Z E N D A  M A G A Z I N E
[renamed Zinda Magazine in 1999]

Khziraan 3, 6746                   Volume II                       Issue 17                      June 3, 1996

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A Weekly Online Newsletter Serving the Assyrian Communities Around the World


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                                      THE   L   I   G   H   T   H   O   U   S   E
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                          MESSENGERS OF LOVE
 

Monday May 20, 1996-  Nearly 50 or more San Jose Bay Area Assyrians
awaited the arrival of four cherished visitors.  Youkhana and his
mother Lydia Nano, Bernadit and her mother Khereya Jalal were to
arrive from Detroit Michigan on an American Airlines flight to
San Jose airport at 5:25 P.M.
 

Flight 603 was delayed. Anxious and eager Assyrians had an additional
hour to spend together in the crowded arrival terminal with hundreds
of questions on their minds and faces profound glowing with excitement
and joy of seeing four of their brethren from the homeland.
 

Among those at the San Jose airport were Mr. Narsai David, president
of the Assyrian Aid Society of America (AAS), Mr. Alphonse Odisho,
president of the Assyrian American Association of San Jose, Dr.
Lincoln  Malik, ADM representative in the U.S. ,and from the AAS were
present Mr. Sargon Shabbas and Mr. Ashur Youseph.
 

Also among those waiting arrival were Qasha Youshiya Sana, pastor of
the St. Mary's Assyrian Chaldean Catholic Church, Mr. George Zaya,
former president of the Assyrian American Association of San Jose and
presently the president of  the Assyrian Church of the East, Mar Yosip
Parish's executive board.  Mr. Edward Chalabi, President of ADM San
Jose Chapter and member of the chapter, and supporters of ADM and AAS.
 

>From the Santa Clara County Chapter of the Assyrian Aid Society of
America, Vice President Esha Tamras, Neil Karaman and Yooki Khenanya
and their families.  Mr. Ed Tuman, host and producer of the ATOUR T.V.
progrm of the Assyrian American Association was also among the
welcoming crowd.
 

A group of 10 or more Assyrian Children as young as my son Ramiel
(2 years old) and up to 12 or 13 years of age, their little loving
and caring hands filled with flowers and presents, lined up in front
of the door leading out of the aircraft into the waiting area.
 

As I was attempting to capture this memorable and monumental event
through the video camera viewer I missed out on the opportunity of
witnessing the high emotions, and tearful eyes of all, men and women
alike as the four guests walked out of the aircraft.
 

Our visitors were greeted by Mr. Narsai David, Dr. Lincoln Malik at
the door and then the whole crowd approached them, shook hands, hugged,
kissed and exchanged greetings.  The flashing lights of cameras or
Mr. Albert Gabriel and Neil Karaman were constant for minutes as
everyone gathered around our guests and posed for photographs.
 

The crowd of 50 or more Assyrians later took the freeway to the
Assyrian Hall of Mar. Yosip Assyrian Church of the East just a few
miles from the airport.  When I arrived at the church at about 7:00
P.M. the lot was 90% full of parked cars.   As I walked inside I
could estimate over 100 Assyrians, young and adults gathered and
anxiously waiting the arrival of their beloved guests.  Minuets later
Qasha Shmouel Dinkha, Pastor of Mar. Yosip Assyrian Church of the East
and Qasha Youshiya Sana, Pastor of St. Mary's Assyrian Chaldean Church
both welcomed the two families as they arrived to the church.
 

When Yokhana, Lydia Nano, Bernadit and Khereya Jalal entered the
Assyrian Hall, the crowd of over 100 Assyrians gave them a breath-
taking ovation and a loud thunder of applause filled the Assyrian
hall.  Qasha Shmouel Dinkha invited the audience to enter the Church
for a prayer session which was conducted by both Qasha Shmoel Dinkha
and Qasha Youshyia Sana.  After the short prayer all present entered
the hall and took seats.  Rabi Evelyn Bit-Badal took the microphone
and delivered a warm welcome speech to our visitors and all guests.
 

