Issue 1 September 2001

Mardu & Beth Mardutho

Welcome to the first issue of Mardu, the official newsletter of Beth Mardutho: The Syriac Institute. The Syriac word Mardu is the short (or absolute in grammatical terms) form of the word Mardutho, the meaning of which is instruction. Hence, Beth Mardutho, the name of our Institute, implies a place of learning. Beth Mardutho is an academic Institute that seeks to promote the study of the Syriac language and its heritage. The Institute carries out projects that globalize the learning of Syriac. Beth Mardutho serves scholarship and the various churches and communities that employ or have employed Syriac and its script in one form or another (in alphabetical order): Assyrians, Chaldeans, Maronites, Mar Thomites, Syriac Orthodox & Catholics, SyroMalabarese & Malankarese, as well as the Antiochean & Melkite traditions. Beth Mardutho was informally established in 1992 in Cambridge, England, as The Syriac Computing Institute. The Institute participated in computing projects for publishing a 6volume concordance to the Syriac New Testament and a 4-volume edition of the Syriac Gospels. Both publications, edited by G. Kiraz, are available from Brill Publishers (www.brill.nl). In 1996, Beth Mardutho moved to the US where it was registered as a nonprofit educational organization in NJ. The Institute embarked on scholarly projects such as publishing Hugoye: Journal of Syriac Studies (1998-present). Another ongoing project is writing the first encyclopedia of the Syriac heritage. By 2000, a new long-term goal to build a center for Syriac studies, to be associated with a major university, was envisioned. To reflect this new goal, the Institute was renamed Beth Mardutho: The Syriac Institute, and it went through a reorganization with the formation of a solid Academic Board (see p. 3). In 2001, the Institute produced over 20 Syriac fonts for the Unicode-compliant Windows 2000/XP, allowing users to write Syriac natively for the first time. These fonts are available to all to download from our web site for free. The most recent success of the Institute is launching project eBethArk: The Syriac Digital Library (see below).

Mardu Newsletter

BETH MARDUTHO: THE SYRIAC INSTITUTE

BM Launches the Syriac Digital Library Project

Project eBethArk: The Syriac Digital Library is the latest contribution of Beth Mardutho in a stream of academic endeavors. Launched in June 1, 2001, the project aims at digitizing 3,000 books, journal articles, pictures and maps, and making them available in an electronic library over the Internet. Using the latest in electronic book (eBook) technology, readers will be able to open books on their screen and see an exact image of each page of the book. Users can navigate, search, bookmark and insert annotations. Beth Mardutho initiated the project and is leading it in partnership with leading university libraries. Continued on next page

2001 by Beth Mardutho: The Syriac Institute. ISSN 1536-934X.

Inside this issue:

Library Project Headline News Whos Who in Beth Mardutho Boards Gifts and Donations to Beth Mardutho BM Welcomes New Members 2 3 3 4

Did You Know ?

That your gifts to the Beth Mardutho Endowment Fund are completely tax deductible?

That the interest earned from your gifts is

being used to promote Syriac studies.

That your gift to the Beth Mardutho Endowment Fund strengthens our Institute.

The Syriac Digital Library (continued)

