NEWSLETTER - Druze Orphans & Charitable...
Transcript of NEWSLETTER - Druze Orphans & Charitable...
NEWSLETTER
MARCH 2003 DRUZE ORPHANS & CHARITABLE ORGANIZATION VOL. 5 NO. 1
Together for
Five Years
International
Welcome to
The Society of Lebanon the Giver
This year, we celebrate the fifth anniver-
sary of DOCO. We take this opportu-
nity to thank all our donors whose generos-
ity has helped us to come to the aid of
those in need of our help.
I would especially like to thank every-
one who contributed to the Eid-al-Adha
pocket money drive. The money was dis-
tributed to students at the orphanages in
Lebanon and Syria and was a very welcome
morale booster to the children.
Our religious teachings emphasize gen-
erosity and good deeds. We at DOCO strive
to do this by bringing the community and
those in need closer together.
We do this by sharing news of the
needs of the community, as well as the
achievements and successes of the many
charitable organizations working for the
betterment of our society.
The dynamic of our policy focuses on
the welfare of our community as a whole,
by caring for the orphaned, the needy, the
disabled, the sick and the elderly.
It is not a small feat, but when each of
us does his/her share, then, we are sure to
succeed.
Thus far, we seem to be on the right
track and God willing, we will continue as
long as the need exists.
Our needy brethren, and the DOCO
team, will be grateful for your support.
By Kamel Muakkassa, M.D.President
L to R: Mrs. Leila Mansour, President of “Ladies Friendship Society,” Princess Hayat Arslan,
President of “Society of Lebanon, the Giver” and Mrs. Rola Muakkassa
In Febraury, Mrs. Rola Kamel Muakkassa visited Lebanon during Eid al-Adha holiday.
She met with Princess Hayat Arslan, and presented her with a selection of medications collected
in the United States for the Hasbaya Women’s Clinic.
This society was formed and registered
as a not-for profit organization with the
Lebanese government on July 1, 1983. At
present, its elected officers are:
Princess Hayat Arslan, President
Latifa Nakadi, Vice-President
Diala Talhouk, Secretary
Wafic Fayad, Accountant
Yousef Abdul Khalek, Treasurer
Rima Al-Kadi, Director of Social
Affairs
Maria Diab, Director of Cultural
Affairs
Ikram Harmouch and
Sabah Hamze, members.
This Society has been at work serving
the needs of the impoverished Druze com-
munity in many areas of Lebanon since
1983.
Most recently, in 2001 they opened a
school to serve the community in Hasbaya,
South Lebanon. (a special report on the
school will be published in a later issue of
DOCO Newsletter).
In the same year they opened a free
clinic “Hasbaya Women’s Clinic” to serve
the female population of Hasbaya with the
blessing of Mashaikh Khalwat al-Bayadah.
Since its opening, more than 4000 women
have been treated at the clinic which was
built entirely with donated funds.
Continued of Page 6
Chairperson
Afifi Masri
President
Kamel Muakkassa, M.D.
Secretary
Leila Masri
Treasurer
Abboud Assaf
Assistant Treasurer
Sahar Muakasa, Ph.D.
Advisory Council
Emad Aboulhosn
Kamal Aboulhosn, M.D.
Michael M. Arnouse
Bassam al-Ayass
Nawal Chehayeb
Souad Ghosn, Esq.
Salim Israwi
Hadia Katter
Faez Masri
Farid Muakkassa, M.D. (Past President)
Roger Shaar
Co-Founders
Aniseh Assaf (1908-2002)
Dr. Fuad K. Muakkassa (1914-2000)
Volume 5 - Number 1
March 2003
DOCO NewsletterPO Box 1433
New York, NY 10018
(800)641-5440
DOCO Home Pages
http://www.doco-charities.org
http://www.druzeorphans.org
Email: [email protected]
EDITOR
Sahar Muakasa
CONTRIBUTING EDITORS
Leila Masri
Kathy Jaber Stephenson
Lila Ibrahim
Published by
DRUZE ORPHANS & CHARITABLE
ORGANIZATION
© Copyright 2003, DOCO
Letters to DOCO
2
Dear DOCO, Friends and Family,
“Nothing in this world can take the place of
persistence. Talent will not, nothing is more
common than unsuccessful men with talent.
Genius will not; unrewarded genius is
almost a proverb. Education will not, the
world is full of educated derelicts.
Persistence and determination alone are
omnipotent.” These famous words of
President Calvin Coolidge, represent the
iron will of the dedicated people who
proudly strive to serve the needs of the
orphans.
The following members of the Aboulhosn
Family, have stepped forward and donated
their time, energy and resources to extend a
helping hand to Beit al-Yateem: Assad &
Najibe, Majid & Suzi, Khalid & Hana, Dr.
Rima & Hadi, Raed & Amal, Khalid &
Naseebi, Ziad, Ajaj, Dr. Souraya Adeb,
Ilham Adeb, Wajdi & Marina, Kamal &
Ghada, Chawki & Julia, Nadeem & Afaf,
Mounah & Lamis, Kamal & Hoda,
Mamoun & Shahrazad, Adel & Nadia, Riad
& Nadia, last but not least Anis & Nadia.
Their generous donation was utilized to
purchase essential OTC (over the counter
medications) for the orphanage: 12 Boxes of
Dimetapp, 2 Boxes of Robitussin, 20 Boxes
of Aleeve, and 2 Boxes of Advil, 7 boxes of
Ben gay, 10 Boxes of Benadryl, and 18
Boxes of NIX.
Thank you dear friends. This is only a small
gesture reaffirming this family’s support for
DOCO in restoring our persistence and
rededicating our commitment to the
orphanage, Beit al-Yateem.
Respectfully Yours
Afif & Maha Aboulhosn
Cypress, CA
Dear DOCO,
The enclosed contribution is made in mem-
ory of Mrs. Nazha Najjar, widow of the late
Hussein Najjar and mother of Sue (Saouda)
N. Hassen of Houston, Texas. She passed
on in Adelaide, South Australia, on
November 1, 2002.
Thank you
Mark Najjar
Lilburn, GA
Dear Mrs. Masri,
Thank you for your letter dated 5 February
2003, and your kind donation to the Student
Aid Program. Please find enclosed our
receipt number 19020 in the amount of
$378. Could you please arrange to send the
enclosed letters of appreciation to your val-
ued donors, along, with the enclosed copies
of our new Scholarship Fund Program with
the American University of Beirut for their
attention.
Yours sincerely
Ghazi Jounblat
Assistant Secretary General
Druze Foundation for Social Welfare
Beirut – Lebanon
Dear Mrs. Masri,
Thanks for all that you have done, are
doing, and will do on behalf of our pre-
cious children.
Bobby Jaber
Santa Barbara, CA
Dear Mrs. Masri,
Eid Mubarak! God bless you, your family,
and DOCO staff. Your efforts are blessed,
especially during the Eid.
Regards
Malik Najjar
Albuquerque, NM
Dear Ms. Muakasa,
Please accept this donation, to the Druze
Orphanage in Lebanon, in the amount of
three hundred dollars ($300) in memory of
Ameen Abi Hana, (Abou Akram) March 5,
1932 - February 11, 2003. Please address a
card to Mr. Akram Abi-Hana and family,
expressing our deepest condolences and
prayers.
Friends at ABC NEWS
New York
3
DOCO in association with other non
governmental organization (NGOs),
is playing an increasingly important role in
Druze communities all over the world.
Recently, these not-for-profit organizations,
have increased in number and diversity as
the need for them has increased.
Together with DOCO, they have
focused on the grassroots level in order to
bring more awareness to the urgent needs of
the Druze community.
By providing local support, connec-
tions and expertise, these NGO’s bolster
DOCO’s own mission of creating a healthi-
er society: economically, socially, and moral-
ly. This networking has enhanced our capac-
ity to help a larger section of the communi-
ty much more effectively, and efficiently.
Among these are Druze Orphanage
Home in both Syria and Lebanon,
University Student Resident, Druze
Foundation for Social Welfare, Secondary
Schooling for Orphans, Ladies Friendship
Society, Druze Charity Foundation, Eldery
Home Center, Ain Wa Zein Hospital, and
National Rehabilitation Development
Center.
In this issue, we feature yet another
organization “The Society of Lebanon the
Giver”. Headed by Princess Hayat Arslan.
This society is doing exceptional work in the
community but still needs our help.
We are also happy to report on the dif-
ferent fund raising activities led by Lila and
Nabeel Ibrahim, and by Dr. Souraya
ElHessen and Denise Akel Rutjens.
With YOUR support and donations,
you have inspired DOCO to work hard to
identify these NGOs and work with them to
fulfill OUR common humanitarian mission.
DOCO’s newsletter with over 2000 in
circulation, will continue to be the link
between you, the donor, and the Druze
community all over the world.
Sahar Muakasa
Editor
You Made them
Smile
Dr. Akram Masri and Mrs. May Mayyasi , DOCO representatives in
Lebanon, handed out the traditional "EIDIEH " (pocket money) ($5
each), from DOCO to the children of Beit al- Yateem on the occasion of
Eid Al Adha 2003.
