"n"

JACOB's Parents

Je wish and Chaldean adults affirm bonds begun by their children.

munity that identifies itself
as Christian Assyrians.
The native language of
both Chaldeans and
Assyrians is Aramaic. This
is a more modern version
of the language used in
the writings of Jewish
scholars from 150-400
C.E., said Temple Israel's
Rabbi Joshua Bennett.
Aramaic and Hebrew
come from the same roots
— for instance, while
Jews greet each other by
saying shalom aleichem,
Chaldeans say schlomo

DIANA LIEBERMAN

Copy Editor/Education Writer

L

ast summer, 30 teens — 15 Chaldean and
15 Jewish — got together to build rela- - .e
tionships by tearing down an old deserted
building at Six Mile and Lahser roads. For
t heir new organization, they chose the name JACOB,
f or Jewish and Chaldean Opportunity Builders.
On April 30, adult friends Of JACOB got togeth-
er for the first time at Shenandoah Country Club
in West Bloomfield to cement relationships started
by their children.
"When it comes down to it, we're the same people
with the same goals and desires," said David Techner
of Birmingham, a member of Temple Israel, who
came up with the idea for the JACOB group.
The JACOB dinner was co-sponsored by Temple
Israel, located directly across Walnut Lake Road
from Shenandoah, and the Chaldean and Iraqi
American Association of Michigan, owners of
Shenandoah and Southfield Manor. Another dinner
will be held June 6 at the synagogue.
In his welcoming speech, John Karmo, Shenandoah's
vice president, quoted American humorist Will Rogers:
"Strangers are only friends I haven't met yet."
Shenandoah is planning a massive rebuilding proj-
ect, including a two-story, 90,000-square-foot building
with a banquet hall that will seat 750. As Karmo out-
lined the construction plans, he thanked Temple
Israel's board for testifying on the country club's behalf
before the West Bloomfield Township zoning board.
An estimated 150,000 Chaldeans live in the United
States, Karmo said, with about 120,000 in metro Detroit. B.C.E., said Sharkey Haddad, cultural liaison of the
West Bloomfield School District and another JACOB
"Historically, the Jews and Chaldeans are cousins," said
founder. The area occupied by ancient Chaldea is most-
lawyer Salman Sesi of Bloomfield Hills. "Remember,
ly contained in the modern country of Iraq. All modern
Father Abraham came from Ur of the Chaldees."
Chaldeans are Christians, unless they have converted to
Today's Chaldeans trace their ancestry to the
Babylonian empire, which defeated the Assyrians in 632 another religion. The Detroit area also includes a com-

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lochun.
Rabbi Bennett and
Above: Entrepreneur
Father Frank Kalabat of
Michael George,
St. Thomas Chaldean
former president of
Church in West
the Chaldean and -
Bloomfield prepared a
Iraqi American
get-acquainted quiz for
Association of Michigan,
the evening's multicul-
shows plans for the
tural guests. They have
new Shenandoah
become friends through
Country Club.
their involvement in
JACOB.
Left: Rabbi Joshua
"As brothers, I don't
Bennett and
see
why we can't be one
Father Frank Kalabat.
family," said Father
Kalabat. "If we just get
together tonight to eat, to talk and then we leave,
this evening is a failure. We're trying to build
something greater.
"An old saying goes, 'One hand can't clap.' But
a Jewish hand and a Chaldean hand can clap
together." ❑

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