through the Assyrian annals" = Paul Collins 6:00 PM = British Museum, Great Russell St. WC1. Lecture = Theatre=20 EES and BM Dept. of Egyptian = antiquities.=20 Non-EES members contact the EES 020 7242=20 1880
Apr = 28	SAN=20 FRANCISCO INTERNATIONAL = CULINARY=20 EVENT Sponsored by the Assyrian = Aid Society=20 of America To raise=20 $100,000 for projects in north Iraq=20 Dinner prepared by famous = Middle=20 Eastern chefts Served=20 with finest California wines=20 Garden Court of the = Palace=20 Hotel $200 = per=20 person=20 For more information=20 contact:=20 Assyrian Aid Society = of=20 America 350 Berkeley=20 Park Boulevard Kensington, CA 94707
May = 27	MODESTO=20 FIRST ASSYRIAN MIDI = COMPOSERS=20 CONFERENCE Double Tree = Hotel=20 2:00 PM-10:00 PM = PST=20 Organized by: Nineveh On = Line Click Here for more=20 information What is=20 MIDI? Click=20 Here
June = 26-30	SYDNEY=20 EIGHT ANNUAL CONGRESS = FOR SYRIAC=20 STUDIES Department of Semitic=20 Studies University of=20 Sydney

=20

SHARE YOUR INFORMATION WITH ASSYRIAN = READERS IN 50=20 COUNTRIES BY INCLUDING ZINDA IN YOUR COMMUNITY OR ORGANIZATION'S MAILING = LIST. SEE OUR MAILING ADDRESS BELOW.

ZINDA Magazine is published = every=20 Tuesday. Views expressed in ZINDA do not necessarily represent = those of=20 the ZINDA editors, or any of our associated staff. This = publication=20 reserves the right, at its sole discretion, not to publish comments or = articles=20 previously printed in or submitted to other journals. ZINDA reserves the = right=20 to publish and republish your submission in any form or medium. All = letters and=20 messages require the name(s) of sender and/or author. All messages = published in the SURFS UP! section must be in 500 words or less and bear = the=20 name of the author(s). Distribution of material featured in ZINDA is not = restricted, but permission from ZINDA is required. This service is = meant=20 for the exchange of information, analyses and news. To subscribe, send = e-mail=20 to: zenda@ix.netcom.com.=20

Zinda Magazine
P.O. Box 20278   San Jose, = California  =20 95160   U.S.A.
Voice:      (408) = 918-9200=20
   = Fax:      (408)=20 918-9201

