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A Weekly Online Newsletter Serving the Assyrian
Communities Around the World
=====================================================
THE L I G H
T H O U S E
=====================================================
A SUMERIAN LOVE SONG
In the ancient Bet-Nahrain, in the
land of Sumer, it
was the sacred duty of the ruler
to marry a priestess
of the temple of Innana, the goddess
of love and
procreation, in order to ensure
fertility to the soil
and to the womb. The ceremony
was held during the
New Year's day celebration.
The following poem* was
recited by the temple priestesses
nearly 5000 years ago:
*** ***
****** ******
*************
***********
>>>----------------->
*******
*****
***
*
Lion, dear to my heart,
Goodly is your beauty, honeysweet.
You have captivated me,
let me stand trembling before you,
I would be taken by you to the
bedchamber,
Let me caress you,
My precious caress is more savory
than honey,
In the bedchamber, honey filled,
Let us enjoy your goodly beauty...
You have taken your pleasure of
me,
[My love], I know how to gladden
your heart,
Lion, sleep in our house until
dawn.
You, because you love me,
My lord god, my lord protector,
Give me pray of your caress...
From "History Begins at Sumer"
Samuel Noah Kramer
*Not in its entirety
=====================================================
G O O D M O R N I N G B E T - N A H R A I N
=====================================================
IRAQI OIL MONEY WILL PAY FOR HUMANITARIAN
SUPPLIES
(RU: Baghdad)
Iraq and the United Nations have
begun talks on Security
Council resolution 986, which would
allow Iraq up to
$2 billion in oil sales over six
months to pay for
humanitarian supplies. The
resolution earmarks between
$130 to $150 million to go to northern
Bet-Nahrain
over a 90-day period. Iraqi officials
have repeatedly
made it clear that Baghdad objects
to any terms which
would reenforce the autonomy of
a rebel Kurdish enclave
in northern Bet-Nahrain.
The Assyrian and Kurdish
fighters set up the area after
the Gulf War in 1991,
under the protection of Western
airforces based in
Turkey. There are an estimated
3 million people living
in this area, about 15 percent
of the 20 million or so
population of Iraq. 70 kilometres
(44 miles) of the
twin pipeline linking Iraq's giant
oilfields around
Kirkuk to Turkish terminals on
the Mediterranean coast,
where Iraq will have to export
most of its oil under
the U.N. plan, runs through northern
Bet-Nahrain.
SADDAM ALLOWS ELECTRICITY FLOW TO
NORTHERN BET-NAHRAIN
(RU: Baghdad)
According to the government newspaper,
al-Jumhouriya,
The Iraqi government will resume
the supply of electrical
power to northern Bet-Nahrain.
``The ministry of industry
and minerals has announced readiness
to deliver
electrical current to all areas
under blackout in Iraqi
Kurdistan,'' the paper said.
Last month on direct
orders from President Saddam Hussein,
the education
ministry supplied schools in northern
Bet-Nahrain with
text books and stationary. Jumhouriya
reported this week
that Saddam had also ordered the
provision of food rations
to residents of this area.
=====================================================
S U R F S U P !
=====================================================
"I see that you have published
the Assyrian Church of
the East Webside address in your
February issue. I
thank you for doing that but more
so I would like to
congratulate you on behalf of our
Church for your
outstanding and pioneering work
at publishing Zenda
the first Assyrian electronic newsletter.
However, I would like to advise
Zenda and its readers
that our new temporary address
for the Church's Webside
is www.allover.com/cired.
And, furthermore, in a couple
of months CIRED (the publisher
of this Webside) may get
for the Electronic Messenger a
newer Webside address-one
that is registered independently.
God Bless you all. May your
work be brought to bear the
best of results for our scattered
people and their
friends around the world."
-Bishop Mar Bawai Soro
Gen. Sec. CIRED
"Happy birthday to ZENDA, and khaya
Janhohk for a one
year of hard work, a Job well done...
Please correct
this error in ZENDA calendar of
event: The Second
Assyrian Community networking conference
is not in
MODESTO, the conference is in San
Jose... please point
out to ZENDA readers that they
can get full information
on ACNC'96 on the WWW by visiting
our site at
http://www.nineveh.com/~agabrial/acnc.htm
. Also I
would like to announce the new
Assyrian Woman Home Page
Shameiram in Cyberspace.
This site is maintained by
Sharokin [Betgevargiz] and e.BABYLON
is the host...
http://www.nineveh.com/~agabrial/woman.htm.
God bless."
-Albert Gabrial
California
"Schlomo aglecho athuroue, Hello
all Assyrians in whole
America. My name is Robert
Masso. I'm calling from Sweden
in Stockholm, and want some of
you to answer me after this
letter. Like I said I am
an Assyrian boy who lives here
in the cold Sweden. We have nearly
-20 degrees Celsius.
I am 18 and go to school and read
scientific. Here I am
sitting at my friend's computer.
My hobby is sports.