Partner libraries include Brigham Young University, The Catholic University of America, Brown University, Harvards Dumbarton Oaks Library, Princeton Theological Seminary, and others. Associated with the project is a Library Partnership program that gives public and private libraries the opportunity to complete their collections, or start a collection from the ground up. Libraries interested in obtaining a copy of the entire Syriac Digital Library locally on their computers should write to info@BethMardutho.org. The scope of this project is not limited only to one readership. The Syriac Digital Library Project, commented Prof. Susan Harvey of Brown University speaks to needs shared by an entire spectrum, from scholar to interested reader, from student to one whose heritage this is. It is a worthy undertaking indeed. available on the project's home page at www.bethmardutho.org. Scholars and communities that employ Beth Mardutho hired two professional the Syriac language expressed enthusiasm digital content firms whose task is the about the project. Prof. Amir Harrak of digitization of books, the creation of corthe University of Toronto explained, responding eBooks, and the building of a The Syriac Digital Library is yet another web-based virtual library. The average sign of the ever-growing interest in the cost of digitizing a book is $250. The literary heritage of the Syriac-speaking Institute calls upon indichurches and communividuals and institutions to ties. To have this heritage adopt books in order to recorded digitally would The project speaks to needs build this eLibrary of be not only an immense shared by an entire spectrum, service to modern scholar3,000 items. Various contribution plans are availship but also a great serfrom scholar to interested able, giving everyone the vice to the Syriac herireader, from student to one opportunity to be part of tage; this will be prethe project. A secure onserved in a new technique whose heritage this is. line donation form is for another millennium.

Library Project Headline News

April 28, 2001 Beth Mardutho met with Brown University which was represented by William Monroe, Head of Collection Development, and Prof. Susan Harvey. Brown agreed to join the project. May 4, 2001 Beth Mardutho met with Princeton Theological Seminary. PTS was represented by Steve Crocco, Librarian, David Stewart, Associate Librarian, and Prof. Kathleen McVey. PTS joined the project. June 21, 2001 A trilateral meeting between The Catholic University of America, Brigham Young University and Beth Mardutho was held. Among CUA representatives were Adele Chwalek, Director of Libraries; Prof. Michael P. OConner, Chair of the Semitic Dept.; Prof. Sidney Griffith, director of ICOR; and Dr. Monica Blanchard, Librarian of Semitics/ ICOR. BYU was represented by Carl Graffin. CUA & BYU joined the project. June 22, 2001 G. Kiraz visited Harvards Dumbarton Oaks in Washington D.C. where he met with Sheila Klos, Head Librarian. DO committed to make available material that is not available at other Partner Libraries. Kiraz also visited the Maronite Seminary in D.C. where he met Chorbishop Seely Beggiani. July 15 Beth mardutho launched online fund raising campains with Zinda Magazine, Chaldeans Online, Peshitta.org, and Syriac Orthodox Resources. July 20-22, 2001 Beth Mardutho exhibited at the Syriac Orthodox Convention, Boston. Books and manuscripts from the collection of Kiraz, the latest dating to 1555, were on display. A presentation on the library project received enthusiastic support. Archbishop iek of Central Europe, pledged to make available 60 manuscripts, and invited Beth Mardutho to fund raise in Europe. The archbishops of N. America expressed similar support. July 28, 2001 At the invitation of the Syriac Universal Alliance, Beth Mardutho gave a presentation of the library project at the Alliances High Council meeting at the Aramaic American Association, Los Angeles. SUA pledged to support the project. August 1 Beth Mardutho became an Affiliate Member of the American Theological Library Association. August 12-15 Beth Mardutho presented the library project at the Peshitta Symposium in Leiden, Holland. A meeting took place between Beth Mardutho and the Peshitta Institute for future cooperation. September 1, 2001 At the invitation of the Assyrian American National Federation, Beth Mardutho presented the Syriac Digital Library Project at the Federations Convention in San Jose, CA., during a special session on the Internet, moderated by Mr. Wilfred Alkhas of Zinda Magazine. Mr. Alkhas pledged to adopt 10 books on behalf of Zinda Magazine. Dr. Jonathan Davodson of Fresno, CA, matched Zindas offer and pledged to adopt 10 other books. Beth Mardutho thanks all those who are supporting the project.
MARDU NEWSLETTER

Monica Blanchard, Librarian of CUA showing the Syriac collection.