The children enjoyed the gesture and thanked DOCO and all its sup-
porters and wished them many happy returns of the Eid.
Dr. Akram Masri and Mrs. May Mayyasi distributing the pocket money to the students
Happy Faces
NGO’s & DOCO
4
The Mejlis LettersPart One
Introduction
by Kathy Jaber Stephenson
As children, my brother Bobby and I had often
heard our father speak of the Mejlis in Krayah,
Syria. Our dad, Joe Jaber, explained that he had
been sending money to help build this religious facil-
ity. Being American- born, we did not understand
exactly what a Mejlis was. From what we garnered,
it was a structure similar to a church. There was no
Mejlis in America; consequently, we had never seen
one growing up in West Virginia. After becoming
adults we were fortunate to visit Mejlises in
Lebanon and Syria, including the one located at
Krayah.
Those Druze born in the old country are familiar
with these religious sites. We American-born are
not usually, unless we have been to Lebanon or
Syria. For this article, I wrote to Dr. Abdallah
Najjar and Dr. Anis Obeid asking them to
describe the main tenets of a Mejlis. Here are their
responses:
Dr. Najjar: “The Mejlis (place of congregation) is
to be found in every village inhabited by Druze peo-
ple. It is the meeting place for weekly communal
prayer on Thursday evening. When people gather,
an elder leads in singing spiritual hymns that are
exalting and beautiful. Then the elder gives a ser-
mon addressing the young and those not yet initiat-
ed to the faith.”
Dr. Anis Obeid: “As for the story of the Druze
Mejlis, all I know is from personal observations
during my childhood in Aley, Lebanon. A Mejlis is
basically a large and austere meeting place, sparsely
furnished with rugs and low cushions for sitting (on
the floor). The Uqqal (the initiated sheikhs) congre-
gate on Thursday evening to begin the session by
preaching moral and ethical values to rank and file
who happen to attend. Women and men are sepa-
rated by some sort of a screen that does not interfere
with voice transmission. Once the (sermon) to the
uninitiated (Juhhal) is over, they (the Juhhal) are
excused and formal worship begins. This constitutes
reading from designated passages from Al-Hikma
and from other sources such as Sayyed Abdallah, as
well as quotations from the Koran and sometimes
the Bible. The readings are in the form or recitation
with very little attempt at scholarly discussions of
historical or philosophical perspectives. The session
lasts about two hours. In many instances, the same
program is enacted at the home of a family elder
which becomes a substitute for a Mejlis.”
Dr. Najjar continues: “As you may know, the
Druze have no ordained clergy (with the exception
of the Mashiekhat El-Akl), but the town’s people
usually identify elders who have become role models
of wisdom and piety who are called upon to preach,
conduct funerals, write wedding contracts and wills
or resolve disputes among fellow Druze. All of this
is done voluntarily and no compensation is offered or
accepted.
The Mejlis is usually a simple hall conforming to the
architectural surroundings and is void of any luxu-
rious furnishings. A volunteer caretaker usually sees
to the cleanliness and maintenance of the premis-
es...”
During the period of time that the Mejlis was being
built in Krayah, Joe Jaber corresponded with Sultan
Pasha Al-Atrash and others there, concerning the
actual construction of the Mejlis that he financed.
Before he died, he sent the letters to Henry Flehan
for safekeeping. Henry sent me the letters, which I
forwarded to my brother. We decided to have these
letters translated, and DOCO Newsletter Editor,
Sahar Muakasa graciously offered to translate them
gratis. She felt that the letters were relevant enough
to be published in the Newsletter. This could never
have been accomplished had Sahar Muakasa not
taken precious time out of her busy schedule adding
her labor of love to yet another Druze project. We
thank her so very much for all her dedication and
good efforts.
Spellings vary on names and places. They will
remain as they are written in the letters. I will edit
“The Mejlis Letters” with some deletions. They fol-
low:
THE MEJLIS LETTERS
Translated by Sahar Muakasa
The exchange of letters regarding the con-
struction of the Mejlis in Krayah, Syria, was
between three people: Sultan Pasha Al-
Atrash, Jaber Shokier (Joe Jaber), and
Salloum Fares Shokier. These letters con-
cerned the different stages of building the
Mejlis, the cost involved, a contract of con-
struction, drawings and detailed expenses,
and the inauguration ceremony of the
Mejlis after completion.
The letters were written between the
years 1950 and 1955. They will appear in
this article in chronological order so that
they may be read as a story. There are more
letters from Sultan Pasha Al-Atrash than
from Joe Jaber. Apparently, Mr. Jaber did
not retain most copies of his letters; how-
ever, one can surmise what he had written
by reading Sultan Pasha’s answers.
Following begin the Mejlis Letters:
Letter from Sultan Pasha to Joe Jaber
dated March 10, 1950
“I received your letter and read it very
carefully and thanked God that you are in
good health. An Arab proverb says, “Not all
who die are missed nor who live are
Front view of the Mejlis in Krayah, Syria, located in Jabal al-Druze
Photo by Sahar Muakasa -August 2002
5
praised,” but I say not all who immigrated
deserve the praise you deserve for your glo-
rious deeds. When I say this I am not exag-
gerating, but I am telling the truth as you
have shown this in the past during the revo-
lution (between the Druze and the French)
and in many other occasions… the people
of Krayah are proud of you … because of
your patriotism and faithfulness in serving
your country...
“Now, let me go back to your request
of donating money to renovate Mejlis
Krayah. This Mejlis in its present condition
is not suitable for any renovation or fur-
nishings because as you know it is in ruin.
But I, with the approval of our spiritual
brethren Sheiks, bought a plot of land near
the Mejlis. Our intention is to annex it to the
Mejlis and to rebuild it…. This will require
around 6,000 Syrian pounds for the con-
struction material and for paying the con-
tractor. So, there is no need for furniture as
the Mejlis is ruined. If you wish, we would
appreciate it if you would send money to
start building the Mejlis and later on we will
think of the furnishings.
I will give you the names of the com-
mittee that will be in charge of the project
under my supervision to oversee that all
money received and expenses are accounted
for. The committee members are: sheiks
Abu Ali Salloum Shokier; Abu Ali Mohsen
al-Safady; Abu Mohammad Youssef
Alameddine; Abu Hassan Sulieman
Jarbouh, and your brother Abu Hamad
Mohammad al-Hamad. These people will be
responsible, and God bless you. Give my
regards to all my brethren.”
(Sultan gives the names starting with “Abu”,
meaning the father of, such as Abu Ali Mohsen al-
Safady means Mohsen’s eldest son is Ali.)
The names of the committee as they
appeared in the contract were signed and
witnessed by Sultan Pasha as follows:
Salloum Shokier – President
Youssef Salman Alameddine -
Treasurer
Naef Saleem Tarabey – Member
Mohammad Hamad Shokier – Member
Mohsen Salman al-Safady – Member
Saad al-Jamil – Contractor.
Letter from Sultan Pasha to Joe Jaber
dated April 30, 1950
“I received your last letter and I thank
you for your interest to build the Mejlis in
Krayah. With your endeavor and that of
your brethren abroad, we are determined,
God willing, to start the project. According
to your wishes, you will find enclosed the
blueprints for the new Mejlis. As you know,
the old Mejlis that I told you about needed
6000 Syrian pounds to fix, will not work
because three sides of the Mejlis are adja-
cent to our peoples’ homes, which could be
ruined. Thus, we have stopped the work on
the old place. After consultation with our
community; it was decided to buy a piece of
land on which to build a new Mejlis that
will serve many generations to come.
We were lucky to find a property for
approximately 2000 Syrian pounds because
its area is 1000 square meters. As you men-
tioned in your letter, and upon your deter-
mination and our brethren abroad to start
the project, we would like you to know that
the cost of building the Mejlis is 36,000
Syrian pounds. This includes all the costs
involved in finishing the building including
the fence around the Mejlis that is 1000
meters.
I am writing to you to have a look at the
plans and the cost for this illustrious Mejlis
and to be aware of all details. If you agree,
you can send us the money to begin the
project and set up the conditions with the
contractors. Also, we will form a committee
with a president and a treasurer (stipulated
above) to submit to you the schedule of
expenses, which will be verified by the pres-
ident of the committee and its members.
My respect to all my brethren abroad,
and we wish them success and health.”
(Enclosed in this letter is a drawing of the
Mejlis. It has two floors. The prayer room is 14.5
meters wide by 14.8 meters long. The balcony is 4.2
meters wide and 14.5 meters long)
Letter from Sultan Pasha to Joe Jaber
dated May 29, 1950
“I have read your last letter paragraph
by paragraph. We have started the project by
digging the support of the building and
preparing the supply of the stones.
According to your wishes, the committee
has been formed composed of 5 people
including the president and the treasurer.
We have signed the contract that includes
eight points. Three copies were issued: one
enclosed for you, one to remain with the
committee and one with the contractor.
