The Archive
Prayers that have been submitted to the archive will be documented here. Enjoy the prayers, contemporary histories, and poetry of today’s Assyrian population. P’shena!
— Esther
“Babi Allaha; Hawit besima raba ga kulkhamindi did jiwili; Hali lujah, libanutha, khuba u khela; Shkule juqra u kidshqha mini; Mpakhile Khildi; Dla dithukh analewen; B’shimet Baba, brona u roquet qudja; Amen.”
“Mein Vater im Himmel; Hab Dank für alles was Du mir gegeben hast; Gib mir Weisheit, Mut, Liebe und Stärke; Nimm Leid und Druck von mir; Vergib meine Sünden; Ohne Dich bin ich nicht; Im Namen des Vaters, des Sohnes und des Heiligen Geistes; Amen.”
“My father in heaven; Give thanks for all that You have given me; Give wisdom, courage, love, and strength; Take away suffering and pressure from me; Forgive my sins; Without you I am not; In the name of the father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit; Amen.”
— Adad-Nirari Khochaba. Currently lives in Germany. Family is from Hakkari, Tribe of Tyareh, City of B’Naromta.
“Kut dana d’kha minan parish qad yalip yan hamzim lishanan, ee khalinna kula omtan.”
“Every time one of us decides to learn or speak Assyrian, we strengthen our entire nation.”
— Diana Atureta. Born in diaspora, with maternal roots from Marbishu and Alqosh. Dialect: Swadaya. www.instagram.com/dianaatureta
“Upon awakening each morning, my mother would utter the following words from Psalm 118:24: ‘This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.’ When I was growing up in San Francisco, I’d hear her saying those words two rooms away. Even the morning after my father died, when I was seventeen, she uttered those words. They gave her strength, hope and endurance. Lately I find myself saying them too.
— Sharon Froba about her mother Martha Elia. Currently lives in Modesto, California. Family is from Charbash, Urmia, Iran.
“Salooye eewan qa bot mhadyanoota.”
“I pray for guidance.”
— Sharrat Cherry. Currently lives in Stockholm, Sweden. Family is from Kirkuk/Nineveh, Iraq — Tyareta mn Mnabelatha & Eshtnaye.
“Kmsalin ta gakhkootha.”
“I pray for laughter.”
— Esther Elia, translated by Drew Najor. Currently lives in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Family is from Charbash & Ada, Urmia, Iran.
“Baban be shmania, payesh gochah shemookh. Atya malkootikh oyah rezayookh, dakheey be shmania oop ara hadah, halan lakhmah smooganah oodyeh yomanan, shooglan khooben, la maveran be joyrabah, la paselan be beeshah, sabab deeyoukh la malkotah. Khelah kheegra, abad abadeen Ameen.”
— Sarkis Gorial, the Lord’s Prayer as passed down to him from his mother. Born and raised in Urmia, Iran, currently lives in Taos, New Mexico.
“I’d like to introduce my great-great grandma. The family calls her “yimmi.” She had a tough life: was illiterate, married at 13, birthed 13 children (only 4 survived to adulthood), spent a lot of time raising her children alone because great-great grandpa was preaching and raising money for Assyrian orphans and schools, lost 2 children during the Assyrian genocide, spent 2 years in a refugee camp, had all of her possessions stolen as she slept, buried her oldest who died of tuberculosis in the late 1920’s, buried her husband, buried her beloved grandson when he died in WWII, and lived another 20 years after that. I can’t imagine the sorrows Yimmi endured. I’m carrying her memory with me today. And I’m thanking her for responding to my tear-filled requests at her grave in a way she knew I would understand. So even though I’m the least Assyrian looking of all her great-great grandchildren (I burn in 20 minutes of sun exposure even WITH sunscreen), I feel she has claimed me. And I claim her.”
— Ashley Errington. New Orleans, LA; 4th Generation; Family originally from Memikan (Hakkari) Turkey; Charbash & Tek Ardishai, Iran
“ܐܒܘܢ ܕܒܫܡܝܐ | Abun dbašmayo | Our father | ܢܬܩܕܫ ܫܡܟ | Nethqadaš šmokh | Hallowed be Thy name | ܬܐܬܐ ܡܠܟܘܬܟ | Tithe malkuthokh | Thy Kingdom come | ܢܗܘܐ ܣܒܝܢܟ | Nehwe sebyonokh | Thy will be done | ܐܝܟܢܐ ܕܒܫܡܝܐ ܐܦ ܒܪܥܐ | ykano dbašmayo oph bar`o | On earth as it is in heaven | ܗܒ ܠܢ ܠܚܡܐ ܕܣܘܢܩܢܢ ܝܘܡܢܐ | Hab lan laħmo dsunqonan yowmono | Give us this day our daily bread | ܘܫܒܘܩ ܠܢ ܚܘܒܝܢ ܘܚܬܗܝܢ | Wašbuq lan ħawbayn waħtohayn | And forgive our debts | ܐܝܟܢܐ ܕܐܦ ܚܢܢ ܫܒܩܢ ܠܚܝܒܝܢ | ykano doph ħnan šbaqan lħayobayn | As we have forgiven our debtors | ܠܐ ܬܥܠܢ ܠܢܣܝܘܢܐ | Lo ta`lan lnesyuno | Lead us not into temptation | ܐܠܐ ܦܨܐ ܠܢ ܡܢ ܒܝܫܐ | Elo paşo lan men bišo | But deliver us from evil | ܡܛܠ ܕܕܠܟ ܗܝ ܡܠܟܘܬܐ | Meţul ddilokh hi malkutho | For Thine is the Kingdom | ܘܚܝܠܐ ܘܬܫܒܘܚܬܐ | Wħaylo wtešbuħto | Power and the Glory | ܠܥܠܡ ܥܠܡܝܢ | L`olam `olmin | For ever and ever | ܐܡܝܢ | Amin | Amen”
— Submitted by Beneta
“ܛܘܼܒܲܝܗܘܢ ܠܡܸܣܟܝܼܢܸ̈ܐ ܒܪܘܼܚ܇ ܕܕܝܼܠܗܘܢ ܗ̱ܝ ܡܲܠܟܘܼܬ̣ܐ ܕܲܫܡܲܝܵܐ܀
ܛܘܼܒܲܝܗܘܢ ܠܲܐܒܝܼ̈ܠܸܐ܇ ܕܗܹܢܘܢ ܢܸܬ̣ܒܲܝܐܘܢ܀
ܛܘܼܒܲܝܗܘܢ ܠܡܲܟܝܼ̈ܟ̣ܸܐ܇ ܕܗܹܢܘܢ ܢܸܐܪܬ̣ܘܢ ܐܲܪܥܵܐ܀
ܛܘܼܒܲܝܗܘܢ ܠܲܐܝܠܸܝܢ ܕܟܲܦܢܝܼܢ ܘܲܨܗܝܼܢ ܠܟܹܐܢܘܼܬ̣ܵܐ܇ ܕܗܹܢܘܢ ܢܸܣܒܥܘܢ܀
ܛܘܼܒܲܝܗܘܢ ܠܲܡܪ̈ܲܚܡܵܢܹܐ܇ ܕܲܥܠܲܝܗܘܢ ܢܸܗܘܘܢ ܪ̈ܲܚܡܹܐ܀
ܛܘܼܒܲܝܗܘܢ ܠܲܐܝܠܸܝܢ ܕܲܕܟ̣ܝܼܢ ܒܠܸܒܗܘܢ܇ ܕܗܹܢܘܢ ܢܸܚܙܘܢ ܠܲܐܠܵܗܵܐ܀
ܛܘܼܒܲܝܗܘܢ ܠܥܵܒܕ̈ܲܝ ܫܠܵܡܵܐ܇ ܕܲܒܢ̈ܲܘܗ̱ܝ ܕܲܐܠܵܗܵܐ ܢܸܬ̣ܩܪܘܢ܀
ܛܘܼܒܲܝܗܘܢ ܠܲܐܝܠܸܝܢ ܕܐܬ̣ܪܕܹܦܘ̱ ܡܸܛܠ ܟܹܐܢܘܼܬ̣ܵܐ܇ ܕܕܝܼܠܗܘܢ ܗܝܼ ܡܲܠܟܘܼܬ̣ܵܐ ܕܲܫܡܲܝܵܐ܀
ܛܘܼܒܲܝܟܘܢ ܐܹܡܲܬ̣ܝ ܕܲܡܚܲܣܕܝܼܢ ܠܟ̣ܘܢ ܘܪܵܕܦܝܼܢ ܠܟ̣ܘܢ܇ ܘܐܵܡܪܝܼܢ ܥܠܲܝܟܘܢ ܟܠ ܡܹܠܵܐ ܒܝܼܫܵܐ ܡܸܛܠܵܬ̣ܝ ܒܕܲܓܵܠܘܼܬ̣ܵܐ܀ ܗܵܝܕܹܝܢ ܚܕܲܘ ܘܲܪܘܲܙܘ̱܇ ܕܐܲܓ̣ܪܟ̣ܘܢ ܣܓܝܼ ܒܲܫܡܲܝܵܐ܀ ܘܠܵܟ ܝܵܐܹܐ ܫܘܼܒܚܵܐ ܐܲܠܗܵܐ ܒܲܪܸܟ̣ܡܵܪܝ̱܀”
— Bilader Romanos Wiesbaden, Germany; 1st Generation; Kamishli, Syria
“ܪܲܚܸܡܥܲܠܝ ܐܲܠܵܗܵܐ ܐܲܝܟܼ
ܛܲܝܒ̇ܘܼܬܲܟ݂ ܘܐܲܝܟܼ ܣܘܲܓܼܐܵܐ
ܕܪܲܚܡܲܝܟ ܥܛܝܼ ܚܛܵܗܲܝ̈
ܐܲܣܓܵܐ ܐܲܫܝܓ݂ܺܝܢܝ ܡܲܢ ܥܲܘܠܝ
ܘܡܼܢ ܚܛܗܲܝ̈ ܕܲܟܵܢܝ ܡܸܛ
ܕܣܲܟܼܠ̱ܘܵܬܼܝܼ ܝܵܕܲܥ ܐ̄ܢܵܐ
ܘܲܚܛܵܗܲܝ̈ ܠܘܼܩܒܲܠܝ ܐܸܢܘ̇ܢ
ܒܟ̣ܠܙܒܲܢ ܠܟܼ ܒܲܠܚܘܿܕܲܝܟ ܚܛܹܝܬܼ
ܘܒܼܝܼ̈ܫܵܬܼܵܐ ܩܕܼܵܡܲܝܟ ܥܸܒ̣ܕܹܬܼ
ܡܸܛܠ ܕܬܸܙܕܲܕܲܩ ܒܡܸܠܬܼܵܟܼ
ܘܬܸܙܟܹܿܐ ܒܕܼܝܼܢܲܝ̈ܟ ܡܸܛܠ
ܕܲܒܼܥ̈ܘܠܵܐ ܐܸܬܼܒܲܛܢܹܬܼ
ܘܒܲܚܛܵܗܹ̈ܐ ܒܛܸܢܬܲܢܝ ܐܹܡܝ
ܪܲܚܸܡܥܠܲܝ ܐܲܠܵܗܵܐ ܐܲܝܟܼ
ܛܲܝܒ̇ܘܼܬܲܟ݂ ܘܐܲܝܟܼ ܣܘܲܓܸܐܵܐ
ܕܪܲܚܡܲܝܟ ܥܛܝܼ ܚܛܵܗܲܝ̈”
— Submitted by ܡܵܪܐܝܠ, Tribe: Nochiya (Shamzdin) City Erbil
“I pray for joy. I pray for everyone to experience joy.”