Page 2

Whos Who in Beth Marduthos Academic & Hugoye Boards

Prof. Joseph P. Amar is a Maronite priest, and professor of Syriac and Arabic language and literature at the University of Notre Dame. He is the director of Middle Eastern studies there, and Chairman of the Summer Syriac Institute. His specialty is in Syriac-speaking Christianity and Christian Arabic. Dr. Sebastian P. Brock is Reader in Syriac Studies in the University of Oxford, and a Professorial Fellow of Wolfson College, Oxford. He has written extensively on various aspects of Syriac studies. Dr. J. F. Coakley is Senior Lecturer in the Department of Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations at Harvard University, and on the staff of the Manuscript Department at Houghton Library. His specialties include the history of the Assyrian Church of the East; 19th-century missions to eastern churches; Syriac manuscripts; and Syriac printing history. Prof. Sidney H. Griffith, S.T., is a professor at The Catholic University of America and directs the University's Institute for Christian Oriental Research. His specialties include Syriac and Christian Arabic studies. Prof. Amir Harrak is the founder and president of the Canadian Society for Syriac Studies, and an associate professor of Aramaic and Syriac at the University of Toronto. His specialties include Semitic languages, Assyriology and Syriac Chronography. Prof. Susan A. Harvey is an associate professor of Religious Studies at Brown University. Her specialties include Syriac and Byzantine Christianity, women 's studies, monasticism, asceticism, hagiography, and popular piety. Mor Gregorios Yuhanna Ibrahim is Syriac Orthodox Metropolitan of Aleppo. He has written extensively on his Churchs history and faith. He is the founder of Mardin-Edessa Publishing. Prof. Konrad Jenner is the director of the Peshitta Institute at Leiden, leader of the Peshitta Program, and senior lecturer in Old Testament Studies. His specialties include the Syriac Bible, Text-Criticism and Textual History, Comparative History and Psychology of Religion. Dr. Thomas Joseph is the Hugoye Technical Editor, and the Web Master of the Institute. He holds a Ph.D. in Information Systems, and is an active member of the Malankara Syriac Orthodox Church. Prof. Dr. Dr. Hubert Kaufhold is the editor of Oriens Christianus, and teaches at the University of Munich. His specialties include history, literature, and law of the Oriental Christians. Dr. George A. Kiraz is the founder and director of the Institute. His specialties include computational linguistics, Syriac studies and computing. Prof. Kathleen McVey is the J. Ross Stevenson Professor of Church History at Princeton Theological Seminary. Her main interest is in the relation of early Christians (especially Syriac-speaking) to their various cultural contexts. Prof. William Petersen is a professor of New Testament and Christian Origins at The Pennsylvania State University. His specialties include the Diatessaron, early Syriac literature, and textual criticism. Mar Bawai Soro is a Bishop of the Assyrian Church of the East and the head of the Church's Commission on Interchurch Relations and Education Development. His specialty is in the area of Church of the East Christology and Ecclesiology. Dr. Jacob Thekeparampil is a SyroMalankara priest, and the director of St. Ephrem Ecumenical Research Institute, Kerala. He is a specialist of Syriac Christianity in India. Prof. Luk Van Rompay is professor of Eastern Christianity at Duke University. Previously, he was professor of Aramaic at the University of Leiden, The Netherlands. His interests include Syriac literature, the cultural history and art history of Eastern Christianity.

