{ from the publishers ity INITIATIVE Building Community Initiative Keeps Expanding Chaldean News IN Gold Sponsors WAYNE STATE UNIVERSITY meijer A SUJOHN PROVIDENCE HEALTH SYSTEM" _.. , i • . # •• Ap Joe Kassab, Martin Manna, Ismat Karmo and Johnson Syawish of the Kurdistan Ministry of Transportation, in Iraq As momentum continues to build toward a first-of-its-kind visit to Israel and the Holy Land in April of 2013 through the Chaldean- Jewish Building Community Initiative, engagement and collaboration among our communities continues to expand. A gathering hosted recently for U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., by Donald and Susan Lifton at their Bloomfield Hills home attracted a mix of guests from the Chaldean and Jewish communities. As one can imag- ine, the food was outstanding and conversa- tion lively! As a sidebar to the gathering, Sen. Stabenow met with us privately to learn more about the 3-year-old Building Community Initiative and to receive a detailed account of Martin's recent visit with a small Chaldean delegation to Turkey, Iraq and its Kurdish region. They were there to gauge the needs of distressed Christian com- munities and better understand the political and security landscape as eyewitnesses. While US. Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., through his leadership role on the Armed Services Committee, continues to be sympa- thetic to the plight of Iraq's Chaldean com- munities, Sen. Stabenow's primary focus has been on other important areas, including agricultural policy. Sen. Stabenow learned that once-major- ity Christian areas in Iraq, including the Nineveh region that is the ancestral home to many of the Detroit areas Chaldeans, are being systematically diluted by an infusion of Shi'ites, who are purchasing property at inflated prices with funds from Iran. She also heard that while the central government in Iraq is supposed to be providing security for Christians and other minorities, these communities must instead rely on outside INSIDE artin Mann Co-Publisher Chaldean News Donald and Susan Lifton host an event at their home with Sen. Debbie Stabenow. Arthur Horwi Publisher Detroit Jewish News II funding sources to hire their own militias for protection. Sen. Stabenow also heard that Chaldeans and other Christians are seeking to secure a province within areas of Iraq where they are still a majority, as provided for under its Constitution. This would allow the existing population to stay in place and provide an area where Chaldean and other Christian refugees could return. Not all of the conversation related to world affairs. Closer to home, Sen. Stabenow was impressed by the Chaldean-Jewish Building Community Initiative's collabora- tive model and expressed interest in sharing it with her Senate colleagues. She believes they could find elements of the model that would work to promote education, under- standing and common purpose in their own states. The meeting with Sen. Stabenow fol- lowed on the heels of a groundbreaking Chaldean-Jewish event hosted by Sheldon Yellen at Tam-O-Shanter Country Club in West Bloomfield to support the candidacy of Republican Klint Kesto to the state House of Representatives from the 39th District. The gathering, which attracted more than 200 guests, was keynoted by Gov. Rick Snyder. Cover Story Holy Land Sojourn 4 Features Cultural Mix Satisfied Customers 6 8 What distinguished the Kesto gathering was the large number of young political activ- ists from both communities who not only talk about developing a common political agenda, but take steps to enact it. So, we now swing back to the Chaldean- Jewish visit to Israel and the Holy Land. Martin jokes that wherever the Chaldeans see a church, they are going to want to stop the bus to visit it. Arthur counters that wher- ever the Jews see a bathroom, they are going to want to stop the bus, too. So, while the itinerary is exciting and truly unique, Arthur will be looking for churches connected to bathrooms and Martin, bathrooms connect- ed to churches. Either way, guests from both communities will come away satisfied! And please mark Sunday, May 6, 2013, on your calendars. That's when the annual Walk for Israel celebration will take place in West Bloomfield. Graciously hosted by Temple Shir Shalom, this year's event will include some new activities and mark the conclusion of the Detroit Jewish News' 70th anniversary. The committee has been expanded this year and will include, for the first time, representation from the Chaldean community. HEALTH SYSTEM Bank of America. Silver Sponsors Lawrence Tech Beaumont - DMC DETROIT MEDICAL CENTER Frank Jonna David Victor Workgroup Chairs Arthur Horwitz Publisher/Executive Editor Nancy Welber Barr, Vinos Kassab, Gail Katz, Detroit Jewish News Barbara Kratchman, Jumhoria Kaskorkis, Martin Manna Co-Publisher Richard Nodel, Mary Romaya, Anmar Sarafa Chaldean News Keri Guten Cohen, Detroit Jewish News Michelle Sheridan, Farago & Associates Jerry Zolynsky Michelle Sheridan, Farago & Associates Jackie Headapohl, Robert Sklar, Renaissance Media Solutions; Joyce Wiswell, Chaldean News. On The Cover: Robert Cohen, Sue Loussia Hickey and Alan Baum COLLEGE Honorary Chairs Best wishes for a festive and meaningful holiday season. Section Editor: Cover Design: Cover Photo: Inside Design: Copy Editing: WALSH® Published jointly by the Chaldean News, 29850 Northwestern Hwy., Ste. 250, and the Detroit Jewish News, 29200 Northwestern Hwy., Ste. 110 — Southfield, MI 48034. Created by Renaissance Media Solutions, 29200 Northwestern Hwy., Ste. 110, Southfield, MI 48034. F Kevin Browett, COO, (248) 354-6060. © December 2012, Renaissance Media Solutions. JN December 6 • 2012 3