So I will be glad if you could
answer me about you...
<Mahmoud.Pirouzram@mailbox.swipnet.se>
-Robert Masso
Sweden
=====================================================
N E W S D I G E S T
=====================================================
GREATER L.A. ASSYRIANS TO ELECT A CENTRAL COMMITTEE
(ZN: Los Angeles) This month,
in an attempt to
consolidate the activities of their
religious and
civic organizations, the Assyrian
residents of the
Greater Los Angeles and Orange
County will elect the
Central Committee(Motva) of Southern
California.
The Motva will consist of the representatives
of
the many local groups and organizations.
This elected
body will oversee the administration
of all civic
activities and resolve the inter-organizational
conflicts, while building a consensus.
However, the
election organizers are rightfully
concerned with the
possibility of a low turnout.
At this time no
information about the identity
of the candidates and
are available.
OF CHURCH AND POLITICS: A
HOLY GATHERING IN SAN JOSE
(ZN: San Jose) On February
3, the local leaders of
the Assyrian churches in San Jose,
California and the
Executive Board of the Assyrian
American Association
of San Jose held a formal meeting
of their respective
executive committees. The
delegates from the Mar
Yousip Assyrian Church of the East,
Mart Maryam's
Chaldean Catholic Church, and the
AAA of San Jose
agreed upon closer cooperation
on the implementation
of the Census Project, coordination
of the local
entertainment activities, and the
creation of a
Central Committee.
JOHN NIMROD TO TALK IN CONNECTICUT
(ZN: New Britain) Former Senator
John Nimrod,
General Secretary of the Assyrian
Universal
Alliance, will be the guest of
the Assyrian
National Association of New Britain,
Connecticut
on February 17. Gen. Secretary
will have an
opportunity to discuss the current
political
status of the Assyrian nation in
Bet-Nahrain and
abroad, and his active involvement
in the United
Nation-sponsored organization-
UNPO (Unrepresented
Nations and Peoples Organization).
One week
later, the ANA of New Britain will
also host the
quarterly meeting of the Assyrian
American National
Federation's National Executive
Committee.
Among the many issues scheduled
for discussion
will be the bitter-sweet relationship
between
the AANF and the AUA in the United
States. At
issue is the possible call for
termination of the
AANF's membership in the Assyrian
Universal
Alliance, and the suspension of
several Assyrian
organization's membership in the
AANF.
ASSYRIANS IN THE PARLIAMENT ELECTIONS OF IRAN
(RU: Tehran) 5359 candidates,
including 305 women,
are registered to run in elections
on March 8 for
Iran's 270-seat parliament (Majlis).
The Guardian
Council is screening the candidates
and would rule
on their belief in Islam, the Islamic
form of
government including the principle
that it is
headed by a supreme spiritual leader.
45 candidates,
which include Assyrians, are contesting
five seats
designated for non-Muslims. Tehran
radio said 34.6
percent of the candidates were
university graduates,
including 5.6 percent with doctorate
degrees, and five
percent studied at theology schools.
Conservatives
who were earlier poised to maintain
their majority in
parliament are expected to be challenged
by centrist
candidates supporting the liberal
economic reforms of
President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani.
=====================================================
D I R E C T O R Y
OF THE N E W S S O U R C E S
=====================================================
AA (AAA of San Jose Newsletter)
AP (Associate Press)
AS (Assyrian Server in Sweden)
BN (Bet-Nahrain Journal)
EB (e.Babylon BBS): 1-209-668-1827
Hollister, California
JS (Journal of the Assyrian Academic
Society)
P.O. Box 4102
Des Plaines, Illinois 60016-4102
NQ (Nebu Quarterly)
P.O. Box 59422, Chicago Illinois 60659
NV (Nineveh Newspaper)
RU (Reuters)
SC (soc.culture.assyrian)
TN (Turkish News Agency)
WS (The Wall Street Journal)
ZN (Zenda Reporters):
zenda@ix.netcom.com
=====================================================
C A L E N D A R OF E V E N T
S
=====================================================
Feb 17
A Speech by Former Sen. John Nimrod
Assyrian Universal Alliance
Secretary General
Assyrian National Association
39 South Street
New Britain, Connecticut
Feb 24
National Executive Committee Meeting
Assyrian American National Federation
New Britain, Connecticut
March 1
The AAA of San Jose
General Meeting
BETA; 20000 Almaden Rd
7:30 pm
March 13
"How a Babylonian Schoolboy learned
his ABC's"
Public Lecture Series
University of Toronto
(416) 978-4531
May 25-26
2nd Assyrian Community Networking Conference
Modesto, CA
Red Lion Inn Hotel
May 24-27
Assyrian State Convention of California
San Jose, CA
Fairmont Hotel
May 24-25
Memorial Weekend Games
Chicago, Illinois
June 1
Nineveh Choral Concert
Conducted by Maestro Nebu Issabey
San Jose, California
Santa Teresa High School Auditorium
8:00 pm
June 9-11
The ARAM Conference
Harvard University
Cambridge, Massachusetts U.S.
