Building Community

1

sparking dia. ogue

Chaldean-Jewish communities develop
a strategic model to build an ethnic network.

Robert Sklar

Editor I Detroit Jewish News

Vanessa Denha-Garmo

Editor I Chaldean News

Eighth of a nine-part monthly series

T

he Chaldean-Jewish initiative
begun last April as a fragile,
cross-cultural experiment in
community building continues to create
awareness and buzz outside the two eth-
nic communities.
Interfaith groups, hospitals and health
systems, universities, public school dis-
tricts, political leaders, foundation execu-
tive directors and business entrepreneurs
have communicated their interest in the
initiative, dubbed
"Building
Community"
Some intend to
participate in the
evolving initiative
as it moves beyond
its formal wind-
down in January
to a second, more
grassroots-

24 November 4 • 2010

led stage next February. Others have
expressed a desire to expand the cultural
footprint to include other ethnic and reli-
gious groups in Southeastern Michigan.
The original hope was to draw together
the Chaldean and Jewish communities,
which share common roots in the Middle
East (Iraq for the Chaldean community
and Israel for the Jewish community).
The goal was to have the communities
mingle, appreciate each other's culture,
work together to improve the quality
of life in Metro Detroit — and perhaps
serve as a regional or even national
model for a multicultural ethnic network.
While the planks of that ambitious
model continue to be laid, Building
Community's original ethnic groups are
discussing the possibility of arranging a
mini-mission of Chaldeans and Jews to
travel to Israel and the Holy Land. The
groups would travel together, explore
their respective religious and cultural
heritages and link up for shared events
and celebrations.
"The glue that binds this initiative
together are the opportunities created
for face-to-face interactions:' said Arthur
Horwitz, publisher of the Detroit Jewish
News.

Strengthening Fabric
Building Community is a joint project
of the JN and the Chaldean News, both
based in Southfield a short distance apart
on Northwestern Highway. Here in Metro
Detroit, the two ethnic groups share
parallel patterns in geographic location,
entrepreneurial interests and professional
careers.
"Over the past several months:'
Horwitz said, "individual friendships
have been made and, in some cases,

renewed. Business opportunities and
potential when we work
collaborations have emerged among
together:' said Hajjar, the
entrepreneurs. And Chaldean and
CEO of West Bloomfield-
Jewish families have broken bread
based Advanced
together?'
Technology Systems
New insights continue to bubble
and a former chair of
up.
the Chaldean American
Ron Asmar
The University of Michigan-
Chamber of Commerce.
Dearborn College of Business bench-
Hajjar and his fellow
marked attitudes and perceptions
chairs — Ron Asmar,
of Chaldeans toward Jews, and Jews
the Chaldean owner
toward Chaldeans, at the outset of
of Vineyards Deli in
this project.
Farmington Hills, and
In the coming months, U-M will
Howard Rosenberg, a
update its research. "We expect to see
Jewish attorney, investor
statistically significant improvements
and hedge fund creator
in these attitudes and perceptions as
— are concentrating on
a result of the Building Community
such ideas as teaching
Jeannie Weiner
initiative Horwitz said.
about franchising oppor-
Leaders from both ethnic groups
tunities. Their goal is to
contribute to Southeast Michigan's eco-
bring more jobs to Michigan.
nomic, philanthropic, political, cultural
"Chaldeans and Jews have been sup-
and religious wellbeing.
porting each other for many years and
we want to see more of it happen," Asmar
Solid Teamwork
said. "We want to make sure that every-
The Building Community initiative
one understands that when you support
inspired four ad hoc workgroups, listed
a Jewish business or a Chaldean business,
here with their co-chairs:
it really helps out the whole entire com-
• Economic Development — Saad
munity. We need especially to be teach-
Hajjar, Ron Asmar, Howard Rosenberg;
ing our young people the importance of
• Social Action — LeeAnn Kirma,
having stronger ties. It's one of the legs
Jeannie Weiner;
Michigan needs to get back on the right
• Education — Vinos Kassab, Nancy
economic track?'
Welber Barr;
The Social Action workgroup has met
•Arts & Culture — Mary Romaya,
twice while the two co-chairs have met
Barbara Kratchman.
Under the guidance of Jewish News
Publisher Arthur Horwitz and Chaldean
News Co-Publisher Martin Manna, the
two newspapers will continue to furnish
counsel and support to assist the work-
groups; the workgroups, however, are not
tied to either publication.
several times, partly to get acquainted
Saad Hajjar, one of the Chaldean
and mostly to begin planning how to
co-chairs of the Economic
engage Jews and Chaldeans in inter-
Development Committee, is
community projects.
enthused about the progress of the
"Networking does not take long, and
workgroup, which meets weekly.
these potential partnerships and coali-
"There is a lot of knowledge both
tions may reap benefits long into the
the Chaldean and Jewish commu-
future for the participants as well as for
nities can share together; a lot of
Sparking Dialogue on page 26