Volume: 21 Issue: 47 Winter 2023 Special Issue on Syriac Americans

PASSION, BROTHERHOOD, LOVE AND CIGAR

PASSION, BROTHERHOOD Love & Cigar

Jennifer & Bill Aydın

Jennifer has been watched closely for four seasons on the the Real Housewives of New Jersey TV Show, which has been broadcasted on Bravo TV for 12 seasons and viewed by an audience of 1,1 million.

A Sultan’s

Prisoners in the Gilded Cage on the Bosphorus

Many books have been written about the twilight years of the Ottoman Empire, but few tell the intimate story of the members of the Imperial family.

Father Aziz Who Teaches the Tongue Jesus Spoke

Father Hadodo graduated from Yıldız Technical University, İstanbul and came to Rhode Island in 1972. Hadodo has served as pastor of St. Gabriel Syrian Orthodox Church in New Jersey since 1994

Officer, First Responder’s Favorite Watchmaker

Eli Adams sells more than 20,000 Citizen watches a year, even more than Macys, one of America's largest department store chains.

This introductory magazine has been arranged in accordance with professional information. Published articles and opinions belong to Turk of America LLC.

Gabriel Akyön was honored with the Order of Mor İğnatiyos Nurono (Commandor) by Patriarch Moran Mor İğnatiyos I. Zekka Ayvaz of Kadaset on 9 October 2006.

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ART WORKS & PAGE DESIGNS

Serter Üstün / BrandBe - Kişisel

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The Exchanges where the jewelry shops in New Jersey, which we can call Mardin in America, are located most often are the places where you can see the many members of the Syriac society. Syriacs, who taught Turkish craftsmanship to American jewelry buyers, immigrated to the United States in different waves from the 1970s onwards. In the 1990s, immigration intensified. In fact, the first Syriac to step into the U.S. came in the 1840s Hacı Yakup from Diyarbakır and Haji Thomas Ovanis from Harput are the first two Syriacs known by name. The first Syriac immigrants came to Worcester, MA in 1886.

Syriac society suffered two major disasters that led to migration during the Ottoman Empire. These disasters, which they called 'Seyfo' (Sword) from their own literature, took place in 1895 and 1915. The Syriacs, who were attacked by the Kurds in the region in 1895, started to migrate in those years. The decision of forced migration applied to Armenians in the 1915 Armenian deportation also hit the Syriacs. Many had to leave their lands. They opened their first church in America in West New York, New Jersey in 1927.

Cemil Özyurt

MANAGING EDITOR

ceml@turkofamerca.com

Mardn n Amerca / Syracs

By Cemil Özyurt

- We have left behind 20 years in publishing. It is very difficult to publish a magazine for such a long time in an ethnic group. Since the beginning, migration stories have always intrigued me. The United States is a country of immigrants, and every immigrant has a story worth telling. In New Jersey, especially in Bergen County, I have been meeting Syriacs for many years. I've had good friendships. For a long time, I wanted to draft the story of the Syriac community in America in a special issue. I first told this intention to Erol Devli, one of the leading figures of the society. The aftermath came by itself anyway. I reached out to names that were respected in society. Cebrail (Gabriel) Akyön, one of the leading names in the Syriac community, helped me meeting many names at St. Gabriel Church in New Jersey. And a subject has emerged that has never been covered by any media outlet in the U.S. to date: the Syriac Community in America.

www.turkofamerca.com

Around 40,000 Syriacs live in America. New Jersey, Rhode Island, California, Southfield (Michigan), Chicago (Illinois), West Roxbury (Massachusetts), Portland (Oregon) and Long Island (New York) are the places where they live mostly. The majority of Syriacs are from Mardin. However, there are also those who are from Diyarbakır. They usually operate in the jewelry industry. However, names that make a name for themselves in different industries are more and more common every day. Jennifer & Nebil (Bill) Aydın, whom we featured on our cover, are among them. Jennifer has been the star of Bravo TV's The Real Housewives of New Jersey for five seasons. Nebil (Bill) Aydın is one of New Jersey's bestknown plastic surgeons. In this issue, we hosted the interesting names of the Syriac society on our pages. The first Syriac mayor Mike Ghassali, the Mayor of Montvale, the first police lieutenant Yakup Zoklu of Cliffside Park, NJ, Anton George Kiraz, who dedicated himself to researching the past of the Syriac community and keeping the language of Aramaic alive, Attorney Jack Darakjy, one of the best names who know very well in the past of the Diyarbakır Syriacs, Aziz Hadodo, the priest of St Gabriel Church, the Syriac artisans at Woodbridge, Paramus and Totowa Jewelry Exchange.

You will notice that the visual content of this issue of our magazine has become even richer. The reason for this is that Koray Kasap, one of Türkiye's most famous photographers, has joined us. Koray Kasap is potentially one of the most famous and talented Turkish American photographers in 21st century joined to TURKOFAMERICA team as a creative art director and lead photographer. Kasap has worked as both an image maker and a photographer for several well-known Turkish singers, TV stars, model, and artists such Tarkan, Mazhar-Fuat-Özkan, Müslüm Gürses, Ahmet Kaya, Kenan Doğulu, Cem Yılmaz, Yılmaz Erdoğan, Bayezıt Öztürk. After moving to the United States in 2017, Kasap also worked with Hollywood stars Sylvester Stallone, Whoopi Goldberg, and Jason Statham Most recently he shot photos of Netflix movie which was shot in New York, Kıvanç Tatlıtuğ and Beren Saat have leading roles. Hope it is a number that you will enjoy reading. I would like to thank especially Erol Devli, Cebrail Akyön, Sercan Zoklu, Erol Dar and Ferit Cankurt, who contributed with their ideas to the preparation of this magazine.

The Center Guest House is located in Queens neighborhood. You'll feel like home and safe in the Queens center. We have free tea, coffee and water avaliable all day, free Wi-Fi and an HD TV with satelitte in the lobby. We do the movie nights and BBQ at the weekends in an international environment. Each room has own stand

Geness of the Syrac Communty n North Amerca

Today there are approximately 40,000 Syriac faithful residents in North America that comprise twenty-five parishes.

The second Apostolc Delegate, Archbshop Yuhanna Abajy, archbshop of Nazreh and the Euphrates, n West New York. (Photo courtesy of St. Mark's Cathedral, NJ.)

The presence of the Syrian Orthodox Church on American soil goes back to the late nineteenth century. There are no records of who the first Syriac person was to arrive on American soil, but it is known of some individuals, such as Dr. Abraham K. Yoosuf, a native of Kharput, Türkiye, who arrived in the United States as early as 1889. Dr. Yoosuf was born on December 12, 1866, and received his higher education at Central Turkey College in Gazi Antep (Aintab), where he graduated in 1886 and worked as instructor until 1889. The same year he came to the USA and worked his way through Baltimore Medical School, graduating with high honors. He then settled down in Worcester, where he began his practice and in 1897 organized and served as president of the Assyrian Benefit Association. Dr. Yoosuf was a prominent figure who played an important role in the life of the Church, people and adopted nation before passing away on December 26, 1924. The early immigrants with few exceptions were simple weavers, merchants, craftsmen and farmers by profession and often settled down in different places according to their skills and professions. Those who came from the city of Diyarbakır in southeastern Türkiye, were mostly qualified as silk weavers and settled down in New Jersey, a major area of the silk industry. The families from Kharput (Harput), also in southeastern Turkey, settled mainly in Worcester, Massachusetts. The faithful from the region of Turabdin, also in southeastern Türkiye, established themselves in Central Falls, Rhode Island, as workers in the local mills. The Early Beginnings: Fr. Hanna

Koorie & The Assyrian Church of the Virgin Mary

Hanna Koorie, the son of Khoorie Mirza, a priest in Diyarbakir, Türkiye traveled to Jerusalem to seek priestly ordination. On May 20, 1907, he received the laying on of hands from Archbishop Mor Ivanios Elias Haloulei at St. Mark’s Monastery in Jerusalem. He returned to America in 1907 as the first priest of the Syrian Orthodox Church in the United States and was assigned for the service of the Syriac families of the New Jersey area.

In the spring of 1909, under the spiritual guidance of Fr. Hanna Koorie, the Syriac Ladies Aid Society was formed in order to raise financial means for the first church building. A church was purchased in West Hoboken (now Union City), New Jersey. By 1915 the population of the community reached a point where a new, larger church building was needed. The first Syrian Orthodox church in America was built by the Syriac faithful from the area of West New York, New Jersey. The church was consecrated in April of 1927. The consecration day was a landmark in the history of the Syriac community in America. The parish eventually relocated to Paramus, New Jersey, as the community built a magnificent new church whose cornerstone was laid on Sunday, September 17, 1967. In 1928 the number of the Syriac community in North America was estimated to be around 2200 individuals and in 1948 was thought to be around 3000.

Mor Severus wth the clergy of North Amerca n West New York. (Photo courtesy of Fr. John Meno)

The Kharput Become a Patrarchal Vcarate

The Kharput Be

On May 12, 1952, His Holiness Patriarch Ephrem I Barsoum appointed Archbishop Mor Athanasius Yeshue Samuel as Patriarchal Vicar over the United States and Canada. In 1953, the community secured a residence for the Archbishop in Hackensack, New Jersey, and this was officially opened on October 18, 1953. On October 14, 1957, the Holy Synod elected Archbishop Mor Severius Jacob to succeed Patriarch Ephrem I Barsoum as Patriarch of the see of Antioch. His enthronement took place on October 23rd of the same year, and he received the title Mor Ignatius Jacob III.

Creation of the North American Archdiocese

It was under the spiritual leadership of Patriarch Jacob III that the North American Archdiocese for the Syrian Orthodox Church was created. His Holiness, in October of 1957, officially declared the Syrian Orthodox jurisdiction of the United States and Canada as an Archdiocese of the Syrian Orthodox Church of Antioch in the diaspora. This was the first archdiocese to be inaugurated in the New World. Mor Athanasius Yeshue Samuel was appointed as the first archbishop of this archdiocese in 1957.

As a result of the creation of the archdiocese in North America, the Syriac community felt the need for a cathedral for the newly appointed archbishop. Therefore, the community purchased a church in Hackensack, New Jersey, which was consecrated on September 7, 1958, as St. Mark’s Cathedral. In 1994, St. Mark’s Cathedral parish relocated to Teaneck, New Jersey, and the new cathedral was consecrated on December 8, 1996.

The Future of the Syriac Community in North America

After the passing of Archbishop Mor Athanasius Yeshue Samuel in 1995, by a decree of the Holy Synod, the North American Archdiocese was divided into three separate Archdiocesan Patriarchal Vicariates: Eastern United States (including the Midwest), Western United States, and Canada, each with a resident hierarch. Today there are approximately 40,000 Syriac faithful residents in North America that comprise twenty-five parishes. From the 1960’s through the 1980s, new Syrian Orthodox parishes were established in California, Southfield, Michigan; Chicago, Illinois; West Roxbury, Massachusetts; Portland, Oregon and Long Island, New York as well as in Montreal, Quebec and Toronto and Hamilton, Ontario together with congregations in the Washington, DC area and in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. In 1980, the Archdiocesan residence was moved from Hackensack to Lodi, New Jersey.

Article was originally written by His Eminence Mor Polycarpos Adib Aydin, and later updated by The American Foundation for Syriac Studies.

MA. (Photo courtesy of Barbara Baba)

Rev.

Rev. Father Hadodo graduated from Yıldız Technical University, İstanbul and came to Rhode Island in 1972. Hadodo has served as pastor of St. Gabriel Syrian Orthodox Church in New Jersey since 1994.

Father Hadodo was born n 1950 n Mdyat. He attended prmary and secondary school n Mdyat, graduated from hgh school n 1965.

Rev. Father Aziz Hadodo has served as pastor of St. Gabriel Syrian Orthodox Church in New Jersey since 1994. One of the rare names to have a chance to know his family roots back 400 years. Due to a disagreement between cousins, a group flees from Diyarbakır, the largest Kurdish-majority city in Turkey to Midyat, a town in the Mardin province of Türkiye. Others follow them. They reconcile with the intervention of the clergy. As a result of this event, the family migrated from Diyarbakır to Midyat in 400 years ago. A Syriac patriarch from the family drew up a family tree for the first time 200 years ago. Another relative, who was a member of parliament in Syria, worked on the family tree about 60 years ago and brought it up to date.

Hadodo literally means Blacksmith. When the Surname Law was adopted in 1934, they took different surnames from the same family, such as Sevinç, Demircioğlu, Haddad. Father Aziz was the first person to change his surname to Hadodo in 1977 in the U.S. One of the largest families among Syriacs still living in Sweden is the Hadodo Family.

Rev. Father Aziz's grandfather and his grandfather's brother were among the Midyat people who immigrated to America during the Ottoman Empire. His mother's father, Hanna (John) Gündüz, came to the United States in 1905. Factory officials, who were looking for staff to work in the weaving business at the Slater Mill factory in Rhode Island (RI), promised to recruit 13 young people with weaving experience in Midyat during a visit to Türkiye. The Slater Mill is now known as the birthplace of the American Industrial Revolution. This is the first cotton-spinning mill in the U.S. The factory agreed to pay their salaries before they even came to the United States. 13 Syriacs youth had a request: "You will not separate us from each other."

Two people were diagnosed with trachoma in their eyes when they arrived on Ellis Island in 1905. Two people were not taken to the U.S. because it was contagious. Others objected: "If you don't get them, we don't go in either." The boss promised to have the two sick people treated and bring them back. They all worked at the factory in Pawtucket, RI. Father Aziz worked years later in the same factory where his grandfather worked. The factory still stands as a museum now. In those years, his grandfather's brother Kerimo was the owner of a considerable fortune. He made a lot of money selling second-hand furniture. Rev. Fr. Hadodo’s grandfather worked in a textile factory for $6 a day. He also served as the chairman of the workers' union at the factory. He returned to Midyat in 1917 because he could not bring his family with him. He sold salt, sugar and flour to the military unit established in Mardin for a while. Although he had not finished school, he had raised himself. He served as attorney. He died of skin cancer in 1939. Half of the friends he came within 1917 returned to Türkiye.

Rev. Fr. Hadodo was born in 1950. He attended primary and secondary school in Midyat, graduated from high school in 1965. He has five siblings. Her mother, Sariye, was one of the first female graduates to finish school in Midyat with the Latin alphabet. Many people gave the name Sariye to the children of Armenians, Kurds and Yezidis in the region. “She was a much-loved angelic woman,” he recounts.

It fell to Father Aziz's tailor father to complete his grandfather's unfinished American adventure. He came to the USA in 1965. He went to a tailoring course with the $200 money that Father Aziz's mother's uncle sent from the USA. He became a tailor.

CAME TO RHODE ISLAND IN 1972

Rev. Fr. Hadodo graduated from Yıldız Technical University, İstanbul and came to RI in 1972. He got engaged to his wife when he was in his senior year of university, and got married in 1973. They have 2 girls and a boy. A total of 11 languages are spoken in the Hadado family of five: Turkish, Syriac, Arabic, Kurdish, Armenian, Greek, Spanish, English, German, Portuguese.

Whle there were about 20 Syrac famles n Hackensack n the early 1990s, the congregaton relocated to a new church n Haworth, NJ, n 2014.

When Rev. Fr. Hadodo first came to RI, he repaired looms while going to school. He took over a closed K Mart supermarket and ran it for 12 years under the name Hadodo Discount. It became known in the region. He was elected to the city council in Woonsocket, RI. He won 70 percent of the votes. He participated in programs with a professional music group. He also gave a concert in Boston on Republic Day with the invitation of Turkish Consul General Orhan Gündüz, who was assassinated by Armenian terrorist organization in Boston. “We were very sad when the Consul General was killed. He was a very good person,” he says.

Although he lived in RI, he occasionally visited the St. Gabriel Syrian Orthodox Church in Hackensack, NJ. After the collapse of the USSR, the economic conditions became difficult when the military bases and factories in RI were closed. The state lost population. He sold his rental properties and moved to New Milford, NJ. “I got an offer to become a pastor from the church in NJ. I miss our community too. We came here among the congregation. When we saw someone speaking Turkish in RI, we were forcibly taking them home. To serve God. I love serving people. My congregation here also loves me,” he says. He studied at a monastery in the Netherlands for 40 days to become a priest. He improved his Syriac literacy.

TEACHING ARAMAIC

While there were about 20 Syriac families in Hackensack in the early 1990s, the congregation relocated to a new church in Haworth, NJ, in 2014. The congregation also grew over time. Now about 200 families are members of the church. The church organizes football, basketball, volleyball and bowling tournaments to attract the new generation. He also makes an effort to teach Aramaic to new generations. “The depopulation of churches and marriages outside of the congregation are what worries us the most. Okay, you loved someone from the outside. Bring it to church,” he says with smile. As a result of the work in the church, however, most of the young people can read and write in Aramaic, the oldest continuously written and spoken language of the Middle East and the tongue Jesus spoke. The rites in the church are also performed in Aramaic.

Aziz Hadodo traveled to Türkiye for the first time in 1990, after 18 years. “I was missing Midyat so much. It always was in my dreams 1-2 times a week. My childhood memories were always in front of my eyes. Years later, I went but unfortunately did not find it as I hoped. There were no neighbors we knew. The spoken language in the city had changed. I cried from my sadness.” Hadodo does not receive any help other than rent to avoid being a burden to the church. For more than 30 years, he has been operating in the construction business under the name Hadodo Construction. “I have been in America for 50 years. I always worked for 6 days. A priest is a priest until he dies, but I want to stay 2-3 more years, we can raise someone. I'm 72 years old," he says.

“Faith has weakened a lot in America as well as in Europe. Common religions all have the same problem. In other words, it has become difficult to attract the young population to places of worship.” When they built the Church, they had a tough time with the White Beeches Golf and Country Club and another neighbor hired lawyers to fight the proposal for the 3.4 acre site for which the church paid $1,150,000. The approximate permit and construction process took 4-5 years. “We call it a Christian country, but we tried so hard. In fact, one day I saw the lawyer who was giving us difficulties in a store. I said hi. 'Are you still talking to me? Don't you hate me?" he asked. I said, "No, why should I hate you, I love you". “I tried to hurt you so much,” he said. I said, "You have done your duty, if it were not for you, they would have brought another lawyer."

Photo by KORAY KASAP TurkofAmerica /

Father Aziz Hadodo as he gives his sermon on Sunday at St. Gabriel Church, Haworth, NJ

Syriac community leader at St Gabriel Syriac Orthodox Church in Hawort community leader at St Gabriel Syriac Orthodox Church in Haworth, NJ.

Syriac community leader at St Gabriel Syriac Orthodox Church in Hawor

Syriac community leader at St Gabriel Syriac Orthodox Church in Hawort

GABRIEL AKYÖN

Syriac community leader at St Gabriel Syriac Orthodox Church in Hawo

Syriac community leader at St Gabriel Syriac Orthodox Church in Hawort

community leader at St Gabriel Syriac Orthodox Church in Haworth, NJ. community leader at St Gabriel Syriac Orthodox Church in Haworth, NJ.

community leader at St Gabriel Syriac Orthodox Church in Haworth, NJ. community leader at St Gabriel Syriac Orthodox Church in Haworth, NJ.

Syriac community leader at St Gabriel Syriac Orthodox Church in Hawo

Syriac community leader at St Gabriel Syriac Orthodox Church in Hawor

Syriac community leader at St Gabriel Syriac Orthodox Church in Hawor

community leader at St Gabriel Syriac Orthodox Church in Haworth, NJ. community leader at St Gabriel Syriac Orthodox Church in Haworth, NJ.

c community leader at St Gabriel Syriac Orthodox Church in Haworth, NJ

Syriac community leader at St Gabriel Syriac Orthodox Church in Hawort community leader at St Gabriel Syriac Orthodox Church in Haworth, NJ. Syriac community leader at St Gabriel Syriac Orthodox Church in Hawor

Syriac community leader at St Gabriel Syriac Orthodox Church in Hawort

community leader at St Gabriel Syriac Orthodox Church in Haworth, NJ. community leader at St Gabriel Syriac Orthodox Church in Haworth, NJ.