Rabi Evelyn later called Dr. Lincoln Malik to the podium during which
time he expressed appreciation for the support of Assyrians and non-
Assyrians in helping making this event possible.  Mr. Alphonse Odishoo,
President of the Assyrian American Association of San  Jose was next
to welcome our guests and also highlighted this enormous and historical
event and stressed the need for all Assyrians to rally behind the
Assyrian Aid Society in support of their efforts in providing aid to
our Assyrian people in the homeland.
 

Rabi Evelyn later called Qasha Shmoel Dinkha to the microphone.  Qasha
Shmoel presented a fiery short speech in which he stressed and highlighted
the great love Assyrians have for their nation and people and how readily
they come to the calling during the time of need.  Qasha Youshyia Sana
followed with  a moving speech on the same subject, then Qasha Shemoel
said the Lord's prayer and blessed the evening dinner that was prepared
by the ladies of the Assyrian Church of the East.
 

I want to mention at this time the number of Assyrians in the hall
had gone past the 200 (estimate) from the original at the beginning
of the event.  Assyrians started to walk around and talk with each
of the visitors one by one.  A lot of them posed for memorable
photographs, as well as many others that presented the two children
Youkhana and Bernadit with gifts of toys. One thing stole my attention
as I was in the side room where the tables and chairs are kept.  A
crowd of over 10 boys were playing American Football and emulating
the hitting of baseball as two or three girls stood by watched.
 
These kids were talking in English to each other but as soon as
Youkhana walked in, they all turned towards him, started to hand him
the ball and talked to him in Assyrian. They were around him being
careful caring and more polite than they were to the rest.   I
couldn't help but think, that even though I sometimes feel hopeless
when I see our children talking English to each other and being mean
and disrespectful to each other, the witnessing of this different
attitude of love, respect and care of the Assyrian children born in
the U.S. toward their brother from the homeland brought tears to my
eyes and I said, thank you LORD for instilling those wonderful traits
in the hearts and souls of Assyrian parents that is evident by what
I just witnessed with these children.
 

During this evening I had the chance to speak with several Assyrians.
I expressed that for the first time in my life today I saw a different
look on the faces of Assyrians present at this event.  I felt a
different air in the gathering of this evening.  I could only translate
it as a feeling of love, joy, togetherness and solidarity among all
and towards each other.   I asked a few of those present if I may have
been putting too much into this feeling of aw, however, and I believe
their honesty, all those who I asked, echoed the same though and feeling
that I voiced.
 

It was past 10:30 P.M. when I and my daughter walked out of the church
hall following another 10 or so Assyrians.
 

Esha Tamraz
Assyrian Aid Society of America
San Jose, California
 
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                G  O  O  D    M  O  R  N  I  N  G    B  E  T - N  A  H  R  A  I  N
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 OIL FROM KIRKUK TO BRING HUMANITARIAN AID TO NORTHERN BET-NAHRAIN
 

(ZNRU: Kirkuk) Iraq is expected to pump most of the oil under its
May 20 agreement with the United Nations from the ancienct Assyrian city
of Kirkuk, where oil was first discovered in Iraq nearly seven decades
ago.  The city was often targetted by Iranian warplanes during the
1980-88 Iran-Iraq war. The Iraqi authorities built a 25 metre-high
artificial mountain to place anti-aircraft guns on and to protect the
city. Neither the mountain nor the guns could guard the oil fields
against laser-guided bombs which allied warplanes dropped on the
city during the 1991 Gulf War over Kuwait. ``Damage was massive,''
said Talal Ashour Kanaan, the Assyrian director general of the
Northern Oil Company.  Before the war with Iran, Kirkuk, 255 km
(160 miles) north of Baghdad, produced up to 1.7 million barrels per
day (bpd), about two thirds of Iraq's OPEC quota of 3.14 million bpd.
Iraq last week pumped 350,000 bpd to fill its twin pipeline via Turkey,
idle since sanctions were clamped on it for the invasion of Kuwait
nearly six years ago. Oil first gushed forth from Kirkuk in huge
quantities in June 1927.
 

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                                              S   U   R   F   S     U   P   !
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"Can you tell me what is wrong with the Assyrian language that you
choose to conduct your meeting in English? If that is the case, then
I am not invited to your so called "English Spoken Networking
Conference".  BTW, I speek English too."
 