The first step to start building is the
cost of the land and the fence valued at
17,000 Syrian pounds. We will send you the
amount needed for the next stage of build-
ing. We hope that you will send money to be
distributed to the contractors. There is no
need as you have specified in your letter to
get the papers verified from the local
authority. The money will be in the hands of
the committee. They are trustworthy and
are very careful in spending the money for
the Mejlis. Be sure of that. The work will be
Back view of Mejlis in Krayah. The stand that sits on the structure in the foreground is used
for viewing the deceased. Mourners may sit on the steps.
Photo by Sahar Muakasa - August 2002
6
done according to your wishes, and you will
be informed about all the stages of the
building along with all the expenses
incurred. Let us pray to God to finish this
noble mission.
Summary of the enclosed contract:
It has been agreed and decided to build
a Mejlis for God in our village Krayah. In
accordance with the request of the benefi-
cent Jaber Bek Shokier, a legal agreement
has been reached between us, the commit-
tee in charge of executing what is requested
to extend help for this auspicious building.
These efforts will be conducted under the
supervision of the Leader General Sultan
Pasha Al-Atrash as one party and the con-
tractor Saad Jamil as the other party as fol-
lows:
It has been decided that the length of
the building from east to west to be 25
meters and the width from north to south
12 meters and the height of the building to
be 5 meters.
It has been decided that good con-
struction materials will be used (here there are
some details on the different kind of construction
materials and where they will be used).
It has been decided to build 52 sq.
meters above the building surrounding the
ceiling and that all engraved stones used
should be the same for the whole building.
The committee has agreed to pay 10
Syrian pounds for every square meter of the
building, and has also committed to pay 50
Syrian pounds for each engraving.
The committee has undertaken to
donate the stones for building the founda-
tion.
The engraving and preparing of all
other stones for construction will be in
accordance with the terms agreed upon
with the contractor Saad.
The committee will donate 100 bags
Shamantoo sand (a type of sand) as well as
20 m³ of soft sand.
The contractor Saad has committed to
execute all the conditions agreed upon with
the committee.
And lastly, we have come together and
agreed, we the committee and the contrac-
tor, under the supervision of the Leader
General Sultan Pasha Al-Atrash. We swear
that we will execute all the work from our
side according to the above conditions with
dignity and honesty until the Holy Mejlis is
successfully completed. The committee has
agreed to pay three installments to the con-
tractor: first when he starts, second during
the middle of the project, and third when he
finishes. We thus agree, certify and sign this
agreement and ask God for success for the
good and the betterment.”
(This agreement was signed by 3 members, the
treasurer, the president, and the contractor and was
witnessed and signed by Sultan Pasha Al-Atrash.)
Letter from Salloum Fares Shokeir to
Joe Jaber dated July 29, 1950
“To my cousin Abu Ghaleb Jaber
Hamad Shokier, I send you greetings and
hope you are in good health and happy. God
is generous and loves the generous. He sees
what you have donated to build this Mejlis.
Your transfer of money has reached us.
We exchanged one dollar for 3.88 Syrian
pounds. The total was 24,058 Syrian pounds
and was cashed by Sultan Pasha Al-Atrash
and handed to the treasurer Youssef
Alameddine. 10,000 was paid to the ceiling
contractor Youssef al-Fakih, and 4,000 as a
payment to the general contractor. The
building is now two meters above ground,
and the work is going on as expected.
Hopefully, the Mejlis will be finished before
autumn.
Give our regards to your son Ghaleb
and Miss Nuhad and everybody. My sons
Salem, Fares, and Jameel greet you as well as
our brother Hamd and his family. All the
residents of Krayah send you greetings and
pray to God for your success and health.
The Ajaweed (sheikhs) of Krayah send you
their greetings. Your brother Mohammad
Hamad Shokier greets you as do Mohsin
Safady, Naef Turbah and Youssef
Alameddine.
In reference to your letter sent to your
brother Muhammad and Suleiman Shokier
inquiring about the Mejlis land, please note
that Sultan Pasha has to agree to it. Nawaf
and Ali Al-Atrash own the land, and the
share of the Pasha was taken four years ago
by Youssef Alameddine before this date.
We are awaiting your last payment to
finish the doors and flooring of the build-
ing. God bless you.”
(To be continued.)
Many thanks to Sahar Muakasa, Dr.
Abdallah Najjar and Dr. Anis Obeid for
their contributions to this article.
The clinic contracts doctors in different
medical specialties such as Gynecology,
Pediatrics, General Health, Ophthalmology,
Physical Therapy and provides testing for
Osteoporoses, Glands and operates a
Laboratory. Some urgently needed equipment:
-OTO-KERATOMETER
-LENS-METER
-TOPCON+TONOMETER
Welcome to the Soceity of lebanon the Giver,
Continued from page 1
Please contact us at DOCO if you can
help. The “Hasbaya Women’s Clinic” needs
your support to be able to continue provid-
ing the necessary care for the community.
Any donations,
large or small,
will be greatly appreciated.
A Doctor consults with a patient
A woman having her eyes examined at the
Hasbaya Women’s Clinic
7
Dear DOCO Supporters,
Iam Wafaa Abou Dihn from Hasbaya, a
village in the far South of Lebanon. I
recently left the University Student
Resident (USR) after finishing my higher
education.
Three years ago, I found it necessary to
move to Beirut to continue my studies, but
this was a real problem for my parents and
I, because it is hard to find a place, in Beirut,
suitable for a single girl to live in.
Fortunately for me, I discovered the USR,
which solved my problem by providing me
with a safe home and gave me a second
family.
Today, armed with a teaching diploma
in math and science for the elementary level,
I am ready and eager to face the future with
confidence and enthusiasm.
I am eternally grateful to the USR for
making it easier for young Druze girls, like
myself, to fulfill their potential and their
dreams of high academic achievement. If it
were not for USR, I would not have been
able to take advantage of this educational
opportunity. USR deserves all the support
and help it can get.
I am only one person, but don’t forget
the wider picture: ther are hundreds of girls
who have been able to attain their goals
solely because of the existence of USR and
many more are waiting to benefit from it.
Some of my roommates came from Syria
and Jordan to avail themselves of this
unique service that the USR provides.
Let me take this opportunity to thank
you, DOCO donors, for your support and
respectfully ask you not to forget USR.
Last but not least, I would like to com-
mend DOCO for spreading the word and
for supporting this worthy cause. I am
hopeful that I will be able to meet you per-
sonally in the future and see your organiza-
tion at work in the USA.
Sincerely,
Wafaa Abou Dihn
Thank you DOCO donors for fulfilling
the dreams of Miss Wafaa Abou Dihn
At the pot-luck luncheon hosted by Mrs.
Rania Jurdi at the Druze Cultural
Center in California, over $1500 was raised
for the “Secondary Schooling for the
Orphans” (SSO) organization.
Mrs. Elham Salloum, a board member
of the SSO, visiting the Southland, shared
with some of the ladies of the community,
the mission of this organization and its
achievements to date; namely: The first stu-
dent the SSO undertook to help will be
graduating from high school this year and
has received a full scholarship to attend
nursing school at the A.U.B. Hospital in
Beirut. Four students are now in their sec-
ond year, and four more will be finishing
their first year, for a total of nine students.
All students are working hard and doing
very well academically and socially.
Mrs. Salloum expressed sincere thanks on
behalf of SSO to DOCO and to all donors
who are making it possible for these orphaned
students to pursue higher education.
Fund Raising for SSO
The Students YOU are supporting to achieve higher education
Standing: L to R; Firas (10th grade - 1st year with SSO), Rabih (12th grade - 3rd year with SSO),
Baha (10th grade - 1st year with SSO), Majd (11th grade - 2nd year with SSO)
Sitting: L to R; Diana (11th grade - 2nd year with SSO), Mayada (10th grade - 1st year with SSO),
Hana (11th grade - 2nd year with SSO)From all of us Thank You
13
DOCO Newsletter
Sponsors
This newsletter was made possible by
the generous support of the following :
Hafez Ameen Abi-Akar
Michael M. Arnouse
Abboud & Amal Assaf
Ali Assaf
Mounah & Diana Assaf
Rabih & Amal Ballout
Manal Boukzam
Bobby Jaber
Dr. Sami & Leila Masri
Dr. Kamel & Rola Muakkassa
Julie & Jamil
Mr. and Mrs. Anis and Nadia
Aboulhosn, of West Covina,
California, invited family and friends to a
celebration of the engagement and Kitab
(marriage contract) of their son, Dr. Jamil
Aboulhosn to the lovely Miss Julie Kasem,
daughter of Mr. Casey Kasem, and Mrs.
Linda Kasem Naylor. The traditional cere-
mony was held at the Druze Cultural
Center, in Los Angels, on March 2, 2003
and was followed by a sumptuous luncheon
shared by family and friends. DOCO
Congratulates the happy couple and their
parents.
The DOCO team wishes to join the cho-
rus of congratulations to Mr. Ghassan
Saab on his selection as the “ADS Person of
the Year 2002”. This is indeed a well-
deserved honor.
Mr. Saab is president of SGT Ltd., a
real estate development firm based in
Michigan. He is a graduate of the American
University of Beirut where he earned his
degree in engineering. Currently, Mr. Saab is
Chairman of the American Druze
Foundation, and Vice Chairman of the
Board of Trustees of the Lebanese
American University in Lebanon.
