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Nineveh 2019-2 CULTURAL EDUCATIONAL SOCIAL Established 1964 Publication of the Assyrian Foundation of America Volume 43, Number 2, 2019 Assyrian foundation of America Contents Introducing the Assyrian Studies Association 4 Introduction to the Assyrian 21 Nineveh Donations It is with great pride that we inform you of the big stride that the AFA December 2018 through March 2019 has taken in the educational and cultural arena by supporting the Studies Association establishment of the Assyrian Studies Association (ASA), an organiza- by Elizabeth Mickaily-Huber, Ph.D. tion devoted to the study, preservation, promotion, and propagation of 22 David William Lazar our culture and history, both within our community as well as outside, 5 9th Annual Appreciation Event In Memoriam especially in the world of academia. Assyrian Foundation of America 24 Assyrian-Chaldean School Until recently, Assyrians have been mostly absent from the aca- 6 Ensuring the Future of Assyrians By Andrew Bet-Shlimon demic world involved in the study of our own history, heritage, cul- Developing the Organized Role of Assyrian Studies ture, etc. As a result, we have had very little input with respect to these 25 I am Ashurbanipal conversations, nor has there been much consideration until now of our unique point of view. 9 Dr. Helen Malko By Robert Ewan President of ASA Fortunately, during the past two decades, we have seen a growing number of young Assyrian wom- en and men pursuing graduate work leading to academic careers in Assyrian studies including history, 30 Books archaeology, cultural heritage, religion, language, literary studies, social sciences, arts and architecture, 10 A Past With a Future New Assyrian Book Homer and the Wooden Horse of Troy international law, ethnic/minority rights and more. Thus, the AFA, through its director of education and Studying the Assyrian Minority cultural program, Dr. Robert Karoukian, saw the opportunity to pursue his long-time vision of estab- 32 Etuti Is Shaping New Leaders lishing an academic organization devoted to Assyrian Studies, the study of all things Assyrian. With the 13 An Enchanting Musical Moment backing of the AFA, he worked with and encouraged a number of our Assyrian scholars who established By Savina Dawood With Honiball Joseph the Assyrian Studies Association; an international academic organization that will work both within our community and in the academic world, in general, to fill a void that has resulted in the exclusion of our 35 Herge Online voice in academic (but, not limited to academic) matters concerning ourselves! 14 Taking the Next Step Assyrian Virtual School Dr. Robert Karoukian The Assyrian Studies Association (ASA) includes a dynamic team on the board of directors: Dr. Hel- 36 The True Assyrian Story en Malko, Professor Sargon Donabed, Professor Hannibal Travis, Dr. Anobel Odisho, and Mark Tomass. 16 The Ancient Akitu Festival Of Somalia & Yamen On the board of advisors, there is another group of Assyrian patriots such as Dr. Robert Karoukian, Firas and the Humbling of the King Jatou, Dr. Aryo Makko, Dr. Nahrain E. Kamber, and Dr. Onver Cetrez. We could not have asked for a By Andrious Mama Jotyar – MBE more capable and passionate team than this dedicated and courageous group to be our voices, eyes, and ears in the field of Assyrian Studies. 19 Sabrina Odah 39 Assyrian Section Congratulations The Assyrian Studies Association will officially launch and will be introduced at the AFA’s 9th Annu- al Appreciation event that will take place in San Francisco on May 5, 2019. This date will mark a “mo- 20 Gilgamesh ment” in our history. I hope that you will join us to learn more about the Assyrian Studies Association Album Update (ASA), its purpose, and its importance for the future of our nation. Jackline Yelda, President Articles submitted for publication will be selected by Assyrian Foundation of America established in June Address letters to: the editorial staff on the basis of their relative merit to Crew: 1964 and incorporated in the state of California as a The Editor Assyrian literature, history, and current events. Dr. Ninwe Maraha (Editor) Sargon Shabbas, Circulation non-profit, tax- exempt organization dedicated to the NINWE MARAHA advancement of the education of Assyrians. Dr. Robert Karoukian Donatella Yelda Opinions expressed in NINEVEH are those of the Dr. Elizabeth Mickaily-Huber George Bet-Shlimon NINEVEH MAGAZINE respective authors and not necessarily those of Tamara Odisho Benjamin Heather Bou (Layout Designer) P.O. Box 2660 Yearly subscription fees NINEVEH or the Assyrian Foundation of America. Berkeley, California 94702 US...........................$40 [email protected] International ...........