“K’salyan qa khadoota. K’salyan qa nisyana d’khadoota qa kul kha.”
— Submitted by Enanna Sheena, Chicago, IL/Madison, WI, 1st Generation from Ankawa, Iraq. Translated into garshuni by Silvana.
“Great is thy faithfulness! Great is thy faithfulness! Morning by morning new mercies I see. All I have needed thy hand hath provided. Great is thy faithfulness, lord, unto me!
Ya Alaha kmela gorta shareerootukh! Ya Alaha kmela gorta shareerootukh! Sapra b'sapra, rakhmeh khatteh b'khzayen. Kul mindi d'sniqli illoo, At qati mdoberrukh. Shareerootukh, marran, kmela gorta ulli!”
— Submitted by Cyrus Elia, Born and raised in Turlock, CA. Family originally from Urmia, present-day Iran. Translated into garshuni by Assyrian Circles.
“I pray for Gods protection of the continuation of our people in our homeland, and for the continuation of Assyrian legacy wherever in the world Assyrians find ourselves.
Salooyen qa ntarta min Alaha qa pyashta d'Omtan goo arratan, oo qa deh pyashta d'yurtana d'Ashurayeh eka d'eewikh khadirewana d'tehwil.”
— Submitted by Sarah Bennett. Born in Illinois, family originally from Urmia, present-day Iran. Translated into garshuni by Assyrian Circles.
“When I first came visited atra, I didn’t know what to expect. I had some fears and anxiety about the amount of turmoil that was in this country, but after arriving here, I realized that it’s not much different from back home. The people here have the same love for their nation, but it’s much different, much more authentic. It doesn’t feel like we’re in a foreign country here, it feels like we belong here, like we have roots here. I want to take this love and respect that I found in this country and take it back home and help advocate for our people in the United States.”
— Submitted by Alan Mooshekh. Lives in Los Angeles, CA, family originally from Iran.
“I pray for safety for our children.”
“Ke’salin qad yaloodan hawee b’aman.”
— Submitted by Andrew Carter. Lives in Warsaw, Poland. Translated into garshuni by Silvana.
“I feel Assyrians are most vulnerable religiously because they have good intentions, but Assyrian religious leadership doesn’t — they should have nothing to do with politics but they brainwash people into extreme fanaticism by constantly preaching about turning the other cheek — and accepting the policies of forced erasure, ethnic cleansing and religious persecution that we face, while actively discouraging the raising of any social awareness. If the intentions of the church leadership were pure in even the tiniest fraction, they would fear the God they falsely claim to follow, and not abuse their position to further erase the community so they can fatten their pockets. You can’t preach about Jesus and turn around and eat with the same men who are massacring your people outside your door. I’m a christian, and we don’t need this cult led by wolves in sheep’s clothing to pretend to be our middleman with God while helping march us to our death.”
— Submitted Anonymously. Urmijanetah.
“I think being always involved in the community, I always felt like I was connected to the homeland. I felt like I was doing my part because I think it’s very important as Assyrians in diaspora to do something - I don’t care what it is - you find your expertise, your passion, and you try and work and give back to the greater community, and not be divisive along the way. You should be a builder and uplift those in our community. However, I realized if you’re someone who is trying to fortify our nation and our people, you need to take a trip to the homeland, and I realized in order to work for the Assyrian cause, you need to come back home to see, to meet, to learn. I realized also the role of the Assyrian Democratic Movement is more of a mini-government for our people — they go to them with very simple daily needs, things we can’t understand back in diaspora, but it works here - they’re needed here, and I saw a different facet of the organization. It’s very important - it doesn’t matter your age - I think you need to come back and touch home base in order to move forward.”
ܐܝܼܬ ܠܝܼ ܣܲܒܼܪܵܐ ܕܐܵܬܘܿܖ̈ܵܝܹܐ ܕܝܼܲܢ ܒܸܕ ܫܵܩܠܝܼ ܥܸܕܵܢܵܐ ܡܼܢ ܚܲܝܘܼܬܲܝܗܝ، ܐܵܦܸܢ ܝܠܲܝܗܝ ܡܘܼܥܒܸܖܹ̈ܐ ܥܸܕܵܢܵܐ ܪܵܒܵܐ ܡܼܢ ܚܲܝܘܼܬܲܝܗܝ ܓܵܘ ܐܲܬܖ̈ܵܘܵܬܵܐ ܦܖ̈ܝܼܫܹܐ ܦܖ̈ܝܼܫܹܐ ܓܵܘ ܓܵܠܘܼܬܵܐ، ܐܝܼܢܵܐ ܫܒܼܘܿܩ ܐܵܬܝܼ ܠܐܲܬܪܵܐ ܕܐܲܒܼܵܗܵܬ̈ܲܢ ܩܵܐ ܕܲܡܣܲܚܒܸܪܝܼ ܘܝܵܠܦܝܼ ܘܚܵܙܝܼ ܕܐܵܟܼܝ ܝܠܲܝܗܝ ܐܵܬܘܿܖ̈ܵܝܹܐ ܕܝܼܲܢ ܠܐܲܟܼܵܐ ܚܝܵܝܵܐ܂
ܐܸܢ ܦܠܵܚܵܐ ܝܘܸܬ ܩܵܐ ܚܲܕ݇ ܢܝܼܫܵܐ ܐܘܼܡܬܵܢܵܝܵܐ، ܐܵܢܵܐ ܚܫܵܒܼܬܝܼ ܝܼܠܵܗܿ ܕܓܲܪܸܓ ܐܵܬܹܝܬ ܠܐܲܬܪܵܐ ܕܐܲܒܼܵܗܵܬ̈ܲܢ ܩܵܐ ܕܡܸܓ̰ܸܕ ܗܵܘܹܐ ܠܘܼܟܼ ܗܵܝ ܪܓܼܵܫܬܵܐ، ܐܵܢܵܐ ܗܲܡܵܫܵܐ ܪܓܼܵܫܬܵܐ ܝܼܗ݇ܘܵܐ ܓܵܘܝܼ ܐܝܼܢܵܐ ܡܦܘܼܪܡܹܐ ܠܝܼ ܐܸܢ ܐܵܢܵܐ ܠܵܐ ܗܵܘܝܵܢ ܗ݇ܘܵܐ ܐ݇ܬܝܼܬܵܐ ܠܐܲܟܼܵܐ ܠܵܐ ܗܵܘܝܵܢ ܗ݇ܘܵܐ ܡܦܘܼܪܡܲܝܬܲܝܗܝ ܐܲܢܹܐ ܡܸܢܕܝܵܢܹ̈ܐ ܥܲܡ ܚܲܝܘܼܬܵܐ ܕܐܵܬܘܿܖ̈ܵܝܹܐ ܕܠܐܲܟܼܵܐ܂
— Submitted by Atorina Zomaya. From Chicago, IL. Father is Tiyaraya and Mother is Urmijanetah, “but I’m Atoureta.” Piece of interview translated by Shibla Bet Shmuel.
“I hope that we all one day live in safety, I hope our language is preserved, I hope our traditions are preserved, and our culture is preserved. One of the most insane things for me has been visiting and touching Assyrian aqueducts and lamassu while in atra, touching the same things my ancestors touched — and that’s not necessarily going to exist in the coming years. So I really hope there are some kind of efforts for preservation so that all of us can have access to what belongs to us by right and by blood, rather than see it taken from us.”
— Submitted by Audesia Adam. From Wellington, NZ. Father is from Baz in the Hakkari Region in modern-day Turkey, and Mother is from the Nineveh Plains in modern-day Iraq.
“I feel very passionate about our community — the reason why I became involved is because of my relationship with my grandfather — he is from Alqosh - and he really inspired me to do more because I always saw him giving his time, money, resources back to his community while he lived in diaspora in the United States. I feel amazingly lucky to have been able to visit atra, and also recognize the privilege, blessings, and freedom that come from living in the Western world. So although I have such an appreciation for life in atra, and I will continue to honor the legacy of my family and do what I can for the people still living in the homeland, I am also so thankful to be living in the western world and to have the resources and the capabilities that I do — especially as a woman. I think one of the things in the homeland that is really challenging as a woman is the lack of independence. Most places we went had to be with a man — it can’t be even with another woman, which is very frustrating because my whole life it has been ingrained within me to be an independent woman. If there are things that I can do to make women feel safer, I would love to pursue something like that to contribute to the community and make a difference for us.”
— Submitted by Christina Salem. From Metro Detroit, MI. Father is from Tel Keppe, and Mother is from Alqosh.
“I want everybody there [in diaspora] to come see this [atra] and give them [locals] opportunity. If they’re [locals] willing to stay here, I want them to have the opportunity to experience what we have experienced in Canada and the US and Australia. I look at them [locals] and I see our future - they are the ones keeping this alive for us - for us to come and visit [atra]. We need people from there [diaspora] to support people here [in atra].”
— Submitted by Doreen while visiting Mar Odisho in Dere, modern-day Iraq.
“One way I feel that Assyrians are very vulnerable in this country [atra] is through miscarriages of justice and unequal enforcements of the law. There is no guarantee that legal decisions in favor of Assyrians would even be executed or enforced, and it’s very unfortunate that there’s not a lot of legal protections that are actually enforceable for our people, even when we do get them, we have to fight tooth and nail for their enforcements, and so perhaps we need help from the international community to strengthen the rule of law here, or perhaps a entirely new government.”
— Submitted by Andrew Najor. From Metro-Detroit, Michigan. Family is originally from Tel Keppe, Nineveh Plains.
“A way to help the Assyrian nation is through a multifold of actions: from concrete action to sustain Assyrian people living in their homeland, to the provision of social places for Assyrians living in the diaspora to connect together, to raising awareness of the Assyrian cause more globally, to cultural and artistic representation, also teaching the Assyrian language, and lastly the preservation and restoration of Assyrian artifacts.”
— Submitted by Dylan Naš. From Belgium. Family is originally from modern-day Iraq and Turkey.
“I think what Assyrians are most in need of, in diaspora particularly, is to attack their apathy. Where I’m from, people have given up completely — they think what’s the point? But since I’ve invested my time to come to atra, I’ve gotten so many messages from the Chaldean-Assyrian community excited - asking me how I got here and how they can come. I think our parents have made our homeland so scary for us (who grew up in diaspora). It’s probably a trauma response, but they’ve almost actively dissuaded us from ever even engaging with our homeland, and all of their stories are tainted with their bad experiences, so for me coming to that place and seeing that there was something beyond those bad experiences was so vital for me, and then getting to show that online as well, was amazing because now I have my own set of experiences that exist outside of them, so my own connection is now tangible having touched the places all of our ancestors thousands of years ago touched. The “noons” are still on all of the Christian houses all over Tel Keppe, and I sat there and stared at the noon on my family’s house. In 2014 ISIS took over the village and emptied it of all Suraye, and it’s been five years since the town was liberated, and the fact that no one could be bothered to scrub the sign of genocide off the houses — it bothered me on such a deep level. I started pointing this out to people as a little thing I could do —nobody else is going to care unless we care.”
— Submitted by Fayth Kakos. From Metro Detroit, MI. Family is originally from Tel Keppe, Deshta d’Nineveh.