Syriac community leader at St Gabriel Syriac Orthodox Church in Hawor

Syriac community leader at St Gabriel Syriac Orthodox Church in Hawort

community leader at St Gabriel Syriac Orthodox Church in Haworth, NJ. community leader at St Gabriel Syriac Orthodox Church in Haworth, NJ.

Syriac community leader at St Gabriel Syriac Orthodox Church in Hawor

Syriac community leader at St Gabriel Syriac Orthodox Church in Hawor

Syriac community leader at St Gabriel Syriac Ortho dox Church in Haworth, NJ.

Syriac community leader at St Gabriel Syriac Ortho dox Church in Haworth, NJ.

Syriac community leader at St Gabriel Syriac Orthodox Church in Hawo

c community leader at St Gabriel Syriac Orthodox Church in Haworth, NJ

c community leader at St Gabriel Syriac Orthodox Church in Haworth, NJ

Elder Brother of the Syriac Society

Syriac community leader at St Gabriel Syriac Orthodox Church in Hawo

community leader at St Gabriel Syriac Orthodox Church in Haworth, NJ. community leader at St Gabriel Syriac Orthodox Church in Haworth, NJ. community leader at St Gabriel Syriac Orthodox Church in Haworth, NJ.

Syriac community leader at St Gabriel Syriac Orthodox Church in Haworth, NJ.

Syriac community leader at St Gabriel Syriac Orthodox Church in Hawor

c community leader at St Gabriel Syriac Orthodox Church in Haworth, NJ

Syriac community leader at St Gabriel Syriac Orthodox Church in Hawort

The Mor Gabriel community is extremely tight-knit, and most socialization happens within the community. In addition to weekly church services, there are also many social events throughout the year. The families within the community are not only friends, but most are also related to each other. Even the children, who attend public and private schools in English, do not (usually) become as good of with those who are outside of the community, as those friends would be seen as temporary, while friends from the community are seen as lifelong friends. The young people usually marry within the larger Syriac community. *

The Syriac community in the U.S. is small and where everyone knows each other in some way. The majority of them are from the Midyat district of Mardin. (Gebrail) Cebrail Akyön is one of the most loved and respected names of the Syriac community. He is one of well-known names who representing the Syriac community at the official receptions of the Consulate General of the Republic of Turkey in New York.,Akyön was born in 1954 in the village of Ayinvert (Gülgöze) in Midyat province. His maternal grandfather, Father Gabriel, after whom he took his name, was the monastic director of the Mor Gabriel (Deyrulumur) Monastery for 20 years (1917-1937). His father, Father Samuel Akyön, served his congregation in the village for 30 years at the Mor Huşabo Church in Ayinvert. He served in the Deyrulumur Monastery. Father Samuel Akyön came to İstanbul in 1980 and took part in the Spiritual staff of the Abraşiye. He passed away in 2005 after 25 years of outstanding service. Gabriel Akyön completed his primary school education in his own village and his Syriac and Arabic education in Deyrulumur Monastery between 1963 and 1966. After working as a Melfono (Instructor) in his own village between 1966 and 1968, he came to İstanbul in 1968 and started his business life in the jewelry industry.

Photo by KORAY KASAP TurkofAmerica /

The Mor Gabriel Syriac Orthodox Church is made up of around 200 families.

e Protocol Manager of the Metropolitan since 1982 in the İstanbul Abraşiye. He was a member of the 11th Term Board of Directors of the foundation under the chairmanship of Yakup Tahincioğlu. He fulfilled his responsibilities as the founder and board member of Deyrulzafaran Association. Although his children settled in America in 1992, he did not break away from his congregation and tried to help every member of the congregation who reached him. At the request of Metropolitan Mor Filüksinos Yusuf Çetin, he was honored with the Order of Mor İğnatiyos Nurono (Commandor) by Patriarch Moran Mor İğnatiyos I. Zekka Ayvaz of Kadaset on 9 October 2006 at a ceremony held at the Mor Efrem Monastery in Damascus for his outstanding services to the church. Akyön's children, Özcan, Ferit and Kenan, have been operating at the Woodbridge Jewelry Exchange under the name Kent Jewelry since 1991. The family had also a jeweler in the Grand Bazaar and Beyoğlu in Turkey under the name of Kent.

* Christina Michelle Weaver and George A. Kiraz- Turoyo Neo-Aramaic in northern New Jersey

Gabriel Akyön with his brother Aziz Akyön, who is President of St Gabriel Syriac Orthodox Church for past 20 years and Father Aziz Hadodo.

AYDIN

Insightful, witty and friendly, quick thinking and responsive, genuinely direct and sometimes a little arrogant...

The Real Housewves of New Jersey

When the reality show Real Housewives of New Jersey started on Bravo TV on May 12th, 2009, Jennifer Aydın, a housewife then living in River Edge, New Jersey, was one of the devoted followers of the show. She sent an e-mail to the production company a couple of times to be on the show. The production team reviewed her application. They visited her house but found it too small for the show. But Jennifer didn’t give up. She had a new house, with 9 bedrooms and 16 bathrooms, built on a vacant land in Paramus, one of the neighborhoods near River Edge. The house she had built also had basketball court in the basement, a pool and a huge yard around it. When the production team saw this new house, they changed their mind and invited Jennifer to The Real Housewives of New Jersey show. Jennifer started being on the show in 2017, during its 9th season.

Jennifer has been watched closely for four seasons on the The Real Housewives of New Jersey TV Show, which has been broadcasted on Bravo TV for 12 seasons and viewed by an audience of 1,1 million. She is a savvy, witty, and sincere person who thinks and responds quickly, reflecting on her real thoughts and, at times, appearing somewhat arrogant. She gives much effort to make her family and everybody else around her happy. She is sometimes a bridge between her mother and father when they’re in conflict; an angel watching after her siblings; and mother who has taken over the role of discipling her children. By February of 2023, with the start of the new episode on Bravo TV, Jennifer will begin her fifth episode on the show. Every single detail about her life is reflected on tv screen.

It is quite difficult to share something new about a person who tells everything about her life on a reality show. Jennifer was born in 1977, in Long Island. Like many other Syriacs, Jennifer’s family was also working in the jewelry sector. The exact number of Syriacs living in the USA has not known but it won’t be mistake to say that among the 40,000 Syriacs in the country, the TV star Jennifer is by far the most well-known member of that community. For a member of such a small community in which almost everyone knows each other, Jennifer’s courage is worth the praise. She has no concern about how her community’s members would react. She prefers living as naturally as possible, however her heart desires. When she was 15 years old, she used to dream about becoming an actress but at that time her mother Josephine was against that. Jennifer says, her mother thought becoming an actress would have prevented her from having a family and raising children.

Jennifer has two brothers and one sister, and she is the most dominant one among them. She mentions that her mother used to always tell her, “You should have been born as a boy.” She says, when she started being part of the show, her mother felt proud of her. When asked whether she is envied by other housewives on the show, Jennifer replies, “What can I envy about them? Thankfully, I have everything. I might not have a private jet like some of them but they always have something missing in their lives. Some are divorced. Some are so stingy that they serve only pizza at parties. They get jealous of my service at parties. ‘Why are you spending so much and serving all this? It makes us look bad’, they keep telling me.” Pointing out that the secret to a happy marriage is having a happy spouse, Jennifer says, “My husband works so hard. And, since I know that, I make things easy for him at home.”

born in 1975 in Long Island, NJ

JWhen they were buying the land in Paramus and also when building the house, Jennifer took responsibility of managing all the details of the work. At the beginning of the project, she decided to change it at the last minute because she found the pool to be too small. She explains her reason for this decision by saying, “We have five kids and my cousins have four. And, our friends also mostly have many kids like us. If we had had that small pool, it would not have been big enough for all the kids when they would get together. And, just as the inside of the house, I also wanted to have the same magnificence outside.”

At the basement of her house, Jennifer has got built a private basketball court, movie theater, sauna, and gym. In addition to a jakuzi, there is also an extension in the backyard for Bill to spend time with his friends.Having married at a young age, when she was 25, Jennifer has 5 kids. She says, “I have raised my first three kids on my own but when our fourth was born we had a nanny helping us at home.” Jennifer’s mother, who is a big fan of Turkish drama series, lives with her daughter.

The couple has five kids. Justin, Gabby, Jacob, Christian and Olivia

Photo by KORAY KASAP

All the detals of the house are specal to her...

New Jersey

JENNIFER HOME

MEETING AT THE WEDDING

The details about the life

Bill followed on his father’s footsteps in the jewelry sector and worked at his uncle’s workshop and learned maki rings.He says he gained his first hand and eye skil He attended Berkeley College and graduated from New York Medical College in Westchester in 1995.During internship, Bill did not even think about marriage. When the attacks of September 11 took place in 2001, he used work at a hospital in New York. He was 28 years old that time realized something was missing in his lif God! Life is coming to an end quickly and I have ne lover nor children,” he said to himself. And, short that, he attended his sister’s wedding ceremony in Angeles. According to the traditions of Turkish fam was supposed to get married before her younger sist he had told her, “Don’t wait for me got get married know when my internship will end. You should just g married.” That suggestion had become one of the tur points of his life. Because, Bill met Jennifer at her sister’s wedding. And, when the September 11 terror attacks happened, Jennifer got worried about Bill and calle ask if he was ok. Then, their phone conversations b frequent, paving the way to their marriage. Jennife got married the following year, in 2002.

In the past, Jennifer was known as the spouse of Dr. Bill Aydın but since she got a big audience on Bravo TV, Dr. Aydın is mainly referred to as ‘the husband of Jennifer.’ Among the AssyrianAmerican community, in which most people earn their living in the jewelry sector, Dr. Aydın is one of the few names that have led a different path. He is also the first person in his extended family with a degree in college education.

of Jennifer’s husband Dr. Nebil (Bill) Aydın are not as well-known as Jennifer’s but they are equally interesting. Before moving to Los Angeles with his family in 1989, at the age of 16, Bill attended the first two years of high school in İstanbul’s Şişli Terakki High School. He then finished high school in Los Angeles.

Jennifer and Bill met at Bill’s sister wedding in Los Angeles in 2001.

Jennifer and Bill AYDIN

Photo by KORAY KASAP

TurkofAmerica

BECOME A DOCTOR

Dr. Aydın’s family moved from Midyat to İstanbul back in 1960’s. His grandfather used to be a priest in Midyat.

One of his maternal uncles was also a priest, in Switzerland. Dr. Aydın himself is anactive member of Syriac church in Hawort, New Jersey. His family values education a lot. In the past, families who moved from Mardin to İstanbul used to mainly work at the Kent Şeker factory, which was owned by the Syriac Tahincioglu family. Dr. Aydın’s father also worked at that factory for some time, then, had a job as a janitor at an Italian hospital. Recalling his memories from those years, Dr. Aydın says, “During those years, my parents knew of doctors as earning golden liras so they always believed being a doctor was a well-earning occupation. So, they always recommended me to become a doctor, a lawyer or an engineer. They wanted us to pick occupations that would allow us to earn more money.”After the 1980 coup in Türkiye, most of the members of his family migrated. His relatives from his mother’s side have already moved to Germany and Switzerland in 1960’s. His father grew up being affiliated with the jewelry sector. He owned a jewelry shop in İstanbul, in Beşiktaş. After the coup in 1980, his shop was vandalized and robbed by an armed group. His family lost a big portion of their wealth. Dr. Aydın’s father first sent one of his uncles to Germany. Then, when the family got a Green Card from the U.S., he sent Dr. Aydın and the rest of the family to Los Angeles. Later, he moved to Los Angeles himself. Dr. Aydın’s father still works at the jewelry sector in Los Angeles. During his practical training, Dr. Aydın witnessed how the cosmetic surgeons were quite close with their students. That sincerity and bond between the doctors and the students appealed to him. He finished school in 2000. He continued his training in New York for 7 years, in general surgery and cancer research fields. After completing his training, he started working in Westchester, operating people whose faces were burned or wounded in accidents. Then, he worked as a plastic surgeon in Detroit for two years.

He says, “When my duty in Detroit was completed in 2010, we thought about whether to move to east or West coast. Jennifer grew up in Long Island. So, we moved to New Jersey and we lived in River Edge for 7 years.” After having worked with a group of 5-6 doctors in Westchester from 2010 to 2014, Dr. Aydın opened his own plastic surgery clinic in Paramus. Today, he is still one of the most famous cosmetic surgeons of New Jersey. He conducts nearly 500 operations every year. Around 85 percent of these operations involve body and the rest is related to facial treatments. At his clinic, where almost 3,500 patients have received treatment so far, there are 22 professionals employed. Most of his patients live in the same area or nearby. Cost of his cosmetic operations start from 3000 dollars and increases depending on the length and kind of the requested treatment.

BILL AYDIN moving to new jersey

In the previous years, only the wealthy people of the Upper East Side used to be able to afford cosmetic surgeries, however, nowadays, people from almost all economic backgrounds are able to get plastic treatments.Dr. Aydın says, “If we look around, we see that people have cars worth of 50K dollars, even if their income normally is not enough to afford it. Because, they finance it. The same goes for cosmetic procedures. For example, they might have earnings of 500 dollars per week but they still manage to spare money for lip fillers. And, some see it as an investment on themselves.”Facelifting takes the longest among all other cosmetic operations. It ranges from 6 to 8 hours. Plastic procedures that are done the most in the U.S. are breast implants, liposuction and facelifting.

Dr. Aydın recommends that those who find the operation prices in the U.S. should not consider other cheaper alternatives, saying, “Those who go through plastic surgery, think that they will definitely heal eventually. There is no such guarantee. Nobody thinks about going overseas for a heart surgery or a brain surgery. Regardless of who does a big operation, there are risks involved. A doctor may do the same operation on 10 different patients and while 9 of them recover without a problem one may not. Because, every person’s body gives a different reaction. The right thing to do is for the doctor doing the operation also to be the one following up with aftermath.”Giving great importance to do follow-ups with his patients that he operates, Dr. Aydın says, “There are times when I even visit them at their homes. There have been times when I returned from my family trips early to see my patients, although I could have also referred them to the emergency room.”Dr. Aydın is the father of three sons and two daughters, named Justin, Gabby, Jacob, Christian and Olivia. When asked if he would wish for his kids to become plastic surgeons, Dr. Aydın replies, “Being a doctor is not easy. There is a common tendency to blame the doctor when the patient does not recover. And, this is something that puts great pressure on doctors. The doctors take on the responsibility during the stressful recovery process of the patient. They become obligated to listen to everyone without reacting. If my kids really want to take on such role, then, they should’”

www.aydinplasticsurgery.com/

Mıchael Ghassalı

Michael Ghassali won two times council member’s election and then ran for mayor in 2015. Now he is aiming for the Bergen County Executive post.

Montvale, NJ — population 7,844, 36 miles from New York City’s Manhattan - was incorporated as a borough on August 31, 1894. When he was sworn-in as a mayor on January 4th, 2016, Michael Ghassali made history as the first Christian-born Syrian to become a mayor in the Eastern United States. His mother from Harput, Elazığ in Armenian descent and his father was born in Mardin, a city in southeastern Turkey. He was working as Vice President of Corporate Partnerships for the nonprofit Feed the Children, one of the leading anti-hunger organizations. First, he ran for the city council, later ran for mayor. In the 2016 election, he got 70 percent of the votes and for his second term no one challenged him. He ran for Congress in 2020 election but after COVID he pulled off from the race. Now his Republican party colloquies encourages him to run for as Bergen County Executive. Michael Ghassali answered our questions:

Would you tell us a lttle bt about your famly background?

My father was born in Mardin. He moved to Syria when he was young, and he met his wife there. He was a Syriac. My mother was Armenian. They got married. I was born in 1964 in Aleppo, Syria.

When dd you come to Unted States? What was the reason you moved?

We moved to United States in 1980. My father was a tailor, and he was doing well there. He thought it was an opportunity to move here and we did. I was 16 years old and went to high school here. We moved to Dumont. We met some members of our community through church. We had gone to Mardin before we came here. I want to go to Turkey again. We have families still in Mardin with different last names. My first job was in the bakery making bagels then I went to college to study biology. First, I went to Bergen Community College, then went to Montclair State. Then I was also working part time, different jobs.

What dd you do frst when you come to the Unted States after school? What was your frst job?

Republican party colloquies encourages him to run for as Bergen County Executive.

Did you work in your field as a biologist?

Yes, so I worked for Lipton tea as a microbiologist at lab. We used to test tea for bacteria and then Unilever bought Lipton tea. I started working for Unilever. I got into a supply chain then I left September 2001 to start my own company in supply chain management. It was called Damage Research Inc to ship the product from the manufacturer to the warehouse without any damage. I had my own company for five years. Then another company came in and bought my company. Then I worked for them for a few years and then FedEx bought that company. So, then I left. It was 2010 and I went to work at Feed the Children. And then during that time in 2010 I ran for Council in Montvale, NJ.

How dd you decde to go n poltcs?

Before being involved in politics, I was busy with my business, I was traveling a lot. I did not have any time. My kids were so young. And then we lived in this town, and I said, well, there is something I can do to help the town too. I was involved in St. Mark's Syriac Orthodox Church in Paramus. I was on the board for 20 years. So, I asked around. I was asked to run for council.

Dd you have any dea about how the system works?

No, I do not know. I did not know what I was involved in. I do not know who the mayor was. I spoke to a few people. They introduced me to some people here. They suggested that I could run for the Council. I told my wife I was going to run for council, she said “what?” She had no idea what that was either. I won in 2010. Second term, I ran again, and I won again. And then in the third term, I wanted to run for mayor, and I ran for mayor. And I won in 2015.

WHICH BUSINESSES DID YOU BRING TO TOWN?

KPMG was going to leave this area. KPMG had 2500 employees. I met with its managing partner, and we talked a lot. Not only did they stay, but they have also expanded. Sharp was in Mahwah, and they were willing to move somewhere else. I was in contact with the Japanese ambassador. He helped me to bring Sharp Electronics here. There are approximately 300 businesses here. Employee based about 25,000 employees before COVID. We lost about 60 businesses during the COVID but then we gained. More than 75- 80 businesses now and we have more businesses.

You also run Congress as well. How was your experence wth the Congress race?

Are you Democrat or Republcan?

Republican but we have more Democrats in this town than Republicans. But my personal relations with people are very strong in this town. People started to get to know me. Before I did not know anybody here. I never got involved in anything. So, I met people. I went knocking on doors, and doing campaigning and I said, first thing, if I am elected as mayor, I will be very transparent. If you look in here, there is no door. This is the first thing that will take the door off that even an open-door policy was existed. Anyone can walk in and ask me anything they want. People like that being transparent. The second term I had no opposition. Nobody challenged me.

Frst electon, how many percentages dd you get?

Oh, so it surprised everybody. It was three to one, so I had like almost 70% of votes. The second term, so there's no candidate against me.

What dd you do durng your frst term as a mayor and nobody challenged you?

If you drive around, you see all these new developments. The roads are always new and clean. For the first four years we were just focusing on bringing in new businesses. So now we have a surplus. We kept the taxes flat. There was no tax increase. We are the only town in this area that did that. Now we are going to be building a new Community Center and new pool for the town. We are buying a new fire truck for $1 million. We are building a fire station for $5 million.

I became the latest candidate seeking the Republican nomination for the 5th Congressional District in 2020. And I raised about $1 million. I had huge support from thecommunity,fromminoritiesfromalltheotherareas and then COVID hit. My son moved to Australia. My wife did not want to be involved anymore because of COVID, and my father was not doing well. And I said to myself, I cannot do it. I had to pull out before the primary. I know unless I have my family's support, I cannot continue. But now they wanted me to run for the County Executive, but on this election I did not want.

