The start of a new school year is a nostalgic reminder of our days as youngsters. Those who lived in the Penrose neighborhood of Detroit, now known as Chaldean Town, and more affectionately known as “7 Mile” among Chaldeans, spent their days in the neighborhood schools, learning English, playing outside, and porch-hopping around the block.

Artificial intelligence, or AI, is one of today’s hottest topics of conversation in tech. “Narrow AI” includes single tasks such as voice assistants and spam filters, and “Generative AI,” which is what most people think of as AI, creates new texts and images based on prompts.

The names of Iraq’s Christian towns and villages have ancient roots in Aramaic, Syriac, and Assyrian languages. Their meanings often reflect geographical features, agriculture, or religious traditions, preserving a rich linguistic and cultural heritage.

تمتلك اسماء المدن والقرى المسيحية في العراق جذوراً تاريخية عريقة تعود للغات الآرامية، السريانية، والآشورية. وتُركز هذه الأسماء بمعانيها على السمات الجغرافية، أو الزراعية، أو الدينية، وتشكل موروثاً مهماً في مناطق سهل نينوى وإقليم كردستان وتشكل صورة من الموزايك التاريخي الفريد للمنطقة.

في مدينة تلكيف القديمة، افتُتح عام 2025 بيت التراث التلكيفي، ليكون أول متحف تراثي من نوعه في المدينة، ومبادرة لحفظ تاريخها وموروثها الثقافي والاجتماعي، ولا سيما بعد الظروف الصعبة التي مر بها أبناؤها والتهجير الذي شهدته المدينة عام 2014.

في هذه المقالة نستعرض نشأة الأعلام وتطورها التاريخي، ونتناول الرموز والدلالات التي تحملها الأعلام الوطنية، مع التركيز على علم العراق والتغيرات التي طرأت عليه منذ تأسيس الدولة العراقية الحديثة وحتى يومنا هذا، إذ يُعدّ العراق من أكثر دول العالم تغييرًا لعلمه الوطني، نتيجة الإنقلابات والتحولات السياسية والأنظمة المتعاقبة التي شهدها خلال القرن الماضي.

ليست كل اللقاءات الرسمية سواء؛ فبعضها ينتهي بانتهاء مراسمه، فيما يفتح بعضها الآخر بابًا لحوار قد يمتد أثره إلى ما بعد قاعة الاجتماع. ومن هذا المنطلق، اكتسب اللقاء الذي جمع وفد مؤسسة الجالية الكلدانية بدولة رئيس مجلس الوزراء العراقي، السيد علي فالح الزيدي، في واشنطن يوم 13 تموز 2026، أهمية خاصة، إذ جاء في مستهل زيارته الرسمية إلى الولايات المتحدة، وكان أول لقاء رسمي يعقده بعد وصوله إلى العاصمة الأمريكية.

Although this issue tackles some heavy subjects, sharing our stories and our feelings can help us carry the emotional load. The old sayings—“A problem shared is a problem halved,” “When we share our burdens, they become lighter,” and even “Many hands make light work”—have endured for a reason: They ring true.

One of CCF’s many strengths is its outreach into the community, providing opportunities that help better the lives of those it serves. One way CCF fulfills this mission is through college scholarships funded by community donors. On August 14, CCF hosted a community event celebrating this year’s winners alongside their families and donors.

For your viewing pleasure, this month we have featured some “Old School” photos—some taken in Iraq and some here in Detroit. These are not only old school photos, but they are also the type of photos that one had to wait days or even weeks to view, not knowing if the subject was in focus or even in the frame! Thanks to Mary Romaya, Executive Director of the Chaldean Cultural Center, for these shots.

On Thursday, July 23, Comerica Park in Detroit experienced a Chaldean takeover during Chaldean Heritage Baseball Night. Thousands of Chaldeans filled the stands, wearing their specially made Detroit Tigers shirts featuring a Chaldean Cross and sporting cut-out signs of Fr. Pierre Konja’s face to celebrate his throwing out the first pitch. Before entering the stadium, a joy filled Baggiya line dance spontaneously broke out. It was truly a family affair with fans of all ages representing both their culture and their city. The Tigers didn’t disappoint and rallied in late innings to beat the Kansas City Royals 4-3.

The Telkaif (Telkeppe) Heritage House opened in the old city of Telkaif in 2025, marking the first heritage museum of its kind in the town. It stands as an initiative to preserve the city’s history and its cultural and social legacy—particularly in the wake of the hardships endured by its residents and the displacement the city witnessed in 2014.

Somewhere in nearly every family, there’s a name people stop saying out loud. In mine, it’s my brother Dave’s. Not because we don’t love him. Because loving him, and losing him the way we did, has always come tangled up with a silence nobody quite knows how to break. As a suicide loss survivor, I know that particular kind of grief—the grief of losing a sibling to suicide, and of learning, slowly, that most people around you would rather you didn’t bring it up.

The names of Iraq’s Christian towns and villages have ancient roots in Aramaic, Syriac, and Assyrian languages. Their meanings often reflect geographical features, agriculture, or religious traditions, preserving a rich linguistic and cultural heritage.

The Chaldean community mourns the passing of Dr. Nouri Y. Mary, a pioneering pharmacist, educator and academic leader who was born in Baghdad, Iraq, on June 25, 1929, and passed away on July 5, 2026. After earning his pharmacy degree from the University of Baghdad and graduate degrees from The Ohio State University, Dr. Mary spent 42 years as a professor and associate dean at Long Island University, where he mentored generations of pharmacists and received the university’s Chancellor’s Award for Distinguished Service.

Helen Jerjes Kattoula Kassab was born on August 3, 1950, and passed to the fullness of everlasting life on June 25, 2026. Helen was the loving daughter of the late Jerjes Hanna Kattoula and the late Narmi Hanna Yono, the cherished wife of the late Hanna Kassab, humble mother to Duraid Kassab, Ruwaida (Mazen) Yono, and Randa (Yousif) Jamil, and beloved grandmother of 9 grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren.

Lamya M. Kory, beloved mother, grandmother, sister, and friend, was born on October 14, 1960 and passed away on May 19, 2026. She leaves behind her cherished children, Laith, Tyson (Rhana), Keira, and Norman Jr. (Madison), and her beloved grandchildren, Delilah, Hendrix, and Dempsey. She is survived by her loving siblings, Teresa Saroki, Raad Qasguargis , and Carmen Qasguargis , and reunited in peace with her late brother, Robbie Qasguargis.

Lewis Yaldo, devoted husband, father, grandfather, and beloved uncle, passed away on November 1, 2025. Born in 1928, he overcame early family hardships to build a successful plumbing and import business with his brother and cousins. Lewis was cherished for his toughness, generosity, and storytelling, leaving a lasting legacy with his family and the Chaldean community. He is survived by his wife Juliet, children, grandchildren, and extended family.