“Growing up in Toledo Ohio, there was no Assyrian community there, I was pretty isolated from it. We would go to Chicago to visit and that’s where we would get our cultural recharge. Even when I was little like 10 years old, and my sister was 8, my parents would put us on the Amtrak train and send us west. We’d get off in Chicago and my uncle would be standing there waiting and we would spend around a month at my grandma’s house while we were out of school. That was always the way we connected with family and cousins playing everyday. We would do things like go to Assyrian school with them, the picnics, parties, seeing the singers, that was how I connected with our Assyrian cultural side. I didn’t grow up in the church, and that along with growing up mixed made my experience different than most, but that’s how we connected with the Assyrian community. Currently, living in Olympia Washington, my sister and I run the Nineveh Assyrian Food Truck, and so we stay connected culturally by serving Assyrian food to people, which has been very rewarding, because nobody out there knows who Assyrians are, so when they walk up and see this giant food truck with the “Nineveh Assyrian” painted on half of the truck, they think, what the hell was that? So I get to give my speech all the time about who we are and where we’re from, and how long we’ve been around. People usually only associate us with biblical times, saying “oh yeah - Jonah!” and I say, yes, also! And then I launch into the other million things we have going for us that isn’t just the one story told by somebody else.”
— Submitted by Jacob David. From Toledo, OH. Paternal side is originally from Urmia, and maternal side is Jewish from Poland & Russia.
“The way that I feel like I can help the Assyrian community is through the use of my social community platform. I want to use it not only to showcase the food and delicacies we have to offer, but also to raise awareness about our struggles, the battles we face, and the endless and countless ways in which we can help empower Assyrians and create a safe environment for my people.”
— Submitted by Jason Tamou. From London, UK. Parents are originally from Baghdad, modern-day Iraq.
“We are not tourists, we are not here for charity, we are heirs to this land [Iraqi Assyria], and we have that responsibility, and that’s why we are here.”
“Akhnan laywakh arkheh, laywakh teeyeh qa pitra, akhnan eewakh yartaneh d’aha ar’a, Ashur, ow walita deeyan eela, sabab d’etootan.”
— Submitted by Joseph Danavi. From Chicago, IL. Translated into garshuni by Silvana.
“During my first visit to Nahla in Northern Iraq, I stayed with an older Assyrian couple whose kids had since grown up and left the country. We sat and talked in their cozy living room sipping chai and listening to the warbles and chirps of their small flock of chickens. The walls were stacked to the brim with photos of their family. When I asked about the children, the couple grew quiet. They wouldn’t admit it, but they seemed sad that their family was scattered and so far away. Their children seldom visited them anymore, they told me. I’ll always remember that conversation, and the sounds of the chickens that filled their silence.”
— Submitted by Joe Snell. Currently lives in DC.
“As Assyrians in the diaspora, we need to stop focusing on our issues in the diaspora and start focusing on the issues happening here in the motherland. We need to work more on raising awareness on legal land seizures, the voter fraud that’s happening here — that should be more important, in my opinion. Rather than passing a proclamation recognizing Assyrian New Year — which is still a good thing — but we’re just too comfortable in the states and Western countries that we’re forgetting where our roots are from. I’m proud of who I am and I want to do more for Assyrians in atra — like Iraq, Khabour, Syria and Turkey.”
— Submitted by Maryam Ishaya. Currently lives in New York. Family originally from Nahla, modern-day Iraq.
“One term I heard about our people is that we are going through a silent genocide in Northern Iraq. It’s not that people are being killed on the ground daily, it’s more so that there are little aggressions that are done to try and erase our people’s identity. For example, one person told me that at school when she lists her ethnicity as Assyrian-Christian, the authorities at the school will change the document to say “Kurdish-Christian” - and these are things that are done to show that the government is trying to get rid of our identity here.”
— Submitted by Nadine Khedry. Currently lives in Los Angeles, CA. Family originally from modern-day Iran.
“Assyrians are most in need of help from the diaspora to those in our homelands. Our community would be so strong if we have people who aren’t living in the homeland advocate continuously, donate, or even just spread the word. They just need our help. And they’re doing so amazing in atra, Their hope and resilience has really changed my view on life.”
— Submitted by Nina Tamou. Currently lives in London, England. Father is Assyrian from Gawar, modern-day Turkey, mother is Armenian.
“With the shrinking population and the pressure from the KRG, the numbers we have here don’t really give us a voice [in atra]. So a dwindling population and pressure from the government to Kurdify us is I think the biggest obstacle that we have and makes us the most vulnerable. There are people who are fighting for recognition and land, but even when a verdict is given, it’s not carried out. It seems like there is a sense of hopelessness - like what can we do? But we have hope — in the diaspora and in atra — so if we keep pushing the agenda and not backing down, that would be the most beneficial for us.”
— Submitted by Rafid Marcus. Born in Baghdad, grew up in Chicago, IL. Parents are originally from the Zakho region of modern-day Iraq.
“To be honest, being in the states, I feel like there’s a lot of division in our community, whether it’s politics, religion, or the region we’re from, and I would really like for there to be more unity and togetherness. Our people are already separated due to our history and the things that have happened to us. With how much of the people in the diaspora do for their local communities in general, I believe if they put some of that energy and resources into bringing more of us together that would be really beneficial for us.”
— Submitted by Roxanne Rayes. From Michigan. Parents are originally from Araden, modern-day Iraq.
“I learned that the word for ‘identity’ in Assyrian is ‘heyayoota’ - so Assyrian identity would be heyayoota d’Attoraya/Ashuraye. Seeing Assyrians in their homeland, regardless of what government they’re under — they are Assyrian, they speak their language, and in some areas [in atra] the store signage is in Assyrian. So certainly there are advances in the cultural rights [in Northern Iraq] as opposed to my parents growing up in Baghdad back in the 50’s and 60’s, where that was just not possible, it wasn’t a reality for them, they didn’t have access to it, they didn’t have many opportunities to express their Assyrian identity. It’s progress! Now progress comes with challenges, but it’s still progress!”
— Submitted by Sargon David. From Toronto, Canada. Ancestors are originally from the Urmia plains, but parents are both from modern-day Iraq.
“The best way I feel like I can help the Assyrian community is through letting non-Assyrians know about our struggles.”
“Ana masyan hayyiran qa knoshta d’Atorayeh b’oorkha maloopeh nikhrayeh bud oolsanan.”
— Submitted by Shamiran Khoshaba. Born in Baghdad, modern-day Iraq. Currently lives in London, UK. Translated into garshuni by Silvana.
“I think that Assyrians in atra are most in need of safety. We just want to be able to live peacefully in our own homeland. And I think one of the things that gave me the most hope on the trip was seeing the children, but at the same time it breaks my heart to think that it’s something normalized for them to grow up around the sounds of bombing, and fighting, and conflict. So my prayer is for our children of our nation, and for the future generations of our nation to be able to grow up in our own homeland, to be able to live in our own homeland safely without having to hear these sort of things on a regular basis, and just have a peaceful, secure, stress-free childhood.”
— Submitted by Stephanie Basdekis. From Melbourne, Australia. Mother is from Tyari, father is Greek.
“I was actually in Alqosh and this is a village I was super excited to see, just because that’s my mom’s village, and I grew up always hearing about it, listening to the songs, speaking the dialect, etc. I was told that there was nobody else from my mom’s tribe that is left in Alqosh, so I wasn’t expecting to see any distant relatives. I was talking to some locals in what looked like a garden, and they were like, “Hey come in for chai!” I said no because I was with a group and we were about to eat lunch, but they insisted, so I went in and was speaking to their mother, and their mother introduced me to their grandmother, and she asked to see a picture of my mom and her parents to see if she knew them. Turns out, this was my grandfather’s cousin! It was an extremely emotional experience — she started naming all of my family members and that’s when I started crying, I already felt connected to the physical village, but also knowing that I still have my bloodline there was a pretty amazing experience.”
— Submitted by Stephanie Warda. From Chicago, IL.
“I think when you’re living in the diaspora and born in the diaspora, you have a completely different outlook and image on what it is to be Assyrian, and when you come to the homeland and see our struggles and our resilience and our triumphs, it really puts things into perspective.”
— Submitted by Stiphanie Kifarkis. From London, Ontario, Canada. Family is originally from Syria (Khabour River).
“I feel like Assyrians just want to be seen and heard. I feel like they’re the pioneers of a lot of things, the start of civilization, and they’ve been stripped of everything, and despite all of their triumphs and tribulations they’re still here trying to make a name for themselves. They want to be remembered, and as they should be.”
— Submitted by Natasha Youkhana. From Los Angeles, CA. Mother is Alqoshneta and Father is from Basra and Erbil.
ܐܲܝܟܼ ܐܵܫܘܿܪܵܝܵܐ ܟܹܐ ܡܓ̰ܲܪܒܸܢ ܦܵܪܣܸܢ ܬܲܚܡܲܢܬܵܐ ܕܐܵܫܘܿܪܵܝܘܼܬܵܐ ܘܐܘܼܡܬܵܢܵܝܘܼܬܵܐ ܦܪܝܼܫܵܐܝܼܬ ܒܐܘܼܪܚܵܐ ܕܡܲܠܲܦܬܵܐ، ܩܵܐ ܕܡܲܠܦܲܚ ܘܡܲܚܙܹܝܚ ܩܵܐ ܕܐܵܢܝܼ ܕܝܼܠܲܝܗܝ ܩܘܼܪܒܵܐ ܡܼܢ ܩܵܕ݇ܡ ܪܸܚܩܵܐ ܡܵܢܝܼ ܝܘܲܚ ܐܲܚܢܲܢ ܐܲܝܟܼ ܐܵܫܘܿܖ̈ܵܝܹܐ܂܂܂ ܡܵܐ ܝܠܵܗܿ ܬܲܫܥܝܼܬܲܢ ܘܠܸܫܵܢܲܢ ܘܡܲܪܕܘܼܬܲܢ، ܩܵܐ ܕܲܡܓ̰ܲܪܒܲܚ ܕܦܵܪܣܲܚ ܠܵܗܿ ܩܵܐ ܟܠܲܝܗܝ ܩܵܐ ܕܝܵܕܥܝܼ ܡܵܢܝܼ ܝܘܲܚ ܐܲܚܢܲܢ ܐܲܝܟܼ ܚܲܕ݇ ܥܲܡܵܐ ܫܸܪܫܵܝܵܐ ܚܝܵܝܵܐ ܥܲܠ ܐܵܗܵܐ ܐܲܪܥܵܐ܂
“As an Assyrian, I try to spread the Assyrian notion and nationalism, especially through education, to educate and demonstrate for those who are close to us before those who are farther, who we are as Assyrians, what is our history, our language, our culture, and try to spread it to the entire world so they know who we are as indigenous people living on this land.”
— Submitted by David Gewargis. Lives in modern-day Iraq. Translated into english by Shibla Bet Shmuel.
