Assyrian Diaspora the ASSYRIAN DIASPORA a RESEARCH
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Assyrian Diaspora THE ASSYRIAN DIASPORA A RESEARCH PROJECT BY EDWARD A. AND IRENE KLISZUS 1999 Assyrian International News Agency Books Online www.aina.org 1 Assyrian Diaspora PREFACE When our grandchildren asked us about our backgrounds for a genealogy project at their schools, we realized we knew almost nothing about our parents’ lives pre-America. The following pages on Assyria and Assyrians try to answer some of those questions. This project is dedicated to Elisha and Mary Yohannan Aurahan, David and Juan Yohannan Jacob, William and Margaret Sargis Yohannan, and Absolem and Hannah Yohannan. Edward and Irene Klisszus August 1999 2 Assyrian Diaspora SOURCES/REFERENCES Armenag’s Story, by Arthur and Phebe Gregorian; Lower Falls Publishing Company, Newton, Massachusetts 02162. Christians in Persia: Assyrians, Armenians, Roman Catholics and Protestants, by Robin E. Waterfield, New York, Barnes & Noble 1973. History of the Persian Empire, by A. T. Olmstead The University of Chicago Press, Chicago, IL 1948. Lafayette College, Easton, Pa. Library Princeton Theological Seminary, Luce Library - Archives and Special Collections, Box 111,Princeton, NJ 08542-0111 Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Office of The General Assembly, Department of History, 425 Lombard Street, Philadelphia, PA; Correspondence dated January 3,1997 Psalms and Song of a Persian, by the Rev. Mishael S. Naby; Copyright 1964 by Mishael S. Naby: A Lyceum book, Carlton Press, New York, NY The Assyrian Tragedy, Annemasse (Anonymous) February 1934; Livre Anonyme, 1934 Fevrier Annemasse The Distant Magnet, European Emigration to the U.S.A. by Philip Taylor, 1971 Eyre and Spottiswoode Publishers Ltd. Great Britain The New York Times, July 23, 1996, Inscription at a Philistine City The Tragedy of the Assyrians, by Lt. Col. R.S.Stafford; London, George Allen & Unwin Ltd., Circa 1933-3 Mrs. William (Margaret) Yohannan; Atlanta and Savannah, Georgia, Eyewitness accounts, Correspondence 1996 and 1997 Mr. Ephraim Yohannan; Elizabeth, New Jersey and Turlock, California; Eyewitness accounts, Correspondence 1996 and 1997 Audio Tape, Jack Badal--Some time in the 1980's; New Britain, Connecticut, Supplied by relatives. 3 Assyrian Diaspora TABLE OF CONTENTS Preface..................................................................................................................................................................... 2 Section I - The Assyrians........................................................................................................................................ 5 The Claims Of The Assyrians Before The Conference Of The Preliminaries Of Peace At Paris, 1919................ 8 Conclusion ........................................................................................................................................................ 13 The Middle East In The Post-War World............................................................................................................. 15 Section Ii - Life In Urumia Before World War I .................................................................................................. 19 Transcript Of A Tape Jack Badal...................................................................................................................... 19 New Britain Connecticut............................................................................................................................... 19 Excerpts From Psalms And Song Of A Persian................................................................................................ 23 Section Iii - Introduction Of Presbyterian Work And Its Significance................................................................. 24 American Board Of Commissioners For Foreign Missions ............................................................................. 24 Urumia 1871 ..................................................................................................................................................... 25 The Nestorians .................................................................................................................................................. 28 A Century Of Mission Work In Iran (Persia) 1834-1934................................................................................. 34 Urumia 1910-1920............................................................................................................................................ 34 General Assembly Of The Presbyterian Church In The U.S.A. 1917 .............................................................. 35 Excerpts From The Presbyterian, In House Organ Of The Presbyterian Church............................................. 35 General Assembly Of The Presbyterian Church In The U.S.A., Reports Of The Boards 1899-1917.............. 38 American Presbyterian Missionaries At Urmia During The Great War........................................................... 39 Conclusions....................................................................................................................................................... 47 Section Iv - The March To Hamadan And The Turkish Massacre...................................................................... 49 Excerpts On The March To Hamadan, Persia .................................................................................................. 49 Excerpts From The Tragedy Of The Assyrians ................................................................................................ 50 Circa 1933............................................................................................................................................................. 50 Eyewitness Accounts Of March To Hamadan -- 1918 ..................................................................................... 52 Section V - Memories Of Life In America ........................................................................................................... 55 Memories-Sylvia Aurahan Weidemann............................................................................................................ 55 Memories-Irene Aurahan Kliszus..................................................................................................................... 56 Sundays At South Beach................................................................................................................................... 57 Memories-Danette Benita Christensen ............................................................................................................. 58 Mama Mary Yohannan Auraham ..................................................................................................................... 61 Growing Up In An Assyrian Family................................................................................................................. 61 Section Vi - Genealogy......................................................................................................................................... 64 Sylvia Aurahan Weidemann ............................................................................................................................. 64 Irene Aurahan Kliszus....................................................................................................................................... 64 Danette Benita Aurahan Barth Christensen ..................................................................................................... 65 Joseph David Jacob........................................................................................................................................... 65 Dr. Jack D. Jacob .............................................................................................................................................. 65 Y. Pete Jacob..................................................................................................................................................... 65 Julie Jacob Golpashin ....................................................................................................................................... 66 Section Vii: Correspondence From February 3, 1997-April 26, 1999 ................................................................. 67 Section Viii – Assyrian Recipes ........................................................................................................................... 92 4 Assyrian Diaspora SECTION I - THE ASSYRIANS Did you know that the Assyrians were the world’s super power in the seventh century BC? In the first article about Ekron, a Philistine City, was once part of a far-flung Neo-Assyrian Kingdom. The author notes the amazing military, political and economic strength of the empire. Assyrian kings ruled from Nineveh, a city situated on the Upper Tigris River in what is presently Northern Iraq. The Assyrians, circa 650 B.C., controlled Egypt, Syria, Iraq, parts of Turkey and Iran. Their influence extended west toward Carthage, Sicily and Iberia, and as far East as Afghanistan and India. In 612 B.C. Babylon conquered Nineveh, marking the end of the Assyrian empire. BACKGROUND NOTES ON EARLY ASSYRIA FROM THE NEW YORK TIMES JULY 23, 1996 ARTICLE TITLED: INSCRIPTION AT PHILISTINE CITY SHOWS; THIS IS THE RIGHT PLACE AUTHOR; JOHN NOBLE WILFORD Archeologists dream of turning over a temple stone and finding an inscription saying this is the place you are looking for. For a team of American and Israeli archeologists, the dream came true early this month. Since