He is a member of the Board of the
American Arab Heritage Council, the
Hundred Club of Flint, McLaren Regional
Medical Center, American Task Force for
Lebanon, Associated General Contractors
of America, and the Rotary Club of
Michigan. He also serves on the Citizens
Advisory Committee of the University of
Michigan-Flint and the Board of Governors
of the Arab American Institute in
Washington DC.
Some of the many honors and awards
he has received are: Civic Leader of the Year
award by the American Syrian-Lebanese
Clubs of America, 1978. Daughters of the
American Revolution Americanism Medal,
1991; and the Sam Farah American Success
Award, 1992. Mr. Saab has also served as
Chairman of the Associated General
Contractors of America, and the Flint
Institute of Music. He is a true role model.
DOCO congratulates Mr. Saab and
wishes him continued success.
Congratulations
Man of the Year - 2002
Ghassan Saab
Once again the team of “Community
Aid Net” (CAN) with Dr. and Mrs.
Akram Masri designed and printed desktop
calendars featruring the children of Beit al-
Yateem as a fundraising tool. They donated
250 calendars to Doco which were sold in
the US for more than $ 2,000.
Thank you Dr. & Mrs.Masri and the
CAN team.
Julie & Jamil signing Al-Kitab
Community Aid Net
Donates Calenders to DOCO
12
On their last trip to Lebanon, in July
2002, Mrs. Rola Kamel Muakkasa
accompanied by Dr. Sahar Muakasa made a
round of visits to various organizations sup-
ported by DOCO.
The first stop was Beit al-Yateem in
Abey, where they met with Mrs. Hayat al-
Nakadi, and had a chance to chat with some
of the students. They also visited the Elderly
Care Center in Ain Wazein where Mrs. Rola
Muakkassa presented Director, Dr. Zuhair
al-Emad, with a check in the Amount of
$841.50. Mrs. Amal Rasamny, Chairman, of
the Elderly Care Center Committee showed
them around the facility.
Later on, they visited Mrs. Farida
Rayess, President of University Student
Resident, at her home in Aley, and present-
ed her with a check in the amount of $1,350
donated by various DOCO supporters.
They also visited Mrs. Mona Ibrahim, and
presented her with a check in the amount of
$819 for the Druze Foundation for Social
Welfare.
Dr. Sahar Muakasa, accompanied by
Mrs. Nadwa Mujahed journeyed to Syria
and met with the newly elected Board of
Trustees of the Organization for Social
Welfare in Swaida. President of the Board
Mr. Ali Falhout welcomed DOCO’s repre-
sentatives and shared with them some of
the most pressing problems facing the
organization, namely the lack of funds to
employ enough qualified teachers, and to
update their curriculum.
The Board of Trustees informed
DOCO that the Organization is planning to
build an annex to the school in 2003, as well
as income generating structures on land
owned by the organization in Swaida.
Visit to Lebanon and Syria
Board members of the Syrian Organization for Social Welfare
Standing L to R: Aref Al-Saghaiby, Faozi Hamed, Fahd Jarbouh, Zahr Abu-Khair
Sitting L to R: Wadad Abu-Zaydan, Sahar Muakasa, Ali Falhout, Adel Tawil
L to R: Majd Abou-Ezeddine, Hayat Nakadi, Fuad & Leila
Muakkassa, Samia Rasheed and Rola Muakkassa
Students at the orphanage in Syria in the newly dining hall
They also made a tour of the newly built
kitchen and dining hall. Dr. Muakasa pre-
sented them with a check in the Amount of
$ 4,000. Later in the day, Mr. Ali Falhout
accompanied DOCO’s representatives on a
visit the Krayah Mejlis. (Please see article on
page 4.)
The Organization for Social
Welfare in Swaida is doing a very
good job in caring for the
orphans and needy but they do
need a lot of support. We hope
you can extend them a helping
hand.
In collaboration with DOCO we have ven-
tured to take on the monumental task of
generating funds to support the National
Rehabilitation Development Center
(NRDC). The center, located in Abey,
Lebanon, is a nonprofit organization. It pro-
vides shelter and food to adults and children
with disabilities. It is in dire need of funds
for basic amenities, as well as for programs
to help the disabled reach some form of
independence. NRDC started its work dur-
ing 1984. In collaboration and support of
local and international institutions the center
has established and developed several pro-
grams to assist those with disabilities to
make a better life for themselves. Programs
include Academic training for the mentally
or learning disabled, Physical Therapy,
Prosthesis Development, Psychotherapy, as
well as Medical Laboratory services.
Our first fundraiser was a silent auction
held at the ADS New Year’s party in
Southern California. We were successful in
finding corporate and individual sponsors,
who donated the items listed at the end of
the article. As a result we were able to raise
$1,710 towards the purchase of wheelchairs,
medical equipment and educational materi-
als for the learning-disabled and mentally
retarded.
Current and Future Activities
At present we are striving to create
greater awareness, among our community, of
the needs of people with disabilities living in
Lebanon, specifically the Druze. We recent-
ly submitted a proposal to the Social Science
Research Council in New York to fund a
collaborative international research grant,
titled, Bridging the Gap: and a New
Paradigm to Empowering the Disabled in
the Middle East. Our proposal was selected
and we will be traveling to Cairo, Egypt to
participate in a workshop along with the
other nine semi-finalists. The purpose of the
workshop, is to share our proposals with
scholars around the world and gather more
information to develop a final proposal to
be submitted in May for a maximum grant
of $35,000. Our goal in writing this propos-
al is to share our knowledge and provide
resources to service providers and children
with disabilities in Lebanon.
We’re currently working with
Wheelchairs for Humanity on delivering
wheelchairs and other medical equipment such
as physical therapy and prosthesis equipment.
Our goal is to raise at least $100,000 to cover
costs of purchasing and shipping medical
equipment to Lebanon. We are presently try-
ing to find corporate sponsors to underwrite
these costs. However, our resources are limit-
ed and given the tight economic situation here
in the U.S. and abroad we face a great chal-
lenge.
Furthermore, we are planning a work-
shop at the ADS convention in San
Francisco this Summer “Building a Stronger
Community through Empowerment.” Our
goal is to educate the Druze community on
the needs of children and adults with dis-
abilities.
Another fund-raising event that we par-
ticiped in, is the L.A. Marathon on March 2,
2003 where two community members, Ismale
Nawfal and Omar Nasserdine ran for our
cause, to support the disabled. They used
their legs for those who cannot and we sin-
cerely appreciate all their efforts and time.
(Report will be published in next issue).
NRDC Wish List
We are currently working with Khaled
El-Mohtar, Founder and Managing Director
of NRDC on fulfilling the wish list of the
urgently needed equipment:
• For Prosthetics and Orthotics’
workshop such as O.B. Heating ovens,
Electric Cast Cutter, O.B Socket
Router, O.B. Prosthetic Band Saw,
AK Gauge, Vacuum Machine,
Belt Sender.
• Mechanical Therapy such as pull
down machine for upper body
workout, leg extension machines,
training cycles.
• Treatment Furniture, such as Massage
table, Exercise Mats, Medicine Balls,
Folding Walkers.
• Electro Therapy Equipment such as
Vibro Massagers, Electro Stimulation
for facial paralysis, Short wave
w/accessory electrodes (Diathermy),
Electric Treadmill.
• Crutches, Quand Canes, tethoscopes,
Standard Plain Skeleton, Anatomical
Charts, Large Bobath table etc.
If you know of anyone who can help us
in obtaining these items, please contact
Souraya ElHessen at (562) 866-7282 or
Denise Akel Rutjens at (201) 943-9441.
Affirmation On Giving
Recognizing my oneness with all life
and knowing that life gives unconditionally, I
give openly and freely, for I know I cannot
deplete the source of my supply. I give with
an attitude of love and compassion and
without expectation. As I give, I rejoice on
the inner re-ward of my sharing.
10
Charity: Take it to the LimitBy: Dr. Souraya Elhessen & Denise Akl Rutjens
L to R: Dr. Souraya Elhessen, Rania and Maysa Aboulhosn
Thank you, one and all for supporting
the disabled Druze in Lebanon.
11
Riyad & Nadia AboulHosn (Ericsson Cell
phone: $350), Ahmed Nawfal (United Airlines
Ticket: $350), Roland & Denise Rutjens:Burke
(Burke Williams Beyond the Spa Gift Certificate:
$132), Monah & Lamise AboulHosn (Chevron
Gift Basket: $120), World Wrestling
Entertainment, NY (Gift Certificate, T-shirts &
Poster: $125), Final Touch Electrolysis (Two 15
Minutes Sessions: $18 each and Two Half-hour
Sessions: $28 each), 24-hour Fitness (Two 3
Months Memberships), Art and Frame Floral
Picture ($70), Michael’s Floral Arrangement
($70), House of Blues (Gift Certificate: $70),
Glen Ivy Hot Springs ($50), Somatic Massage
(Gift Certificate: $50), Dave & Busters (Gift
Certificate: $40), Robinson May (Gift Certificate:
$40), L.A. Clippers Autographed Baseball Cap
($40), Spectrum Glass Arts (a Glass Eagle: $40),
Trader Joe’s Gift Basket ($40), Cheesecake
Factory (Gift Certificate: $25), Costco (Gift
Certificate: $25), Huff ’s Hut (Gift Certificate:
$20), Roadhouse Grill (Gift Certificate: $20),
Lucille’s (Gift Certificate: $20), Edwards Theatre
(Harry Potter T-shirts, Posters & Game Cards),
Willow Creek Winery (four Champagne Bottles:
$15 each), Memories Graphic Arts ($12.)
