By Rabbi Asher Lopatin, Jewish Federation of Greater Ann Arbor
After a wonderful kick-off lunch at the Detroit Athletic Club, the Michigan Chaldean-Jewish Alliance hosted its second event, with the support of the greater Ann Arbor JCRC (Jewish Community Relations Committee): A gathering of over 20 Chaldeans and Jews to view the Mesopotamian exhibits at the Detroit Institute of Art. The impetus for this outing comes from the idea that Jews and Chaldeans share a common heritage from Abraham, who was born and raised in Ur of Chaldeas.
As one of the founders of the Alliance said, “We Chaldeans and Jews are not just cousins, not just brothers and sisters, we are really the same people!”
All attendees to the DIA program received a parting gift of a Chaldean flag and were treated to coffee and drinks in the DIA cafeteria, courtesy of the JCRC.
The Alliance has launched a website, ChaldeanJewish.org, and is already planning its next events. To learn more about this initiative, visit the website or contact Rabbi Asher Lopatin, Director of Community Relations for the Jewish Federation, at asher@jewishannarbor.org.