How s your town dverse?

There are 53 flags in our office. Those are people who live in this town from 53 countries. They were born outside of the United States. It is remarkably diverse.

People lke that beng transparent.

Sellers in the carpet shops in the Grand Bazaar

İstanbul are known in the world for their unique sales techniques. The sales adventure ends with the customer who enters the shop saying "I will definitely not buy a carpet" and receives thousands of dollars’ worth of carpet to his home. Carpets sold in Istanbul Grand Bazaar are delivered directly to Germany, France, Belgium, the United States and all over the world. They swallowed the dust of the Grand Bazaar together at an early age, carried carpets, served tea to tourists, swept the floor, tried to learn English together, and got scolded by the boss. The story of the friendship and brotherhood of two apprentices of the same shop for nearly 35 years, stretching from Istanbul to America. Nail (Nile) Candan and Hasan Türkeri are two opposite characters. In business life, one is more robust, the other is more reckless. One has nothing to do with mathematics, the other is a very good calculator. A 180-degree contrast complements each other with a 360-degree circle. Their paths crossed in 1989 at Candan Carpet Corp., owned by Nail's father, and it has survived to the present day at different intervals. In those years, Syriac society did not have many people who were engaged in carpet business. Nail Candan's father was originally a jeweler. He moved from Midyat to İstanbul in 1967. At the request of his neighbors in the Grand Bazaar he turned his jewelry shop into a carpet shop. Candan said, “My father was an entrepreneur.

We woke up one morning that we became carpet sellers,” he says. A year or so later, the partnership with the neighbors broke down but over time, the number of shops in the Grand Bazaar increased to four. Another branch was opened in Alanya, a touristic district. Nail Candan ran the shop in Alanya for nearly four years. He used to go to Germany to deliver the carpets he sold in Alanya. The family always had a plan to do business in America, but it never materialized. Until the moment of a bomb attack in the Grand Bazaar. After the attack at the end of 1996, the doors of the Bazaar were losed,and the father, who had two sons in the shops inside, could not hear for 3 hours. The father decided to come to America that day. They came to relatives in Paramus, NJ in November 1997. It took 2004 for the entire family to settle in the country. Candan's first job in New York was at the branch of businessman Vedat Durusel, who is also a carpet maker in Türkiye, on 29th Street in Manhattan. He took over the same shop after a while. He worked as a jeweler with his cousin in Edgewater, NJ. Then he opened his first carpet store in Palisades Park, NJ. He toured from California to Florida 4-5 times to sell carpets in the U.S. Candan, who got married in 2008, turned from the carpet business to jewelry business. He worked as a jeweler at Woodbury jewelry Exchange, considered the Mecca of Syriac society. He remained to the jewelry business from 2006 to 2015.

Before coming to America, Hasan was asking, "How can we do it if I come to America?" Nail said, "Come, we will go out with the truck and sell carpets." One month after 9/11, they went on a tour of the USA by truck to sell carpets. A map, a white van, and two Middle Eastern-looking salesmen did not go unnoticed by skeptical Americans. The FBI raided the hotel where they were staying. Nail said, “Without being aware, we stopped near a military base. It got people attention. We said that we sell carpets because there is nothing to fear or hide. They left,” he remembers. A period in which he lived back and forth between jewelry and carpet business, his old friend Hasan asked him if he could sell a carpet to a very important customer. In order not to offend his childhood friend, he loaded the carpets and went to Virginia for the customer. He sold the carpet. Hasan asked, "There is another customer, would you stop by if I asked?" It didn't break. He visited to him too. Hasan’s requests did not stop, Nail stopped by four different customers in two days and sold the carpets. He also sent the checks to Hasan. The next day, Hasan, who came to the jewelry store, said, "What are you doing in the jewelry store?’ he asked. It got into my blood. It was the job I loved. With Hasan's insistence, I returned to the carpet industry in one day, as my father did in his time,'' he says.

Nearly 50 sales representatives are on tour in America with 15 trucks. A sales representative usually completes a tour in 3 months.

Although Hasan and Nail sell carpets together from time to time, Nail became a partner in the business that Hasan established in 2008 under the name Hasan's Rugs, in 2015. Currently, the Hasan’s Rugs call center which is established in İstanbul, Türkiye, are calling 1600-1700 Americans a day. They make appointments. The majority of the employees at the center are graduates of Boğaziçi University, one of the most prestigious universities in Turkey. In addition to wholesalers, two factories in Türkiye weave carpets for Hasan's Rugs.Nearly 50 sales representatives are on tour in America with 15 trucks. A sales representative usually completes a tour in 3 months. 90 percent of the carpets sold are hand-woven and 10 percent are machine-made carpets. “We only sell Turkish carpet because we love it because it is a product we know. I know how to repair, touch, color, paint, how long the carpet will last, where it is woven. Because we sell the story and history of the carpet. Will the story of the hand-made carpet and the machine-made carpet be the same? Many of our customers buy the carpet so they can later share it with their friends as a story,” he says.30 percent of the carpets sold at Hasan's Rugs are antique carpets. They represent nearly 20 companies from Turkey to sell carpet to their customers in the U.S. in return for a commission. Most of the customers who buy carpets in the USA are tourists who have visited Turkey before. The months with the most carpet sales are March-April-May. The most expensive carpet that Nail has ever sold in the USA is 10x11 feet worth $250 thousand. A branch of Hasan's Rugs also opened two years ago in Charlottesville, VA. Author Donovan Webster, who wrote an article for National Geographic magazine about Turkish carpet in 2007, invited Nail and Hasan to Charlottesville. They went and introduced the carpets. A designer they met there suggested that the colors of the carpets should be different. They followed her advice. Its sales increased. “We also have a showroom in partnership with Jan Roden, who made that suggestion to us.” Hasan’s Rugs are also sold on Amazon, Etsy and Wayfair through its sister company. They plan to sell carpets on their own site.

“There is no big competition in the industry. So, in principle we did not take any sales person from any competitor. This has been done for many years, especially in Europe. There is still a culture of vigilance when you grow up in the Grand Bazaar. If the opportunity comes, don't forgive. Buy cheap, sell high. If the corner of the carpet is torn, just cover it with your foot and sell it. That's how they showed it to us and told us as if it was a good thing. When I first came here, I was ashamed of myself when I saw the honesty of Americans. It took 15 years for me to give up those bad habits. We struggled like this for years. We have seen that it is possible to do business by being honest and not lying. No one working with us at the moment has a carpet seller background. Because it is 10 times harder to extract something that they have learned before than to teach a new one. What did we do? We built our staff. We have one basic principle. Honesty. There is no lying or cheating between us.”

KASAP

Among the well-known customers that Hasan's Rugs sells carpets are Al Gore, the former Vice President of the USA, Phil Jackson, the legendary coach of the Los Angeles Lakers, Stuart Woods, the famous novelist, and the famous actor Robert de Niro's the Greenwich Hotel in Manhattan. The partners have other investments besides carpet shop. The restaurant first opened under the name Rainbow in River Edge, NJ by Ferit Cankurt, Nail's cousin, then changed hands to İstanbul Blue, Turkish Kitchen within the Syriac community. Later on, it operates as Kilim in partnership with Hasan and Nail. Hasan's wife Asiye runs the restaurant.

“IT TOOK US 15 YEARS TO BE AN HONEST SELLER”

Photo by KORAY

CANDAN AT HIS RUG STORE IN NORTH BERGEN, NJ

CEYLAN

STILL OWNS COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS IN SEVERAL STATES. WAREHOUSE BUSINESS ALSO LUCRATIVE HE SAYS...

Ceylan family from Türkiye arrived in New Jersey on Sunday, July 4, 1993. The shop was closed on Monday. On Tuesday, he and his brother stopped by Dunkin Donuts for a coffee. They made their way to his brother's shop at the Woodbridge Jewelry Exchange, the region’s largest selection of jewelry, with more than 100,000 items in one location in Woodbridge, NJ. "I’ve been working ever since," says Yusuf (Joseph) Ceylan. The Ceylan family, originally from the village of Gülgöze in the Midyat district of Mardin, sought to go abroad when economic conditions in Türkiye became difficult after the Gulf War. Ceylan graduated from high school in İstanbul. His brother and uncle had come to the United States before them. They came to the U.S. with a green card. After working with his brother for a while, he opened a jewelry shop for himself in 2000, again at the Woodbridge Exchange. Leaving the Woodbridge Exchange and entering the jewelry manufacturing business in New York City was not something many would dare. He entered the manufacturing business in New York in 2006 with businessmen Ekmel Anda and Dursun Koçak, who are well known to the jewelry sector. "We weren't scared because it had a bit of an entrepreneurial spirit. My partner Ekmel also acted as an elder brother and showed the way. We said let's go and take a swell in the big sea." The partners, who entered the manufacture the largest collection of bridal jewelry in the industry under the name of Unique Settings of New York, offered an opportunity that jewelry shops did not have in the sector until that day. They made a difference by delivering goods in 2-3 days. At the time, most of the jewelry businesses moved out of Manhattan because of the costs. Unlike those who went to Mexico, Puerto Rico, China, they produced in the heart of the jewelry industry, on 47th Street in New York City. The economic crisis in 2009 also caused Ceylan to seek other opportunities. "I have a full-time job. I was working from 5.00am in the morning until 8.00pm in the evening. While researching what else I could do, a friend suggested to invest in commercial real estate." He examined the business model. Property ownership of retail chains and banks such as McDonald's, Wells Fargo, CVS, TD Bank, Dunkin Donuts, etc. All the day-to-day maintenance of the building is done by the tenant inside. He has no other trouble than to collect the monthly rent. In 2009, he began looking for commercial buildings, founded BeKitto Realty Group. He bought his first building in New Jersey in 2011. Ceylan stayed as a partner at Unique Setting of New York until 2013. As the number of buildings increased over time, his name became known in the broker community, and in 2014 he focused more to the commercial real estate business.

FIRST PURCHASE

His first purchase, which he began to make his name among brokers, was during a jewelry show in Las Vegas. The broker, who worked with Ceylan, called and asked him if he interested buying a commercial estate which a bank its tenant. "If I put it on the list, it will sell in two days, go and see if you like it, I won't put it," the broker said. Ceylan called his brother in New Jersey from Las Vegas and asked him to see the building. When his brother liked the building, he made the decision to buy it without seeing it. "That purchase helped me make a good name around the broker," he says. Ceylan still owns commercial buildings in New Jersey, as well as NewYork, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Maryland, Virginia, Maine, Florida, Missouri, and Ohio. He buys and sells some of them. Prices of the buildings range from $1 to $12 million. He built about 10 commercial estates, most recently he built a building from scratch in Neptun, NJ. "But it makes more sense to buy a ready-made building than to build it from scratch in time," he says. He thinks renting office space is going to get worse. He doesn’t rent office spaces. Ceylan's tenants include major brands such as Staples, CVS, Starbucks, Walgreen, Wendy's, Dollar Store, Investors, Citizen, TD Bank, etc. His next goal is to concentrate on the warehouse industry. "There is no big land to build warehouses. Companies that sell online need large warehouses near city centers and that need will only increase."

When he is asked if it is easy to deal with so many tenants alone. "The buildings are usually not in a style that gives a lot of headaches. Already many things are taken care of by the tenants in it. I also do the work that 3 people do. I promised my wife at the time. I couldn't see the children when I was working so hard. I promised to my wife, if one day I need a worker, I won't do this job anymore," he replies. He emphasizes that he wants his children to be engaged in the real estate business as well. "I hope my son or daughter wants to do this job. I talk to them every day, trying to motivate them. It's a beautiful job to do."

He says he also advised his friends from the Syriac community to get into the commercial real estate business. "There have been those who have entered this business before and grown. Devli Group is one of them and they've been very successful. In the past there was a smaller try. When they failed, he deterred the others. For example, he bought a house, demolished it, built a house. When they couldn't make money, people said, 'Look, this guy went into jobs he didn't know, he went bankrupt.' Already a society of 100-150 families, everyone knows everybody. They hesitated to invest it. But the reason they fail is that while they are having jewelry shop and trying to succeed it as a side job.’’

When asked if he had worked in commercial real estate for 20 years, would you have grown more in the jewelry business than you had grown? ‘’I guess it would be much better. But jewelry helped us a lot. We made seed money in that business. If they tell me today that let's go back to jewelry business, it is difficult for me to do that."

Although Ceylan did not have the opportunity to go to Türkiye very often after coming to the U.S., in August 2022, his father and his son went on a trip to Türkiye covering 12 provinces such as Mardin, Urfa, and Diyarbakir. Ceylan takes great pleasure in playing soccer. He gets together once a week with his group of friends over the age of 40. Ceylan was preparing for the exam to get a deer hunting by archery permit at the time of the interview.

KASAP

''I PROMISED MY WIFE. IF ONE DAY, I NEED A WORKER, I'LL QUIT''

Photo by KORAY

Yusuf (Joseph) Ceylan says t's hard to go back jewelry busness anymore for hm.

Yusuf Joseph CEYLAN

SYRIACS FROM DİYARBAKIR

Jack Darakjy

Hs grandparents left Dyarbakır, the largest cty n Southeastern Türkye, n 1922. They frst moved to Aleppo, Syra and then came to the U.S. n 1960. Jack Darakjy, practcng law for 35 years, has an extensve knowledge of Syracs from Dyarbakır.

Jack Darakjy, attorney in River Edge, NJ. His parents were originally Diyarabakır, the largest city in Southeastern Türkiye, on the banks of Tigris (Dicle), one of the greatest rivers of Middle East. His grandparents left Diyarbakır in 1922 to Aleppo, Syria. His eldest uncle came to the U.S. in 1922 and his family moved to the States in 1960. Practicing as a lawyer for 35 years, he speaks French, English, Arabic, Turkish and Armenian. He has an extensive knowledge of Syriacs from Diyarbakır as well. Diyarbakır St. Mary Church has survived 18 centuries throughout history and continues to inspire a strong and growing presence in the United States. With roots planted in 1915 in West Hoboken, N.J., (now North Bergen), the first Assyrian Orthodox church in the U.S. took its name fromtheoriginalchurchinDiyarbakir,Turkey. Darakjy answered TURKOFAMERICA’s questions.

Did they come to New Jersey?

Most of the immigrants who left Türkiye in the period from about 1895 to 1925, came to New Jersey, I would say about 85% to 90%. And that is why the first church wassetupinNewJersey.

Could you introduce yourself who you are?

My name is Jack Darakjy. I am an attorney in River Edge, NJ. I have been practicing for about 35 years. I was originally born in Aleppo, Syria in 1954. My parents came to the United States in 1960. They were originally from Diyarbakır. They and their ancestors had been living in Diyarbakır all that time.

When did they leave Diyarbakır?

My grandparents, both on father’s and mother’s side, left Diyarbakır in 1922 and they came to Syria. My birth mother was from Diyarbakır, but she died when I was three years old, and my father remarried. First, they came to Lebanon to set up a business there and my grandfather passed away in Lebanon in 1936.

Who came first to the U.S. from your family?

My eldest uncle came to the United States in 1922. At the time that my family left Diyarbakır to go to Syria, my grandfather sent my eldest uncle to the United States because on my grandmother side - she had three brothers who also were from Diyarbakır, they had left between 1900 and 1915 - came here to the U.S. first. They had gotten married in Türkiye, but they came to the U.S. earlier, so we had family from that side and when my uncle came, he stayed with one of his uncles.

What do they do when they come here? What kind of job were they working for?

Most of them were involved in tailoring and silk making. There were also small business shopkeepers. They opened small grocery stores. In the early 20th century, Paterson had a lot of silk making factories and many of our people went to work there. Others are very expert in tailoring carpet making and weave. They went into the dry-cleaning business where they were able to use their abilities there.

Is there any specific reason that they moved to New Jersey at that time?

It was more by chance that they happened to come to New Jersey because it was the closest to where they originally landed, which would be in Ellis Island. The first families came to New Jersey around 1895. The first Syriac came to Boston, MA around 1838-1839. We do not have too much information about him and his family. He came with his wife. We assumed that he was from the same area either Diyarbakır, Mardin, Urfa or Harput. We have a large community in Massachusetts. We have a church in Worcester and a church outside of Boston. We also have a church in Rhode Island where some people settled instead of going up into Massachusetts.

Jack Darakjy in his River Edge, NJ Office.

DID FIRST SYRIACS WHO MOVED TO THE U.S. COME WITH THEIR FAMILIES ?

They usually came with their families. I can tell you about my family, my great uncle's. They got married in Diyarbakır and they came with their wives to the U.S. and all their children were born here in the US.

How big was the Syriac community in Diyarbakır or Midyat in 1920s?

At that time, there was a Mother Mary Church in Diyarbakır. Many of the families perished during that time. That is also the main reason many of them left Diyarbakır to go to Syria and other parts to Iraq to Lebanon and to Palestine and so forth.

Your grandparents left Turkey in 1922, but your Turkish is surprisingly good. How do you have that?

By two ways. Although because I was born in Syria, we would normally talk Arabic most of the time. We would speak Arabic and in school I also learned French, which was the second language for everybody in Syria at that time. My parents would normally speak in Turkish with each other. I was listening to them and how I learned Turkish. And then after I got married, I started speaking Turkish increasingly because my wife’s side speak Turkish.

What was the meaning of your last name, Darakjy?

It means the maker of combs. I believe at some point going back to the early 1800s there must have been someone in my family who was a comb maker, and that was the name that he was given.

Darakjy's eldest uncle came to the U.S.in 1922.

How are the second and third generations’ relations with church, language etc?

The second and third generations, those who were born here know each other as Syriacs. They are integrated into the American way of life, but not necessarily the American culture. Because we have our own cultural identity. We have our own which they all like. So, they are as close to their identity as Syriac as they are also Americans. They have American friends and so forth, but they also have a lot of Syriacs friends as well so. Most of our second and third generation those who were born here, my children are among them, still identify strongly with their church. They go to church. They know each other as Syriacs. They like to mingle with one another. They are marrying each other. They are very Americanized. English is their first language for many. Depends on where family come from, they speak different languages at home like Turkish, Arabic, a vernacular of Syriac language.

Who is the largest group from Turkey in United States?

It depends on the parish. If we talk about the Church of the Virgin Mary in Paramus, I say most of them are from İstanbul and originally from Mardin. In Saint Marks Church we have a mix. We have a lot of Turkish speaking. We have Arabic speaking the majority in our cathedral Saint Marks.

How did your curiosity begin about your ancestry?

I had always had an interest in my background. When my father was alive, giving me a little bit of background. As to where they came from and when, how? The reasons and so forth. My father had originally gone to law school himself in Lebanon. He went for one year and unfortunately, because his family needed him to work in the family business at that time. He was not able to complete his studies, but he was the first in the family to go into higher education. It carried to me, and he also knew how to read and write and speak seven languages.

New Jersey

First Police Officer of Syriac Community

NEW JERSEY

Lieutenant Yakup Zoklu, has been working for Cliffside Park Police Department since 2003. He was born in İstanbul and came to the U.S. when he was 7 years old. He is the first Syriac Turkish police officer in New Jersey. He got his bachelor's degree in criminal justice from Saint Peter’s University,

Dickinson University. He taught at both schools as adjunct professors when he went

Safety Administration certification, global leadership, human resource, and administrative

Yakup, would you tell us about yourself?

My father is from Diyarbakır, my mother is from Mardin. I was born in İstanbul in 1985. So, we came to the United States in 1992 when I was seven years old. We had my mom's cousin and my aunt. My aunt lives in Oradell and then my mom's cousin lived in Cliffside Park, so we like Cliffside Park better because it was closer to New York where my dad worked at his jewelry repair. So, it was easier for him to take the bus to New York. My father used to work in the Grand Bazaar (Kapalıçarşı) when he was in Türkiye. I started and finished first grade in Göztepe, İstanbul. I started 2nd grade and then we came here in November 1992.