Doaa Aboulhosn 350
Dr. Adib Aboulhosn 100
Ibtisam Masri 100
Renna Nadim Andary 100
Rob & Yasmeen Ghosn 100
Anonymous 50
Anonymous 50
Badih & Samia Wahbe 50
Fuad 50
Hikmat & Nadia Chmait 50
Marina Aboulhosn 50
Sami El Kadi 50
Samir El-Moghrabi 50
Wajdi Makarem 50
Anita Khalek 40
Mamoun Aboulhosn 40
Nabil Assaf 40
Saeed Najar 40
Shawki Adib Aboulhosn 40
Munir Abifaker 35
Farouk Zeineddine 25
Nabil Chmait 25
Samir Mezher 25
Allan Tay 20
Amine Mokaddem 20
Emily Montes 20
Fadi Saab 20
Hiam Said 20
Kamal Aboulhosn 20
Khaled Aboulhosn 20
Lamees A Aboulhosn 20
Nadia & Adel Aboulhosn 20
Anonymous 20
We would like to encourage you to make a difference
by making a donation to DOCO
to support our disabled children.
It is through your donation
that you show gratitude for the good health
of your children and those you love.
Individuals and Coporate Sponsors
40 Years Old and Going Strong
The LADIES COMMITTEE FOR
THE DRUZE ORPHANGE celebrat-
ed its 40th anniversary of service to the
orphanage, with a fund raising gala dinner at
the St. George Yacht Club in Beirut,
Lebanon, recently.
The Ladies Committee is the only offi-
cially licensed committee to solicit funds in
the name of the Druze Orphanage in Abey.
It was founded by the late Aref El-Nakadi
in 1963. Today, it is comprised of 15 dedi-
cated ladies, headed by Princess Khawla
Arslan.
The objectives of the Committee are:
to provide financial support for the basic
necessities for the daily running of the
Orphanage: offer grants and scholarships to
orphans inside and outside the orphanage,
as well as to provide moral support for the
orphans. They also organize recreational
and extra-curricular activities.
In the past year, the Ladies Committee
has paid for the supply of heating fuel in the
amount of $15,000, bought washing
machines in the amount of $14,000, in addi-
tion to supplying clothing, footwear, and
food items. It also provided scholarships for
orphans and other needy students totaling
$15,000.
The Ladies Committee for the Druze
Orphanage wishes to thank the Board of
Trustees of the Druze Orphanage for their
dedicated commitment and good adminis-
tration, especially Mrs. Hayat al-Nakadi for
her tireless dedication and hard work.
Reported by Mrs. Latifa Nakadi
(committee member)
DOCO, its donors and supporters wish to
commend the Ladies Committee for the Druze
Orphanage and congratulate them on their 40th
anniversary and thank each and every member for
their continued support in maintaining the high
standards of Beit al-Yateem.
L to R: Najwa Fayyad, Mona Abul Husn, Najwa Kais, Randa Mizhir, Amal Shams, Latifa
Nakadi, Princess Khawla Arslan, Nadia Arslan, Juhayna Rasamni at fundraising dinner
Donor US�$
The Barouki family are saddened by the
loss of their beloved Sheikh Youssef El
Barouki, a prominent Druze Council
Member of Philadelphia, PA., who passed
away on the 28th of August 2002. Memorial
services were held simultaneously in Sweida,
Syria, and in Philadelphia, where Sheikh
Sami Merhi of New York performed the
funeral services attended by dozens of fam-
ily members, friends, and relatives. Sheikh El
Barouki is survived by his wife of 63 years
Zaida, their six sons and four daughters, and
over 50 grandchildren. More than 200 other
relatives of the late Sheikh El Barouki live in
the Philadelphia area and in Delaware,
Michigan, and California. Donations in
honor of his memory were distributed to
Beit al-Yateem (Orphanage) and needy peo-
ple in Sweida in Syria.
On behalf of the Barouki family, I
would like to thank all those who expressed
their sympathies and shared their feelings
with the family, whether in person, in writ-
ing, via e-mail or by phone. I would like to
express my thanks to the Arab American
communities of Philadelphia, Northern
California Area, and the Monterey
Peninsula. In particular, I would like to
express my gratitude to the Syrian Embassy,
the President and the Board of the
American Druze Society, the
Administrations of DOCO and ‘Our
Heritage’ Magazine, and the Ambassador of
Lebanon to Argentina for their sincere con-
dolences. The following is a brief history of
Sheikh El Barouki written by his son, Dr.
Foazi El-Barouki, on behalf of the family.
Our community in North America and
our family back home have lost a great man, a
man with exceptional traits, high morals, and
great values. He was modest, sincere, gener-
ous, and a loving individual. He was patriotic,
intellectual, and a free thinking politician, and
a supporter of Arab nationalism and justice
for all. He was an exceptional sympathizer
with orphans, a giver, generous donor, a friend
of all ages, and an outstanding advisor.
Sheikh Youssef was born in Sweida,
Syria, in 1917. In 1937, he joined the Syrian
Exterior Police Force (Ad-Darak). In 1938 he
graduated from the school of Darak
Academy (Rutabaa Ad-Darak) of Damascus
and became the head of Hamiydia Police
Department serving under Colonel Hayel El-
Attrach. Under El-Attrach’s leadership, he
partially contributed to the independence of
Syria when he participated in the defense of
the besieged al-Hamiydia Fort against the
French domination. The siege was fiercely
met and lasted for several days.
During the reign of Husni Ez-Zaim,
President of Syria from 1948-1950, Mr. Barouki
resigned from Ad-Darak to join the ministry of
Justice. He worked for 12 years as a head
recorder for the Court of Appeals (Ist’inaf) in
Sweida. In light of his constructive experience
in court affairs, he used to be detailed every
once in a while to assist in recording Sectarian
cases for the Sectarian Court (Al-Mahkama Al-
Mathhabia). He sat several times on the court
bench along with Mashaikh Al-Akel and Court
Judges. The best Sectarian Judge he worked with and
the one he admired the most was the Honorable
Fadlalla Al-Quintar.
After independence and during the
Wahda (unity) between Syria and Egypt, Mr.
Barouki was a national political figure. In
1959, he was elected to represent the district
of Sweida in the Ittihad Al-Qawmi. He served
in this position until the unity between these
two countries broke off in 1961. In 1963, Mr.
Barouki decided to retire after long years of
service to his country. He immigrated to
Venezuela to join his eldest son Maziad, who
left Syria in his early adulthood in 1957 to
open the family door to the West. After 20
years of struggle abroad as a merchant, Mr.
Barouki traveled to the United States of
America to be with his second son Foazi, the
family pioneer in North America as of 1971.
Mr. Barouki came to the Philadelphia area in
1983, and since then, he had been residing in
South Philadelphia. In 1993, he was appoint-
ed by Mashiakhat Al-Akel of the Druze sect
in Sweida to run part of its affairs in the
United States as set by traditions. He carried
this responsibility with honor. He volunteered
his time and energy to offer services and other
duties until he had fulfilled his mission.
My father died peacefully from stomach
cancer, yet one of his dreams was not
achieved during the last two months of his
life. It was a period of psychological and
physical pain and suffering mixed with high
motivation. After four attempts to travel
back home to meet with me, and other
members of the family, his dream faded
away. He lost hope and took his hope with
him. This ending was particularly painful to
me because when I decided to come back to
the States to see him alive for what would
have been the last time, I learned that he had
passed away while I was en route flying
through London. But, that is life and that is
the will of God.. Goodbye, Father, you were
the torch of my life.
16
A Tribute to Sheikh Youssef Hamdan El Barouki 1917 – 2002
By Faozi El Barouki
The late Sheikh Youssef El-Barouki surrounded by his children and grandchildren
15
Mr. Assaf passed away in South
Pasadena, California on the 9th of
January 2003, after a long illness. Born in
Beirut, Lebanon, he immigrated to
California with his wife, in the early eighties
to be close to their children.
He was a hardworking, loving husband
and father, always cheerful and ready to give
a helping hand, well into his eighties, only
when heart problems slowed him down.
Funeral services were held at the Druze
Center in California on January 11, 2003.
He is survived by his wife of sixty
years, Jamal, daughters Hayat Aref
Noueihed, Leila Sami Masri, & son Abboud
of California and daughter May Adel
Mayyasi and son Salah of Beirut, Lebanon,
sixteen grandchildren and seven great
grandchildren, sister Afifi Assaf Masri and
brother Anis Assaf and families.