ܐܲܚܢܲܢ ܒܸܖ̈ܝܹܐ ܝܘܲܚ ܓܵܘ ܡܵܬܵܐ ܘܟܹܐ ܚܵܫܒܼܲܚ ܗ݇ܘܵܐ ܐܲܚܟ̰ܝܼ ܐܲܚܢܲܢ ܐܝܼܬ ܓܵܘ ܕܘܼܢܝܹ̈ܐ ܘܐ݇ܚܲܪܬܵܐ ܦܠܸܛܠܵܗܿ ܐܝܼܬ ܐ݇ܢܵܫܹ̈ܐ ܐ݇ܚܹܪ݇ܢܹܐ، ܘܐ݇ܚܲܪܬܵܐ ܡܛܹܐ ܠܲܢ ܠܐܸܣܛܲܢܒܘܼܠ ܚܙܹܐ ܠܲܢ ܕܐܝܼܬ ܐ݇ܣܘܼܖ̈ܝܵܝܹܐ ܐܲܪܬܼܘܿܕܘܿܟܣܵܝܹ̈ܐ ܘܐܝܼܬ ܐ݇ܣܘܼܖ̈ܝܵܝܹܐ ܩܵܬܘܿܠܝܼܩܵܝܹ̈ܐ ܘܐ݇ܚܲܪܬܵܐ ܫܡܸܥܠܲܢ ܕܐ݇ܣܘܼܖ̈ܵܝܹܐ ܠܵܐ ܝܠܲܝܗܝ ܐܲܚܟ̰ܝܼ ܓܵܘ ܬܘܼܪܟܝܵܐ ܚܝܵܝܵܐ، ܐܝܼܢܵܐ ܐܝܼܬ ܓܵܘ ܥܝܼܪܵܩ ܘܣܘܼܪܝܵܐ ܘܐܝܼܪܵܢ ܘܟܵܙܵܓܸܣܬܵܢ ܘܓܵܘ ܐܘܿܣܬܪܹܝܠܝܵܐ ܘܟܠ ܕܘܼܟܵܢܹ̈ܐ، ܗܵܕܟܼܵܐ ܝܕܸܥܠܲܢ ܕܠܵܐ ܝܘܲܚ ܠܚܘܿܕܲܢ ܐܝܼܢܵܐ ܐܝܼܬ ܐܵܬܘܼܖ̈ܵܝܹܐ ܐ݇ܚܹܖ̈݇ܢܹܐ ܡܸܢܲܢ ܡܸܢܲܢ، ܘܐ݇ܚܲܪܬܵܐ ܐ݇ܡܸܪܲܢ ܕܐܲܚܢܲܢ ܡܵܢܝܼ ܝܘܲܚ؟ ܡܛܠ ܕܲܚܝܵܝܵܐ ܝܘܲܚ ܓܵܘ ܬܘܼܪܟܝܵܐ ܐܝܼܢܵܐ ܟܹܐ ܡܲܚܟܹܝܚ ܚܲܕ݇ ܠܸܫܵܢܵܐ ܐ݇ܚܹܪ݇ܢܵܐ܂܂܂ ܠܵܐ ܝܘܲܚ ܬܘܼܖ̈ܟܵܝܹܐ، ܡܼܢ ܕܗܵܘ ܝܘܵܡܵܐ ܘܗܲܠ ܗܵܕܝܼܵܐ ܠܵܐ ܩܒܝܼܠܵܐ ܠܲܢ ܓܵܢܲܢ ܬܘܼܖ̈ܟܵܝܹܐ ܘܲܚܝܹܐ ܠܲܢ ܐܵܬܘܿܖ̈ܵܝܹܐ܂
ܘܩܵܐ ܕܗܵܘ ܡܸܢܕܝܼ، ܐ݇ܢܵܫܵܐ ܐܸܢ ܒܵܥܹܐ ܚܵܙܹܐ ܠܵܗܿ ܓܵܢܹܗ ܡܵܢܝܼ ܝܠܹܗ، ܠܵܐ ܝܠܵܗܿ ܚܕܵܐ ܐܘܼܪܚܵܐ ܥܲܣܩܵܐ܂܂܂ ܐܲܚܢܲܢ ܓܵܘ ܐܘܼܡܬܵܐ ܕܝܼܲܢ ܐܝܼܬ ܠܲܢ ܪܵܒܵܐ ܫܸܡܵܢܹ̈ܐ ܐܵܬܘܿܪܵܝܵܐ܂܂܂ ܐ݇ܣܘܼܪܵܝܵܐ܂܂܂ ܟܲܠܕܵܝܵܐ ܘܡܸܢܕܝܵܢܹ̈ܐ ܐ݇ܚܹܖ̈݇ܢܹܐ، ܡܵܨܹܐ ܚܵܙܹܐ ܐ݇ܢܵܫܵܐ ܕܩܵܕ݇ܡ ܥܸܕܵܢܵܐ ܐܲܒܼܵܗܵܬܹ̈ܗ ܡܵܐ ܝܠܲܝܗܝ ܥܒܼܝܼܕܹ̈ܐ ܘܗܵܕܝܼܵܐ ܡܵܐ ܝܠܹܗ ܥܒܼܵܕܵܐ ܗܵܘ، ܘܫܸܡܲܢ ܓܵܘ ܕܘܼܢܝܹܐ ܟܡܵܐ ܝܠܹܗ ܫܩܝܼܠܵܐ ܫܵܘܦܵܐ ܓܵܘ ܐܲܬܖ̈ܵܘܵܬܵܐ ܕܥܵܠܡܵܐ، ܠܗܵܕܟܼܵܐ ܐܲܚܢܲܢ ܒܸܖ̈ܝܹܐ ܝܘܲܚ ܐܵܬܘܿܖ̈ܵܝܹܐ ܘܲܚܝܵܝܵܐ ܝܘܲܚ ܐܵܬܘܿܖ̈ܵܝܹܐ܂
“We were born in a village and we thought it was only us in the world; the only Christians. But then we realized that there’s more, and we were now more than we thought. When we started living in Istanbul, we saw many other Christians like, Syriac Orthodox, Syriac Catholic. Then we heard that Assyrians don’t only live in Turkey, but rather, in Iraq, Syria, Iran, Kazakhstan, Australia, and everywhere. We are not alone, there are more Assyrians in the world. Then we questioned, who are we? We do live in Turkey, but we speak a different language, then we are not Turkish. We did not accept to be Turkish since then, and we established that we are Assyrians. For that reason, if one wants to find their identity, it is not difficult; in our nation we have several titles (namings/ designations): Assyrian, Suraya, Chaldean, and other titles, but one can look up what their ancestors have done in the past and what their people are doing now. And what other countries of the world call us, this is why we were born Assyrian and we live as Assyrians today.”
— Submitted by Ferit Banipal. Born and raised in modern-day Turkey, currently lives in Ankawa, modern-day Iraq. Translated into english by Shibla Bet Shmuel.
ܟܹܐ ܐܵܬܹܝܢ ܘܲܡܫܵܘܬܸܦܸܢ ܓܵܘ ܥܵܒܼܘܿܕܘܼܝܵܬܹ̈ܐ ܕܲܒܢܲܝ̈ ܐܘܼܡܬܲܢ ܓܵܘ ܐܲܬܪܵܐ ܕܐܵܫܘܿܪ܂
ܗܵܘ ܡܸܢܕܝܼ ܩܲܕ݇ܡܵܝܵܐ ܕܒܸܚܙܵܝܵܐ ܝܘܸܢ ܟ̰ܵܬܘܿܢܘܼܬܵܐ ܓܵܘܹܗ ܝܼܠܹܗ ܕܕܘܼܟܬܵܐ ܕܲܚܝܵܝܵܐ ܝܠܲܝܗܝ ܒܢܲܝ̈ ܐܘܼܡܬܲܢ ܓܵܘܵܗܿ ܝܼܠܵܗܿ ܡܦܘܼܠܸܓܼܬܵܐ، ܘܲܕܐܝܼܬ ܚܕܵܐ ܪܚܩܘܼܬܵܐ ܡܼܢ ܒܢܲܝ̈ ܐܘܼܡܬܲܢ ܕܒܸܦܠܵܚܵܐ ܝܠܲܝܗܝ ܥܲܡ ܐܘܼܡܬܵܐ ܩܘܼܪܕܵܝܬܵܐ ܘܥܲܡ ܕܐܵܢܝܼ ܕܒܸܦܠܵܚܵܐ ܝܠܲܝܗܝ ܥܲܡ ܐܘܼܡܬܵܐ ܥܲܪܲܒܵܝܬܵܐ ܕܲܪܩܘܼܒܼܠ ܒܢܲܝ̈ ܐܘܼܡܬܲܢ، ܘܡܸܢܕܝܼ ܕܲܬܪܹܝܢ ܝܼܠܹܗ ܓܢܵܒܼܬܵܐ ܕܐܲܖ̈ܥܵܬܲܢ ܒܐܝܼܕܵܐ ܕܩܘܼܖ̈ܕܵܝܹܐ ܕܒܸܥܒܼܵܪܵܐ ܝܠܲܝܗܝ ܓܵܘ ܡܵܬ̈ܘܵܬܲܢ ܘܒܸܓܢܵܒܼܵܐ ܠܐܲܪܥܵܬܲܢ، ܘܡܸܢܕܝܼ ܕܬܲܠܵܬܵܐ ܝܼܠܹܗ ܥܒܼܵܪܬܵܐ ܕܦܲܟܲܟܵܐ ܓܵܘ ܐܲܖ̈ܥܵܬܵܐ ܕܡܵܬ̈ܘܵܬܲܢ ܡܼܢ ܬܘܼܪܟܝܵܐ ܘܬܘܼܖ̈ܟܵܝܹܐ ܡܚܵܝܵܐ ܒܘܼܡܒܹ̈ܐ ܘܡܲܥܪܘܿܩܹܐ ܠܐ݇ܢܵܫܲܝ̈ܢ܂
ܗܝܼܒܼܝܼܝܼ ܝܼܠܵܗܿ ܕܲܒܢܲܝ̈ ܐܘܼܡـܬܲܢ ܓܵܘ ܐܲܬܪܵܐ ܕܦܵܠܚܝܼ ܡܐܘܼܕܵܠܹ̈ܐ ܒܚܲܕ݇ ܩܵܠܵܐ ܩܵܐ ܡܲܢܬܲܝܬܵܐ ܕܐܘܼܡܬܲܢ ܘܠܵܐ ܦܵܠܚܝܼ ܥܲܡ ܕܸܫ̰ܡܸܢ ܩܵܐ ܡܲܚܪܲܒܼܬܵܐ، ܘܲܒܣܲܒܼܪܵܐ ܝܘܸܢ ܕܐܵܗܵܐ ܡܸܢܕܝܼ ܡܗܲܝܸܪ ܩܵܐ ܕܐܵܢܝ݇ ܕܘܼܟܵܢܹ̈ܐ ܕܐܝܼܬ ܠܲܢ ܦܝܵܫܵܐ ܐܲܝܟܼ ܥܲܢܟܵܒܼܵܐ ܘܐܲܠܩܘܿܫ ܘܒܲܓܼܕܹܝܕܵܐ ܘܟܲܪܲܡܠܸܫ ܘܡܵܬ̈ܘܵܬܵܐ ܐ݇ܚܹܖ̈݇ܢܹܐ ܕܡܵܨܹܝܚ ܢܵܛܪܲܚ ܠܲܝܗܝ ܘܲܡܚܲܡܹܝܚ ܠܲܝܗܝ ܒܐܝܼܕܵܐ ܕܓܵܢܲܢ܂
“I come and participate in the activities of our nation on the homeland of Ashur. The first hardship I see that our people face is the division found in our people themselves; where some of them are supporters of the Kurds, and others support the Arabs against our nation. Secondly, grabbing and stealing our lands by the Kurds, they come into our lands and take hold of them. Third is the PKK’s (Kurdistan Workers’ Party) intrusion on our villages, making the Turkish government to bomb these lands, which leads to the fleeing of our people from their own homes. My hope is for our people, in homeland, to work together, have one voice, for the prosperity of our nation; not to work with the enemy to vandalize or sabotage our nation. I hope this will help us protect the places we currently have, like Ainkawa, Alqush, Baghdedeh, Karamlesh, and other places by ourselves.”
— Submitted by Joseph Baba. Translated into english by Shibla Bet Shmuel.