Wilson Eashoian
California
 

[ZENDA's presentation at the Conference was conducted in Assyrian.]
 

                ********************************
 

"I love your publication.  I don't know where else to find out about
the happenings in northern Iraq and it is all so important.  I am
writing today because I have a problem.  I am 23 years old and I don't
know how to speak Assyrian.  I have been looking at the "pump up the
volume" section of Zenda but I just need more help.  I live in the San
Francisco Bay Area and I would be willing to commute to San Jose or
even Modesto.  I am looking for a class that would teach someone my
age the language from the beginning.  If there isn't a specific class
I could take I was wondering if there would be a way to ask for a tutor
through Zenda.  I appreciate your assistance and keep up the good work!"
 

Lena Malik
California
 

[Currently there are several Assyrian language classes for adults
taught at the Assyrian Churches of San Jose (closest to your residence)
and the Assyrian American Association of San Jose will commence the
new Assyrian Language Classes for adults in September.  ZENDA will
publish dates and more accurate informatoin in its future issues.]
 

                ********************************
 

"MY NAME IS SHAMIRAN SAFARO AN ASSYRIAN FROM MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA
WRITING TO YOU. I WAS SURFING THE INTERNET, AND HAVE DECIDED I WOULD
LIKE TO SUBSCRIBE TO YOUR MAGAZINE, AS THE CONTENTS ARE EXCELLENT.
CAN YOU PLEASE EMAIL ME ON ... AND INCLUDE ALL THE DETAILS SUCH AS
FEES,(ANNUAL AND DELIVERY)AND/OR ANY OTHER INFORMATION. HOWETON BASEEME!"
 

Shamiran Safaro
Melbourne, Australia
 

[ZENDA is emailed to over 300 accounts in 12 countries free of charge.
We hope that you will support our efforts by submitting news and
information regarding the activities of your local, regional, and
national Assyrian communities in Australia.  ZENDA also reaches a dozen
other accounts in Australia and New Zealand.]
 

                ********************************
 

"I would like you to make the following changes in the list of
activities. In the section Nisibis Assyrian school Toronto, remove the
United Assyrian Youth name. UAYC only provides transportation and does
not interfere with the school itself, ie. administration etc. I believe
the Church personell will be unhappy to see the name UAYC there. It is
unfortunate that in todays Assyrian Society (And I believe it is the
case allover) doing for the sake of CREDIT, assuming, acting based on
propoganda of a few (Who  are usually the idiots of the nation), is at
its highest.  When we originally offered the use of our bus with paid
driver for the school (Started and operated by the Church of the East
(Assyrian) it was refused, fuinally it was accepted under certain
circumstances.  Last week the entertainment committee of the Church
(Who's some of its members have refused to help in national organizations
always claiming they do not have time) were upset and expressed their
concern publicly against advertizing their dance party in Nineveh newspaper
(So many kcheekheh in the workforce of the nation and the church:))).
Instead of sending a thank you note, these kcheekheh b'mookhah expressed
anger. many of such individuals truly believe that in order that they be
good church members they must stand against the national organizations.
Is there more idiotic thinking than this?, but it is a fact that we have
to live with. Can we change this? Can you grow plants on concrete?"
 

Ninos Younan
Toronto, Canada
 

                ********************************
 

"I am an Assyrian.  I live in Tulock Ca.  I heard about your weekly
Assyrian On-line newsletter.  Please add me to your mailing list.
Thanks!"
 

Thomas Daniel
Turlock, California
 

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                                  S  U  R  F  E  R  S      C  O  R  N  E  R
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At the Assyrian State Convention of California, held last week in
San Jose, California, Former State Senator John Nimrod (R-Illinois)
endorsed ZENDA as an official newsagency of the Assyrian nation.
Mr. Nimrod is the current Secretary General of the Assyrian Universal
Alliance.
 