$50 2 3 Introduction to the Assyrian Studies Association by Elizabeth Mickaily-Huber, Ph.D. The Assyrian Foundation of America is delighted to announce the creation of the Assyrian Studies Association (ASA), an organization created with the intention of promoting interest in and academic study of Assyrians and Assyria, both past and present. Its primary purpose is to encourage the publication of scholarly research, in addition to Assyrian-relat- ed materials, such as books. The organization will stimulate cooperative activities, as well as the exchange of information within the field, thus facilitating contact between scholars and scholarly organizations throughout the world interested in Assyrian studies. The ASA will Date: May 5th 2019 advance academic-level inquiry on all things related to Assyrian culture and heritage. Time: 3:00 - 6:00 pm Through its operating budget, the association will provide support for a variety of Location: Delancey Street programs. Firstly, the ASA will sponsor authors working on books directly related to Assyri- Screening Room ans or Assyrian studies, regardless of historical period or geographical region of interest. Sec- 600 The Embarcadero ondly, small grants will be available for the publication of independent books on Assyrian subjects. Funds may also be offered to recent doctoral recipients who wish to convert their San Francisco, Ca 94107 dissertations into manuscripts or books. Thirdly, the ASA will provide support for the pub- Limited space, RSVP required, lication of children’s and popular books. These small grants will be given to educators who RSVP before April 25th 2019: KEYNOTE SPEAKER wish to produce children’s books in Assyrian or focusing on Assyrian culture. Finally, Assyr- ian culture research grants will be available to academics researching understudied areas of [email protected] PROF. HANNIBAL TRAVIS Assyrian culture, such as art, music, cuisine, folkloric dance, poetry, family genealogy, and so forth. The ASA plans to host a biennial conference/workshop whose corresponding pro- ceedings will be published. To honor outstanding contributions to Assyrian studies, a book award will be presented on an annual basis. The ASA also plans to organize and maintain two important databases, the Assyrian Heritage Archive and the Assyrian Oral History Archive , that will centralize key resources for posterity. The ASA boasts an illustrious Board of Directors: • President, Dr. Helen Malko, anthropological archaeologist from Columbia University • Executive Director, Sargon Donabed, professor of History at Roger Williams University • Secretary, Dr. Hannibal Travis, world-renowned genocide expert • Treasurer, Dr. Anobel Odisho, UCSF Physician • Contributing Members: Mark Tomass, Monetary Economist 4 5 ies—were convinced that a federation way when compared with other stu- of scholarly organizations [...] dedicated dents who are able to draw on a variety Ensuring the Future of Assyrians: to excellence in research, was the best of resources unavailable to the average possible combination of America’s dem- Assyrian scholar. Establishing an orga- ocratic ethos and intellectual aspira- nization properly funded by the com- Developing the Organized Role tions.” [https://www.acls.org/Our-Work/ munity to advance Assyrian studies will History] immediately empower those oumtan- ayeh scholars in multiple and important of Assyrian Studies Social Science Research Council (USA/ respects. international) – “The SSRC is guided by the belief that justice, prosperity, The first challenge for Assyrians en- by Michael Youash, Ph.D. and democracy all require better un- gaged in social studies is overcoming derstanding of complex social, cultur- the bias in almost every field that dele- al, economic, and political processes.” gitimizes Assyrians and Assyrian-re- [https://www.ssrc.org/about/mission/] lated phenomenon as acceptable sub- jects-objects of study. Getting projects Economic and Social Research Council approved, funded and published is of- This article will argue that support for ians have not acted like a sovereign peo- (UK) – In its founding, the “ESRC [...] ten the first hurdle and results in reduc- “Assyrian studies is the Assyrian studies can play a determin- ple since at least the aftermath of WWI. structure consisted of committees that ing the freedom of choice available to “the only important ing factor in our capacity to survive and Assyrians must regain the self-belief addressed six areas: economic affairs, Assyrian scholars. Investing in Assyrian essential basis for eventually prosper in perpetuity as As- and self-confidence to think and then education and human development, en- studies is not simply about supporting question is: can syrians. Conversely, failing to invest and act collectively in their own best inter- vironment and planning,
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