“ܡܵܐ ܝܠܹܗ ܗܵܘ ܡܸܢܕܝܼ ܒܘܼܫ ܨܦܵܝ ܓܵܘ ܗܘܵܝܬܵܟܼܝ ܐ݇ܣܘܼܪܵܝܬܵܐ؟
ܒܲܫܪܵܪܵܐ ܐܲܚܢܲܢ ܡܫܝܼܚܵܝܹ̈ܐ ܝܘܲܚ ܘܟܹܐ ܡܲܚܒܹܝܚ ܠܹܗ ܠܸܫܵܢܲܢ، ܓܲܪܸܓ ܕܐ݇ܢܵܫܵܐ ܝܵܠܸܦܠܹܗ ܠܸܫܵܢܹܗ ܝܸܡܵܝܵܐ܂ ܟܩܵܪܝܲܬܝ ܠܸܫܵܢܵܐ؟
ܗܹܐ، ܟܹܐ ܝܵܕܥܲܢ ܠܠܸܫܵܢܵܐ ܥܲܬܝܼܩܵܐ ܘܚܲܕ݇ܬܵܐ܂
ܐܘܿܗ ܨܦܵܝ! ܒܢܘܿܢ̈ܝܼ ܝܵܕܥܝܼ ܠܹܗ ܐܵܗܵܐ ܠܸܫܵܢܵܐ، ܚܲܣ ܡܵܐ ܗܵܘ ܓܒܼܘܿܪܵܐ܂
ܡܵܐ ܝܠܹܗ ܣܲܒܼܪܵܟܼܝ ܩܵܐ ܐܘܼܡܬܵܐ ܐܵܬܘܿܪܵܝܬܵܐ؟
ܕܗܵܘܝܵܐ ܒܘܼܫ ܨܦܵܝ ܗܲܠܒܲܬ܂܂܂܂܂܂
ܡܵܐ ܝܠܹܗ ܗܵܘ ܡܸܢܕܝܼ ܒܘܼܫ ܥܲܣܩܵܐ ܓܵܘ ܗܘܵܝܬܵܟܼܝ ܐ݇ܣܘܼܪܵܝܬܵܐ؟
ܠܲܝܬܿ ܡܸܢܕܝܼ ܥܲܣܩܵܐ، ܟܠ ܚܲܕ݇ ܡܸܢܕܝܼ ܨܦܵܝ ܝܠܹܗ܂
ܐܝܼܬ ܠܵܘܟܼܘܿܢ ܥܲܣܩܘܼܝܵܬ̈ܵܐ ܡܼܢ ܩܘܼܖ̈ܕܵܝܹܐ ܐܵܘ ܡܼܢ ܫܘܼܠܛܵܢܵܐ ܕܥܝܼܪܵܩ؟
ܠܵܐ، ܟܠ ܡܸܢܕܝܼ ܨܦܵܝ ܝܠܹܗ.
ܡܒܲܩܘܿܪܹܐ ܝܗ݇ܘܵܐ ܠܫܸܡܵܟܼܝ، ܡܵܐ ܝܠܹܗ ܫܸܡܵܟܼܝ؟
ܚܲܢܵܐ ܝܼܣܚܲܩ، ܫܸܡܵܗܿ ܡܵܐ ܝܠܹܗ؟
ܐܵܢܵܐ ܡܲܪܝܲܡ ܘܗܵܝ ܐܸܣܬܹܝܪ܂
ܒܫܲܝܢܵܐ ܐ݇ܬܹܐ ܠܵܘܟܼܘܿܢ ܠܐܲܟܼܵܐ، ܐ݇ܡܘܿܪܘܿܢ ܠܲܢ ܐܸܢ ܣܵܢܩܝܼܬܘܿܢ ܡܸܢܕܝܼ܂
ܒܲܣܝܼܡܬܵܐ܂
What’s the best thing about being Assyrian?
The fact that we are Christians, and we love our mother language. One must learn their mother language. Do you study language?
Yes, I know the old language and the new one.
Oh, yes! My children know that, especially the older one.
What do you hope for the Assyrian nation?
To be better, of course.
What is the hardest thing about being an Assyrian?
Nothing is difficult, everything is fine.
Do you have problems with Kurdistan or the government of Iraq?
No, everything is good.
She’s asking for your name?
Kanna Iskhaq. What is her name?
I’m Maryam and she’s Esther.
You are welcome here. Tell us if you need anything.
Thank you.”
— Interview by Maryam Ishaya and Esther Elia with Kanna while at Mar Odisho, Dere Iraq. Translated into english by Shibla Bet Shmuel.
“ܡܵܐ ܝܠܹܗ ܗܵܘ ܡܸܢܕܝܼ ܒܘܼܫ ܒܲܣܝܼܡܵܐ ܓܵܘ ܗܘܵܝܬܘܼܟܼ ܐܵܬܘܿܪܵܝܵܐ؟ ܩܵܐ ܡܘܿܕܝܼ ܟܹܐ ܡܲܚܒܸܬ ܗܘܵܝܬܘܼܟܼ ܐܵܬܘܿܪܵܝܵܐ؟
ܐܵܢܵܐ؟ ܐܵܗܵܐ ܐܲܬܪܝܼ ܝܠܹܗ ܘܠܵܐ ܡܪܲܦܹܝܢܹܗ، ܐܵܗܵܐ ܕܲܝܪܵܐ ܠܐܲܟܼܵܐ -ܕܲܝܪܵܐ ܕܡܵܪܝ ܥܲܒܼܕܝܼܫܘܿ- ܐܝܼܬ ܠܹܗ 1700 ܫܸܢܹ̈ܐ، 300 ܫܸܢܹ̈ܐ ܩܵܕ݇ܡ ܡܫܝܼܚܵܐ، ܟܹܐ ܡܒܲܩܪܝܼ ܠܝܼ ܕܕܐܵܟܼܝ ܐܝܼܬ ܗܵܕܟܼܵܐ؟! ܐܵܢܵܐ ܟܐܵܡܪܸܢ ܕܐܵܗܵܐ ܝܠܵܗܿ ܬܲܫܥܝܼܬܵܐ܂܂܂ ܐ݇ܙܹܠ݇ ܡܘܿܢ ܚܙܹܐ ܡܘܿܢ܂ ܠܗܵܕܟܼܵܐ ܩܵܐ ܡܘܿܕܝܼ ܫܵܒܼܩܸܢܹܗ؟ ܠܵܐ ܫܵܒܼܩܸܢܹܗ܂
ܡܵܔܨܹܝܚ ܐܵܡܪܲܚ ܕܡܲܚܘܿܒܹܐ ܝܘܸܬ ܠܚܲܝܘܼܬܵܐ ܐܵܬܘܿܪܵܝܬܵܐ ܡܛܠ ܕܝܼܠܲܝܗܝ ܐܵܢܝ݇ ܩܲܕ݇ܡܵܝܹ̈ܐ ܕܚܵܝܝܼ ܠܐܲܟܼܵܐ؟
ܐܵܢܵܐ ܡܲܚܘܿܒܹܐ ܝܘܸܢ ܕܐܵܬܘܿܖ̈ܵܝܹܐ ܕܵܥܪܝܼ ܘܚܵܝܝܼ ܠܐܲܟܼܵܐ، ܐܵܗܵܐ ܐܲܬܪܲܝܗܝ ܝܠܹܗ، ܠܵܐ ܐܲܬܪܵܐ ܕܐܲܢܹܐ ܚܸܦܝܵܝܹ̈ܐ، ܐܲܢܹܐ ܕܐ݇ܬܹܐ ܠܲܝܗܝ ܡܼܢ ܬܘܼܪܟܝܵܐ ܘܥܲܖ̈ܲܒܵܝܹܐ ܡܼܢ ܓܲܙܲܪܬܵܐ. ܐܵܗܵܐ ܐܲܬܪܝܼ ܝܠܹܗ ܘܐܵܗܵܐ ܥܲܦܪܵܐ ܕܝܼܝܼ ܝܠܹܗ، ܘܠܵܐ ܡܨܝܼ ܫܵܩܠܝܼ ܠܹܗ ܡܸܢܝܼ، ܗܵܕܝܼܵܐ ܒܨܸܪܲܢ ܡܛܠ ܕܐܲܚܬܘܿܢ ܪܚܸܫܠܵܘܟܼܘܿܢ ܟܠܵܘܟܼܘܿܢ ܘܦܝܼܫܠܲܢ ܚܲܕ݇ܟ̰ܵܐ، 2.500.000 ܐܵܬܘܿܖ̈ܵܝܹܐ ܝܘܲܚ ܗ݇ܘܵܘ ܠܐܲܟܼܵܐ ܗܵܕܝܼܵܐ ܦܝܼܫܠܲܢ 5.000܂
ܡܵܐ ܝܠܹܗ ܗܵܘ ܡܸܢܕܝܼ ܒܘܼܫ ܥܲܣܩܵܐ ܓܵܘ ܗܘܵܝܬܘܼܟܼ ܐܵܬܘܿܪܵܝܵܐ؟
ܗܝܼܟ̰ ܙܲܗܡܲܬܘܼܬܵܐ ܠܲܝܬܿ ܥܲܠ ܐ݇ܣܘܼܪܵܝܵܐ ܕܚܵܝܹܐ ܠܐܲܟܼܵܐ، ܐܝܼܢܵܐ ܒܵܨܘܿܪܘܼܬܵܐ ܐܝܼܬ ܘܐܲܬܪܵܐ ܠܵܐ ܝܠܹܗ ܒܐܝܼܕܲܢ ܘܐܲܚܢܲܢ ܦܠܵܚܵܐ ܝܘܲܚ ܚܘܼܠܵܡܹ̈ܐ ܩܵܐ ܩܘܼܖ̈ܕܵܝܹܐ ܘܓܲܪܸܓ ܐܵܢܝܼ ܦܵܠܚܝܼ ܗ݇ܘܵܘ ܚܘܼܠܵܡ̈ܲܝܢ ܡܛܠ ܕܐܲܬܪܵܐ ܕܝܼܲܢ ܝܠܹܗ܂
ܗܵܪ ܐܵܢܝܼ ܒܓܵܢܲܝܗܝ ܩܘܼܖ̈ܕܵܝܹܐ ܘܥܲܖ̈ܵܒܵܝܹܐ ܟܹܐ ܐܵܡܪܝܼ ܐܲܚܬܘܿܢ ܝܬܘܿܢ ܫܸܖ̈ܫܵܝܹܐ، ܐܝܼܢܵܐ ܒܫܸܡܵܐ ܐܲܚܢܲܢ ܝܘܲܚ ܫܸܖ̈ܫܵܝܹܐ ܘܟܠ ܡܸܢܕܝܼ ܩܵܐ ܠܲܝܗܝ ܦܝܼܫܠܹܗ܂
ܡܵܐ ܝܠܵܗܿ ܗܝܼܒܼܝܼܘܼܟܼ ܩܵܐ ܐܘܼܡܬܵܐ ܐܵܬܘܿܪܵܝܬܵܐ؟
ܐܝܼܬ ܠܝܼ ܗܝܼܒܼܝܼ ܩܵܐ ܕܐܵܬܘܿܪ ܕܝܼܠܵܗܿ ܡܒܘܼܪܒܸܙܬܵܐ ܓܵܘ ܕܐܵܗܵܐ ܕܘܼܢܝܹܐ ܟܠܵܗܿ، ܢܵܛܸܪܵܗܿ ܐܵܗܵܐ ܡܵܪܝ ܥܲܒܼܕܝܼܫܘܿܥ ܘܕܵܥܪܵܐ ܠܐܲܬܪܵܗܿ ܘܲܠܕܘܼܟܵܗܿ، ܒܗܵܝ ܥܸܕܵܢܵܐ ܒܗܵܘܹܝܚ ܚܲܝܠܵܢܹ̈ܐ ܪܵܒܵܐ، ܐܵܢܵܐ ܪܵܒܵܐ ܦܨܸܚܠܝܼ ܘܲܚܕܹܐ ܠܝܼ ܒܡܵܪܝ ܐܲܒܼܵܐ ܦܵܛܲܪܝܲܪܟܵܐ ܕܝܼܲܢ ܕܐ݇ܬܹܐ ܠܹܗ ܠܐܲܟܼܵܐ ܘܲܥܒܼܸܕܠܹܗ ܐ݇ܪܵܙܵܐ، ܘܲܚܙܹܐ ܠܝܼ ܕܐܵܗܵܐ ܝܼܠܹܗ ܗܵܘ ܦܲܪܨܘܿܦܵܐ ܩܲܕ݇ܡܵܝܵܐ ܕܐܝܼܬ ܒܕܸܡܹܗ ܚܘܼܒܵܐ ܕܐܘܼܡܬܵܐ ܘܲܕܥܹܕܬܵܐ܂
What’s your favorite thing about being an Assyrian? Why do you love being born as an Assyrian?