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            ANKARA WELCOMES UN-IRAQ PIPELINE AGREEMENT
 

(ZNTN: Ankara)  Turkey has welcomed the signing of an agreement
between the United Nations and Iraq that en visages a limited sale
of Iraqi oil. The accord allows Iraq, which has the world's second-
largest oil reserves, to sell $2 billion worth of oil over six months
to buy humanitarian goods, subject to renewal.  Iraq for years had
refused to accept a food-for-oil deal, saying it infringed on its
sovereignty. But it accepted negotiations in February with some
officials believing the deal would be the first step toward getting
sanctions lifted. This is the hope of Turkey, which has advocated the
reintegration of Iraq into the international arena. Local businessmen
claim that the impoverished northern Bet-Nahrain lost important income
when the cross-border trade with Iraq ended in 1990, although no exact
figures were given. Some Turkish strategists also claimed that, in
addition to the security risk caused by the power vacuum in northern
Iraq, the economic decline in Turkey's border area has made this region
an easy target for the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).
 

                 ARTIFACT SMUGGLERS SEIZED IN IRAQ
 

(ZNRU: Baghdad)  A gang of smugglers of ancient artifacts were arrested
in Iraq last Week. Iraq's television interviewed five people who it said
were involved in the illicit trade and showed scores of clay, stone and
bronze pieces, plus a Hebrew manuscript. Dony George of Iraq's Antiquities
Department said the smugglers painted the pieces crudely to conceal their
age. Many were museum pieces and one bronze item, George said,  was among
the rarest Assyrian artifacts in Iraq's possession.  Iraqi archeologists
complain they neither have the resources nor the personnel to guard Iraq's
ancient antiquities and sites of which at least 10,000 need protection.
Smuggling of Mesopotamian artifacts has become a thriving business in Iraq,
archeologists say. They said it mainly handles statuettes and cylinder
seals which fetch tens of thousands of dollars at auction houses in
Europe and America. Iraqi laws are harsh on artifact smugglers and
those caught could face death if convicted.
 
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              D I  R  E  C  T  O  R  Y  OF THE  N  E  W  S   S  O  U  R  C  E  S
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ZNNQ (Nabu Quarterly)
ZNRU (Reuters):  ClariNet Communications Corp.
ZNSC (soc.culture.assyrian) newsgroup
ZNTN (Turkish News Agency)
ZNUP (United Press International)
ZNDA (Zenda: zenda@ix.netcom.com)
 

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                       C   A   L   E   N   D   A   R     OF     E   V   E   N   T   S
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June 9-11       The ARAM Conference
                Harvard University
                Cambridge, Massachusetts,  U.S.A
 

July 1-5        RENCONTRE ASSYRIOLOGIQUE INTERNATIONALE
                Praque, Czech Republic
 

July 2-7        10th Annual Assyrian Youth Convention
                of the Assyrian Church of the East
                Chicago, Illinois
 

July 4-7        Assyrian Olympics of California
                San Diego, California
 

Thru Aug 15     "Beirut:  Uncovering the Past"
                Profiles recent UNESCO archeology efforts
                The British Museum
                London, England
 

August 12-14    SyrCOM-96: Second International Forum
                           on Syrian Computing
                Symposium Syriacum
                Uppsala University
                Dept of Asian and African Studies
                Box 513
                S-751 20 Uppsala
                Sweden
                Fax: +46 18 181094
                Witold.Witakowski@afro.uu.se
 
Aug 29-Sept 2   AANF National Convention
                Red Lion Inn Hotel
                Modesto, U.S.A.
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 R E G U L A R  C L A S S E S  &  M E E T I N G S
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Mondays         Assyrian History Class
                "Assyrian History: 18th Century thru Present
                Instructor:  Wilfred Alkhas
                BETA on 20000 Almaden Rd, San Jose, Calif
                Class begins on June 3
 

Thursdays        Nineveh Choir:  Maestro Nebu Issabey
                 BETA:  AAA of San Jose, U.S.A.
                7:30-9:00 pm
 

Fridays          Assyrian Educational & Cultural Club at
                 Modesto Junior College
                 1:00 pm
                 Founders Hall 108
                 Modesto, U.S.A.
 