Did you have any difficulties when you went to school because of the language barrier at the beginning?

Yes, I have but I came to 2nd grade here #3 school in Cliffside Park. My best friend - still today -taught me English. His name is Ertunç, he is a music teacher in Cliffside Park. So, he taught me English in second grade. His mother and his father used to work in the restaurant business. In 3rd grade they went back to Türkiye. They came back in 5th grade and then I had to teach him English.

Did you have a big community here when you moved to Cliffside Park?

No. Most of the Syriacs in New Milford, Paramus, Oradell area. Cliffside Park really did not have a big community. We lived on Jersey Ave, which is right by Dayının Yeri, one of the oldest Turkish restaurants around then slowly everybody came around.

When did you visit Türkiye after moving the U.S.?

After we came here, we went every summer. I got baptized in Mardin. Is there anyone in family working as law enforcement?

I am the first Syriac become a police officer in Cliffside Park. Now we have Turkish, Syrian, Armenian specials, dispatcher, and police officers.

How big is the Police Department in Cliffside Park?

The population of the town is about 24,000 to 30,000. It is one mile square. It is big. We have about 50 members. When you compare the other towns, it is a decent size, but we have a lot more call volume.

What is your daily routine?

I am a lieutenant. So, my daily activities include that I am in charge of the Traffic Bureau and I'm also in charge as a patrol. It's called a tour commander. So, I would come in, I would go to the front desk, get the book, see who is off, who is working. They are all assigned to their sectors, which cars they have and then I will go from there if they have a call, they will ask for a Lieutenant or Sergeant office. They would call me, and they would ask about decision making. Traffic Bureau consists of everything that you see on the roads. We're in charge of that whole operation. We are in charge of police vehicles. The Traffic Bureau we are in charge of anything that must that does not have to do with patrol traffic.

He was born in İstanbul and came to the U.S. when he was 7 years old. He is the first Syriac Turkish police officer in New Jersey.

Jersey City, NJ and had a master’s degree from Fairleigh

to Fairleigh Dickinson for his masters. He had Public

science. Lieutenant Zoklu answered our questions.

Seniors Lt. Sean McKay with Lt. Zoklu

How many officers are on duty all the time in Cliffside Park?

We have a lot. So today for example we have a Sergeant on the desk. We have 5 police cars on the road that are marked units. They're our first responders. So, if you call 911, you are going to get one of these five guys unless it's really serious. Then you have 10 officers working behind the scenes, so you have 3 detectives. If the detectives are in the area, the detective will jump on the call, but when all if I am in the area and I want to go to a call. I will be responding as well.

How diverse is the police department in Cliffside Park?

For example, today’s squad has a Croatian, Italian, Colombian, Armenian, Italian, Palestinian, Guatemalan, El Salvadorian, Turkish, Egyptian. More like 10-12 different nationalities here. How is the safety issue? Is it a safe neighborhood?

It is a safe town. Where if you call a police officer, we are going to be there within 30 seconds because we have a lot of officers working. And it is one mile square. So, they are all in the same area. Plus, the extra officers that we work with. We have two shifts, so we work 12-hour shifts.

Some crazy people go to school and shooting. What specific things do you do as a Police Department?

We have a lot of training for it. We do active shooter training so all of us. Not only do we wear a vest, but we also have long rifles in the cars. We have two officers in each school. That are stationed there for school hours every day. You have two officers whom they are called class three officers. So, they are retired police officers that work after retirement. They are stationed in schools. Most things about crime are how crime prevention works is about presence. Police presence deters crimes. Is there any academia to become police officer?

It's based on town requirements. Some towns require just a high school degree. Some towns require 60 credits. Some towns require a college degree. And then once they accept you, you become a probationary police officer until you pass the police academy and then you go through six months of training there.

Do you have specific classes or courses during the time?

So, what is going to be the next level for your rank as a Lieutenant? Can you tell what each rank do?

It would be captain and then chief. A special police officer, which is the officer that does not carry a gun. Then you have a patrolman which is the gentleman that you see on the streets. If you call for help, usually you get a patrolman and then you have their boss which is this, Sergeant. So, Sergeant controls the shift, controls the patrolman and then you have a Lieutenant which is more admin. We have a desk. We do more desk duties as well as in the field, but more administration and then you have a captain. We have one captain right now and then we have a chief.

Are you a member of any police association?

They also invited me to the Muslim American Law Enforcement Associates. My friend asked me to be a member. I am also a member of

There is mandatory training that you must do in the weather to shoot a gun; passed the law. Every three years you must reapply for a license like a driv the auto control system? Who controls the police officer beside your Lieu office overseas all the police departments. They report to the Attorney General's prosecutor's office.

How is it decided that how many police officers going to be hired by th It is what is necessary that is determined by the governing body of that town, which is the governing body that determines whether they are going to be hired. Is there any limit for each police officer must write ticket in every mo No, no quote.

Why should people go to court even for small traffic fines? It is Most of the tickets you do not have to go to court unless it is New Jersey, you get to speak to the prosecutor which is the highest office law prosecutor. They could do a plea bargain with you. That is why peo better than what the state tells them. How long do you have to wait to get another rank, is there a There's no time limit. I was a traffic police officer for six years. Then I was a years. And now I am a Lieutenant. It is my third year. I have been working for Cliffs years left to get retired.

Photo by KORAY KASAP

TurkofAmerica /

Yakup Zoklu has been working for Cliffside Park Police Department since 2003.

By Chef Harun Tufanç

Dar family opened the store in 2010.

Next to the Harley Davidson store in Rochelle Park, New Jersey, there is a watch and jewelry store where you can always see police cars in front of it. You can't help but ask, "Did something happen?" Local town polices, State polices, sheriff, first responders' vehicles enter and the other leaves. In fact, there is no crime situation. Eli Adams Jewelers, the watch and jewelry shop run by Sait Dar and his sons Erol (Adam) and İlyas (Elijah), is the store that sells the most watches to the police in the U.S.

So why do the polices choose to buy watches from Eli Adams? Eli Adams is the sales representative of eight different watch brands, including Citizen, Seiko, Movado, Invicta. In cooperation with Citizen, the watches produced for the police are made personal by engraving. In addition, special cards, badges and coins issued by police departments are made by Eli Adams. Eli Adams sells more than 20,000 Citizen watches a year, even more than Macys, one of America's largest department store chains. In addition to the police departments of many counties of New Jersey, Eli Adams has agreements with many institutions such as the Los Angeles Police Department, the Port Authority, which operates the ports and airports, bridges of New York and New Jersey, meets the needs of all the police officers working within these institutions. The special watch he developed with Citizen is sold to more than 700 institutions.

When Sait Dar and his sons, Adam and Elijah, bought the three-story office building in Rochelle Park, NJ in 2009 for investment purposes, there were no jewelry store in the neighborhood. Nor was the building allowed to be used as a retail store. No one has been able to obtain this permit for 80 years. It was effective that the jewelry shop and the environment would change the customer identity. Adam managed to get permission from the municipality. The owner of the gas station opposite the coincidence turned out to be his childhood friend Sevan from Kınalı Ada, İstanbul.

ELI ADAMS

POLICE OFFICER, FIRST RESPONDER’S FAVORITE WATCHMAKER

Sait Dar with his sons Adam and Elijah at Eli Adams Jeweler in Rochelle Park, NJ.

Erol (Adam) Dar sells more Citizen watches a year even more than Macy's.

Sat Dar when he was workng at hs workshop n the Nur- Osmanye jewelers' bazaar n 1960’s. (Sat Dar at Rght)

1960’s

SELLING WATCHES SINCE 2011

Adam had been selling watches to jewelers both wholesale and through eBay from the basement of their home in Paramus since 2007. He exported watches to dozens of different countries, including a country called New Caledonia. He needed more watches. Since he worked in the basement, he had a hard time convincing watch brand. He thought, "If I have a store, I'll organize my online business, even if I don't have daily customer traffic." His father did not agree to Adam opening a retail store. There was no pedestrian traffic on the street. It was not on one of the main roads. Many jewelry stores operated on Route 4 and Route 17 a few miles away, but there were no jewelry stores in Rochelle Park. His father said, "Go get another functioning shop. I'll pay for it. I don't want you to fail here and be sad," he insisted. Adam opened Eli Adams Jewelers on January 1, 2010 on the condition that he pay his rent by relying on his online sales force. For the first six months, only a few customers came to the shop. "My father was right; shouldn't I have opened the shop?" he thought.

The sales jump in the store came as he began to strengthen the relationship with local police departments. He started selling special watches, cards, coins to the police departments. He made an exclusive deal with Citizen and had them produce the First Responder series of watches. Adam and Elijah brothers had the opportunity to make special agreements that Citizen has not made with any of its dealers worldwide.

ELI ADAMS

Sponsors nearly 40 events a year. It supports the charity nights organized by the police organizations. Adam says he has great respect for the work the police do. "People who put their lives on the line for someone else's safety. The work they do is a great sacrifice. As a business, we try to support them in all kinds of activities."

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LULU JEWELRY STORE

Born in 1951, Said Dar's father was engaged in the fabric business in Midyat district of Mardin. The family immigrated to İstanbul in 1964. When Said Dar came to Istanbul, he worked in the jewelry workshop in the Nur-i Osmaniye jewelers' bazaar for 5 years. He opened his own workshop.

Unlike all Syriac acquaintances, Said Dar opened a jewelry store called Lulu in December 1969 in Nişantaşı, another popular district of İstanbul, instead of the Grand Bazaar. "I hated the Grand Bazaar. I am a very good modelist. When I was producing in the workshop, I was practically begging to get the money for the goods I sold. This created an antipathy in me towards the Grand Bazaar. I opened my shop in Nişantaşı." He worked with his brother in the 3x4 meter shop until 2001. His father passed away in 1990 at the age of 71. He continued his fabric business until 1985. Two girls and two brothers in the family living in Osmanbey, İstanbul were all in the jewelry business. His sister also became a famous jeweler in Canada.

Special edition Citizen watch for police officers.

MOVING TO THE U.S.

One day, when his son Adam was a sophomore at Işık University, İstanbul his father got invited to school by Adam’s professor. The professor offered a proposal that would change the course of the Dar family's life: "Adam is a very active student. I don't want him to stay here, he should continue his education abroad. I'll help." Adam was studying computer science and business administration together. The father decided to end his 40-year partnership with his brother and come to the U.S. for the education of his children. Adam received his student visa. The family came to join Said Dar's nephew, owner of the Gabriel & Co brand, who lives in New Jersey. They rented a house in Cliffside Park. On the one hand, he worked at Gabriel & Co in Manhattan for 9 months in order not to be idle while constantly looking for work. After coming to the U.S. after 40 years of intensive work, he was unemployed for 2.5 years. Said was touring the Jersey Garden Mall, in Elizabeth, New Jersey with a friend in April 2004 when they saw someone his friend knew putting the chain jewelry store up for sale. They negotiated on foot. With the support of his friend of $ 10,000, they took over the shop for a total of $ 50,000. He didn't want to buy the watches sold in the shop because he had never sold watches before, but he bought them as the seller persistence. He named the shop Oscar. Adam worked with his father and brother at the Oscars until 2008. Then he fully concentrated on his own online watch sales business.

The father and Elijah handed over the Oscars in 2015. Adam says, "When we came to 2014, customers were now queuing at the door. I couldn't keep up with it. I talked to my father and brother. Oscar's rent was $10,000. We were trying to do business by fighting many bans like a military camp in the mall. We handed over the Oscars, and that's where they started." Eli Adams also started TV and billboard commercials in 2014. Its recognition increased throughout the State. "The basis of our success is not that we are off-road or that we are a shop alone. It's more about getting into the community and getting them to promote our products and services," Adam says.

Photo by KORAY KASAP TurkofAmerica /

Entrepreneurship

Experiencing Europe and America through Restaurant Business

Aziz Gürbüz after living in Germany and Belgium, he moved to New Jersey in 2014.

Most of the SyrIac communIty who left MardIn for several reasons came to Europe and some to the UnIted States. Aziz Gürbüz Is one of the names who have both European and AmerIcan experIence. Originally from Altıntaş village of Midyat district of Mardin province. He still has not broken his ties with his village. Last summer, he sent his wife and son Gabriel to Mor Gabriel Church in Midyat for summer camp, so that he could get to know the Syriac culture and understand the religious values. Gürbüz left Turkey on June 1, 1991, after working in a jewelry workshop around Istanbul's Grand Bazaar for four years. He lived first in Germany and then in Belgium. "When I said I am a jeweler, they said, 'Don't talk about jewelry, get into the textile business'. I listened to their advice and worked in textile for 10 years,” he says. His father and grandfather were butchers and merchants by profession. In 2002, he opened a Turkish restaurant in Brussels, Belgium. Gürbüz, who operated the place in Brussels between 2002-2014, sold it when the green card was issued in 2013. He moved to the USA with his wife and four children. All relatives and cousins of Gürbüz's wife, who has a large family, are also in the USA. “There are about 150 of them,” he says. He also has siblings in Belgium, Germany, and the USA. When he moved from Brussels to New Jersey, he wanted to do what he knew. He bought the Ak Cafe, which is run by the Akyön and Bektaş families from the Syriac community, in New Jersey in 2014. Ak Cafe was opened as a patisserie in 2010 and then changed hands four times with Aziz Gürbüz.

I took over this place. As a concept, we run it like 'Turkish Diner'. We have a wide menu from breakfast to kebab, from pita to toast,” he says. No liquor in the restaurant. The average price for dinner for a family of four is $100. A team of 10 people work in the restaurant. Its customers are Arab, Pakistani, Iranian, Syriac and Turkish. Gürbüz has four children, his eldest son is a musician, his daughter is a nurse, and the other two are studying. “I would like my little boy to keep the restaurant business,” he says. When he asked, “Do you have any resentment towards Turkey? "There were some injustices at the time, between 1980 and 1990, but now everyone is very comfortable. Everyone can go to their village, have their house built, and thanks to the Turkish state, they help us there. So be it a church or a monastery. No one of the villagers have any problem. Everyone is wonderfully comfortable,” he replies. Gürbüz said, “In 1982, when I was 10 years old, my uncle was the muhtar (headman), he had us get paint to write numbers on the houses. At that time, we had numbered 157 houses. Currently, there are 20 households left in the village. Most emigrated to Europe. There are about 700 families living in Belgium from Altıntaş village alone,” he says. Gürbüz, who completed primary school in the village where he was born, received religious education in the madrasah. In his family, there is a metropolitan of Switzerland and Austria, and a relative who is a priest in Midyat. He says that he was influenced by them in his religious education. He sings hymns and prayers in the church choir during the Sunday services in Haworth, New Jersey, one of the churches of the Syriac community. He can write and speak Aramaic, English, Turkish and Kurdish, and can speak French, Spanish, Arabic and German in business.

“I was successful in the restaurant business in Europe, and I wanted to continue it here as well,’

Aziz Gürbüz with his daughter in Ak Cafe

FIRST SYRIAC IMMIGRANTS IN THE UNITED STATES

According to Kiraz, Haji Yakob, the English speaker of Diyarbakır was one early Syriac immigrants in the U.S. Dr

K. Yoosuf opened a practice in Worcester in 1897.

George Anton Kiraz has published extensively in the fields of computational linguistics, Syriac studies, and the digital humanities. He wrote several books, journals, research papers and articles about Syriacs. He is the founder and director of Beth Mardutho: The Syriac Institute, the Editor-in-Chief of Gorgias Press, and a Senior Research Associate at the Institute for Advanced Study, Princeton. He earned an M.St. degree in Syriac Studies from the University of Oxford (1991) and an M.Phil. and a Ph.D. from the University of Cambridge (1992, 1996). His latest books include The Syriac Orthodox in North America (1895–1995): A Short History (2019) and Syriac-English New Testament (2020). “The Syriac Ortodox in North America (18951995), is a critical record of Syriac communities’ history, documenting the fruits of a hundred-year project and preserving details and accounts that otherwise stand in danger of being lost to the passage of time.

“The Syriac Ortodox in North America (1895-1995), is a critical record of Syriac communities’ history.

MICHA, YAKOB, OVANIS

Anton Kiraz says in his book that the first Syriac immigrant who came to America was Micha al-Naqqar from Mosul in 1840s. Micha was hired by American and British missionaries and accompanied them on several missions and expeditions. When the American missionaries returned to the U.S., Micha went with them and settled in Boston. He worked for the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Mission. According to Kiraz, Haji Yakob, the English speaker of Diyarbakir was one early Syriac immigrants in the U.S. The English missionary Oswald Parry visited Diyarbakir in 1892. Parry met with Yakob there and Yakob was speaking English because he had previously spent nearly six years in New York. “If Parry met Yakob immediately after his return from New York, then Yakob must have reached New York no later than 1886,” Kiraz says. Another early Syriac immigrant is Haji Thomas Ovanis, or Quoyoon, who came from Kharput, (Harput) an ancient town located in the Elazığ Province of Türkiye, to Worcester, MA, in 1887.

Thomas was not only the only one to arrve; Mr, Aslan and Mr. Safar had also arrved that same year from Kharput. Haj Thomas went back to Kharput to get marred wth Sopha n 1895. Thomas and hs wfe remaned n Kharput untl 1912.Then Thomas came back to Worcester through Antep, brngng along two of hs chldren, both of whom were born n Antep. He left Sopha and hs other chldren, George behnd. George was marched n 1915 durng the Ottoman Government ordered the Armenan populaton resdng n or near the war zone to be relocated to the southern Ottoman provnces. Sopha followed the famly to Amerca n 1921. Syracs call “Sayfo” (sword) the events of 1895 and 1915.

Dr Abraham K. Yoosuf, and other Syracs from Mardn, Kharput and Dyarbakır n Worcester, Massachusetts. 1922, July 4. Amercan Independence Day.

Abraham

FIRST DOCTOR, FIRST MERCHANT

While many of the early immigrants were unskilled laborers, others arrive with established careers under their belts. Such was the case of Abraham Yoosuf (1866–1924) and Balshasar Alexander. Abraham was born in Kharput on December 12, 1866. He was a gifted child and his parents sent him to study at central Turkey College in Antep around 1886. After graduation, he taught at the college until 1889 when he decided to immigrate to the United States to further his education. He arrived in the United States on November 30, 1889, and he attended Baltimore Medical School.

He opened a practice in Worcester in 1897. Many of the community members would have him as their physician. Later, he went to London for postgraduate studies and then to Vienna to specialize. He returned to Turkey where he served as a volunteer surgeon during the Balkan Wars during 1912 and 1913 and was decorated by the Sultan for his services. Doctor Yoosuf moved back to United States and enlisted in World War I, serving as a Major. He was one of the attendees of the Paris Peace Conference that took place after World War I, advocating for Assyrian national interests. Balshasar Alexander (also known as B. Iskandar) was born in Kharput on March 9, 1854, to a family whose business was cloth dyeing. He left carpet in 1890 to look for modern dying methods and settled in New England. After working for 10 years, he saved money to bring rest of his family after the 1885 massacres and started a business of his own in Providence, RI. He was responsible for the establishment of the Assyrian Charity Association in Providence in 1906.

FIRST IMMIGRANT WHO OWN A CAR

There were other firsts who made names for themselves among the community - not as professions, but rather as the first ones to obtain something unique. Nishon Ohan was the first among the Kharput immigrants of Worchester to own a car. In 1926 people came from Boston to Rochester in six cars and made a parade. A certain Safar succeeded in business and purchased a farm in West Boylston around 1910. Another farm was purchased by Bishara Perch. The farms became social hubs for the young and their families. They would gather there for picnics, eat additional food, listen to Turkish music and dance. Kiraz is an ordained Deacon of the rank of Ewangeloyo (Gospler) in the Syriac Orthodox Church where he also serves on several Patriarchal, Synodal, and local committees. He lives in Piscataway, NJ, with his wife Christine and their children, Tabetha Gabriella, Sebastian Kenoro, and Lucian Nurono. You can purchase his book, “The Syriac Orthodox in North America (1895-1995)”

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SYRIAC THERAPISTS OF AMERICAN JEWELRY BUYERS Syriacs.

