A Joint Multicultural Event

On Sunday, March 26, the Assyrian Democrats of the Bay Area, the Jewish Democratic Club of Silicon Valley, and Bay Area Iranian-American Democrats held a joint spring event to commemorate the Assyrian New Year, Akitu; the Iranian New Year, Nowruz; and the Jewish holiday of Passover!

This was a first-of-its-kind multicultural celebration with dinner, drinks, cultural presentations, and speakers who discussed a wide array of cultural and political subjects. 

The event started with welcome messages from club presidents.

Tony Khoshaba of the Assyrian Democrats of the Bay Area welcomed the audience and went over the event program. He then introduced many public officials who had attended. In continuation, Tony talked about the history of the Assyrian Community in Santa Clara county dating from the early twentieth century and briefly went over the Akitu tradition.

Dr. Maryam Ghazvini of the Bay Area Iranian-American Democrats (BAIAD), followed. After her welcoming remarks, she presented the Haft-sin table, described each of its seven elements, and talked about the traditions of the Iranian New Year, Nowruz.

Next, Dorene Kastelman of the Jewish Democratic Club of Silicon Valley welcomed the audience and briefly spoke about the Jewish holiday of Passover. 

ADBA had also invited Wilfred Bet Alkhas, the President of the Assyrian American Association of San Jose, to talk about the resurrection of the ancient Akitu festival in the Assyrian community.  Wilfred provided a lively and interesting historical perspective of Akitu.

Dorene Kastelman and Judith Gilford of the Jewish Democratic Club of Silicon Valley talked about the Passover holiday (Hebrew Pesah) and its importance to the Jewish community. The six key symbols of the Passover seder plate each symbolize a part of the Passover story and at this event, a seder plate was placed on every table.

Gloria Maceiko of the Assyrian Democrats of the Bay Area then discussed the Akitu table and its seven elements in detail.  The Akitu display was set up courtesy of the Assyrian Arts Institute. 

The three Democratic clubs also had public officials and other guests who attended the event and addressed the audience on a variety of subjects related to Democratic Party policies and community issues which were warmly received by the audience.

We were honored by the presence and speeches given by:

– Congresswoman Anna Eshoo

– Assemblymember Gail Pellerin

– Bill James, Santa Clara County Democratic Party Chairman 

– Tomara Hall, Santa Clara County Democratic Party Clubs Director

– Ann Ravel, former chair of the Federal Election Commission 

– Larry Klein, Mayor of the City of Sunnyvale 

– Raeena Lari, Board of Education Board Member in Santa Clara 

– Patrick Ahrens, Board member at Foothill-De Anza Community College