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INITIATIVE
Chaldean News 114
Talking about Culture
Jewish and Chaldean teens chat about their differences,
similarities and stereotypes.
By Vanessa Denha Garmo
Editor I Chaldean News
ewish and Chaldean teenagers
were encouraged to speak can-
didly about their cultural simi-
larities and differences at a teen forum
hosted by Bloomfield Hills Schools on Oct
6. as part of the Detroit Jewish News and
Chaldean News Building Community col-
laboration.
Although teens did share some ideas
and misconceptions, the hesitation to be
open was apparent and the tendency to
gravitate to one's own culture was evident
by the split in the room at Model High
School in Bloomfield Hills. Most of the
Jewish kids sat on one side, while the
Chaldeans gathered on the opposite side
of the room.
The cross-cultural teen forum was
hosted by radio personality Mojo of 95.5-
FM (Tom Carballo) who entertainingly
encouraged the nearly 150 teenagers to be
honest and to not worry about offending
anyone with their portrayals of the Jewish
and Chaldean communities in Michigan.
He posed candid questions to the teen
panel as well as to the audience, starting
out the session with the appropriate ques-
tion: "What is the first thing that comes to
mind when you hear the word Chaldean or
Jew?" The Chaldeans kids said they think
of Jews being wealthy, business people and
stingy with their money; the Jewish teens
thought of Chaldeans as gas station own-
ers and wearers of designer attire such as
Ed Hardy.
Mojo, who is of Cuban descent, said his
house sits between a Jewish family and a
Chaldean family. "I am really impressed
with my Jewish and Chaldean neighbors
because you guys take care of each other':
he said. "Nobody takes care of their cul-
tures better than Jews and Chaldeans. You
stand up for cultures, fight for each other
and do everything you can to make sure
your family is taken care of. You guys love
being Jewish and love being Chaldean:'
The panel consisted of two reli-
gious leaders, Rabbi Josh Bennett from
j
Temple Israel in West
Bloomfield and Fr.
Anthony Kathawa
from Mother of God
Chaldean Church
in Southfield, and
four students from
Bloomfield Hills
Schools. Chaldeans
were represented by
students Thomas
Sandiha and Angelic
Gasso, while the two
Jewish teens were
Marli Siegel and Josh
Morof.
talking. "They said, `The only
reason I love Jews is because
of these days: because they
got the holidays off of school:
she said. "It made me realize
that these people don't know
me personally and are making
these remarks without knowing
f : me as a Jew."
° Thomas Sandiha expressed
a positive trait about being
Chaldean he is proud to share
with others — the similari-
ties between the Chaldean and
Jewish communities and the
positive attributes that the
communities want others to
know and remember. "Church
is important to us and so is
Sandiha said.
Bill Boyle, principal of
Model High School and Bowers
Academy, said he was honored
to host the event. "The benefit
is giving kids a process and
forum to talk about and learn
things about each other:' he
said. "They know about the ten-
sions and stereotypes, but when
we have a process in place like
this, we can all learn from this."
F.'
o
Nearly 150 teens attended the Jewish-Chaldean teen forum at
Bloomfield Hills Model High School.
First Exposure
Prior to moving
to Michigan from
Chicago, Bennett
had never heard of
Chaldeans. He recog-
nized the stereotypes,
but said what he
struggles with is what
is never talked about.
"What is more
difficult is what we
don't say out loud and Mojo asks for responses from the teen audience.
what persists in the
undercurrent:' he said,
time, I have heard girls say in Chaldean,
speaking of biases each community holds.
`What is this white girl doing here?' They
Before being asked to be part of the
have
no idea I am Chaldean because I
panel discussion, Kathawa had no encoun-
don't
look it?'
ters with any Jewish people and had only
Gasso
admits she does not like dealing
stereotypical perceptions about the Jewish
with
the
negative
talk about the Chaldeans
community. "The first time I sat down with
so
she
does
not
confront
it. Josh Morof
a Jewish person was when I met Arthur
can
relate.
He,
too,
is
bothered
by offensive
Horwitz and Rabbi Bennett': he said.
statements.
Bennett explained that the communities
He said the stereotypical jokes voiced
share more similarities than differences.
at
the expense of the Jews are what upset
Both trace their lineage to Abraham; both
him
most. "There are Jewish stereotypes
communities have been persecuted; and
and jokes out there, and it is so surprising
both have assimilated and succeeded in
that it is still out there; and these jokes are
the United States.
Gasso related how she is often mistaken said all the time, and I don't like it at all,"
he said.
for a non-Chaldean and recalled being
Marli Siegel recalled an afternoon a
offended by remarks made by both non-
couple of years ago the day before a Jewish
Chaldeans and Chaldeans.
holiday, when she heard fellow students
"When I meet Chaldeans for the first
Moving Forward
Bloomfield Hills Schools spokesperson
Betsy Ericson said, "Education thought
leaders say that empathy is the No. 1 skill
set for success in the 21st century. This
Building Community initiative is one
important step in nurturing understand-
ing in our increasingly diverse commu-
nity. We're grateful the Jewish News and
Chaldean News included our high school
students in this endeavor."
This panel broke new ground within the
communities and, with the help of Mojo
and religious leaders, engaged the teens in
a productive conversation.
"The morning started with stereotypes
and ended with truth, compassion and
empathy:' Mojo said. "I am so impressed
Talking About Culture on page 27
November 4 • 2010
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