The building in Woodbridge has 36 booths and 90 of the businesses there are ran by Syriacs. Most of the Syriac business owners there are either relatives or from the same town.

Of the 58 jewelry businesses at the Paramus Jewelry Exchange, nearly 80 percent are owned and operated by Syriacs.

In New Jersey and around it, regardless of which ‘Jewelry Exchange’ branch you go to, you would definitely encounter a jewelry salesperson with Syriac background. Jewelry Exchange on 47th Street in New York and in Wayne, Totowa and Paramus in New Jersey are some of them. And, the one in Woodbridge, NJ is one of the earliest jewelry exchange shops where the Syrian migrants in the USA started operating in the sector. The building in Woodbridge has 36 booths and 90 percent of the businesses there are ran by Syriacs.

Most of the Syriac business owners there are either relatives or from the same town. And, they are the ones who introduced their authentic artisan culture to jewelry buyers in the USA. They are longtime friends with many of their customers. Many times, they sell their jewelry to newlyweds, whose parents also purchased their wedding jewelry from them. Moreover, jewelry buyers see their Syriac tradesmen as a family member and they share with them both their joy and their concerns.

TURKOFAMERICA visited the jewelry artisans in New Jersey’s Woodbridge, Wayne, Paramus and Totowa and listened to the life stories of the Syriac craftsmen who changed the service culture in retail in the areas where they operate.

Abraham (İbrahim) Altındağ used to run a jewelry shop in Grand Bazaar of İstanbul. Father of four girls and one boy, he gave his only son the name of a neighbor of his, whom he dearly loved: Bülent. Having grown up in İstanbul, Thomas (Bülent)

most of his

Grand Bazaar.

shop

moved to USA as a family. “I cried when we moved here when I was 19 years old. We used to have a great circle of friends in İstanbul. ‘Till this day, every now and then, I still question our decision to migrate. I keep wondering, ‘Did we have to do this?’ Father Altındağ was 53 when he moved to USA with his family and started his life from scratch. Having some friends here from his Syriac community was an advantage. Thomas started attending a language school in New York in 1991. And, in April of 1992, he started working at a jewelry shop in Wayne, New Jersey. And, the first item he sold there was a cross with a golden chain. He continued working at the same booth there until 2014. When the owner of the exchange center in Wayne changed in 2014, he continued his work at Totowa, New Jersey. 9 of the 11 businesses there are still owned by Syriacs.

He says, “I have customers that I have been serving since 1992. We have become a family.” Altındağ has 3 children, aged 30, 25, and 23. Two of his oldest children aren’t very interested in the jewelry business. “My children used to come to the store sometimes. They used to witness my conversations with my customers. They would tell me, ‘You talk to them for 30, 40 minutes. How can you remain that patient when they leave without buying anything? What kind of a business running is this?’ I think, because of that they haven’t had much interest in it. But my youngest son is somewhat more interested,” he says. Altındağ met with some of his friends again after 32 long years in Türkiye. His children also spent their last summer in Türkiye. Altındağ is also an active member of the Saint Gabriel Church

At Cankurt’s shop, named Julianna Jewelry II, product prices range from 100 dollars to 180 thousand dollars. The most expensive item currently put out for sale at his store is a yellow diamond ring with 12 carat gold. Of the 58 jewelry businesses at the Paramus Jewelry Exchange, nearly 80 percent are owned and operated by Syriacs. Cankurt’s two siblings also have their businesses running at the same exchange center. While one of his other siblings has a shop in Woodbridge Jewelry Exchange, another one is in the jewelry wholesale sector in New York. Cankurt is a father of 4 girls and one boy. When it comes to his children, he says, “I would definitely not want them to work in this business.” When asked about the average shelf life of his products, he says, “There are items that remain on the shelf for 20 years. For example, we have items that were bought when the ounce of gold was 250 dollars. Now, the price of one ounce of gold has reached 1800 dollars. But each item has a buyer, at the right time.”

THOMAS JEWELERS- TOTOWA, NJ

Thomas (Bülent) Altındağ / A True Biblical Servant

Freddy (Ferit) Cankurt Creates a Life Long Customer

JULIANNA JEWELRY II – PARAMUS JEWELERS EXCHANGE, PARAMUS, NJ

Altındağ spent

childhood at

Their

at the Grand Bazaar was sold and they

51 years old Ercan (John) Çoban is the owner of Romancing the Stone, which is one of the oldest jewelry shops at Woodbridge Jewelry Exchange. His father was born in Türkiye’s Mardin and his mother was born in Kayseri. When Çoban was in 4th grade, his family migrated to the USA in 1982. Before migrating to America, his father used to work in shirt production in Yeşildirek in Türkiye. Çoban says, “My father’s cousins were in America. So, he had come here to visit in 1979. He saw and liked the opportunities here. My father was a very hardworking person. He had an entrepreneur spirit. He feared nothing. He decided to migrate and took action. Two of my sisters and I moved her with my parents.” Çoban’s family settled in Lodi, NJ when they first came to the USA. His father didn’t go into jewelry business. Rather, he worked in leather purse production into jewelry business. Rather, he worked in leather purse production in New York. He was by himself at his business, so, Çoban started helping his father. However, when the production lines began to move to China after 1986, his father realized there won’t be a promising future for his business. So, he asked his son, “Would you prefer continuing with leather or going into something else?” So, Ercan Çoban decided to change direction and start working in jewelry sector in 1990.

Syriacs.

First, to learn the process, he worked at one of his father’s close friends’ shops in Manhattan on 47th Street. He continued working in retail for 1 year. Then, in 1992, he came to Woodbridge Exchange and ended up being one of the first Assyrians who opened up a jewelry shop at that center. He still remembers his first customer who bought a solitaire ring. “He is still my customer,” he mentions. Pointing at the board on the wall, full of pictures, he says, “I sold the wedding rings to the parents of 20 percent of these babies that have their pictures on this board. And, we are still in contact with the second generation of these families, as well.” There were also some people who first worked at Romancing the Stone and, then, opened up their own shops. Çoban says, “One of my friends’ sons and my cousin’s son used to work with me. Later on, they opened their own stores and grew their businesses. I am very happy for them.” One of the sectors that grew during the COVID-19 pandemic is the jewelry sector. Although the stores at the jewelry exchange centers remained closed for nearly 3 months, once they were open again, their businesses saw over 60 percent of growth. Although he moved to America at a young age in 1982, Çoban still speaks Turkish very fluently. His wife is also a member of the Syriac community. He mentions that they still speak Turkish at home. Father of a 13 years old girl and a 10 years old son, Çoban says, “If my children would like to go into jewelry sector, I would support them. This is a relatively easy job. We don’t get affected by outside factors easily. We mostly meet with our customers during their happy times. And, we are there for them when they start a new phase in their lives and we continue to be there for them thereafter.” Answering the question of whether he sees himself as a good salesperson or not, Çoban says, “I don’t see myself as a salesperson. I see myself as an aid. In our family and community culture, I was raised to be always honest. I have been taught to believe that so long I am a good person, good things will also appear in my path.”

JEWELERY – WOODBRIDGE JEWELERY EXCHANGE, WOODBRIDGE, NJ

The special place of Gabriel (Cebrail) Akyön within the Syriac community is unquestionable. He is deeply respected and viewed as a big brother by everyone, young and old, in the community Cebrail Akyön’s sons Özcan (John), Ferit (Freddy) and Kenan (Ken) run the Kent Jewelry at Woodbridge Jewelry Exchange. Özcan Akyön was born in Bahçelievler, İstanbul in 1975. He attended elementary school in Bahçelievler. He came to the USA in 1991 with his family, along with his uncle. Their family used run jewelry stores, again under the name Kent, in İstanbul’s Beyoğlu and at Grand Bazaar. Kent

Jewelry of USA was opened in 1991, the year when the family arrived here. Akyön family is one of the oldest business owners at the exchange center. When asked whether they, as a family, thought about opening stores at different places, rather than staying at the same shop, or going into other businesses or not, Özcan (John) Akyön says, “Believing in the power of unity, we never separated our ways. And, also, the customers want to see the faces they are familiar with when they come to the store. The priority in our business is personal trust. So, if we were to open a store elsewhere, it would have taken time to build that trust there.” Akyön also draws attention to the fact that throughout the 30 years of running their business, they have been able to serve even the third generation of their customers. The exchange center’s working hours start at 10 am every day except for Mondays. He says,

“The business working hours make us obligated to come here. And, we cannot leave the place unattended. But thankfully, as the 3 siblings of the family, we cover for each other whenever needed.” Mentioning that their customers are not only from NJ but also from other states, Akyön says, “As long as there is mutual trust, we have people visiting us from North Carolina or even Florida.” When asked about the difference between the jewelry sectors in the USA and in Türkiye, Akyön answers, “It has been quite easy for us to run a jewelry business. Our craftsman perception and culture are different and Americans have also had the opportunity to see that through our work. That is also why they build a bond with us. The attention they get when they visit us has led them to also bring along their family members. Sometimes, even if they don’t purchase anything, we end up serving as a therapist with no cost.”

Ercan (John) Çoban / I Am Not a Salesperson.I See Myself as an Aid

ROMANCING THE STONES WOODBRIDGE JEWELERY EXCHANGE, WOODBRIDGE, NJ

KENT

Özcan (John) Akyön / We Serve as a Therapist with No Cost

MADLEEN JEWELERY- WOODBRIDGE JEWELERY EXCHANGE, WOODBRIDGE, NJ

Bünyamin Alpar / ‘’If We Do Wrong to the Customer, We Lose’’

His father and uncle came to New York to do research with the idea of 'what would it be like if we moved to the USA'. The father decided to move the family to the United States for the future of his children. The first to arrive was Benjamin, his wife, two children and his brother on November 20, 1991. "When we first arrived, we had difficulty adapting. We were coming from a very crowded and social environment. We had a few years of adaptation until we opened a shop here. At first, when we compared it to Turkey, we were disconnected from social life. Then we got used to it." After working in New York for about a year, Aziz Akyön, his uncle decided to move his shop to another place in the exchange; he sold his business to the four brothers in 1992. Benjamin, who is the father of 3 girls and a boy, named the store they opened after his daughter Madleen. The Alpar brothers have four separate shops on the exchange, Diamond Forever and Madleen. Jewelry exchange consists of 36 separate shops built on an area of 4 thousand sq. Although they are all relatives, neighbors, compatriots and acquaintances, they are in an intense competition. Their rent is much more expensive than regular shops in New Jersey, with booth rents around $10,000. Since they buy the jewelry they sell from similar wholesalers, customers have a lot of chances to break the price. "The biggest disadvantage of being together collectively is the competition we experience. We all know each other. Most of us are the same peasants. We all go to the same church. So, we don't have a problem." Almost all of the trades on the Exchange underline caring the customer, the service provided, trust, honesty. "If we do wrong to the customer, we lose. I sold an engagement ring to my client, who came to the first opening of the exchange in 1992 and she is still coming," he says. Although he doesn't go to Turkey often, his parents and son joined a 3-week tour this summer that included Mardin. Alpar's son also works in the shop, but he advised his other children to choose other careers.

Murat Haniken was born in Bahçelievler, İstanbul in 1978. He studied in İstanbul until the middle school at first grade. His father worked in the workshop to manufacture of chains. The family first moved to Germany, where many of her mother's side lived. "Stay in Germany. This is the welfare state, you have four children. You'll be comfortable,'' the relatives advised, but his father didn't listen. "I have cousins in the U.S. I'm going to go," he said. After staying three weeks in Germany, they moved to New Milford, New Jersey in 1991. Murat Haniken says, "I'm glad we came." Working is like worship for Syriacs. "We landed at JFK on Sunday. My uncle Yakup had a manufacturing shop at Manhattan 47. He was manufacturing bracelets and chains. On Monday, my brother Fırat, went to work with my uncle." Murat’s brother worked in his uncle's workshop for about 2.5 years. Murat finished high school in New Milford. They opened their shop at the Woodbridge Jewelry Exchange in

all barely seen how our children grow up."The four Haniken brothers have a total of 13 children. 4 boys, 9 girls. His brother Fırat's son now works in the shop with his uncles. Murat's eldest son, 20, also comes to the store from time to time. "Maybe one of my kids can do this job without pushing himself too hard. Let him work 40 hours a week, have a job to spend with his family on the weekend. It's a pity for the people who work here. For years, we closed the shop at 9.00pm. (Shops on the Exchange currently close at 7.00pm three days a week, 6.00pm on two days, and 5.00pm on Sunday. It's also closed on Mondays.) He drove home for an hour. During Christmas times, we worked at a busy pace for 40-50 days. When we went home, we didn't feel our legs. We would go home to bed and get up in the morning and come back. ‘’ He went to Turkey for the first time in 2014 after 20 years. "I loved it. I didn't expect anything like this. I went to holiday destinations, Bodrum, Çeşme, İstanbul. I visited the apartment building where I was born and raised. I visited the workshops where my father and uncle worked. I loved everything from the food, the air, the water. Turkey is always my first choice for

have been running a shop in the same place for nearly 30 years. "The boy who was in the stroller when his parents arrived took his engagement

In Syriac American society, the jewelry business is the common income source of the families. All members of the family sometimes run shops together, sometimes in different locations. Benjamin (Bünyamin), John (Yuhanın), Simon, Oscar (Özcan) Alpar brothers, who are from Gülgöze (Aynvert) village of Midyat, have been serving at Woodbridge Jewelry Exchange since 1992. Benjamin Alpar, who also has a sister named Elizabeth, moved to İstanbul with his family in 1970 when he was 5 years old. He attended primary school in Kasımpaşa. His father worked as a janitor at the Italian Hospital in İstanbul. Later, in partnership with a few friends, he entered the jewelry business in 1974 at Kırklar Han in Çemberlitaş, İstanbul. He also learned to make gold chains in the workshop with his father. He worked for his father until he went to the military. He did his 18-month military service in Çorum. they ring from us. If a person who is shopping from us is turning to shopping from somewhere else, there is something wrong with him." According to Murat, anyone who enters the jewelry business leaves it difficult. If he comes out, he cannot come back easily.

HANIKEN JEWELERS – WOODBRIDGE JEWELERY EXCHANGE, NJ

Murat Haniken / We've All Barely Seen How Our Children Grow Up

Recognized worldwide as a virtuosic percussionist Burhan Öçal has made the bridging of musical cultures his central mission. A native of Kırklareli in Thrace region, he grew up in a musical family. From his father, he learned a variety of percussion instruments, while his mother introduced him to religious vocal music. After his first contact with Western music, he became interested in combining other genres and cultural traditions, such as jazz and Western classical music, with his own.

ERTEGUN’S WISH

Other highlights of his engagements have included two performances with the İstanbul Oriental Ensemble at 1998 WOMAD Festival (U.K) and three performances with the Ensemble at EXPO’ 98 in Lisbon. He also released a trance/ambient recording, Sultan Orhan, with Peter Namlook on the Fax label, his second CD with the German techno artist. He also gave a solo performance in London at the Royal Festival Hall at Rhythm Sticks (1998).

Burhan Öçal’s instruments are as diverse as his music. He is a highly skilled player on a number of stringed instruments. Once Sting described him as ‘the king of drum.’His “Trakya All Stars” is a highly special project where Öçal collaborates with master musicians from Thrace region, paying tribute to the musical heritage of his birthplace. The Roman-Balkan influenced album possesses a timeless character which manages to take deep tradition to a contemporary level. It is produced by the Tunisian born French musician, sound engineer and producer Smadj, highly respected for his knowledge of oriental music and for his digital innovations.

HOLLYWOOD WAS HIS DREAM

Since 1977, Burhan Öçal has divided his time between İstanbul and Zurich, Switzerland. He has won worldwide recognition for touring and recording with his own İstanbul Oriental Ensemble, which performs traditional Gypsy and Turkish folk music. He has become widely known for touring and recording with his Oriental Ensemble. As a much soughtafter musicians, he has also performed with Maria Joao Pires, Joe Zawinul and Eliot Fisk.Öçal has an extensive discography with several award-winning recordings. His first disc with his İstanbul Oriental Ensemble, Gypsy Rum won the 1995 German Record Critic’s Award and was a bestseller on the world music charts. The follow-up to that disc, Sultan’s Secret Door received the rare honor of a second German Record Critics Award. Later came Caravanserie. Another one with Sultan’s Secret Door and Prix Choc for his solo album “Ottoman Garden,” (1996). While he was a student at the conservatory, he dreamed of Hollywood. He set out with the intention of leaving school and coming to the U.S. First, arrived in Zurich and stayed there. His American dream came true when he became an artist of America's leading management company, ICM, as a master percussionist.

FIRST U.S. DEBUT IN 1998

He made his United States debut in February 1998 with Eliot Fisk in Los Angeles followed by a tour with the George Gruntz Band, performing at the Montreal Jazz Festival, and in Vancouver and New York City. Öçal collaborated with the young Canadian saxophone player Seamus Blake in a residency at the University of Southern California and the University of Nebraska at Lincoln. He then brought The Seamus Blake Ensemble to the İstanbul Jazz Festival and the İzmir Music Festival in Türkiye

Burhan Öçal made his United States debut in February 1998 with Eliot Fisk in Los Angeles.

His album, “Groove Alla Turca” (1999-Doublemoon), in which he collaborated with the American bassist Jamaaladeen Tacuma featuring Natacha Atlas, was first released in France by Birds and Blues (2001) and then in North America by Night and Day. He appeared on the General Motors Big Event, at the Festival International de Jazz de Montreal, together with İstanbul Oriental Ensemble and the special guest participation of Mercan Dede, in a concert of exceptional acclaim called “East Meets West” watched by 150.000. Again, in July 2001, at the İstanbul Jazz Festival, Öçal shared the stage with Sting. In April 2002, he with İstanbul Oriental Ensemble toured the USA with ICM. He was the only Turkish musician worked with ICM for 7 years. He was performing during a year about 150 concerts in various cities in the U.S. One of his New York concerts, he met Ahmet Ertegün, co-founder and president of Atlantic Records, discovered and championed many leading rhythm and blues and rock musicians. ‘’Ertegün told me after a concert, ‘how could I miss you; I should’ve met you before. It was an unforgettable moment for me, ‘’ he remembers.

BENEFIT FOR RED CROSS

Öçal appeared at the St. Irene Museum within the İstanbul Music Festival and in San Francisco with Kronos Quartet. At the İstanbul Jazz Festival, in July, he was one of the guest stars along with Djivan Gasparian playing with Andreas Vollenweinder. His second project in this festival was “Meditroni” featuring Massilia Sound System. In October 2000, he performed at Womex, in Berlin, accompanied by his group İstanbul Oriental Ensemble. In March 2001, Öçal appeared at a benefit for the Red Cross in Los Angeles featuring Sting and Argentine actress Mia Maestro. New collaborations include a tour with Huse Sermet, the noted FrenchTurkish pianist, in 23 and a tour and recording of Öçal’s first orchestral compositions with the Zurich Chamber Orchestra conducted by Howard Griffith. Öçal also joined the Kronos Quartet to premiere a new work of his own with them in October 2001. The Orange County Philharmonic Society’s Eclectic Orange Festival commissioned Mr. Öçal al to write a piece for the Kronos Quartet as well as Öçal and the zurna player, Ahmet Elbasan. The work was repeated with Kronos in June 21 at the Turkish Music Festival in İstanbul. His latest appearance was with the flamenco guitar virtuoso Paco de Lucia at İstanbul International Jazz Festival (2004). His next album New Dream was released by Doublemoon Records in June 2005.

SEPTEMBER 11 CUTS HIS

TIES

WITH THE U.S.