Me? This is my country (home/land), I can’t abandon it. This church here, Mar Odisho, is 1700 years old; 300 years before Mohammed. They say “how is this possible?” I say “this is history, go check”. So how would I abandon it? I won’t.
So you love Assyrian life because we were the first ones to live here?
I want Assyrians to come back and live here, this is their country, not the country of these barefooted people. And these other ones came from Turkey, the Arabs came from Jazeera. I am here. I’m protecting it, this is mine. And they cannot take it from me. We are less now because you’ve left; there was 2,500,000 million Assyrians here, now we are only 5,000.
What’s the hardest thing about being an Assyrian?
There is nothing difficult, but there is deficiency. The country is not ours, we are working for Kurds, while it should have been the other way around because it’s our land; they should have been working for us. Kurds and Arabs themselves say that “you are indigenous” meaning we are the indigenous people of this land. But what will that do to us? They only say we are indigenous.
What do you hope for the Assyrian nation?
I have a lot of hope for the Assyrian nation to come back to its country and land, only then we will be powerful, strong, and many. I was very happy for Mar Awa, our patriarch, who came here and conducted a mass. I saw him; he’s the first person that has blood in his veins for the nation and church.”
—Interview by Maryam Ishaya and Esther Elia with Elias Youkhana while at Mar Odisho, Dere Iraq. Translated into English by Shibla Bet Shmuel.
“ܒܲܝܬܘܼܬܝܼ ܓܵܘ ܐܲܡܹܝܪܟܵܐ ܝܠܵܗܿ ܐܲܢܹܐ ܥܸܣܲܪ ܫܸܢܹ̈ܐ، ܐܲܚܘܿܢܝܼ ܓܵܘ ܓܲܝܣܵܐ ܐܲܡܹܝܪܟܵܝܵܐ ܝܠܹܗ ܘܐܵܦ ܚܵܬܝܼ ܬܵܡܵܐ ܝܠܵܗܿ، ܘܐܵܢܵܐ ܠܐܲܟܼܵܐ ܝܘܸܢ، ܐܵܢܵܐ ܒܸܪܝܵܐ ܝܘܸܢ ܠܐܲܟܼܵܐ ܘܒܸܕ ܡܵܝܬܸܢ ܠܐܲܟܼܵܐ܂
ܡܵܐ ܝܠܹܗ ܫܸܡܘܼܟܼ؟ (ܡܲܪܝܲܡ ܡܒܲܩܘܿܪܹܐ ܠܢܝܼܢܘܿܣ)
ܐܵܢܵܐ ܡܲܠܟܵܐ ܕܐܵܬܘܿܖ̈ܵܝܹܐ ܝܘܸܢ، ܝܕܸܥܠܵܘܟܼܘܿܢ ܡܵܢܝܼ ܝܘܸܢ؟ ܡܵܐ ܝܠܹܗ ܫܸܡܵܐ ܕܡܲܠܟܵܐ ܕܐܵܬܘܿܖ̈ܵܝܹܐ؟
ܐܵܫܘܿܪ؟
ܠܵܐ، ܡܵܢܝܼ ܗ݇ܘܵܐ ܩܵܕ݇ܡ ܐܵܫܘܿܪ؟
ܕܪܝܼܫܬܵܐ ܝܘܵܢ ܗܵܕܟܼܵܐ ܡܸܢܕܝܼ ܓܵܘ ܡܲܕܪܲܫܬܵܐ܂܂܂܂
ܢܝܼ-ܢܘܿ-ܣ
ܢܝܼܢܘܿܣ؟
ܗܹܐ
ܬܪܘܿܨܵܐ؟
ܗܹܐ ܗܲܝܡܸܢ!
ܐܵܢܵܐ ܚܫܸܒܼܠܝܼ܂܂܂ ܐ݇ܚܹܪ݇ܢܵܐ ܗܹܐ ܬܪܘܿܨܵܐ ܝܘܸܬ܂ ܐܲܢ݇ܬ ܒܸܪܝܵܐ ܝܘܸܬ ܠܐܲܟܼܵܐ، ܗܲܝܓܵܐ ܒܘܼܫ ܝܵܕܥܸܬ ܡܸܢܝܼ܂ ܐܵܗ، ܢܝܼܢܘܿܣ ܦܸܬܼܝܘܿ ܝܲܠܕܵܐ܂
My family has been in America for ten years. My brother is in the American Army. My sister is there, and I’m here; I was born here, and I’ll die here [atra].
What’s your name?
I’m the king of Assyrians. Did you know who that is? What’s the name of the king of Assyrians?
Ashur.
No, who’s before Ashur?
I studied this in school—
N-I-N-O-S.
Ninos?
Yes.
Really?
I swear!
But I thought—well you are right. You were born here, so you know better than I do. Ahh, Ninos Pithyo Yalda.”
—Interview by Maryam Ishaya and Esther Elia with Ninos while at Mar Odisho, Dere Iraq. Translated into English by Shibla Bet Shmuel.
“ܐܵܢܝܼ ܥܲܣܩܘܵܬ̈ܵܐ ܕܚܵܙܝܵܢܲܝܗܝ ܐܲܝܟܼ ܚܕܵܐ ܢܸܩܒܼܵܐ ܐܵܫܘܿܪܵܝܬܵܐ ܚܝܵܝܵܐ ܓܵܘ ܐܲܪܥܵܐ ܕܓܵܢܵܗܿ ܪܵܒܵܐ ܝܠܲܝܗܝ، ܚܕܵܐ ܡܸܢܲܝܗܝ ܝܼܠܵܗܿ ܓܵܘ ܚܩܠܵܐ ܕܦܘܼܠܚܵܢܵܐ ܘܓܵܘ ܩܸܪܝܵܢܵܐ ܐܵܘ ܡܸܢܕܝܼ ܕܡܲܚܒܵܢܹܗ ܘܡܸܢܕܝܼ ܕܲܡܓܘܼܒܹܐ ܠܝܼ ܩܵܪܝܵܢܹܗ ܓܵܘ ܒܹܝܬ ܨܵܘܒܵܐ ܝܼܠܹܗ ܙܸܕܩܹ̈ܐ ܕܒܲܪܢܵܫܵܐ، ܐܵܗܵܐ ܚܲܩܠܵܐ ܡܼܢ ܡܫܲܪܲܝܬܵܐ ܚܙܹܐ ܠܝܼ ܪܵܒܵܐ ܥܲܣܩܘܵܬ̈ܵܐ ܓܵܘܹܗ ܓܵܘ ܥܸܕܵܢܵܐ ܕܒܸܟܬܵܒܼܵܐ ܝܘܵܢ ܐܵܘ ܥܒܼܵܕܵܐ ܝܘܵܢ ܬܲܫܪܵܖܹ̈ܐ، ܘܗܵܘ ܣܲܗܡܵܐ ܡܣܝܼܡܵܢܵܐ ܝܼܠܹܗ ܕܲܡܨܹܐ ܠܝܼ ܡܵܛܝܵܢ ܠܫܵܘܦܵܢܹ̈ܐ ܪܵܒܵܐ ܨܦܵܝ، ܟܲܕ ܡܼܢ ܡܫܲܪܲܝܬܵܐ ܕܲܥܒܼܵܪܬܝܼ ܓܵܘ ܐܵܗܵܐ ܚܲܩܠܵܐ ܦܬܸܚܠܲܝܗܝ ܩܵܬܝܼ ܪܵܒܵܐ ܐܘܼܖ̈ܚܵܬܵܐ ܘܚܵܫܒܼܵܢ ܕܡܸܢܕܝܵܢܹ̈ܐ ܡܣܝܼܡܵܢܹ̈ܐ ܒܘܼܫ ܖ̈ܵܒܹܐ ܝܗ݇ܘܵܘ ܡܸܢ ܡܸܢܕܝܵܢܹ̈ܐ ܡܖ̈ܝܼܡܵܢܹܐ܂܂܂ ܩܵܐ ܡܘܿܕܝܼ؟ ܡܛܠ ܡܼܢ ܬܲܡܵܐ ܦܬܸܚܠܲܝܗܝ ܩܵܬܝܼ ܪܵܒܵܐ ܐܘܼܖ̈ܚܵܬܵܐ ܘܲܡܨܹܐ ܠܝܼ ܕܡܲܝܕܸܥܲܢ ܩܵܐ ܪܵܒܵܐ ܐ݇ܢܵܫܹ̈ܐ ܡܵܢܝܼ ܝܘܵܢ ܐܵܢܵܐ ܐܲܝܟܼ ܚܕܵܐ ܐܲܢ݇ܬܬܵܐ ܐܵܫܘܿܪܵܝܬܵܐ ܘܡܘܿܕܝܼ ܡܵܨܝܵܢ ܥܵܒܼܕܵܢ، ܐܲܚܢܲܢ ܐܲܝܟܼ ܢܸܩܒܼܹ̈ܐ ܐܵܫܘܿܖ̈ܵܝܹܐ ܠܵܐ ܝܘܲܚ ܐܲܚܟ̰ܝܼ ܝܬܝܼܒܼܹ̈ܐ ܓܵܘ ܒܲܝܬܵܐ ܘܟܵܢܫܲܚ ܘܡܵܫܹܝܚ܂܂܂ ܠܵܐ، ܐܵܦ ܐܲܚܢܲܢ ܐܝܼܬ ܠܲܢ ܬܲܚܡܲܢܝܵܬ̈ܵܐ ܘܐܝܼܬ ܠܲܢ ܗܵܘܢܵܐ ܘܐܝܼܬ ܠܲܢ ܣܘܼܟܵܝܹ̈ܐ ܘܢܝܼܫܹ̈ܐ ܕܒܵܥܹܝܚ ܦܵܠܚܲܚ ܥܲܠܲܝܗܝ܂
ܣܲܒܼܪܝܼ ܝܼܠܹܗ ܕܲܡܬܲܡܸܡܵܢ ܒܐܘܼܪܚܵܐ ܕܐܵܢܵܐ ܒܵܥܝܵܢܵܗܿ ܘܡܲܡܛܝܼܵܢ ܩܵܠܵܐ ܕܝܼܲܢ ܐܲܝܟܼ ܐܵܫܘܿܖ̈ܵܝܹܐ ܓܵܘ ܐܲܬܪܵܐ ܩܵܐ ܕܐܵܢܝ݇ ܕܝܼܠܲܝܗܝ ܠܒܲܕܲܪ ܒܘܼܫ ܙܵܘܕܵܐ ܩܵܐ ܕܝܵܕܥܝܼ ܒܘܼܕ ܕܝܼܲܢ ܘܫܵܡܥܝܼ ܒܘܼܕ ܕܝܼܲܢ، ܡܛܠ ܕܪܵܒܵܐ ܝܠܵܗܿ ܐܵܠܨܵܝܬܵܐ ܕܐܵܢܝ݇ ܐ݇ܚܹܖ̈݇ܢܹܐ ܝܵܕܥܝܼ ܐܲܚܢܲܢ ܡܵܢܝܼ ܝܘܲܚ ܘܐܲܝܟܵܐ ܝܘܲܚ ܚܝܵܝܵܐ، ܘܝܼܘܲܚ ܗ݇ܘܵܐ ܡܵܖ̈ܘܵܬܵܐ ܕܐܵܗܵܐ ܐܲܪܥܵܐ ܘܦܵܝܫܵܢܹ̈ܐ ܝܘܲܚ܂
The difficulties I face, as an Assyrian woman living on her own land, are many. For example, work, study, or doing what I love and what I chose to study in college, which is Human Rights. I found many hardships since the beginning of entering this field of study, when I’m writing reports, but this was the negative part. However, the positive part of it was, I have reached very good places and positions. This field has opened so many doors for me, and I see it being more positive than it is negative. Because many doors were open to me, I was able to let people know who I am as an Assyrian female, and what my abilities are. We, Assyrian females are not to be at home only to cook, clean and do chores, no. We, too, have imagination, hopes, goals that we would like to work on. My hope is to continue this path, the path that I like. And deliver our voice as Assyrians in the homeland, to people in the world for them to know about us because it is very important for the world to know who we are, where we live, and we were the owners of this land and we will stay here.”