------=_NextPart_000_002A_01C31553.49C0D930 Content-Type: image/jpeg Content-Transfer-Encoding: base64 Content-Location: http://www.zindamagazine.com/html/archives/1997/home.jpg /9j/4AAQSkZJRgABAQAAAQABAAD/2wBDABIMDRANCxIQDhAUExIVGywdGxgYGzYnKSAsQDlEQz85 Pj1HUGZXR0thTT0+WXlaYWltcnNyRVV9hnxvhWZwcm7/2wBDARMUFBsXGzQdHTRuST5Jbm5ubm5u bm5ubm5ubm5ubm5ubm5ubm5ubm5ubm5ubm5ubm5ubm5ubm5ubm5ubm5ubm7/wAARCAA5AIADASIA AhEBAxEB/8QAHwAAAQUBAQEBAQEAAAAAAAAAAAECAwQFBgcICQoL/8QAtRAAAgEDAwIEAwUFBAQA AAF9AQIDAAQRBRIhMUEGE1FhByJxFDKBkaEII0KxwRVS0fAkM2JyggkKFhcYGRolJicoKSo0NTY3 ODk6Q0RFRkdISUpTVFVWV1hZWmNkZWZnaGlqc3R1dnd4eXqDhIWGh4iJipKTlJWWl5iZmqKjpKWm p6ipqrKztLW2t7i5usLDxMXGx8jJytLT1NXW19jZ2uHi4+Tl5ufo6erx8vP09fb3+Pn6/8QAHwEA AwEBAQEBAQEBAQAAAAAAAAECAwQFBgcICQoL/8QAtREAAgECBAQDBAcFBAQAAQJ3AAECAxEEBSEx BhJBUQdhcRMiMoEIFEKRobHBCSMzUvAVYnLRChYkNOEl8RcYGRomJygpKjU2Nzg5OkNERUZHSElK U1RVVldYWVpjZGVmZ2hpanN0dXZ3eHl6goOEhYaHiImKkpOUlZaXmJmaoqOkpaanqKmqsrO0tba3 uLm6wsPExcbHyMnK0tPU1dbX2Nna4uPk5ebn6Onq8vP09fb3+Pn6/9oADAMBAAIRAxEAPwCSK3WS NWK84/On/ZU9Kktv9SvNOkfYhwR6VwXZ1EJgQD7uaY6QxnDBVPvWfFqEv9vfZCf3eCD+WabrRY6b K+eVYYNXyu9mLmVjS8pTgqFINKIV7oKh8PO02lRM7ZIyM1pY96l6Ow000U/JT+4KQwp/zz/WruB6 0jKD0FK49DPaJf8Ann+tJ5I/55/rV0jDbdoz6ZpNrf3APxouGhSMA7R0nkf7Aq0XRZxCdvmEZC56 1J0/g/WndhoUfI9UFKLdf7oq4yjGSgA+tMO3nCg49DRcNCuLdD2FUdaQRac7IcHIHH1rW2j+7+tZ viBcaVIcY5Hf3pwfvIUtma9tJ+5GQKjvW+VeMc0+2jPkrwfypHRJmCdNvJYmp6hpY52Jgniwlu5P 6rV+/RnsLxXXgLkCo9T+wWupLczSESgDCKMn61ct7211Cxn8lHztIy468Vq3szNdUV/Cci/2bIG5 2ydPbFX7i4Dxs64RF6ljisPwtJsF2O/Bx+dTeJH26bEE/jf5qcledgTtG48akXctbSCUL1Aq/Zan Hco2xtsyclaybGwFrb21yhJaRdzVFeqbDW4ZIwRHKR8o9+oosnogu1qSarfTRzQXSM2A2G5710CP vt1mWXgjNZt9p/2ixmQDBB3Lx3pnh9mlsFjk42ORnHapdnEaumVL2Z4/EVt82GAAJPvV65uT9pMU rMCOQRWf4nXZf28wwVI6j2Na0sayNG6gEuvceopu1kwW7Ml9dt0QhBLIffAFR6HeyzX8m5mw4zjs Km07S/s0cjXUKsQc5bsKs6TLDdGUwxKjKcEqOtU+VJ2QK7auaAZv7xrO19mOlyAnuP51oiMjv+lZ +vrjS5PqO3vWUPiRctmbdrJiBeDWddWTtqKztIxX+FcdKv20Q8haq3t3Fp86yTPhfTrSTd9BO1jC 8RxKuqw5Gd4G4fjW3DbxxXG2Fdo24xWBrV/FqWp272+SFwOmO9blxqMGnXg88tz7ZrWSfKkQmrtm PojeTql5EwwzKQPzzVrVgLrRiVJZomB/CqllPG/igyRkMkrEAj3q5qaT6ZO0oTzIH6rjiqfxIS2L WkP9o0GEcFoyVPr7VR1mVf7csI+pjZC3/fVRW+vW9nD+4tyX6hXPyg0uj2k1xdPqd7nC5YEj7xot ZuTC91ZFvV76S1gh8tyFMmDj0qO/v1tdMK2wCyXLcnuPXFUdbv4LqFEjPzI5J96I7WS9vbZhGwgw GJPQDqaFHRNg3roTazDs0a3zndG+DznqP/rVpW0hfTraTOSE/WqurywNpUqeYu/cCoPU81BZXy2+ iROFZmjcrj1PWlZuIaJlS1tLvUfMdrjy1zj5yea3tIsYLCBgJlkZz8zYxWdDr1pjEtuyeu2otT1K 3a0xYuQzHBz1xRJSlpsCstTp/LDDI2keoJrL8SIRpMh4xkfzq5ooKaTbhyGYrnJPNQeJedFlOMcj v71lHSdi2/dLcOpWUUQR7mNWHUFqhvJdGvwBczxPt6fNiuGm/wBa31NMrdUlvcy5ztYIPD9vKskc kO5ehLk1NeyaNfAfaJ4WI6HdzXCUU/Zdbhz+R1tnY6PaXq3CXyNtOVUt0Na7arp7jDXMJHoTXndF DpX3YKduh3fm6Ju3f6Jn6CrX9raeF2/aIcdMbq86opeyXcOc7C5tdAuX3mWNGzk7HwDWhFqGmxQL DHcxLGo2gZ7V5/RTdK+7Dn8jp59O0q4umlfUlCnnaDWnZzaTZW4ghuIdnU5OSTXC0UOnfRsObyO2 n/sOfPmNbHPccH9KpNp2hNJuFyqgfwiTiuWooVO3UObyO9W+01UCrPCAowMGs7X7uzm0uRIJlZ8j ADe9cnRSVJJ3uDm2rH//2Q== ------=_NextPart_000_002A_01C31553.49C0D930 Content-Type: image/gif Content-Transfer-Encoding: base64 Content-Location: http://www.zindamagazine.com/images/cy_u_arr_thm.gif R0lGODlhHwAfAPcAAL+/vwQEBASEhARMTATMzAQkJASsrAQUFAR8fATs7AScnARcXAQ0NAQMDASM jATc3AQsLAS8vAQcHAT8/AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAJg9UAAA AAAAAAAAACw5Y4EMAE0AoBZlwRjvbwD+oPe/WKX3vwAATQAAAAAABAtNACQAAADgCk0ADABNACzv bwCbjfi/AABNACgAAAAAAAAABAAAANQSvX8AAE0AAAAAACQAAAC2ufe//DpjgQAAAADXF71/MJDB fyIbvX8EC00A4ApNALa597+QhGWBqO9vABAAAAAQAAAALKNOAJGj978AAE0APKNOABAAAAAAAAAA DABNAAAATQAso04AAAAAAAAAAAAsOWOBDABNAKAWZcHQ728A/qD3v1il978AAE0AAAAAADAOggAA AAAAIEfBfxQLtILk728Am434vwAATQDQXkQAMA6CAAbJRACwD4IAIPBvADCjTgAwDoIA6+LAfzTS /X8gR8F/h+PAfzDS/X8wDoIAFAu0giBHwX+AhvN/n7n3v0jwbwC08G8AyDlQAOMT+L+EP2OBr8Hz f7TwbwDIOVAAeABNAMg5UACtIvN/EDpQAMQ5UACWIvN/CDpQAKMg8380OlAA6A1NAG7C83/IOVAA 6A1NACcx83/oDU0AAAAAAMg5UAAE8W8AyDlQAPzwbwC48G8AazHzfxTxbwAFAAAAAAAAAOgNTQAA AAAAyDlQAHgATQCh/PN/EPJvAD0v838AAAAAuvVvAAAAAACw9W8AAAAAACz1bwDUwve/svVvAAAA AAAIxPe/KPFvAOwAAAAcAQAAuDdQAJGj978AAE0A1DhQAOwAAAAAAAAADABNAAAATQC4N1AAQAAA AAAAAAADBQAABAUAAFDxbwBBpfe/AABNAFil978AAE0AQQAAAEEAAAAAAAAA2jdQAAAAAAAAAAAA BI9DANo3UAAMpE4AvDdQAN43UADW8W8A/////wAAAACAj0MA2jdQACH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAAfAB8A QAj/AAEIHEiwoMGDCAU2kOCAwASHEyJOiPDQQYEDCQ02UBAhgcSPCSIowJixYACOHj9GDKkgQEmE ARg6JGCR5MuFClJOSKBAZUQDDyTyvFjyJIGgPlm6fDkwZgQDCqJKjUpAwlKmGiU8IIr14MKGD8PS 5PoyJliIPidWJDtQwICHBqA6WGBAJ0gDCxwoiOtwgICEJzumVdoVgFGkKgl3NbozwQPHCTwSaFm4 smWBCAQguOyV4YSanAXGVOBQMujKXx1S3Dnz9E2Zan22ZmtwtEPEaXeutTmwAQSKCQgQMIAA7UcC CAwI9xiBgU0BAaJL3xgBt0ThDg40kB7gwF+YHK1HM3wg8irTwOInkKe8eK9dievNlw2fNn7hwO9X lr9PkUCECMMFqJp8L2mGQGYICmDgdwcFBAA7 ------=_NextPart_000_002A_01C31553.49C0D930--