Assaf, Jamal Toufic 500
Assaf, Aboud & Amal 500
Assaf, Salah Toufic 500
Masri, Dr. Akram & Luna 300
Masri, Dr. Sami & Leila 300
Said, Dr. Hayel & Hiam 300
Masri, Faez & Afifi 300
Masri, Nabil & Iman 300
Ayass, Bassam S. & Alma 300
Aboulhosn, Amjad, Ayham & Hala 300
Muakkassa, Drs. Farid & Rima 250
Masri, Mounir & Nabila 200
Gharzeddine, Riad & Mona 200
Gharzeddine, Waleed & Samar 200
Gharzeddine, Amer 200
Yakzan, Mounira S. 200
Masri, Dr. Samar S. 100
Masri, Mona Sami 100
Milkie, Dr. Fred & Leila 100
Hamoud, Eugene & Houda 100
Aboulhosn, Mamoun & Shehrezad 100
Assaf, Anis & Souad 100
Assaf, Nabil & Jumana 100
Assaf, Mounah & Diana 100
Anonymous 100
Aboulhosn, Housein & Samira 100
Makarem, Fawzi & Samira 100
Anonymous 100
Noueihed, Omar & Nada 100
Muakkassa, Dr. Samar 100
Toufic Abdel Rahman Assaf (1910 - 2003)
Donations from Family and Friends in Memory of
Mr. Toufic Abdel Rahman Assaf to Beit al-Yateem total $6,775.00
Rafey, Nadia R. 100
Muakasa, Dr. Sahar 50
Wahbe, Badih & Samia 50
Aboulhosn, Sakib & Linda 50
Abi-Rafeh, Abraham 50
Aboulhosn, Housein Ali 50
Makarem, Fadi F. 40
Chaya, Youssef & Nora 25
Chaya, Riad 20
Tay, Allen 20
Mohtar, Hassan & Suzy 20
Jahshan, Simon & Nabila 20
Tay, Zak 20
Tay, Sam 10
The Druze Orphanage in Abey, Lebanon
is in need of donations to help pur-
chase the following:
• Medical and Dental Supplies
• School Supplies for over 1,100
students
• Equipment to sustain the computer lab
• Office Supplies for administrative
purposes
There is a long list of requests, here are a
few examples:
• $4600 to cover school supplies for
the entire student body all year.
• $48 for a white board to be used for
teaching purposes.
• $120 for a scanner to be added to
the computer lab for student projects
per government-recommended
curriculum.
• $200 for each student to have a
floppy disk to save their computer
projects for the school year.
Currently each disk must be returned
at the end of the year for re-use.
• $240 to pay for an entire year of
internet access, being used to
communicate with and for student
research projects.
• $490 to cover ink for printers
and photocopy machines
• $1660 for 3 new PCs to be used in
the administrative offices for
finance, records, etc.
• $3630 for a new Minolta
Photocopier for the school.
Please help by making a
tax-deductible donation
through DOCO.
Every dollar counts.
How You Can HelpBy Lila Ibrahim
DOCO is a not-for-profit
(501)(c)(3) organization that
believes every child deserves the
best this world has to offer.
Please help us in our efforts
to make a difference in the lives
and futures of the orphans.
Donor US�$ Donor US�$
14
We join together to mourn the passing,
yet celebrate the life, of Jamelie Akel
Aboul Hosn -Imm Ajaj to her friends - who
left this world for a better place on February
9th 2003, quietly in her home in Falougha,
Lebanon.
Traveling to America in 1930 after her
marriage to Milhem (William) Akel Aboul
Hosn, she settled with her husband first in
Kentucky and later in East Tennessee.
Widowed in 1941 at the young age of 27 she
managed their clothing store in Erwin,
Tennessee until she returned to Lebanon in
1947 with her three children, Roger, Ollie
James and Macy.
In the 1950s she founded the first
women’s charity organization in the Metn,
to teach young ladies sewing, cooking and
home management and to provide scholar-
ships for higher education.
In her 90 years she was eternally devot-
ed to her family, a faithful friend to the
young and the old and always available to
help the needy. She will be sorely missed
but forever remembered. God rest her soul.
The Akel family would like to express
its gratitude to the many family and friends
who have extended them their sympathies.
DOCO expresses its deep sympathy and
heartfelt condolences to the families.
OBITUARIES
Jamiele Akel Aboulhosn
1914 - 2003
Ohio has lost one of its Pillars. Said
Kabalan was 90 when he passed away
on February 8, 2003 at his home in
Cleveland, Ohio. Born in Aramoun,
Lebanon, Mr. Kabalan immigrated to the
USA in the early 1920s. He settled in Ohio
where he attended law school. He went on
to become a successful lawyer and a pillar of
the Druze community in Ohio.
Along with his father, the Kabalans
were among the founders of the Al-Bakurat
Al-Dirziyat in1926, the first Druze
Organization in the United States. He was
always concerned with the survival of Beit
al-Yateem in Lebanon and the welfare of
the orphans. He proved his dedication and
sincerity by his continuous support and
numerous contributions.
Mr. Kabalan spent all his life helping
his fellow Druze. Though small in stature,
he was a giant among men, loved by all
those who knew him. His death is a great
loss to the Druze Community in Ohio.
Mr. Jurdi immigrated to the United
States in 1954 where he started his
own business and went on to become a suc-
cessful businessman. His door was always
open to friends and countrymen, and he
extended a helping hand to anyone in need.
He was one of the founders of the
California Chapter of the American Druze
Society and served as Chapter President in
the seventies.
Mr. Jurdi passed away in Granada Hills,
California, on the 10th of October 2002.
He is survived by his wife Siham, sister
Jamilee, son Nabil and daughter Diane and
their families.
Said Kabalan
1913 - 2003By Faris Alameh
Adma Tay Dergham, Abou Akar
1924 - 2003
Mrs. Abou Akar (Im Shawki), wife of
the Late Amin Abou-Akar, passed
away on March 11, 2003 in Lebanon.
She is survived by her sons: Chawki,
Hafez, and Khalil and daughters Majida and
Aida and their families.
The family received condolences at the
ADS Cultural Center in California, on
Sunday March 16, 2003.
Aref Wadi Jurdi
1922 - 2002
Salim Abdallah Halaby
1900 - 2002
Mr. Salim Abdallah Halaby passed away
in Sylmar, California on the 24th of
December 2002. Despite his 102 years he
remained sound of mind and a great elder
to the Halaby family, beloved by all. He
immigrated to the United States from
Lebanon in 1983 and settled in California to
be close to his children, grand children and
great grand children.
Funeral services were held at Valhalla
mortuary in California.
17
B. D. C. A. M e m b e r s
DOCO welcomes the following new
arrivals to BDCA:
Omar, son of Sharif and Lina Masri,
was born on February 19, 2003.
Salma, daughter of Dr. Salah and Nida
Al-Andary was born on January 7, 2003.
Maya, daughter of Rabih & Rola
Aboul-Hosn was born on September 25,
2002.
Artis, daughter of Drs. Andy and
Samar (Masri) Phillips arrived on October
26, 2002.
Happy Birthday and many happy returns
to the following members who cele-
brated birthdays in the months of January,
February and March:
Rayan Hamoud, Yasmine Fotouhi,
Daniel J. Jurdi, Tamara N. Noueihed, Amir
M. Aboulhosn, Ayham E. Aboulhosn, Mike
M. Masri, Rima LaVine (Masri), David F.
Israwi, Amada J. Aboulhosn, Karina M.
Assaf, Rayan N. Rayes, Mike. J. Wahby,
Amjad E. Aboulhosn, Hala, E. Aboulhosn,
Alex R. Ballout, Julian S. Dakdook, Jad R.
Kontar, Amani Naji Chaar, Rayan S. Masri,
Alaa R. Al-Awar, Adnan Rayan
Mousharrafie, Julian E. Hamoud, Lianne K.
Aboulhosn.
DOCO thanks the parents and all the
members of the Babies of the Druze
Community in America (B.D.C.A.) for their
continued support for the orphans.
If you wish to enroll your child
in BDCA, please call:
Mrs. Afifi Masri @ 818-244-1286.
Please send two pictures of your
child, one for DOCO Newsletter
and one for the Mithaq Magazine: a
publication of the Druze orphanage
in Abey, Lebanon.
Salma Salah Al-Andary
Maya Rabih Aboul-Hosn
Artis (Masri) Phillips
BDCA members
Ramy, Roumel and Romel Abi-Khzam
Award
DOCO congratulates Miss Amani
Amanda Chaar, daughter of Mr. and
Mrs. Naji and Noujoud Chaar, of
California, for being selected to run for
“Miss Print Model”.
Amani won third runner up position
and was awarded the “Pretty Princess”
Certificate of Appreciation from Starfire
Pageants 2002.
Amani is a member of the Babies of
the Druze Community in America (BDCA).
Amani Amanda Chaar
Two and a half years ago, Lila raised
funds from friends, co-workers and the
Intel Foundation to set up a computer lab at
the Druze Orphanage in Abey, Lebanon
during her sabbatical. In 2002, she teamed
with her brother Nabeel to host a fundrais-
ing dinner at their home, on behalf of
DOCO, as part of a continued effort to
support the computer lab. The event raised
over $14,000.