—Submitted by Ornina Henry. Currently lives in Simele, modern-day Iraq. Translated into English by Shibla Bet Shmuel.
“ܐܲܝܟܼ ܐܬܘܿܖ̈ܵܝܹܐ، ܠܹܐ ܡܵܨܲܝܚ ܚܵܝܝܲܚ ܠܹܗ ܚܵܠܡܲܢ. ܒܲܫܪܵܪܵܐ ܠܲܝܬܿ ܫܪܵܝܵܐ ܥܲܡ ܩܘܼܖ̈ܕܵܝܹܐ، ܟܲܕ ܫܵܡܛܵܢܹ̈ܐ ܕܚܸܠܡܲܢ ܝܠܲܝܗܝ ܡܛܠ ܕܒܵܥܝܼ ܚܸܠܡܲܝܗܝ ܒܲܠܚܘܿܕ ܘܡܲܩܝܸܡܝܼ ܐܘܼܡܬܲܝܗܝ܂ ܐܲܚܢܲܢ ܠܵܐ ܡܨܹܐ ܠܲܢ ܟܲܕ ܩܲܡ ܫܵܩܠܝܼ ܠܵܗܿ ܕܘܼܟܲܢ، ܐܵܢܝܼ ܣܸܠ݇ܩܠܲܝܗܝ ܘܡܘܼܨܠܹܐ ܠܲܝܗܝ ܐܸܠܲܢ، ܘܗܵܕܝܼܵܐ ܟܠܝܹ̈ܐ ܝܘܲܚ ܡܼܢ ܒܵܬܲܪ ܐܵܗܵܐ ܡܸܢܕܝܼ، ܫܩܝܼܠܹ̈ܐ ܝܢܵܐ ܚܲܝܲܝ̈ܢ ܫܩܝܼܠܹ̈ܐ ܝܢܵܐ ܐܲܬܪܲܢ ܘܲܫܩܝܼܠܹ̈ܐ ܝܢܵܐ ܠܫܘܼܓܼܠܵܢ̈ܲܢ، ܘܲܣܢܝܼܩܬܵܐ ܝܠܵܗܿ ܠܡܲܕܟܼܘܿܪܹܐ ܕܐܲܚܢܲܢ ܠܲܝܬܿ ܠܲܢ ܡܗܲܝܸܖ̈ܵܢܹܐ܂܂܂܂ ܐܵܦ ܫܲܝܵܫܹ̈ܐ ܕܝܼܲܢ ܠܹܐ ܡܵܨܝܼ ܡܗܲܝܸܪܝܼ ܠܲܢ.
We Assyrians cannot live the life we dream. We live with Kurds. Kurds are dream-breakers. Their only dream is to elevate their own live, develop and prosper their own nation. We weren’t able to do that because they took our place (land). They developed and went up, and took us down; now we are marching in our place. They took our lives, our country, and our jobs. We don’t even have people to help us; not even our politicians can help us.”
—Submitted by Sameer. Currently lives in modern-day Iraq. Translated into english by Shibla Bet Shmuel.
“ܐܵܢܵܐ ܐܲܝܟܼ ܐܵܫܘܿܪܵܝܬܵܐ، ܐܵܗܵܐ ܪܓܼܵܫܬܵܐ ܠܵܐ ܝܘܵܢ ܪܓܼܝܫܬܵܗܿ ܡܼܢ ܩܵܕ݇ܡ ܥܸܕܵܢܵܐ، ܡܛܠ ܐܲܚܟ̰ܝܼ ܡܫܝܼܚܵܝܬܵܐ ܝܘܵܢ ܗ݇ܘܵܐ ܘܠܵܐ ܝܵܕܥܵܢ ܗ݇ܘܵ ܡܵܐ ܝܠܹܗ ܣܘܼܟܵܠܵܐ ܕܐܘܼܡܬܵܢܵܝܘܼܬܵܐ، ܐܲܚܟ̰ܝܼ ܟܹܐ ܩܵܪܝܵܢ ܗ݇ܘܵܐ ܓܵܘ ܥܹܕܬܵܐ ܘܩܝܼܡܠܝܼ ܓܵܘܵܗܿ ܘܝܘܼܠܦܵܢܝܼ ܝܗ݇ܘܵܐ ܡܼܢ ܡܲܕܖ̈ܲܫܝܵܬܵܐ ܐܲܚܟ̰ܝܼ ܓܵܘ ܢܘܼܗܲܕܪܵܐ ܥܲܡ ܩܘܼܖ̈ܕܵܝܹܐ ܘܲܒܩܲܝܛܵܐ ܓܵܘ ܥܹܕܬܵܐ، ܠܗܵܕܟܼܵܐ ܡܵܨܹܝܚ ܐܵܡܪܲܚ ܕܗܵܘ ܡܲܚܕܘܼܪܵܐ ܘܐܵܦ ܓܵܘ ܒܲܝܬܵܐ ܕܲܚܝܵܝܵܢ ܗ݇ܘܵܐ ܓܵܘܹܗ ܠܵܐ ܩܲܡ ܝܵܗܒܼܸܠܝܼ ܬܲܚܡܲܢܬܵܐ ܕܝܵܕܥܵܢ ܡܵܐ ܝܘܵܢ ܐܲܝܟܼ ܐܵܫܘܿܪܵܝܬܵܐ ܘܡܘܿܕܝܼ ܝܠܹܗ ܦܘܼܠܚܵܢܝܼ ܐܵܘ ܡܵܐ ܝܠܵܗܿ ܘܵܠܝܼܬܝܼ، ܐܝܼܢܵܐ ܐ݇ܚܲܪܬܵܐ ܢܝܼܚܵܐ ܢܝܼܚܵܐ ܝܕܸܥܠܝܼ ܒܘܼܕ ܕܐܲܢܹܐ ܡܸܢܕܝܵܢܹ̈ܐ ܐܝܼܢܵܐ ܫܩܸܠܠܵܗܿ ܡܸܢܝܼ ܚܕܵܐ ܥܸܕܵܢܵܐ ܝܲܪܝܼܟܼܬܵܐ ܗܲܠ ܕܲܡܛܹܐ ܠܝܼ ܠܕܐܵܗܵܐ ܕܲܪܓܼܵܐ ܕܝܼܘܵܢ ܓܵܘܹܗ ܐܲܝܟܼ ܐܵܫܘܿܪܵܝܬܵܐ܂
ܐܵܢܵܐ ܝܘܵܢ ܡܵܪܬܵܐ ܕܐܵܗܵܐ ܐܲܪܥܵܐ ܘܫܸܪܫܝܼ ܠܐܲܟܼܵܐ ܝܠܹܗ ܘܓܲܪܸܓ ܡܚܲܡܝܵܢ ܗܝܼܵܝܘܼܬܝܼ، ܐܝܼܡܲܢ ܕܲܩܪܹܐ ܠܝܼ ܬܲܫܥܝܼܬܝܼ ܝܕܸܥܠܝܼ ܟܡܵܐ ܝܠܵܗܿ ܚܲܝܠܵܢܬܵܐ ܘܪܲܒܬܵܐ ܡܛܠ ܡܵܐ ܕܡܲܩܪܝܼ ܗ݇ܘܵܐ ܠܲܢ ܝܼܗ݇ܘܵܐ ܕܐܵܫܘܿܖ̈ܵܝܹܐ ܚܲܢܦܹ̈ܐ ܝܗ݇ܘܵܘ ܘܩܵܛܘܿܠܹ̈ܐ ܘܐ݇ܢܵܫܹ̈ܐ ܣܸܖ̈ܝܹܐ ܗܲܠ ܕܫܵܒܼܩܝܼ ܗ݇ܘܵܐ ܠܲܢ ܢܵܟܼܦܲܚ ܗ݇ܘܵܐ ܒܐܵܗܵܐ ܗܝܼܵܝܘܼܬܵܐ، ܐܝܼܢܵܐ ܐ݇ܚܲܪܬܵܐ ܚܙܹܐ ܠܝܼ ܡܵܐ ܝܠܹܗ ܫܪܵܪܵܐ ܘܐ݇ܚܲܪܬܵܐ ܡܫܘܼܪܹܐ ܠܝܼ ܦܠܵܚܵܐ ܥܲܠ ܡܵܐ ܝܘܲܚ ܣܢܝܼܩܹ̈ܐ ܐܲܚܢܲܢ ܐܲܝܟܼ ܐܵܫܘܿܖ̈ܵܝܹܐ܂
ܠܗܵܕܟܼܵܐ ܐܵܢܵܐ ܫܸܪܫܝܼ ܐܵܫܘܿܪܵܝܵܐ ܝܠܹܗ ܘܝܼܘܵܢ ܒܪܵܬܵܐ ܕܐܵܢܝ݇ ܡܲܠܟܹ̈ܐ ܘܡܲܠܟܝܵܬ̈ܵܐ ܕܲܒܪܹܐ ܠܲܝܗܝ ܗܵܝ ܐܸܡܦܪܵܛܘܿܪܘܼܬܵܐ ܪܲܒܬܵܐ ܘܗܵܝ ܡܕܝܼܢܵܝܘܼܬܵܐ ܫܲܦܝܼܪܬܵܐ ܕܡܘܼܩܪܸܒܼܠܵܗܿ ܩܵܐ ܟܠ، ܠܗܵܕܟܼܵܐ ܓܲܪܸܓ ܦܵܠܚܵܢ ܒܘܼܫ ܙܵܘܕܵܐ ܕܡܵܨܝܵܢ ܐܵܡܪܵܢ ܒܟܠ ܫܘܼܒܼܗܵܪܵܐ ܐܵܫܘܿܪܵܝܬܵܐ ܝܘܵܢ܂
As an Assyrian, I haven’t felt this before because I was only a Christian and I didn’t know what nationalism is; I didn’t have this Assyrianism I have now. I only read at church, I was raised in the church. My education was in the schools of Nohadra among Kurdish friends, then during the holidays or summer, I spent my time at church. Even at home, I didn’t have the correct environment that would give me the thoughts or ideas to know what I am as an Assyrian and what my responsibilities are. So, I knew about these things little by little, it took a long time until I reached the level I am in now to say that I am an Assyrian; I am an Assyrian, the owner of this land. This is my origin, I have to protect it, and I have to protect my identity. When I read about my history, I realized that it’s a great, huge, and mighty history; although we were taught that Assyrians were killers, infidels, not good people, which made us be embarrassed about it. However, when I found out what the truth is and what the reality is, I started working on what we, as Assyrians, need. For me, as soon as I knew I am an Assyrian, I am the daughter of those kings and queens who built that empire, that civilization, the beautiful things they created for the entire world to use nowadays. This is the reason I have to work more and harder to be able to say I am an Assyrian.”