Since his father was a manager of movie theater in Anatolia, he knew some Turkish actor and actress. He suggested that "If you go to America, you should definitely find Muzaffer Tema." Tema was one of the actors who wanted to try his luck in Hollywood after Yeşilçam. Öçal found him on his second visit in Los Angeles. Tema came to all his concerts during his 7 years in America. He received an offer from the University of Phoenix to work in the music department. However, he did not like the distance and the season with Turkey. He chose to commute for the concert. The American tours continued until the September 11 attack. He left the ICM squad after 9/11. “Now I don't actually see it as a success. This is all because I am still in a quest," he says. Beside music performance at stage, Öçal acted in nearly 18 commercials and 8 movies. Currently he is acting his 9th movie, Türkler Çıldırmış Olmalı II (Turks Must Be Crazy II). He had been the face for the renowned Derimod brand and was performing for a video clip alongside hip hop artist Pharrell Williams during a commercial shoot for the Hennessy brand, Öçal became the face of the brand in the US.

Photo by KORAY KASAP

Burhan Öçal performed at American Turkish Society Gala in New York on October 26th, 2021 at the Plaza Hotel and honored Mica and Ahmet Ertegun

Esendemir Sisters

Heart-warmng &

Inspratonal

Story of Esendemr Ssters

Thumb Bread is sold in seven different States about 100 locations,such Shoprite, 7 Elevens, and Fairway.

Füsun, Gonca and Arzu Esendemir sisters started the Flatbread Grill® concept back in 2007 when their father was diagnosed with congestive heart failure. They grew up in poverty, so the family never had health insurance. The father immigrated to American in 1975 in pursuit of a better education and to follow his own dream of entrepreneurship. The restaurant concept was started after Füsun was laid off from her corporate job so they could take care of her parents. Arzu had just graduated college and was trying to decide between a career on Wall Street or law school. The sisters developed the restaurant concept completely on their own: branding, operations, menu, etc. They created a special bread called Thumb Bread®, which played a significant role in the concept's success. The New York Times wrote about their restaurant and their bread two months after they had their grand opening. Fast forward to the present, after opening multiple stores, hand making millions of pieces of bread, and being in the restaurant business for over a decade plus years, they now sell the bread as a CPG product.

thumbbread.com

Füsun, Gonca and Arzu Esendemir sisters.

Thesistershavemade hundredsofpiecesbyhand

built their own stores, self-funded them, and operated them without outside help. It was not easy, but they did it. Bringing the bread to the masses was a long-time dream of theirs. It has been a wild nine months since they officially launched. Thumb Bread®, has been baked a million times over for restaurant locations. Day in and day out, they made hundreds of pieces by hand! They scaled and rounded by hand. They formed the dough by hand. They poured their hearts into making this bread. Not one day went by when they have not baked. Even their father got in on the action, helping his daughters after his open-heart surgery to stay active. Their recipe is still proprietary and now, they sell it in a special bag Arzu designed in 2018 when they made their local retail debut. Thumb Bread® became more popular than they could have ever dreamed of. In earlier years, they got asked all the time about selling bread to grocery stores and other restaurants. It was a dream that stayed in the back of their minds. In between the hectic lunch and dinner rushes, the sisters would talk about making Thumb Bread® available to everyone everywhere. Thumb Bread is now available at Shoprite and 7 Eleven as well.

Their father was a soccer player as a goalkeeper in Türkiye. He went to İstanbul University, went back to Adana, and married. He decided to come to the U.S. to pursue more education. He left in 1975. He did not know his wife was pregnant with Füsun. Father Mehmet Esendemir came to Washington, DC and played soccer there. When he went to play a soccer match against New Jersey team the coach of that team saw and recruited him to play for them. Turkish community in Paterson helped him find a job and getting sponsorship. Soccer had really helped him to pursue American dream. Gonca, at the time they started the restaurant in 2007; was in the arts program at Montclair State University. She was studying filmmaking, Arzu double majored in Business Management and Finance at Montclair State University. Füsun studied electronics engineering. When their father was in his 50’s, started getting a lot of health issues. He was going in and out of doctor’s offices, hospital visits. Someone had to be with him. Füsun kept taking him to hospital but the human resource manager was not happy with that. She was laid off at that time; they were having issues with all the medical bills. Their father was in the restaurant business when they were young. He had opened two restaurants, Okan’s Kebab House in Bayonne, NJ and Arzu’s Turkish Kitchen in Hoboken, NJ. Füsun decided to open a restaurant after she was laid off. At that time, Arzu graduated at the top of her class with summa cum laude and was trying to decide between working on Wall Street while attending graduate school for her MBA or attending law school. She was preparing for her LSATswhen her older sister, Füsun approached her about starting a restaurant. She proposed the idea that they should make their own specialty flatbreads, so she set out to create the original bread recipes. She designed and drew the logo after Füsun and she came up with the name, as well as ideated the tag lines and brand trademarks. She also oversaw the first Flatbread Grill® buildout from construction to completion. She did most of the interior design and oversaw every corner of its creation, along with her sisters. Flatbread Grill® was a labor of love and passion born out of Arzu’s desire to support her family, while also serving delicious, healthy food that anyone could afford. Flatbread Grill® was a challenging, exhilarating start-up that helped them utilize their business acumen as well as allowed them to work with their family. To start the business, they took a second mortgage on their father. Arzu now thinks that ‘’It was a huge mistake.’’

They need something special that makes them stand out, so Arzu said, ‘’Let's base it on freshly made flatbread.’’ At Montclair, NJ location, they started baking bread for their own need and later it became popular with the people. Once they employed 15 people and it was not bad for a little restaurant. Flat Bread restaurant became a hot place for a brief time that happened because three weeks since opening a New York Times editor wrote a review about the restaurant. They baked hundreds of pieces of bread with one simple stone. The place runs until pandemic in 2021. They shut down because they started landing large accounts with the bread. Currently, they are looking to buy a building in New Jersey or Pennsylvania to produce more bread. They have one semi-automated machine right now, baking three thousand loaves of bread in an hour. They are looking to fully automate so they can do 20-25 thousand pieces an hour to get cover the US. They aim to be sold at every major regional grocery store by summer 2023. Currently they have 4,500 square feet (about the area of a basketball court) manufacturing facility and they need a minimum of 8,000 sq feet. ‘’So, we need to raise about 2.5 million dollars,” Arzu says. She adds, “If they were Turkish investors would be great. We share the same culture and background.”

SOCCER MAKES AMERICA DREAM TRUE   thumbbread.com

Arzu Esendemir

Gonca, Arzu, Füsun Esendemir

Süheybe Çökük

Süheybe Çökük’s customers include retail giants such as Michael Kors, Children's Place, David Yurman, Tommy Hilfiger, Bloomingdales, and Macy's.

SIGN POSTER BANNER

letralit.com/

When COVID-19 spread and halted life, employees of Letra Sign Supplies, a sign, banner and printing business in Garfield, New Jersey were concerned. They had moved the company from Clifton, NJ to Garfield that year. The company was on the eve of growth. They were providing logo, banner, sign, and other printing materials services to the retail sector at all scales, from small to large. What they feared did not happen. On the contrary, their business grew.

There are about 20 employees workng n the company

Letra also sells wallpapers

Süheybe Çökük, at Letra Sign Supplies, provides printing services to companies of all sizes, from nationwide American retail chains to local restaurants opened in small neighborhoods. Their customers include retail giants such as Michael Kors, Children's Place, David Yurman, Tommy Hilfiger, Bloomingdales, and Macy's. On the other hand, they manufacture a sign for a florist in the neighborhood in New Jersey as well. In addition, they have been printing exhibition materials and poster for the Metropolitan and Museum of Modern Art (MoMa) museums for many years. They also provide different types of automobile surface printing services for brands such as McDonald's and Chase. “Currently, we do not distinguish large or small customers. We are able to build one-to-one relationships when working with small companies, so, we gets quick input. This diversity of customers is a business option we prefer as a company,” she says. Süheybe came to America with her family while studying İ

Mustafa

Troy Granite is still one of the largest granite companies in the Delaware region. Later Tuncer opened branches in Harrisburg, PA and Pittsburg, PA.

The Troy Grante located n Delaware, Pttsburgh, PA and Harrsburgh, PA.

Starting a business in the midst of impossibilities, growing, taking risks, going bankrupt but not being discouraged are all present in Mustafa Tuncer's life in turn. If he had stayed in Türkiye, there was a strong possibility that he would have served a political sentence. He was an active student in the 1990s, especially on Feb. 28, 1997 post-modern era which the military-dominated National Security Council threatened action if Necmettin Erbakan, Prime Minister did not back down. He resigned four months later. Tuncer spent his days wandering from city to city in protest demonstrations against bans. In his own words, he was not a very hardworking student. He graduated from religious vocational high school in Sakarya, a province in Türkiye, located on the coast of Black Sea. He wasn't very hopeful that he would pass the university exam. He was against the capitalist system fueling consumption. But he chose a department that educates student to create a positive public image for capitalist companies. He graduated from İstanbul University, Faculty of Communication, Department of Public Relations and Publicity. His older brother Ebubekir, who has been curious about education and life abroad since his high school years, applied for the Green Card lottery with his friends. He won a green card lottery in 1995 and came to the U.S. the following year. This process was one of the main events that changed the course of Tuncer's life. He was detained several times after protests during his university years. His brother and father talked among themselves and said, "If Mustafa's condition continues like this, he will not get out of trouble. Let him get a student visa and go to the U.S." Tuncer came to the U.S. in June 1998 with an F-1 visa. He worked at the gas station for 9 months, attended school. The following year, he returned to Türkiye.

He had met his current wife during the protests. She was one of 11 students expelled from İstanbul University's Faculty of Science in 1990’s due to a headscarf ban. He started working in one of friend's granite company. He had given up hope for the future, economically the situation of the country was not good. The political atmosphere was turbulent. He came back to the U.S. in 2000 when his older brother, Ebubekir, asked, "Should you come to the U.S. and stay here?" In those years, it was common among Turks to rent kiosks and sell souvenirs, especially in shopping malls in Texas. Art of writing on a single grain of rice was also in vogue. In New Jersey, he rented a kiosk in the Seaside Hights with his friend İsmail Güler for $3,500 per season. As they took over the counter and worked on cleaning, they saw the writing on the counter by the Türk who rented the counter a season ago. "Whoever takes this kiosk will go bankrupt. Emin from Rize, (a coastal city northeast in Türkiye).'' They were demoralized but after the season started, they made $2,500 in the first three days. The following year, Emin of Rize found Tuncer and his friend to retrieve the counter. He went to Texas to join a friend to sell souvenirs, toys, etc. in shopping malls. They didn't get along. With $20 in his pocket, he left Texas for New Jersey. "Maybe I could afford to buy a tank of gasoline for my car. I thought that if I ran out of gas, I would do a job and take out my gasoline money and move on. On the other hand, I was making phone calls to rent kiosks from shopping malls with money that I did not have in my pocket. I made a $200,000 deal on the phone along the way." As know the world's smallest remote-controlled car, Radio Shack promoted every corner of the country, he sold the toy cars and earned $200,000 in just one kiosk. The number of kiosks increased to 15 and the number of employees to 40. He hired students who came with Work and Travel visas. However, he always had the idea of returning to Türkiye: "If I have 50,000 dollars in my pocket, I will be fine when I go to Türkiye."

The good days in the kiosk business ended in 2005 for him. He went bankrupt when he entered the wrong product in the wrong location and he was insisted to continue. "There was an interesting lack of abundance. In fact, you are turning very serious figures, but neither the people whom you sold items see you as a tradesman, nor the shopping mall managements regarded the kiosk owners as serious tenants."

FIRST STEP TO GRANITE BUSINESS

FRIEND NAMED AHMET BAŞPEHLİVAN SUGGESTED HIM TO GET INTO THE GRANITE BUSINESS. HE GOT A JOB ALONGSIDE A MASTER TO LEARN THE JOB IN A MANUFACTURING SHOP IN VIRGINIA. HE WAS NOT ABLE TO LEARN MUCH FROM THE MASTER, BUT HE REALIZED THAT THERE WERE SUBCONTRACTOR COMPANIES THAT INSTALLED KITCHEN COUNTERTOPS IN THE HOUSES. HE HAD AN IDEA AND WENT BACK TO NEWARK, DELAWARE. HE BORROWED $500 FROM A FRIEND. HE HAD A 1-800 PHONE NUMBER FROM THE YEARS HE SOLD GOODS IN SHOPPING MALLS. HE CITED IT AS A CUSTOMER SERVICE LINE. ON A PIECE OF PAPER, HE PREPARED AN ADVERTISEMENT THAT "KITCHEN COUNTERTOPS ARE ASSEMBLED." THE ENTREPRENEUR DISTRIBUTED FIVE THOUSAND OF THEM TO THE HOUSES IN NEIGHBORHOOD.

He found a workshop that father and son work together and he learned a lot in that workshop. One day he went to a house to give a quote to a client. "It was a house 5,000 sq in size. It had a lot of bathrooms. I calculated it was $45,000. Even I was scared when I was calculating, so how am I going to say this figure?' The customer said 'OK'. 'How are we going to make the payment?' she asked. I take 50 percent of it in advance. Until that day, I was making $29.99 for per product at kiosks. With that project I believed myself more. One day my partner’s son quit. We didn't get along with his father either." When he parted ways with the workshop he collaborated with, he started to look for a place with his friend İsmail Güler. They found a warehouse of 4,000 sq near the current showroom. There his business grew a little more, increasing the number of employees to 7. When business grew, he wanted to move to a 10,000-sq warehouse. His inner circle at the time was opposed. His rent was increasing by about four times. He didn't listen to them. It grew in the same place and increased the total usage area up to 40 thousand sq. troy Granite is still one of the largest granite companies in the Delaware region. The company specializes in granite countertops, marble, quartz, quartzite, tile, kitchen cabinets, kitchen renovations, and bathroom renovations. Later Tuncer opened branches in Harrisburg, PA and Pittsburg, PA. "I had the chance to grow out of sight here. When you shine a lot where the immigrant population is dense, people who are interested in the same job as you increase and therefore can prevent your growth. For instance, I never thought opening a location in Virginia or New York side. I am the first Turkish-American to open a granite showroom in Harrisburg and Pittsburg."

POLITICS AND CIVIL SOCIETY

The comfort of his age and financial growth, he focused on things outside of his job. He involved in non-profit organizations and served as the president of MUSIAD USA, a business association. He entered politics from two different parties, The Justice and Development Party (AKP) and The Felicity Party (Saadet Partisi) in Türkiye. In publishing business, he bought a local newspaper. "Actually, these initiatives have added a lot to me. I saw that many things that I had magnified before were not much to be exaggerated. If I were to focus on my own business, I would be a company with 7-8 locations right now. I had a feeling that I had to give something back to my country. But I see that the approach of people in my country is not like that. I understand that at some point, people in the country say, 'We need your money, not your mind.'"

troygranite.com

Mustafa Tuncer at 5th TOA Awards in Washington, DC. on November 2019

Cups & Clouds

Arport.

CUPS & AND CLOUDS

He has embarked on a series of investments in Türkiye with its gains in the U.S. He opened a granite showroom in Sakarya under the name of Truva Granit. "Would you consider to invest in food section at İstanbul New Airport?" asked a friend. He interested in and applied to management firm while the airport was under construction. He researched a franchisee to open a coffee shop. He signed an agreement with Gloria Jeans in Türkiye. He opened three locations at the airport. During this time, he looked for ways to create his own brand as well. He also opened three locations under the Cups & Clouds brand. As of December 31, 2021, he changed Gloria Jeans name to Cups & Clouds. Currently, there are six locations under this brand at İstanbul Airport. There are also Cups & Clouds shops in Göktürk, İstanbul and Sakarya. He has only one Gloria Jeans store in Beşyol, İstanbul outside the airport. Tuncer employs around 170 people in Türkiye in a total of 9 locations. He plans to increase the total number of Cups & Clouds locations to 50 in the next 5 years.

In the following period, he acquired the master franchise rights of Gloria Jeans in Georgia, a country at the intersection of Europe and Asia, is a former Soviet republic. He and his team went to Australia for training. Four different locations were opened in Georgia under the brand name Gloria Jeans.

MUSTAFA TUNCER

Employs around 170 people in Türkiye in a total of 9 coffee shops.

have more locatons than any other coffee shops at İstanbul

cupsandclouds.com

www.myarge.net

COUNTLESS PROJECTS PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Mehmet Yeşilbaş has worked as an engineering project manager in countless projects from Libya to the United States, from billion-dollar hospital projects to university constructions. He worked as a senior manager in commercial, residential, warehouse and office and educational building projects, including İzmir City Hospital, University of Acıbadem Mehmet Ali Aydınlar, Libya Tripoli Airport, palace projects, Hovanian Enterprises condominium projects in New Jersey. Having signed construction projects of different sizes in the USA, Yeşilbaş provided Project Management and Contractor services to large companies such as Merco LLC, Hovanian Enterprises, Lehman Brothers, Pella, Andersen. Yeşilbaş, founding partner of MYARGE A.Ş., graduated from Uludağ University, Department of Civil Engineering in 1994.

"From the fifth year of primary school, I aimed to learn a profession every summer. I started my father's office work at his bus company, and worked in the glass factory, electronics business, lathe leveling and garment sectors in secondary school. But my late father did not direct any family members to work. That was my own choice," he says. After graduating from university, his first job was a mass housing project in Bahçeşehir district of Istanbul. He joined the military in 1996. After coming from the ilitary, he worked as an engineer in a construction project of 180 apartments in Beylikdüzü, İstanbul. Later, he transferred to İçdaş steel iron factory as a general manager of construction and worked for three years. He completed many heavy industrial construction projects such as port, rolling mill, steel mill, cooling towers, ventilation systems, ship renovations.

Tired of steel mill dust, Yeşilbaş came to New York at a language school on the advice of an American friend. He obtained a work permit visa and worked on the façade construction of the 21-story Murano towers in Miami Beach, Florida. During the same period, he did window replacement, siding, new construction, additions, and alterations works from scratch in New Jersey. He worked as a subcontractor on a 24-unit condominium project in New Jersey for Hovanian, one of the largest construction companies in the United States. Near the end of his work visa, he returned to Türkiye at the end of 2008. But he did not sever business contacts with the United States. When he returned to İstanbul, he worked to build L'ist Istinye Suites, which was the most expensive housing project in Turkey at that time. Each of the houses, consisting of 150 houses, was sold for 2 million euros at that time. For a short time, he worked as a construction control manager in Eskoop company in İkitelli Organized Industry. He carried out preliminary work on the development of a number of projects of the business owners in Ethiopia.

HELLO AMERICA

QADDAFI'S FALL

Upon receiving a job offer, he was transferred to Yaşar Özkan Holding, one of the most established Turkish contracting companies in Libya. He worked on Gaddafi's son Mutasim Gaddafi's palace construction, logistics center, Tripoli VIP Airport projects. He was the general coordinator of construction projects of 300 million dollars in size in the holding company where 650 people worked. After the overthrow of Gaddafi, the company's employees left Libya with Turkish military cargo planes. Yeşilbaş started to work in Acıbadem Group, the owner of one of the largest hospital chains in Türkiye. He provided technical support from the company’s headquarter for construction works of Göztepe Şafak, Yeşilköy International and Ankara hospitals affiliated to the group. He worked on the construction of the University of Acıbadem Mehmet Ali Aydınlar project in Ataşehir for two years from the foundation to the end. The budget for this 88,000-square-foot project was over $110 million.

