to Israel once, back in 1978 after gradu-
ating from the University of Michigan.
His wife, who is friends with many peo-
ple involved in the Building Community
Initiative and other multicultural
groups, has never been to Israel.
"We live next door to a Chaldean
family" Baum said. "And when our two
kids were in school, they attended with
their Chaldean neighbors"
"In teaching my class at OCC,"
Baum added, "I have had a number of
Chaldean students who have shared
their experiences before coming to the
U.S. as well as their impressions since
arriving here. Some of my best students
have been those with limited experience
in the U.S., including Chaldeans. This
group is extremely motivated to learn
about U.S. culture, including its political
system"
Hickey, who studied fashion mer-
chandising, owns Eleganza Boutique;
Jews are an important part of her cli-
entele. She's a member of the Chaldean
American Ladies of Charity. She
has always wanted to visit the Holy
Land "because of its significance to
Christianity and history"
In 1968, she moved to the U.S. with
her family from Telkaif, Iraq. She's a big
fan of multicultural experiences.
"When you have that understand-
ing" the mother of three said, "you have
respect. And when you have respect,
you have an open mind. An open mind
leads to better communication, which
leads to friendship and acceptance of
others"
She anticipates a spiritual journey.

Anticipation High
Since arriving at the JCRC in 2005,
Cohen has planned or participated in
three other Israel missions that included
Christians.
"This trip will be in a class by itself'
he said, "because most of the non-
Jewish participants will be members of
an ethnic group that has its own special

ties to the Middle East and to Detroit's
Jewish community."
Baum looks forward to witnessing
the responses of his wife and his new
Chaldean and Jewish friends to places
and situations that he experienced years
ago or that he will only now experience.
"This trip will be an opportunity to
get out of our comfort zone and have
what is a life-changing time — visit-
ing Israel with new friends that bring a
different background to what will be a
trip of multiple discoveries and experi-
ences," Baum said.
Hickey thinks the Building
Community Initiative gives both
Chaldeans and Jews a better under-
standing of, and appreciation for, each
other. Over the past 23/4 years, the frag-
ile cultural experiment has prompted
business, social, communal and chari-
table bonds between local Chaldeans
and Jews. The hope is that those bonds
grow, prosper and endure — and not
collapse under the weight of indiffer-
ence after the excitement wears off.
"There are more Chaldeans here in
Metro Detroit than ever before" Hickey
said. "For a while, it seemed like the
younger generations in each culture
didn't connect. It's important that we
realize that we have more similarities
than differences. Our family values and
morals, regardless of religion, are high
in both communities. We are, for the
first time, recognizing how better we
can serve community together"
Cohen amplifies on the prospects for
friendship building, a critical compo-
nent of the Chaldean/Jewish Mission to
Israel.
"New friendships are made and
existing ones become strengthened
when a group of people spend 16
hours a day together for a week visit-
ing Israel" he said. "And those friend-
ships can only advance efforts to bring
our Jewish and Chaldean communities
closer together" BC

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Mission Signup Continues

Should the Chaldean/Jewish Mission to Israel exceed its initial goal of 45
participants on one bus, a second bus could be added although the price for
participants on that bus could be higher.
Members of the Jewish or Chaldean communities with a genuine inter-
est in taking part on the mission should go online to www.detroitjcrc.org as
soon as possible to review trip details and register. A $250 deposit (refund-
able through Dec. 14) is required upon registration.
The travel package of $3,695 per person (double occupancy) includes five-
star hotels with full Israel-style breakfasts. Dinner at fine restaurants also is
included.
A two-day extension to Eilat, Israel, and Petra, Jordan, is optional.
Jeannie Weiner and Flo Atto, representing the Jewish and Chaldean com-
munities, are trip co-chairs.
For more information about the mission or about registering, contact
Robert Cohen at the JCRC: 248-642-2640 or cohen@jfmd.org . BC

JN

December 6 • 2012

5