—Submitted by Maryam Shmoil. Currently lives in modern-day Iraq. Translated into english by Shibla Bet Shmuel.
ܨܠܘܿܬܵܐ1”
ܝܵܐ ܐܲܠܵܗܵܐ ܐܵܫܘܿܪ ܡܪܵܚܡܵܢܵܐ: ܐܲܢ݇ܬ ܝ݇ܘܸܬ ܐܲܡܝܼܢܵܐܝܼܬ ܣܵܢܕܵܢܵܐ.
ܢܲܗܪܵܐ ܕܚܲܝܲܢ ܒܐܝܼܕܘܼܟ݂ ܣܲܦܘܼܝܹܐ: ܡܲܓ̰ܪܝܼ ܠܡ̈ܝܼܵܐ ܠܦܘܼܡܲܢ ܬܲܪܣܘܼܝܹܐ.
ܠܵܐ ܗܵܘܝܵܐ ܕܒܵܪܹܙ ܢܲܗܪܵܐ ܕܣܲܒ݂ܪܵܐ: ܛܵܠܩܲܚ ܒܐܘܼܪܚܵܐ ܕܚܲܝܹ̈ܐ ܓܵܘ ܩܲܒ݂ܪܵܐ.
ܠܵܐ ܡܵܝܹܬ ܐܵܗ݇ܐ ܦܘܼܠܚܵܢܵܐ ܕܐܝܼܕܘܼܟ݂: ܐܘܼܡܬܲܢ ܓܲܢ݇ܒܲܪܬܵܐ ܩܪܝܼܬܵܐ ܒܫܸܡܘܼܟ݂.
O Ashur, merciful God:
You are constantly supportive.
We leave the river of our lives in thy hand:
Let the water flow to nourish our mouths.
Let not dry out the river of hope:
So that we would not get lost in the path of life and fall in the grave.
Let not die this work of thy hand:
Our mighty nation called after thy name.
Sloota
Ya Alaha Ashur mrukhmana, At eewit ameena'eet sandana.
Nara d'khayyan b'eedukh sapooyeh, majri l'meeya l'pomman tarsooyeh.
La hoya d'bariz nara d'sawra, talqikh b'orkha d'khayyeh goo qora.
La mayit aha polkhana d'eedukh, Omtan gabbarta qreeta b'Shimmukh.”
—Submitted by Dr. Madeleine Davis Moradkhan. Urmi dialect, currently Roseville California. 1st generation in diaspora.
“ܨܠܘܿܬܵܐ ܕܚܲܕܘܼܬܵܐ
ܝܵܐ ܐܲܠܵܗܵܐ ܐܵܫܘܿܪ ܚܲܝܠܬܵܢܵܐ: ܡܥܲܕܸܪ ܠܥܲܠܡܲܢ ܕܗܵܘܹܐ ܚܲܝܠܵܢܵܐ:
ܕܓ݂ܵܠܹܒ ܠܥܲܩܬܵܐ ܘܡܲܫܟ̰ܸܚ ܚܲܕܘܼܬܵܐ: ܡܲܢܫܹܐ ܠܚܲܫܵܐ ܘܩܵܢܹܐ ܦܨܝܼܚܘܼܬܵܐ.
ܡܲܪܚܸܩ ܠܛܠܘܿܡܝܹ̈ܐ ܘܦܠܵܫܹ̈ܐ ܨܵܘܵܢܹ̈ܐ: ܦܲܪܸܩ ܠܥܲܠܡܲܢ ܡܡܲܪ̈ܥܹܐ ܘܡܵܘܬܵܢܹ̈ܐ:
ܡܲܬܸܒ݂ ܓܘܼܚܟܵܐ ܥܲܠ ܟܠܝ݇ܗ݇ܝ݇ ܣܸܦܘܵܬܹ̈ܐ: ܡܠܝܼ ܡ̣ܢ ܣܲܒ݂ܪܵܐ ܠܟܠܲܝܗܝ ܠܸܒܘܵܬܹ̈ܐ.
Ya Alaha Ashor Khayltana:
M’Ader l’Almam d’Haweh Khaylana:
D’Ghaleb l’Aqta Mash’chekh Khadouta:
Mensheh l’Khasha Qaneh Pseekhouta.
Merkhiq l’Tlomyeh Plasheh Sawaneh:
Pareq l’Alman m’Mar’eh Motaneh:
Metiv Goukhka Al Kol Sipwateh:
Mli Min Savra l’Kolay Libwateh.
O Ashur, almighty God:
Help our people (nation) to be strong:
To conquer difficulties and find happiness:
To forget sorrow and earn joy.
Keep away violence and ugly wars:
Save our people (nation) from illness and epidemics:
Put laughter on every lip:
Fill with hope every heart.”
—Submitted by Dr. Madeleine Davis Moradkhan. Urmi dialect, currently Roseville California. 1st generation in diaspora.
“The first time I made Dolma
You told me it needed to rest for a long time.
It needs to nakhnekhah, you said.
Small beads of water need to form on the lid of the pot
To show that the rice and the herbs and the spices have all co-mingled long enough to sweat.
Not on high heat —like when we bring water to boil
Not for just 10 minutes —like our favorite medium steak
On low heat.
For hours —maybe.
It takes patience to make a good dolma and a delicious pot of biryani.
Patience —the virtue of the mother who wakes up early to begin preparing
her dolma filling and the meatballs and potatoes for biryani, who goes about her day with the pot on low heat for hours.
When the kids ask if the food is ready, she says no because it hasn’t had enough time for nakhnakhta.
The spices haven’t permeated every rice grain;
they haven’t yet coated every single bite with love, with flavor, with time and memories.
I still don’t know what the word for nakhnakhta is in English
Marinate isn’t it; it lacks the heat; it’s what happens before the flame is turned on.
Simmer doesn’t do it justice; it lacks tenderness; it’s a rolling boil.
Coming together is too blasé; it lacks intimacy; it’s an informal gathering.
I’m stuck in this space where I know what it means for my biryani to nakhnekhah
but I don’t quite know how to say it in English.
In this space of emptiness of one language and the fullness of the other,
I hold out my hands for a full plate of food
that warms my soul
with a blend of spices that bring together my East and West
In a kitchen where we make steak and mashed potatoes
and also attempt to make stuffed grape leaves, picked by your mom from our yard
In the fullness of this kitchen,
We make room for the nakhnakhta of our days and our life.
We let love permeate every moment
Until life is ready for our devouring.”
—Submitted by Roda Dankha. Currently lives in Detroit, MI. Originally from Mar Bishou & Qala d’Qasha Oneh, Urmia, Iran.
“My Name is Hard to Pronounce
It was meant to be spoken in its entirety, to invoke a lost history.
My name came from a place where mountain tops kissed the sky.
It was carried down on the backs of nomads who bathed in the Euphrates.
Edesa was carved in stone by hands that worshiped multiple Gods. Edesa's roots spans centuries and sprouted on the other side of the Earth.
Edesa has been etched, declared, embodied, seized, and admired. It belongs to a generation lost under rubble and persecution.
Edesa is a stronghold.
If the weight of three syllables is intimidating then it wasn't meant for your tongue.
It was meant for a father to hear and feel at ease. To be called by a mother at the click of a stove. A sister to use and empty her stomach with laughter. For a brother to yell and summon a very sleepy girl named Edesa.”
—Submitted by Edesa Allahverdi. Currently lives in Turlock, CA. Originally from Urmia, Iran.
“What are you?
Nakhriye ask what I am so they can solve a puzzle in their mind
But I don’t show up on any of the maps from this time
I am stubborn and unmovable like the Hakkari mountains and our songs that still echo through their peaks
I am fluid like water as the Tigris and Euphrates run through me
I feel ancient as my mother tongue
Thousands of years old on the inside and on the outside young
I wish I could stay as cool as cucumbers and yogurt on a hot day
But inside I am fiery, passionate, craving justice for my people and a safe place to stay
I open my mouth to explain and the words don’t just spill, they rush like a waterfall
Some will listen and even recognize. Others deem me intense and regret speaking to me at all
The question makes me feel naked, like I have revealed myself but forget that I am so much more
I am Assyrian, but that’s not the ocean it’s just the shore
I am woman, I am spiritual, I am nature, I am beauty, I am kindness and love, I have the power to make others feel at home
But that’s not what they’re looking for when they ask “what are you” and “where are you originally from”
So I pray for a fraction of the strength my ancestors had to have for me to be here at all
To get past the pain of feeling unseen, unheard, so small
They’d never cower or flinch at difficulties or the sight of a fight
They inspire me to say: I am Assyrian, and every detail and deviation of my existence is my right”
—Submitted by Sarha Abraham. Currently lives in Illinois, US. Originally from Goondiknetha (clan) Tkhumnetha (tribe) of Hassaka, Syria.
“I carry the suffering of your sin and pray for you, that God may forgive you.
Bit dtananay joojareh d’khteeyatookh ow salyan qatookh, ked Alaha pakhilloukh.”
Submitted by Silvana Samuel.
“Oneeta & Zaia
It wasn't in my nature to cry.
At least that's what I had in mind.
Their arrival into this world was marked by vigor and strength.
The burst of emotion that overtook me led to a stream of tears.
Witnesses to my life were born.
The curators of my work and the source of my inspiration.
Their words paint a future of hope,
from incoherent babble to full sentence Syriac.”
Submitted by Rabel Bet Shmuel. Currently lives in Chicago, Illinois, USA. Originally from the village of Bebedeh, Sapna Region.
“Esho raya
Chim baseema
Chet min shintee
Tazah qeemah
Shook shachrinokh
Qam natretlee
Chooleh leleh
Rahat tleelee
Hayar marya
Shapkhin ilokh
Bot boosahmee
Qublah minokh
Yimee khleeta
Babee dostee
B’dyokh khidyah
Teena mintah
Shapaqetokh melyah libee
Shookhah
Melchah
Msheekhah
Amen”
Submitted by Mariam Pera. Currently lives in Chicago, Illinois, USA. Originally from Saatlou, Urmia, Iran, Urmijnetah.
“Yah alahan qadeesha
Barikhleh ah sopra qatan
Mumtet qa chooleh sneeqeh molyeseh
Hadritlan qa soprokh shmayanayah
Shuchrakh shepkhekhlokh al khotamet khayan
Amen”
Submitted by Mariam Pera. Currently lives in Chicago, Illinois, USA. Originally from Saatlou, Urmia, Iran, Urmijnetah.
“Bnuni (my sons) magoul (well behaved) oop (and) Milya (full) min (of) khuba (love) Gatukh (for you) itlee (I have) kul (all) igara (admiration) Gati (for me) bush (more) min (than) dava (gold) em (and) bara (light) Libi (my heart) bi libukh ( in your heart) Hal (to) khutamet dunia ( the end of the world) Alaha brah khmeh kheyoukh (God bless your life) lhal ' la ia Khayuta khlyta (a sweet life) oop salamat (and peaceful) Gatukh bkheylet Alaha (For you God Willing) Min kul libee (From all my heart), Yima (Mom)”
Submitted by Zeena Tawfik Hawi, with translation help from her son Josef. She was born in Iraq, with familial roots in the village Tek Ardishay, and travelled between the US, Iraq, Kuwait, and Lebanon until starting elementary school. She currently lives in Connecticut.