Aug 29-Sept 2 AANF National
Convention
Modesto, CA
Red Lion Inn Hotel
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ENTERTAINMENT
-----------------------------------------------------
March 16
A Fundraising Party for Rep. Anna Eshoo
AWANA
Church of the East
San Jose, CA
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MEETINGS
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Thursdays
Assyrian Educational & Cultural Club at
Modesto Junior College
1:00 pm
Founders Hall 125.
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CLASSES
-----------------------------------------------------
Mondays
Assyrian Language Classes
BETA: AAA of San Jose
7:00-8:30 pm
Assyrian Discussion Group
BETA: AAA of San Jose
8:00-9:30 pm
Thursdays
Nineveh Choir: Maestro Nebu Issabey
BETA: AAA of San Jose
7:30-9:00 pm
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SPORTS
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Tuesdays
Boys Soccer Practice
South Valley Christian School
Corner of Blossom and Shawnee
San Jose, California
5-6:30 pm
Sundays
Boys/Girls Volleyball
Campbell Community Center
Camden & Union
Campbell, California
6-9 pm
=====================================================
A S S Y R I A N
S U R F I N G P O S T S
=====================================================
NEW WEB SITES
Assyrian Woman Home Page
http://www.nineveh.com/~agabrial/woman.htm
.......................................................
Ancient Mesopotamia
http://sipparorinst.uchicago.edu/OI/DEPT/RA/ABZ
U/ABZU_REGINDX_MESO.HTML
Akkadian Language
http://ruurq2.sron.ruu.nl/akkadian/
Assyria On-Line
http://www.cs.toronto.edu/~jatou/./
Assyrian Flag
http://www.cesi.it/flags/assyria.html
Assyrian Server (in Sweden)
http://www.cs.umu.se/~dprhi/assyr/assyr.html
Assyrian Songs
http://users.aol.com/assyrianme/songs/
assyrian.html
Assyrian Youth Association of Sweden
http://www.cs.umu.se/~dprhi/assyr/assyr.html
Church of the East Page
http://www.allover.com/org/assyrian.ch.east/ace.html
Corpus Neo Assyrian Project:
Helsinki, Finland
http://www.helsinki.fi/science/saa/cna.html
e.BABYLON
http://www.garlic.com/~agabrial/babylon.htm
Journal of the Assyrian Academic
Society
http://www.garlic.com/~agabrial/jaas.htm
List of Books on Babylon
http://www.vuw.ac.nz/who/Jamie.Norrish/nephilim/
Bibliographies/babylon.html
Mesopotamia
http://www.singnet.com.sg/~edmonds/sumerian_
main.html
"Newsgroup"
soc.culture.assyrian
Nineveh Kids Homepage
http://www.garlic.com/~agabrial/kidsweb.htm
Syriac Comp Inst
http://www.cl.cam.ac.uk/users/gk105/syrcom/
=====================================================
P U M P U P T H E V O L U M E
=====================================================
ENGLISH
ASSYRIAN
Washer
Masyanta [F]
Refrigerator
Mqarnita [F] [q as in qatoo (cat)]
Oven
Qameena [F]
_____________________________________________________
F = Feminine
M = Masculine P = Plural
=====================================================
B A C K T O T H E F U T U R E
=====================================================
B.C.(721-705) Dur-Sharukin is founded
by Sargon or
Sharukin II, 12 miles northeast
of Nineveh. The
city remained the seat of power
for nearly a century
thereafter.
A.D.(May 19, 1924) At the Constantinople
Conference
the following declaration was made
on behalf of the
British government: "Since
the negotiations at
Lausanne were broken off, one problem
has gained
considerably in importance in the
eyes of His Majesty's
Government. This problem
is the future of the
Assyrians...His Majesty's Government
feels under the
strongest obligation to secure
their settlement in
accordance with the reasonable
claims and aspirations
of their race. They have
made an earnest appeal
which His Majesty's government
cannot regard with
indifference, to be established
in their former
homes under a British Protectorate."
=====================================================
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]
Columbia University
[INDIVIDUAL ACCOUNTS]
Forest Hill, New York
Baltimore, Maryland
Stockholm, Sweden
Montreal, Canada
San Francisco
=====================================================
A C K N O W L E D G E M E N T S
=====================================================
Zenda wishes to thank the following
individuals &
organizations whose contributions
appear in this issue:
Albert Gabriel
Hollister, California
Sharokin Betgavargis
Bristol, Connecticut
Abraham George
Farmington, Connecticut
Assyrian National Association of
Connecticut
____________________________________________________
ZENDA will continue to print your
comments and
suggestions free of editing, as
they appear in our
mailbox. All letters will
be printed in our SURFS UP!
section unless directed otherwise.
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Our Next Issue will appear on Monday,
February 19, 1996.
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