Tuesday, August 04, 2015

Aramaic children's camp

MODERN ARAMAIC WATCH: Israeli Christian Children Connect to Aramean Roots (Israel Today).
The Israeli Christian Aramaic Summer Camp began last Thursday under the auspices of the Israeli Aramaic Christian Association (ICAA) in the Galilee town of Kfar Baram.

[...]

As noted in the press release, the camp will be held in and with a focus on Kfar Baram, which is of great symbolic importance to the Israeli Christian community.

Kfar Baram was originally a Jewish village dating back at least till the time of Queen Esther. Remains of a large ancient synagogue are clearly visible. At some point between the 7th and 13th centuries AD, Jews abandoned the village for unknown reasons. Several centuries later, Kfar Baram had become a fully Christian village.

[...]
More on the Maronite revival of Aramaic is here and here and links. Another Aramaic children's education project, Keys Grace Academy in Michigan, was recently noted here. Today there's another article on this school in the Detroit News: Chaldean charter first of its kind in nation (Kim Kozlowski).
Although the school will welcome all children in pre-kindergarten through 12th grade, it is expected that most will be Chaldean. Upon graduation, the students are expected to be proficient in at least three languages: English, Aramaic and either Spanish or French. Each student will be provided two uniforms, shoes, computers, breakfast and lunch, and free transportation.
UPDATE: Dead link now fixed! Sorry about that.