SHOPPING MALL, HIGH-RISE OFFICE PROJECTS AND CITY HOSPITALS

After Acıbadem, he worked as a technical coordinator in the construction of Akasya Shopping Mall, Türkiye Finans Katılım Bankası headquarters building and Akasya towers. Nearly 100 subcontractors were tendered for this project. 350.000 m2 shopping mall and 59.000 m2 office towers projects were completed within 1.5 years. Yeşilbaş said, "I realized that the traffic in İstanbul was tiring me more than work. I decided to buy a piece of land and settle in Kalkan, Antalya. We went to build a house for ourselves, but we made a smooth transition to the summer life by providing project and construction management services to other land owners." Yeşilbaş, who returned to his professional career in 2017, started to work as deputy general manager and technical coordinator for two projects built by TürkerlerGama Group in İzmir and Kocaeli. He supervised construction sites and controlled their financial structures. For the first time, he started to apply software works to the construction sector in order to manage and instantly supervise multiple projects in other provinces from one center. ''We have commissioned the system on time and completely by providing trainings to all users of the system, from the chief to the engineer. We have achieved a first and the impossible in this field." He worked as the design project manager of the hospital, which was built with an investment of 1.1 billion euros on an area of 675 thousand square meters in Izmir. He created and coordinated the biomedical, architectural, static, electrical, mechanical, interior design system designs of the hospital with a large team. While Yeşilbaş, who has approximately 27 technical people in his staff, worked in the hospital business in Izmir, he also provided services that would be a reference for other city hospital projects built by the same group in Kocaeli and Ankara. Türkiye's first laminar airflow general surgery operating room was planned in this project. It is a system that requires international accreditation and is found in very rare hospitals in the world. With an invisible air curtain between the patient and the doctor, it ensures a regular air flow throughout the operating room. Bacterial and air particulate is reduced by laminar air flow systems. Yeşilbaş is also closely interested in residential and commercial projects in the USA. MYARGE A.Ş., which has recently undertaken the construction of the government house in Çüngüş district of Diyarbakır in Türkiye and the public project of infrastructure and environmental arrangement, will soon start the construction of 48 villas with private pools on 42 acres in Sığacık district of Izmir. Comparing construction experiences in the USA and Türkiye, Yeşilbaş said, "The American building standardization and inspection system is really effective and efficient in reducing manufacturing errors. However, serious mistakes are made when making agreements with contractors for construction works. Landlords accept the price offer prepared by the contractor as the right data without making the preliminary discovery of the work to be done and negotiate over it. And usually, the property owner and the contractor are sued at the end of the work. But don't begin until you count the cost. We facilitate the work of property owners by providing exploration and cost analysis services for many projects as well as active construction activity," he says.

"Eventually the truth always comes out," he said, adding, "No property owner who has received discovery and analysis services from us has encountered any surprises at the end of the construction business. Every business has a real cost and a reasonable profit. Contracts below or above this value naturally harm one of the parties. We recommend that you do not contract without learning the approximate amount of materials and labor of the work, checking the technical qualifications and the approximate cost according to the region."

Photo by KORAY KASAP TurkofAmerica /

The carefully handcrafted cigars of Hiram & Solomon evoke the very spirit of Brotherhood – allowing for reflection on and the insightful examination of the ideas and traditions we hold dear

Hiram & Solomon Cigars are

that match the caliber of the Brethren and the spirit they embody for all to enjoy. For men and women alike who take their commitments to tradition and good taste seriously, try a Hiram & Solomon cigar.

PORTX, Inc. began operations 2012 delivering containers to exporters and importers in New York & New Jersey area. Since then, PortX is making a difference helping new merchants get on their feet with efficient container drayage Eyüp (Peter) Ulu, founder with a million miles under his belt, began with a positive attitude and can-do spirit that established the fastest growing company in container transportation industry. The company utilizes owner operators, owned assets, dedicated leased units, and a preferred network of outside carriers to provide deliveries. PORTX Trucks also work in New York City as well. The company serves all ports nationwide and have an impact nationwide.

Ulu founded PortX in 2012 with a single truck.

PortX was founded in 2012 by entrepreneur Eyüp Ulu and over a 10-year period has become one of the transportation companies with the largest truck fleet in the state of New Jersey. Ulu, who came to the USA in 1998 from Malatya, the apricot land of Turkey, and started his life as a truck driver. His business has grown over time. "We started with a single truck. We saw the gap in the market and took a risk and increased the number of vehicles in the fleet," Ulu says. It currently has close to 30 employees in the office environment alone. PORTX grew their employee count by 114% recent year.

The company, which loads container from ports in New York and New Jersey, transports goods to all corners of the United States. Ulu said, "We are now competitive with the giant companies in the region. We have grown very fast, especially during Covid," he adds. PortX, which started to serve its customers by opening an office in Istanbul, still operates in its headquarters in Carlstadt, NJ. Ulu's wife Sandy (Şenay) and son (Emre) also help him in the company.

"Our company distributes eighty percent of the food products that come from the Middle East to the port in New York and New Jersey to PortX America. We move more than 30,000 containers a year," he says.

Photos by / Cağatay Okutan

Photos by Cağatay Okutan

PortX is one of the largest truck fleet in New Jersey.

KADİR BABA’ OF PATERSON

TURKISH

Syriacs.

Afyonkarahisar is a Turkish city with one of the largest migration rates in the country. In Emirdağ, the city’s most populated district, migration to foreign countries mostly began in the 1960’s. It is estimated that the number of migrants from Emirdağ, who mainly moved to European countries, especially to Belgium, as laborers, has now reached almost 150,000. And, the population of migrants from Emirdağ living in Belgium is believed to be around 120,000.One of the migrants from Emirdağ whose migration route led to USA is Kadir Taşkın. Now a resident of Paterson, Taşkın is referred to, by many, as ‘baba’, meaning, ‘father.’ In 1989, just like his countryfolk, Taşkın had also left his town to migrate to Europe. He had a visa both from Germany and the USA. A friend of his suggested he would first move to the USA, and leave he wouldn’t like it. Following along with his friend’s advice, Taşkın moved to Paterson, NJ in 1989. “I have been here since the first day I migrated and I haven’t left at all,” he says. Taşkın is the second son of his parents, who have 4 daughters and 3 sons. He was born in Emirdağ’s Gökçekaya (Geynik) town in 1955. His family moved from their town to the district center in 1965. Taşkın started earning his first income by unloading trucks carrying bricks. He got married in 1979 and had his first child the next year. When asked about what he did first when he moved to Paterson, Taşkın replies with a witty tone and says, “I worked as a doctor, and, then, as a lawyer. Well, of course not! What could I have done? I watched people. I realized that there was a coffee culture at place but the same wasn’t there in terms of food. The first day I arrived, I was taken to a place for a painting job. I never did that again. I also never worked at a gas station. After I noticed the gap in the food sector, I decided to run my own business in that field.”

OPENED CAFÉ ISTANBUL IN 1990

Taşkın opened the restaurant named Café İstanbul in Paterson, in 1990. At the beginning, the basement of that venue served as a dormitory for so many people coming to Paterson. Taşkın mentions those days, saying, “Those who would arrive by ship and others landing in JFK used to call me right away. And, we used to pick them up from the airport or wherever they were at. Many of them did not know the language. Since most of the newcomers used to stay at our venue, whoever needed help with work used to stop by our place and get them as laborers. All the newcomers stayed at that place for free. It was called the ‘Father Kadir’s farm’ but I eventually had a bankruptcy in 1995.” At one point, Taşkın also made Turkish baklava and sold them to supermarkets in Brooklyn. Then, he went bankrupt at that business as well. Then, he started working at an Italian pizza shop at the Willowbrook Mall of Wayne, New Jersey. A young girl, aged 13 or 14, who came to the pizza shop, changed Taşkın’s route in his business life.

THE FIRST STEPS OF TAŞKIN BAKERY WERE TAKEN IN WAYNE, NJ, AT AN ITALIAN PIZZA SHOP, WHERE PITA WAS SERVED TO THE NEIGHBORING

Kadr Taşkın, owner of Taşkın Bakery n Paterson, NJ.

SYRIACS DEMANDED HE BAKED

“One day, a little girl came to the pizza shop. I thought to myself, ‘She looks Turkish.’ She ate her pizza. Then, as she was about to leave, I asked her where she was from. She said ‘I’m Turkish.’ I said, ‘What are you doing here by yourself?’ And, she replied, ‘My dad works here,

too.’ It turned out that her father was a member of the local Syriac community working in the jewelry business at the mall. After she told her father that she met another Turk at the mall, her father and I also met. One day, her father asked me if I could bake Turkish pita with minced meat. I said, ‘Yes.’ Then, another person asked for Turkish bagel (simit), and, later, somebody else wanted lahmacun. In time, I found myself cooking Turkish bakery products for our friends in the Syriac community,” he says. After seeing the high demand, Taşkın asked the pizza shop owner for permission to work at the shop at nights to bake Turkish pastry items. So, this is how the first steps of Taşkın Bakery were taken, at an Italian pizza house, through serving of pita to Assyrian neighbors. Taşkın would bake the pastry at night and distribute them to the other shops during daytime. After having worked at that pizza store for about a year and a half, he started working at another shop, delivering bread. He used to buy bread from an Arabic bakery, which used to operate at the building that is now called Taşkın Bakery, and deliver it to customers. At one point, the owner of the Arabic bakery made an offer to Taşkın for him to rent part of the shop to bake Turkish bread. So, Taşkın rented a 20 square meter space in 1997 for 400 dollars.

But he did not even have money to buy flour. He baked his first bread there with some flour that he lended. He sold around 35 to 40 loaves of bread on his first day. Once he earned some money, he bought 10 bags of flour. He tells his feelings about that day: “When I bought the flour, I sat down in my car and cried. And, I said to myself, ‘America! I am here, too.’” Taşkın and his wife continued their homemade bread business together, without having any machinery. He says, “We used to work day and night.” When the Arabic bakery went bankrupt and had to evacuate the space, Taşkın rented the venue on September 11, solely for Taşkın Bakery. In time, their business grew further and the daily output double, and, then, tripled. He ended up buying the store, of which he had initially rented, for 400 dollars, only a 20 square meter. Then, a café area was added. Since then, their business has been operating at a 20,000 square meter space and it also provides employment to 80 people. Including his 5 daughters, Taşkın’s whole family works at the bakery. When asked whether he finds working with family members a difficult task, Taşkın says, “When you are working together with your family like this, you need to at times act deaf and at times blind.” He adds: “Some like fishing, some like playing golf. I enjoy serving the community.” Taşkın also has American customers who have been loyal since day one.

He says, “There have been tmes when some of them would hug me and say, cryng, ‘Bravo! You have come along ths way, step by step, ‘tll ths day!’’

KASAP

Naciye Taşkın was helping her husband at the bakery

Photo by KORAY

Fouad Kashouty has been a member of Masonic Lodge for 27 years. He is a Freemasons and founders of Hiram & Solomon Cigars.

Everything started in 2014, when he decided to roll 1000 cigars to raise some money for a scholarship for the Masonic Lodge that he belongs to. That was an immediate success among Masonic Brethren that grew amazingly fast and caught the attention of non-Freemason smokers. Now he is selling about 1 million sticks across the world. This was the passion...

It took them about four or five years to get the rights of the Square and Compass (masonic symbols) for a cigar, he created a premium cigar. After a few years spent going back and forth with the lab and convincing the more conservative members that it is OK to do this and working with all the masonic charities. That’s how Hiram & Solomon Cigars have expanded. They grew faster than other companies because of the help and support of his masonic brothers in the market.

That was the brotherhood... Hiram & Solomon Cigars have the Mason signs on it and at the beginning the women were afraid of smoking something that it is only for men. So, Kashouty used to get call: “I am a woman. Am I allowed to smoke this cigar?” So, he started looking for woman with the class to smoke the cigar to tell the woman around the world that it is OK to smoke a cigar. And at that time, he also wanted to create a buzz in the United Kingdom market. Romy made a remark on one of Kashouty’s mason brothers on Instagram account, which is a private, so he could not see who the person was. All he knew was she was from London, UK. He sent some cigars to some influencers. He chose Romy to be one of them without even seeing her picture yet. So, and that is how the conversation started, and then she ends up being from the same country that were from Lebanon and Kashouty’s mother is Armenian, she's Armenian. So, they married in 2017, and now Romy Kay is an immense help for the business so well. That was the love... There are approximately 6 million freemasons in the United States. Worldwide, about 12 million to 15 million. After the U.S., the second and third biggest countries are Brazil and the United Kingdom. Hiram and Solomon Cigars started for the Masons in the Lodge. Most Masons call each other brothers. When they went to cigar lounges, they started asking the owner to bring the cigar in. “That was immense but at the same time if we did not have a good cigar; they would not continue surviving. They obviously become everybody’s cigar. So, 70% of our smokers right now are not Masons. We believe we have one of the best cigars on the market. We can compete with any brand there. Yes, the masonic sign helped. Whether you like the Masons or you do not like the Masons, it became a social talk even people who hate it, they want to just try it,” Kashouty says. ..

For marketing of the cigar brand, social media and the support of the brothers is crucial. When he first put the first cigar on Facebook eight years ago in like 10 minutes, he got almost 900 likes. Facebook shut his down page right away, so they thought he was a machine. It takes a lot of time to make Facebook believe that he is a real person. They could not figure out why he called them brother If he does not them in person. So that support around the world took them a couple of years to catch up internationally. The first year he went to trade show in Germany. Technically no distributor in any country wanted to even talk to him. He even tried to give them cigars, but they refused.

Romy Kay was born in Lebanon and lived 23 years in London before coming to the U.S.

Hiram and Solomon Cigars have 14 different lines and on the shelfs about 40 states in the U.S. hiramandsolomoncigars

Romy Kay and Fouad Kashouty got married in 2017.

& CHARACTER

and Fouad sell about 1 million cigars in a year.

FINDING THE LOVE THROUG CIGAR BUSINESS

Romy is not only a good cigar smoker, but she also creates some lines from scratches. Romy’s father was also a Grand Master, given to a freemason elected to oversee a Masonic jurisdiction, in Beirut, Lebanon. Romy is not aware of that until she meets her husband. “He knew that because I was showing him some things that my father had. The apron and it was top secret and they used it for meeting in the house,” she says. Her grandmother is from Adana, Türkiye. So, they so used to talk to her only in Turkish, so she speaks Turkish as well. She lived in Lebanon and her family migrated to the United States except for her dad. He stayed there because of his business and obviously because he was the Grand Master. She started working and she moved between London and Beirut back and forth. So, I lived 23 years in London and then four years ago she got married and she came to the U.S. “The funny thing about that misconception about when I smoke, they think that I wanted to smoke flavored cigar, but I would rather smoke only full body cigars,” Romy says. While her husband smokes medium cigars.

WHY ARE PEOPLE ALWAYS SUSPICIOS ABOUT FREEMASONS?

“ There have been a lot of important people in the world since history. Until now, a lot of kings, presidents, generals, senators, Congress members, the rich people they were all masons. But people forget that in the Middle Ages the people who joined these groups. They were the ones who went technically go to college or the scientists or the doctors, the rich people. Common people could not go to college so the rich people joined, and these rich people established these things. For generation after generation and the big family knows the other big family. They bring each other so. Do we have secrets? Our only secrets that I know about, and I have been amazed for 27 years and I was an expert in the Lodge, and I deal with a lot of stuff in the lodge also. Our biggest secret was, one time, I asked a Grandmaster. He replied, “Yes, we have a secret. Our biggest secret is we have no secrets.” People get afraid of everything they do not know, and they make up stories and throughout history, Masons always took the position of not defending. Say we will not defend if people say something wrong about us. It is not our job to defend. Let them take whatever they wanted.”

They started the company for charity, and they started to donate more money to charity as they go, and they got support from Masons and non-Masons. The biggest support came from big brand owners: “You built in six years what it took us about 20 years to do. Continue your job.” He did not have an issue getting trademark in the U.S. The biggest problem is so far in Saudi Arabia, where they refuse to put the name of Solomon or the Masonic symbol on the cigar. So they did not want to distribute there, but they want the brand owners to change the band and call it H&S, Hiram and Solomon and remove the square and compass. Hiram and Solomon used to have a warehouse in Florida. Recently they moved the warehouse to Pennsylvania. They sell their cigars at 700 locations in about 40 states. They get direct orders from the www.hiramandsolomoncigars.com site as well. After international demand also started, they established another warehouse in Belgium. They produced all cigar lines in Dominic Republic and the cigars on sale in Lebanon to Congo, Australia to Philippines, Russia to Qatar. Congo was his first international account. They have not opened to Türkiye yet, but they are seeking a distributor. Most of the distributors in those countries got attracted to the cigars because first branding on it and the Masons asking for it also. After that it goes same as any other cigar brand. Hiram and Solomon Cigars have something no other cigar brand has. They have the support of all the brothers. No other cigar company has it. Cigars range anything from 12 to 24 dollars. They have 14 different lines. “My wife says all the time that we have 14 kids where 14 lines. We grew it, we presented it, we will. So, it is very dear to us. Our goal in five years to be in in every major store in the United States and be available in every country. Opening Hiram & Solomon Lounges in 10 years by our brand,” Kashouty says. They do not sell major online cigar stores like Thompson, Cigars International or JR Cigars: “It does not suit our sales strategy. They order big but they want a big discount at the same time too. We support brick-andmortar stores and cigar lounges.” “ Eight years is not a long time, but we are dealing with the major cigar brands. It is not that easy to survive. It is not easy to convince customers to smoke something that they are not used to because there are a lot of beautiful cigars in the market. I personally do not smoke only my brand. I smoke all the brands. “ Kashouty came to the United States in 1988. There was a civil war in Lebanon at that time and he came to finish his master's degree. His father had lost the business so he could not afford to pay for his college. He used to work at a gas station in North Jersey by Hackensack and then moved to South Jersey. Four years after he came the U.S., he bought his first gas station.

Romy

Photo by KORAY KASAP

TurkofAmerica /

THE GILDED CAGE ON THE BOSPHORUS

“Many books have been written about the twilight years of the Ottoman Empire, but few tell the intimate story of the members of the Imperial family. Fewer still give an account of the private life of the sensitive and enlightened Sultan Murad V, my great, great, great grandfather.”

By Cemil

Özyurt - Murad V, (1840-1904), Ottoman sultan from May to August 1876, whose liberal disposition brought him to the throne after the deposition of his uncle Abdülaziz.

Abdülaziz’ deposition by a group of ministers led by Midhat Paşa, the great advocate of constitutional government, Murad was brought to the throne. The new sultan was determined to introduce constitutional reforms, but, under the impact of Abdülaziz’ suicide and the murder of some of his key ministers, Murad suffered mental collapse. After declaration by Turkish and foreign doctors that his illness was incurable, Murad was deposed by the same men who had brought him to the throne. During the reign (1876–1909) of his brother Abdülhamid II, several attempts to restore him to the throne failed, and he spent the remaining years of his life confined in the Çırağan Palace. Languishing behind the high walls and heavily-guarded gates of the Çırağan Palace are the former Sultan Murad V and his family. This palace on the shores of the Bosphorus has been their ‘gilded cage’ for nearly thirty years: ever since Murad’s deposition in 1876, they have been held in strict confinement on the orders of his younger brother, the autocratic ruler Sultan Abdülhamid II. It’s not a common writing a story, novel or diary for members of Ottoman family. Not more members of the Imperial family put pen to paper in order to record their unique memories and fascinating stories. To honour the memory of her great-great-great-grandfather, Ayşe Gülnev Osmanoğlu wrote a novel, “The Gilded Cage on the Bosphorus” and she decided to make the book available to purchase on 7th July 2020 – in honour of his father’s 80th Birthday. She says: “In memory of all who once lived as prisoners in the Çırağan Palace, especially His Imperial Majesty Sultan Murad V. You will never be forgotten ghosts and shadows – instead your memory lives on in the hearts and souls of your descendants…” Osmanoğlu answered TURKOFAMERICA’s questions. XV

Sultan Murad V was imprisoned in Cirağan Palace for 28 years.