Saturdays        Nisibis School
                 10:30-1:30
                 The Church of the East
                 Toronto, Canada
 
 

                 Nisibin School
                 Ages 4 thru 14
                 Assyrian Language, History, & Arts
                 9:00 am - 12:00 pm
                 BETA on 20000 Almaden Rd, San Joe, Calif
                 Classes begin on June 15
 

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                      A  S  S  Y  R  I  A  N     S  U  R  F  I  N  G     P  O  S  T  S
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ASSYRIAN PAGE
 

http://www.ing.hb.se/users/kemi/KE9512/homepage/assyrian/assyrisk.htm

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                                     P  U  M  P    UP THE   V O L U M E
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                 ENGLISH                ASSYRIAN
 

                 Star                kokhva           [M]
                 Planet              pal-lee-tda      [M]
                 Gravity             naa-tow-poo-taa  [F]
 
Note:  pronounce td as in tdlaa (number three)
___________________________________________________________________
F = Feminine     M = Masculine      P = Plural
 

 
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                               B  A  C  K     TO THE      F  U  T  U  R  E
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B.C. (2371) Sargon of Akkad succeeds as the first builder of a
Mesopotamian empire.  It is written that he was a gardner who
became  cupbearer to a king of Kish, built the city of Agade,
and finally became a king reigning for 56 years.
 

<< Babylonians, Saggs >>
 

A.D. (1890) dies, Shooshan Oshana, the first Assyrian Woman-
Principal of a school, in Salamas-Iran.
 
<< Soorgada Sheeta Mshikheta, Hannibal Givargiz >>
 
 

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                                       L    I    T    E    R    A    T    U    S
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    ****An Inscription from the Palace of Ashur-Nasir-Pal II****
                                       883-859 B.C.
 

I am the king who caused the lands from the other bank of the Tigris
to the Lebanon and the Great Sea, the whole of Laqu, and Suhu as far
as Rapiqu, to submit; who himself conquered the territory from the
source of the Subnat River to Urartu.
 

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                           T  H  I  S    W  E  E  K     I  N    H  I  S  T  O  R  Y
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June 7, 1914:  A group of Assyrian youth in New Britain, Connecticut
organize the Tiglath-Pilasar Society to assist Assyrian immigrants
to the United States.
 

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                                                 B     R    A     V     O
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The Assyrian Students Club of Modesto Junior College- Modesto,
California- was recently selected as the "1995-96 Club of the Year"
from among 22 students clubs at MJC.  "We were so active, organized,
loyal, and participated at all the events at MJC and helped ASMJC
(Assoicated Students of Modesto Junior College) to celebrate the
International Fair" said Shemiram Kouchoei, president of the ASC-MJC.
Assyrian dance performances with the Assyrian Dance Group of Turlock
High School,food/bake sales, and lectures (i.e. Mr. Wilfred Alkhas'
lecture on the politics of Northern Bet-Nahrain) were a few of the
activities scheduled during the current academic year.
 

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                            W   E   L   C   O   M   E     T O     Z   E   N   D   A
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Zenda welcomes our new on-line subscribers from:
 

CORPORATE ACCOUNTS
                        Stratacom, Inc
                        VLSI
 
UNIVERSITY ACCOUNTS
                        None
 
PERSONAL ACCOUNTS
                        San Jose, California
                        Melbourne, Australia
                        Turlock, California
                        San Francisco, California
                        Berlin, Germany
 
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                         A   C   K   N   O   W   L   E   D   G   E   M   E   N   T   S
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Zenda wishes to thank the following individuals & organizations
whose contributions appear in this issue:
 

        Esha Tamraz             San Jose, California
        Dani Daniel               Sweden
        Christoph Aktas         Sunny
        Mazin Enwiya            Skokie, Illinois
__________________________________________________________________
 

ZENDA  prints 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.
 

We urge you to submit the activities of your local and national
Assyrian communities, personal accomplishments, and meeting/school
events to ZENDA no later than Sunday, 12:00 PM, Pacific Standard Time.
 

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IN OUR NEXT ISSUE:      Extensive Coverage of the Assyrian State
                        Convention of Califronia -  San Jose
 

                        Report of the Assyrian Community Networking
                        Conference held in San Jose, California
 

                        Historic Concert of the Nineveh Choral Group
 

       Our Next Issue will appear on Monday, June 10, 1996.
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