Gifts and Donations to Beth Mardutho

Prof. Susan Harvey of Brown University donated a copy of Anaphorae Syriacae (1939) to the Beth Mardutho Library. Dr. Thomas Joseph donated the proceeds from the sale of his 1989 Toyota Corolla through the National Charity Support Foundation. Dr. Sebastian Brock donated 12 volumes of Peshitta: The Old Testament in Syriac (Leiden) to the BM Library. Archbishop Athanasius Y. Samuel Charitable Trust provided a generous grant for the Syriac Digital Library. The Friends of the Syriac Language, Lebanon, in the person of Malphono Robert Gabriel provided a generous grant for the Syriac Digital Library. Mr. Tony Thomas of California adopted 6 books for the Syriac Digital Library. Mr. & Mrs. Pierre C. Ghazal of R.I. adopted 4 books for the Syriac Digital Library, one for each of their children Marie, Richard, Pamela and Leah. Dr. Andreas Juckel of Mnster donated a generous gift to the BM Endowment. Dr. Aho Sevinc adopted 4 books for the Syriac Digital Library Project. Mr. Gabi Barsoum of CA adopted 4 books for the Syriac Digital Library. Deacon Fadel Mubaraka of CA adopted 2 books for the Syriac Digital Library. Each of the following adopted one book for the Syriac Digital Library Project: Mr. Abboud Adamo, N.J.; Mr. Alan Aldawood, CA; Mr. Samuel Arslan, Sweden; Mr. Ramin & Ezabel Daniels, CA (for Zinda Magazine); Dr. Sami Hamamji, CA; Mr. Sargon Hasso, IL; Mr. Jay C. Ghazal, VA; Prof. John Joseph, PA; Dr. George Kiraz, N.J.; Mr. & Mrs. Edward A. Kliszus, N.J.; Dr. & Mrs. Russel Lander, PA; Mr. George Maida, CA; Mr. Musa Safar, CA; Mr. Francis Sarguis, CA; Rev. Fr. Eli Shabo, N.J.; Mr. Ghassan Hanna Shathaya (for Chaldeans Online); Mr. Rafid Sukkar, IL.
Page 3

ISSUE 1

BETH MARDUTHO: THE SYRIAC INSTITUTE

Be part of bringing the Syriac heritage to the Third Millennium by joining the Friends of Beth Mardutho

Books on the Syriac & Aramaic Bible, and Syriac Christianity www.brill.nl

46 Orris Ave Piscataway, NJ 08854 USA Fax: 732-699-0342 Email: info@bethmardutho.org

online at www.bethmardutho.org or by filling the enclosed form.

Mardutho knowledge is the life of the spirit The Beth Gazo

An independent monthly to revive the culture of Middle East Christians www.via-dolorosa.net

Were on the Web www.BethMardutho.org

Send your tax-deductible gift to the Beth Mardutho Endowment Trust

Make checks payable to The Syriac Institute, 46 Orris Ave., Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA.

To place an ad in Mardu, write to

mardu@bethmardutho.org
46 Orris Ave., Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA. Fax. 732-699-0342

Welcoming the New Friends of Beth Mardutho

Family/Dual Memberships Drs. Maurice & Tereena Elias, NJ Mr. & Mrs. Younan Ghazal, FL Dr. & Mrs. Sami Hamamji, CA Mrs. & Mrs. Ghayi A. Kaspo, MI Mr. John & Mrs. Nineveh Samuel, NJ Rev. Fr. Eli and Mrs. Fay Shabo, NJ Individual Memberships Mr. Naseer Abdulnour, MI Mr. Aboud Adamo, NJ Mr. Ameniel Bagdas, Turkey Mr. Jack Darakjy, Esq., NJ Mr. Amanuel Cakici, The Netherlands Dr. H. Eldon Clem, OH Prof. J. C. de Moor, The Netherlands Dr. Khalid Dinno, Canada Dr. Terry C. Falla, Australia Prof. John Joseph, PA Mr. Elias Kanj, MA Mr. Ghaby Kaspo, MI Mrs. Guita Khamis, CA Mr. Wissam Koory, MA Mr. George Kourieh, IL Dr. David Lane, UK Mr. David G. Malick, IL Dr. Craig Morrison, Italy Dr. Eden Naby Frye, MA Mr. Jack Namuj, NJ Dr. Bas ter Haar Romeny, Holland Dr. Lucas Van Rompay, NC Mrs. Alaria Saar, CA Dr. Alison Salvesen, UK Mr. Fehmi Sanar, NJ Mr. George Stifo, MA Dr. Hideme Takahahsi, Germany Dr. Donald M. Walter, PA Student Memberships Mr. Emanuel Asmar, NJ Mr. Richard Ghazal, RI Mr. Fadi Malki, FL