A Brief History
Our father was born in a village in the
Shouf Mountains of Lebanon. By the time
he was four, both of his parents had passed
away and his siblings decided that it would
be in his best interest if he lived in the
Druze Orphanage, which was in Beirut at
the time. The Orphanage provided our
father with food, shelter, a caring environ-
ment and a valuable education. He has
always impressed upon us the influence that
the Orphanage had in his life; his time there,
he said, had provided him the tools to have
a successful family life and career, during
which he designed heart pacemakers that
have saved countless lives.
The Orphanage, which is supported
primarily by private donations, is now locat-
ed about 45 minutes from Beirut. Over
1000 children ranging in age from pre-
school to high school, are provided with
food, shelter, education and medical and
dental care. The campus spans several build-
ings including classrooms, dorms for the
girls and young children. A separate campus
houses the boys dorms, and a vocational
school. No child is ever turned away — the
children are brought to the school with only
the clothes on their backs. As needed and
on special occasions, the children are
allowed to go “shopping” for new clothes in
a special “Store” room where donated
clothing and toys are carefully organized.
The children are taught the standard
government curriculum, but are also taught
discipline and respect.
The Computer Lab
In 2000, Lila took a sabbatical from
Intel Corporation to build a new computer
lab at the Druze Orphanage. The Intel
Foundation agreed to match funds donated
by Intel employees to support this effort. In
seven short weeks, Lila completed a needs
assessment, built the lab infrastructure, pur-
chased equipment, installed and networked
20 PCs, and taught teachers and students.
Over the next year, additional money was
raised to purchase two more computers,
cover maintenance costs, and hire a full-
time teacher who holds a Masters in
Computer Science. The students watched
the lab being built—they were a part of its
evolution from bare room to the best lab in
Lebanon—and were taught about how the
lab became a reality through the donations
of friends and Intel employees in the US,
Japan, and Hong Kong.
Since the lab was established, annual
trips have been made to visit the students
and check their progress. During Lila’s June
2002 visit, she was inspired by the lab’s
excellent condition, the students’ excitement
in demonstrating their computer skills, and
the incredible progress made by the stu-
dents. It was during this visit that Lila and
her family decided to raise additional funds
to continue supporting the students’ educa-
tion and to enable the lab to be self-funded
to eliminate any financial burden on the
administration.
The Dinner
With the Lebanese tradition of enjoy-
ing food and company, we planned a bene-
fit dinner at our home in Sunnyvale,
California, to raise additional funds for the
computer lab. Shawki Ibrahim, our father,
traveled from Indiana to California several
days in advance to help with the dinner
preparations.
Once the menu was set, a brochure was
developed and circulated to local Arab busi-
ness owners who made ingredient and
equipment contributions to help defray
costs (see below for details).
We invited our friends, many of whom
are young professionals in Silicon Valley. Of
the 80 attendees, fewer than 10 were Arabs
and only three were Druze; the vast majority
of the other attendees were Americans.
Everyone was asked to make a contribution –
no matter how small, it would definitely help.
Generosity Prevails
Although many of the attendees were
not familiar with Beit al-Yateem or the sta-
tus of the computer lab, they were extreme-
ly generous once they learned about the
potential to help the students. Everyone
enjoyed reading through a scrap book of
the project, and they took time to write mes-
sages to the students in another book (see
below for details).
Many stories of generosity unfolded
that night – more than would fit here. For
example, one friend, a PhD student at
Stanford, whose project funding had just
been cut, his scholarship expired, forcing
him to struggle to pay tuition, yet, he and his
girlfriend broke into their piggy banks, col-
lected all the coins they had lying around,
and made a contribution of $68 in rolled-up
change. More than one friend had been
unemployed for a year after their start-up
businesses went under; struggling to make
ends meet, they all made contributions of at
least $25. Another friend who had just given
DOCO Falafel Fest 2002By Lila & Nabeel Ibrahim
Students benefiting from the Computer Lab
8
premature birth and had just gotten out of
the hospital dropped off a check for $250,
explaining that she couldn’t leave her new
family for too long, but didn’t want to miss
making a contribution.
The atmosphere that night was wonder-
ful – people were happy and continuously
giving thanks for what they have, and for the
opportunity to help others. They realized
that the students of Beit al-Yateem have
faced challenges in their young lives that
most of us are fortunate to have never expe-
rienced. By providing them with the tools to
enhance and complete their education,
together, we can encourage their develop-
ment and allow them to succeed in their
lives and careers.
At the end of the evening, we sat with
our father, recounting the incredible gen-
erosity of our friends. Through contribu-
tions from the dinner attendees as well as
others who were unable to make it, and with
matching funds from the Intel Foundation,
the total amount raised exceeded $14,000.
In the next issue of DOCO, we’ll
recount our October visit to Lebanon and
how the Falafel Fest funds are being used.
DOCO Falafel Fest 2002
Menu
Khoubiz (Homemade Arabic bread);
Falafel (Spiced patties made of beans &
parsley. Usually eaten as a sandwich on
khoubiz with taratoor);Taratoor (Sesame
paste, lemon juice & vegetables);Waraq
Anab (Grape leaves stuffed with rice & veg-
etables)Fattayer bi Sabanekh (Spinach &
onion pastries)Fatayer bi Jibne (Cheese filled
pastries; Hummus (Dip made of chickpeas,
garlic, lemon juice & sesame
paste)Babaghanouj (Dip made of chargrilled
eggplant, garlic, lemon juice & sesame
paste);Mjaddara (Spiced rice and lentils w/
sauteed garlic & onions);Fattoush (Salad
with toasted khoubiz);Grilled Chicken
(Marinated in mint, garlic, lemon juice &
olive oil);Lehme Bajeen (Mini Arabic piz-
zas);Baklawa (Phyllo dough stuffed with
walnuts); and various beverages.
A very special thanks to the following
for their support:
Falafel Drive-In (San Jose, CA),
International Food Bazaar (San Jose, CA),
The Party Helpers (San Jose, CA), Shatila
Food Products (Dearborn, MI), Intel
Corporation, Intel Foundation, Shawki
Ibrahim, Katy Ibrahim, Omayma Abraham,
Ghassan Hariz, and Sahar Muakasa.
DOCO in turn would like to thank Lila
and Nabeel Ibrahim and their family for
picking up the tab for all of the food and
beverages.
Words of Encouragement
Friends had the opportunity to write a
special message in a “memory book” to the
students of the Druze Orphanage during
Falafel Fest. The book was hand-delivered
during an October visit to Lebanon. Here
are what some people had to say:
Your passage through life is determined by
many choices you make, and by other circumstances
that you cannot choose. You’ve made a great choice in
deciding to live at the Druze Orphanage. I hope that
our contributions will provide each of you with many
new opportunities to explore, live, learn, and make
new choices to improve your lives. I hope that I can
visit Lebanon and the orphanage someday.
Jeremy
Hello wonderful kids in Lebanon! What an
inspiration you are to us. Seeing your happy faces in
pictures, hearing stories about your enthusiasm for
learning and life is very humbling. Keep up the good
work – there is nothing you can’t do – you’ll go far
in life and be a blessing to all those you touch.
Phyllis
Dear Druze Kids, We have all come to know
and adore you – through Lila and Nabeel. We are
confident that you each have wonderful lives ahead of
you – and feel fortunate for this connection with you.
I hope you each reach your dreams – Always remem-
ber, education is THE most valuable thing in life –
with it you can do ANYthing. Reach for the
stars…and you will get there and beyond. Love and
best wishes
Asha
We visited Lebanon this summer and went to
the orphanage to check on you. We are so proud that
you’re all doing well in school and were prouder to
hear about those students who graduated successfully
from junior high. Enjoy the computer lab and let us
hear all beautiful news about you. We love you all.
Housam & Randa Matar (California)
What better time than now to help make the
world a little better for children! We wish you all the
best - happiness, love, good health, peace, and success
in achieving your dreams.
The Sunnyvale Sunrise Rotary Club.
Roland, Kiet, Mike, Janis, Dave, Bob,
Jane, William, Paul, Myrna, Lila
9
We at DOCO wish to thank the following for generously donating to DOCO’s various charities. This list acknowledges donations
received from September, 17, 2002 to March 15, 2003. Please note that donations made for National Rehabilitation Development
Center (NRDC) and in memory of Mr. Toufic Assaf, appear separately on pages 11 and 15.
Bani Ma’rouf - a Tradition of Giving
Donor US�$ Donor US�$ Donor US�$Intel Foundation 10,395
DOCO Falafel Fest 2002 5,860
Arnouse, Michael M. 3,000
Jaber, Bobby 1,500
Sleit, Riad 820
Radwan, Rabih & Mirna 720
Merhi, Sami & Raghida 550
Al-Andary, Salma Salah 500
Anonymous & His Wife 500
Ballout, Rabih & Amal 500
Bouakar, Hafiz A. 500
Boukzam, Manal 500
Muakkassa, Drs. Farid & Rima 500
Saab, Rabih 500
Kantar, Rabih 400
Hamdan, Dr. Hind 370
Assaf, Mounah A.& Diana 350
Simpson, Edward & Nezeema 320
ABC News 300
Halabi, Nahid 300
Mashtoub, Feras 300
Nuwayhid, Dr. Nizar & Siham 300
Phillips, Artis 300
Yakzan, Linda S. 300
Assaf, Ali & Laurel 270
Masri, Dr. Sami & Leila 270
Middle East Restaurant Box 267
Abi-Rafeh, Abraham 250
Halaby, Tarek 250
Hassen, Hector & Hala 250
Jaber, Radwan 250
Khazaal, Nisrine 250
Shaheen, Hind 250
Haidar, Faisal & Kristen 225
Mediterranean Appetite 220
Wehbe, Jihad & Dunia 210
Aboulhosn, Mamoun & Shahrazad 200
Abu-Shakra Salah & May 200
Anonymous 200
Hamady, Khalil & Cindy 200
Hareez, Ghassan T. & Rima 200
Jurdi, Siham 200
LaVine, Dr. Sean & Lena Masri 200
Masri, Faez & Afifi 200
Masri, Mona S. 200
Mosrie, Sami J. 200
Muakkassa, Dr. Kamel & Rola 200
Muakkassa, Dr. Wael & Rima 200
Najar, Samia J 200
Nuwayhid, Ousamah 200
Rafey, Nadia R. 200
Samico, Inc. 200
Wahbe, Badih & Samia 200
Zahr, Mouhamad 200
Aboulhosn, Rabiaa 150
Fotoohi, Mehran & Rima 150
Noueihed, Hayat 150
Baz, Wassif & Amal 145
Masri, Nabil & Iman 140
Nassereddine, Naji 140
Abi-Akar, Ramez & Hind 130
Aboudiab, Salim & May 125
Assaf, Milhim & Anita 120
Ayash, Afif & Ferial 120
Beaman Jr., Marvin & Charlene 120
Halabi, Nadim & Rima 120
Makarem, Samir R. 120
Salman, Salah & Wadad, Dr. 120
Aboumatar, Sami 110
Mashtoub, Chowki & Hoda 110
Rayes, Nabil & Jinan 110
Abdul-Baki, Dr. Aref A 100
Aboulhosn, Maliha 100
Aboulhosn, Anis & Nadia 100
Aboulhosn, Chaouki M. & Julia 100
Abousaab, Caren, Carol, Carla 100
Abu-Hamdan, Nasiba & Rabih 100
Abulhasan, Emilio 100
Ahmadia, Aref Salman 100
Al-Awar, Adib M. & Ellen 100
Alley, Kenneth 100
Andari, Maya Majed 100
Anonymous 100
Awar, Hassib 100
Ayash, Claudia 100
Boukzam, Fred 100
Bou-Salman, Riad & Hind 100
Chehayeb, Youssef & Nawal 100
Dergham, Raghida 100
Durham, Charles A. 100
Ghadban, Riad & Wafa 100
Gosaynie, Carl D. Dr. 100
Hamadeh, Samir & Randa 100
Harb, Suheil 100
Hariz, Dr. George & Diane 100
Hasan, Faysal & Sharon 100
Humaydan, Hasib & Anna 100
Ibrahim, Shawki & Katy 100
Israwi, Jawdet & Fedwa 100
Israwi, Salim & Barbara 100
Israwi, Souhail 100
Jaber, Jamal 100
Kais, Akram 100
Kasem, Casey 100
Kassem, Omar R. 100
LaVine, Iman 100
LaVine, Rima 100
Makarem, Samir & Lama 100
Makled, Alex & Kuzama 100
Malak, Hisham & Hala 100
Mashtoub, Saad 100
Mire, Fouzie & Nancy 100
Mosrie, David & Linda 100
Moukarem, Mustafa 100
Muakkassa, Dr. Samar 100
Muhanna, Shajih, Dr. 100
Nasr, Yasser & Melissa 100
Phillips, Dr. Andy & Dr. Samar S. 100
Porte-Neuve, Aida 100
Rafeh, Bashir & Rima 100
Rasamny, Khalil & Lena 100
Sarieddine, Nabil & Jumana 100
Sawah, John 100
Showkier, Richard 100
Soujah, Akram & Kareem 100
Thrower, Jeanette 100
Yahia, Walid & Maha 100
Zahereddine, Celine & Nicole 100
Zeid, Bahij Assaad 100
Zeid, Rami 100
Zeitouni, Ferris & Mae 100
Zeitouni, Jad & Sami 100
Assaf, Nabil & Jumana 95
Eleid, B. R. 78
Masri, Riad & Nadia 75
Abukhzam, Salim & Nabila 70
Ghraizi, Ghassan R. 70
Abi-Fakher, Sharifeh 60
Aboulhosn, Im Ziad 60
Beheshti, Setareh 60
Abraham, Souhail & Omayma 50
Al-Ali, Wael F. 50
Albee, Roger & Patricia 50
Alti, Antoine 50
Anonymous 50
Anonymous 50
Arbid, Daniel Talih 50
Bou-Ghannam, Akram & Nada 50
Budare, Justin & Najah 50
Chaer, Amani 50
Cool Bargain Shope 50
Dahouk, Kamal 50
Dakdouk, Camille & Wafa 50
Durham, Daniel A. 50
Elchami, Riad A. 50
Fakhreddin, Imad & Rima 50
18
Ghazzara, Mustafa & Souhad 50
Halaby, Faouzy 50
Hamzey, Adeeb & Charlotte 50
Hamzy, Hassan 50
Hamzy, Nabih A. 50
Katter, Dr. Nafe E. 50
Kysia, Sara 50
Moughrabi, Moueen 50
Najjar, Mark A. 50
Najjar, Michael 50
New Vision Auto Group 50
Obied, Raouf & Lena 50
Qasim, Qasim M. 50
Radwan, N. & Farida 50
Richards, Jamal 50
Sadak, Zarifah 50
Sangid, Woody & Najat 50
Shaheen, Layla 50
Takieddine, Raja & Nawal 50
Zeineddine, Farouk & Rania 50
Abou Assi, Jihan 45
Saad, Anwar 45
Abimourched, Samir & Nadia 40
Abou-Diab, Doreyd & Christine 40
Anonymous 40
Hamad, David & Mary, Dr. 40
Kais, Saleh & Summer 40
Kosini, Joseph 40
Qasim, Dr. Suna & Nisreen 40
Wahab, Walid & Saousan 40
Abi-Jumaa, Hikmat 35
Anonymous 30
El Masri, Asmahan 30
Hamadeh, Walid & Nawal 30
Anonymous 25
Anonymous 25
Arruda, Fathelee B. 25
El Masri, Riad & Nadia 25
Ghazel, Tina 25
Hamzi, Imad & Rana 25
Rafey, Souhad Ameen 25
Ricahni, Ratha 25
Abifaraj, Bassam & Rayya 20
Abou-Chakra, Bassam 20
Aboulhosn, Dr. Ragie 20
Aboulhosn, Sara 20
Aridi, Hassib, Dr. 20
Baz, Kassem Y. 20
Bouajram, Chadi & Rima 20
Boukhzam, Peter A. 20
Bousaleh, Afif 20
Chehayeb, Wisam & Nour 20
Dakdouk, Nasser 20
El-Awar, Nasser & Rana 20
Elbanna, Ezzat S. 20
Esparza, Melissa 20
Ghannam, Fouad & Diana 20
Gharzeddine, Omar M 20
Ghosn, Ramzi & Maha 20
Halaby, Hassan & Najah 20
Hassanieh, Imad 20
Israwi, Safwat 20
Jaafar, Akram 20
Jawhary, Ghazi 20
Joseph, E. M. 20
Jurdi, Wissam 20
Kazzie, Melhem & Jessica 20
Khaddage, Labib & Rowaida 20
Laham, Amin & Salma 20
Masri, Zouheir & Daad 20
Mayyasi, Omar 20
Merhi, Merhi & Abir 20
Moses, Donna 20
Nasrallah, C. N. & Noha 20
Safa, Nabeel & Nawal 20
Shehayeb, Yasser 20
Shoujaa, Bassam & Farah 20
Wahbe, Mikey J. 20
Zeidan, Sana R. 20
Boudiab, Ayad & Khaleda 15
Abi-Saab, Afif & Siham 10
Allison, Ann 10
Assaf, Jamal 10
Beheshti, Shabnam 10
Caprock Girl Scout Troop #478 10
Gragson, Sarah 10
Israwi, Zahia 10
Mohtar, Hassan 10
Mohtar, Rafic & Samar 10
Ameen, Toufiek 5
Dewbre, Maelynn 5
THANK YOU
FOR YOUR SUPPORT
Donor US�$ Donor US�$
L E T ' S K E E P
I N T O U C H
Tell us what is happening in your life. Mail
your news (births, graduations, memorials,
engagements, weddings, achievements,
awards, etc.) and pictures to:
DOCO
Ms. Sahar Muakasa
P.O. Box 1433
New York, NY 10018
Or email a message to
19