I was born in England, but I am Turkish and a member of the Ottoman Imperial family. My grandfather, Prince Ali Vasıb Efendi, was the great grandson of Sultan Murad V. He was born in the Çırağan Palace, and was the only child of Prince Ahmed Nihad Efendi, the eldest son of Prince Mehmed Selahaddin Efendi who was the only son of Sultan Murad V. My grandmother, Princess Emine Mukbile Sultan, was the granddaughter of Sultan Mehmed V Reşad. She was born in the Dolmabahçe Palace, and was the only daughter of Prince Ömer Hilmi Efendi, the youngest son of Sultan Reşad.

After reading History and Politics at the University of Exeter, I obtained an M.A. in Turkish Studies from SOAS, University of London, where I specialised in Ottoman History. I live in Sussex, in the UK, with my husband, our five beautiful children and our two cats. Other than researching my family history, I enjoy spending time with family and friends, travelling to new and interesting places, reading historical novels, playing golf and tennis, and I absolutely love going to the ballet. My guilty pleasure is chocolate, and lots of it!

The Gilded Cage on the Bosphorus is the book that I always dreamed of writing. Ever since I was a little girl.. I just never seemed to have the time to write it – until recently! I hope it will be the first in a series of books that will tell the story of the Muradiye branch of the Ottoman family from 1903 - 1924. Many books have been written about the twilight years of the Ottoman Empire, but few tell the intimate story of the members of the Imperial family. Fewer still give an account of the private life of the sensitive and enlightened Sultan Murad V, my great, great, great grandfather. For nearly thirty years he lived in enforced confinement in the Çırağan Palace, his Gilded Cage on the Bosphorus, shut away and forgotten by the outside world after being deposed. He found great comfort in the love of his family, who endured this harsh life of captivity with him – it was they who were my inspiration. However, it was never actually my intention to publish the book – it was written to encourage my children’s interest and sense of pride in their heritage, and to teach them the forgotten customs and traditions of my family. I also wanted to record some of the many stories and memoires that my grandfather shared with me of his life in the Çırağan Palace before they are lost forever. And I wanted to discover more about the characters and personalities behind the faces in our faded old family photographs, in an attempt to keep their memory alive. In fact, it was my father who persuaded me to publish the book after reading the manuscript, and I just couldn’t refuse him! The paperback was then published on his 80th birthday!

Murad V

On your novel, you describe very clearly every detail of Ciragan Palace, customs of kalfa’s, princes’s, and princess's even Sehzade’s crib. How did you able to get to know all details?

During my childhood, I was lucky enough to be told numerous stories regarding bygone times by my paternal grandparents and my great-aunts and uncles, and I tried to commit all of these to memory. They gave me a precious insight into what life was like for the people who lived in the Ottoman palaces at the turn of the twentieth century. My father’s recollections and those of others have also made an invaluable contribution to the story. In addition, I spent months researching primary and secondary historical sources. Any gaps in the story, meanwhile, have been filled by my imagination with the help of some intuited assumptions – and, of course, a little informed guesswork!

Turkish people usually know twilight years of Ottoman Empire. Story of Sultan Murad V is not well known. Do you think historians and history books are fair when they tell the story of Sultan Murad V?

No. Sadly, I do not! History has not been kind to Sultan Murad V, and I feel that he is very misunderstood. We must remember that History is most often written by the victors, so we should always question what we read. I believe that the story of Sultan Murad V needed to be told from his perspective. I wanted his voice to be heard. And I wanted his truth to be shared. So, I set about researching and writing about my great great great grandfather in the hope that my children would know him as he truly was, rather than as he is portrayed in history books. As I have already mentioned, it was never my intention to publish my book. I wrote it for my children, for my future grandchildren, and for all the descendants of Sultan Murad V as I wanted them to feel proud of the man that he was.

Would you tell us about yourself a bit?

How did you decide to write a novel about your grandfather and his exile days?

Osman Selahaddin Osmanoglu

Sultan

On your book, I feel that members of Muradiye family have some anger toward Sultan Abdulhamid but at the same time you gave credits on some reforms and works during his reign. How would be written the history if your grandfather had on reign instead of Sultan Abdulhamid?

I have great respect and admiration for Sultan Abdülhamid II, but it is fact that my family suffered greatly at his hand since they were held in enforced confinement for nearly thirty years - forbidden from leaving their gilded cage on the Bosphorus, forbidden from seeing or corresponding with anyone beyond the high walls and heavily-guarded gates of the Çırağan Palace. Life in such strict confinement was cruel and torturous, and in the book, I try to imagine the severe mental and physical effects this must have had on Sultan Murad V and his family. I have, however, tried to remain objective while also making it quite clear where my sympathies lie and make no apologies for this. I only hope that I have portrayed their tragic situation with the sensitivity it deserves. As to your question, only Allah Himself knows how differently History would have been written had Sultan Murad V remained on the throne… But I suspect it would have been very different…

How were rest of family members’ reactions to your novel? Did you have negative feedback from family members? Especially members of Hamidiye.

II have been absolutely overwhelmed by the incredible messages of love and support that I have received for my book from members of my extended family living around the world. And that includes from members of the Hamidiye branch of my family. I think that one or two might have preferred that I had overlooked certain facts and episodes, but all congratulated me on my work. I am extremely flattered that so many took the time to read my book, offered up some suggestions and are now encouraging me to write a sequel!

It’s not a common writing a story, novel or diary for members of Ottoman family. We have limited sources about exile days. What would be a reason?

I have also read all three of these wonderful books and in fact referred to each of them while doing my research. However, you are correct, it is very sad that not more members of my family put pen to paper in order to record their unique memories and fascinating stories. As an historian, I believe that such sources would have been extremely valuable and important. However, I think I can understand at least one reason for this. The exile of my entire family was a tragedy. One that brought great pain and suffering to all those forced to leave their homeland and settle in foreign lands. Most suffered unimaginable hardships, indescribable indignities, and deep trauma. They simply did not want to record such feelings of pain and loss, for perhaps they felt that if they did so it would cause their hearts to break…

Your father and grandfather lived long years in exile, away from homeland. What I see that despite of living abroad long years, your ties to Turkish culture are very strong. How do you manage it? Do your kids also have knowledge about their family, culture and its past?

Of course, it is not easy to instill a sense of Turkish identity and belo into our children if we live in a foreign land. However, it is very important to try! And to keep on trying! From as early as I can remember, my father and my grandparents told me stories about the Ottoman Empire, about the Ottoman Caliphate and about my family. These stories left an indelible mark on my heart that will never be erased, and these stories are what fostered my interest in Ottoman history and pride in my heritage. So, I try to emulate them and do the same with my own children. I tell them stories of our glorious history; I teach them about their illustrious ancestors; and I have taken them on numerous trips to visit İstanbul. I often cook Turkish food, homes are filled with Ottoman pieces of art and decoration, and we mark our holy Islamic festivals and important historical anniversaries together. We have a home near Bodrum on the Aegean coast and spend every summer there together, and we have travelled a little around Turkey. And of course, I wrote The Gilded Cage on the Bosphorus for them. I think that my efforts have in some ways been rewarded, as my children are certainly proud of their heritage and feel a connection to their roots…

You are very interested in history and especially Ottoman history, you studied in England. How was people’s reaction when they learned that you are a Sultan?

I am often asked this question! I rarely tell people that I am an Imperial Ottoman princess, but with Google and social media it is something that always seems to come out! I think that most people are just curious and ask me lots of questions, which I am always happy to answer!

Ayşe Sultan married with Nicholas Sutton in 1994 and have five kids. Maximilian Ali, Cosmo Tarik, Lysander Cengiz, Ferdinand Ziya, Tatyana Aliye

In school books in Turkey, we usually were taught, Sultan Murad V was not eligible to be a Sultan. What do you think personally about that? How do you describe him?

Personally, I think that Sultan Murad V would have made an excellent Sultan, one who would have been fully committed to establishing a modern constitutional monarchy along similar lines to those in western Europe. He was categorically not mentally ill, as so many Turkish history books like to portray him as being. A malicious lie, told in order to justify his birthright being taken from him, spread by his enemies and those who wanted the Ottoman Empire to take a more conservative and less progressive path than the one he envisioned. It is however true that Sultan Murad V suffered a nervous breakdown on his accession to the throne following the brutal assassination of his uncle, Sultan Abdülaziz, which shocked and saddened him to his core; but it is equally true that he made a full and complete recovery within just a few months, leaving him perfectly fit and able to carry out his duty as Sultan and Caliph had his throne not already been usurped. I am pleased that you have asked me to describe Sultan Murad V. He was intelligent, well-educated, extremely charismatic and handsome. He was an enlightened liberal prince, a modern reformist, a talented composer, a loving father, devoted husband, and a kind, gentle, sensitive man.

When I finished your book, I feel that it should be written the second part. Are you planning to write after 1905 era?

Absolutely! Yes, I am. Actually, I have begun the research for the sequel to The Gilded Cage on the Bosphorus and written the plot outline! The next book will cover the turbulent period in late Ottoman history between 1906-1909. My dream is to write a series of books that will culminate with the exile of my family from our homeland in March 1924. We all have our dreams, and this is mine.

How do you describe your nationality? Turkish, British, Ottoman?

I proudly describe myself as being Ottoman, of Turkish descent. I am very lucky to be able to trace my family roots back to the mid thirteenth century and to Süleyman Shah and Ertuğrul Gazi. As such, I am unquestionably of Turkic origin. And since the blood of Osman Gazi, of Fatih Mehmed, of Suleyman the Magnificent and of all the other Ottoman sultans runs in my veins, not only my blood, but my heart, my soul, my very essence is Ottoman. As to my actual nationality, I have dual citizenship – Turkish and British. I have always had British citizenship as I was born there, and I will remain forever grateful to England for providing my family with a home at a time when we were forbidden from returning to Turkey. I received Turkish citizenship more recently, and I am extremely grateful to the Turkish government for allowing me to become at Turkish citizen.

British Empire was main factor what Ottoman Dynasty lived through. How do you adjust your feelings about it?

Of course, I have very strong personal feelings and hold very set opinions with regards to the British Government of the time for their pivotal role in engineering the fall of the Ottoman Empire and the subsequent abolition of the Sultanate and Caliphate, for creating over a century of suffering and unrest in the middle east, and for causing my own family to suffer so much hardship and unhappiness. However, I believe that the only way to live a happy life is to free oneself from anger, bitterness and resentment, so I try to forgive the past without ever forgetting it. After all, the son is not to blame for the sins of his father…

What do you think about exile? If Ottoman family had stayed in İstanbul, were they a threat to young Republic of Turkey?

Sadly, I think that the Ankara Government had no alternative but to exile the last Ottoman Sultan once they had decided to abolish the Ottoman Sultanate. However, I do not believe that the young Republic of Turkey needed to abolish the Caliphate, neither do I believe that the entire Ottoman family needed to be sent into exile, especially such a long exile. Germany did not exile the entire Hohenzollern family, neither did Austria exile the entire Habsburg family. However, the fledgling Turkish Republic felt the need to exile every single member of the Imperial family – every şehzade, every sultan, every sultanzade, every hanımsultan and every damad. No. I do not believe that this was necessary in any way. My family was never, and will never, be a threat to the Republic of Turkey.

How are your feelings when you visit the Ciragan Palace?

I always feel very emotional when I visit the Çırağan Palace. I think this is because it was the home of my branch of the family for so long and is where my grandfather and great-grandfather were born, so it is perhaps the place where I feel most connected to my roots.

Where is your favorite place in Istanbul?

That is an impossible question! İstanbul has so many beautiful places that I do not think that I can pick just one! May I pick three? The Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque: because I always feel a sense of calm and serenity sweep over me when I visit, as it is such a spiritual and uniquely beautiful place. Topkapı Palace: because I love the classical style of Ottoman architecture and because this palace is steeped in so much history - every piece of stone, every marble pillar and every hand painted tile has a story to tell and a secret to share. The Bosphorus: because the views from anywhere along its shores makes me feel like I am ‘home’.

Do you cook any Ottoman dish?

I do! My children and my husband all love Turkish cuisine, so sometimes I make dolma, börek, kebabs, or köfte. A great family favourite of ours is lamb, slow cooked with apricots and served with rice which everyone enjoys. I do not make puddings very often though, but when I am in Turkey I always order tavuk göğsü if it is on the menu as I absolutely love it. I also really love saray lokma now that is a treat!

The Gilded Cage on the Bosphorus BOĞAZ’DAKİ ALTIN

KAFES

Prince Bayezid, head of the Ottoman family, used to say Sultans also have to be a head of the family as well not only Princes. What do you think about that?

Dear Uncle Bayezid… Well, history has certainly proved that women can rule just as well as men.!!

I heard that your father is very sensitive about Ottoman family members’s rank. Some family members are not considered as a member of Ottoman Hanedan. (Like Sultanzade’s children) Do you think it would be an issue within family members?

This is a strange question to ask!! Of course, it is absolutely right that my father upholds the customs, protocols and traditions of our family, so that they are protected and not twisted and altered to suit others. In answer to your question, no, absolutely not. I do not consider that the question of whether or not the children of a sultanzade or hanımsultan is a member of the Hanedan, or Ottoman Imperial family, would ever be an issue within my family as the answer is very simple and straightforward. They are not, and never have been considered as members of the Hanedan at any stage of our dynastic history, by anyone. I cannot imagine that the descendants of any sultanzade or hanımsultan would ever claim or even consider themselves to be part of the Hanedan, or Imperial family, as the idea is ridiculous. They are, however, beloved members of the extended family and are often included in family gatherings and events. But to be clear, they have no title, no rank, no position in the order of protocol whatsoever. As an aside, they were not even sent into exile in 1924 with the entire Imperial family, as the Republic of Turkey did not consider them to be Hanedan either! This is not unusual or unique to the Ottoman Dynasty. The grandchildren of princesses born into the ruling European monarchies of today have no title, no rank, no position in the order of protocol either, and are simply seen as beloved members of the extended family without being royalty. An example are the grandchildren of The Princess Royal, Princess Anne of The United Kingdom. Princess Anne is not only a royal princess herself but the only daughter of a ruling monarch, yet none of her five grandchildren have a title, rank or position in the order of protocol within the British royal family.

Would you like to add anything?

I would just like to take this opportunity to thank you for your interest in me, in my family and in my book The Gilded Cage on the Bosphorus. I very much hope that your readers enjoy this interview, and that it encourages them to want to learn more about Ottoman history and perhaps even to open their hearts a little to Sultan Murad V and his family. If they would like to read The Gilded Cage on the Bosphorus, the English edition is available from Amazon, and the Turkish edition is available from my website, from Google Play or from Apple Books in eBook format.

''Prince HIH Bayazıd Osman, than Head of the Ottoman Dynasty in New York / Photo by Ahmet Ze.

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Kali Kalmanidis, Chris Morgan, Ms Kalmanidis, Anastasia Theologi

How The Lakewood Group started and how was the major turning point for the company?

Lakewood Group Realty started in 2005 as a real estate company, with founders Chris Morgan Mavris and Ed Sherry. Chris soon realized that the company needed to support its customers in the financial sector and began to explore opportunities to represent restaurants in the banking system. This is how it was born.

You focus on food and beverage industry which provide working capital for remodeling, equipment purchases, inventory, and debt refinancing. How Covid-19 affected on your business?

We can make a thorough forecast and incorporate changes as we evolve. What do we expect to happen in the near future: The restaurant industry experienced a new reality after COVID-19, as there has been no other modern event of this magnitude. Recovery was obviously a challenge for all restaurants. Unfortunately, many restaurants closed or were reduced, about 15-25% in total, according to some reports. Unemployment hit restaurant staff as restaurant owners kept only experienced staff and fired the rest. Who knows what other revelations may develop after COVID-19. The only thing that is stable in the restaurant industry is change.

Turkish restaurants are opening across the U.S., and many of them often are sold or exchanged ownership. What would you recommend to an entrepreneur who wants to open a restaurant in New York City or any other market?

As you know, 80% of the restaurant business default the first two years. Also, it's a very taxing and demanding business. Because of that, the entrepreneur interested in opening a restaurant must be very knowledgeable of this business to succeed. The loans we provide to the entrepreneurs who decide to open a restaurant rely heavily on their industry knowledge. When the time comes for the entrepreneur to purchase a running restaurant, we, the lenders, evaluate the subject restaurant. Our experience shows that there is no such thing as buyer's and seller's market in the food industry. It all depends on the restaurant's events and what the seller sees, and the degree of his needs will sell it for the right amount of money. Every time is an excellent time to buy a restaurant. The economic trends somewhat affect the restaurant business.

How was 2021 for your company and what İs the expectation from 2022?

The good thing is that we’re very optimistic, and regardless of the good or bad economic times, there’s always money available for entrepreneurs. We don’t have the magic ball to see what will happen in 2022, but we are very optimistic, and we hope that we don’t have other COVID-19 related events that will affect the economy.

The restaurant busness s very demandng, and t s, however, very proftable for the sophstcated and knowledgeable operator. Because the ndustry s very volatle, t takes knowledgeable loan brokers to provde the restaurant entrepreneur wth bankng funds and nterests.

Photos by / Tuluğ Özel

Turksh Phlanthropy Funds Celebrates ts 15th Annversary at MET

Turkish Philanthropy Funds community celebrated its 15th Anniversary on May 9th, 2022 at The Metropolitan Museum of Art and honored Hamdi Ulukaya, Founder of Chobani with The Philanthropist of the Year Award for his lifetime dedication to philanthropy to achieve a world of justice and equality. Eric Adams, Mayor of New York City also participated the gala.

Hamdi Ulukaya & Fatih Akarsu

Merve Gürsel (at right), Selin Gülçelik with a friend.

Kaan Sekban

MET NEW YORK

Museum of Art

Turkish Philanthropy Funds

TPF

has invested more than $26M in more than 177 organizations working across 120+ cities and towns in the United States and Türkiye. The Gala’s honorary benefactors were the Özmen Family, Haldun Tashman, Selin and Ali Gülçelik, Zeynep and Evren Bilimer, Yonca and Halit Özbelli, Bank of America and Chobani as well as all of the sponsors of the evening. Kaan Sekban, one of the most popular stand-up comedians in Türkiye, was the master of ceremonies of the night. The event hosts around 500 Turkish-American prominent figures.

Elmira Bayraslı, Alp Baysal

Muhammed Üzüm, Esq. Turgay Yüksel

Board members of Fenerbahce USA are together

Feyza Köksal & Murat Kemahlıoğlu

Tavşanoğlu Couple

Berna Öcal, İnci Mercan, Murat Mercan, Turkish Ambassador to the U.S., Cenk Öcal.

Tarkan V Gürkan, Chief Financial Officer of Chobani & Alicia S. Gürkan

Hamdi Ulukaya, Mehmet Kırdar, Eric Adams

Jimmy Cüneyt Gürkan

Louise Vongerichten & Hamdi Ulukaya

Mustafa K & Susan Brady Abadan

Alev Törüner, Suna Vidinli.

Millions of immigrants pursued the American Dream, passing through the gates of Ellis Island on their way into the country. We just help to make people's dreams come true as their pioneers made it in history. Tooma & Ozisik LLP is a business and family immigration law practice. We represent the best and brightest in their relevant fields.

Cano Özgener, Murat’s father, founded CAO International Inc. in 1968. It was a tiny business focused on pipes. Humidors and cigars followed, and the Özgeners launched CAO cigars in 1995.

Murat (Tim) Özgener is back in the cigar industry with a new brand bearing his family name. The man who once owned and ran CAO alongside his father and sister is about to launch Özgener Family Cigars Bosphorus. It’s his first blend in around 12 years, and the beginning of what he expects to be several cigars launched under the Özgener name. “I still love cigars— and I found I appreciate them more and more,” said Özgener. “Some of the most satisfying portions of my life were in the cigar business. I love the traditions.” He’s been working on the new project, he says, “for close to two years.”

Bosphorus debuted in Las Vegas at the PCA trade show. The brand has four sizes, each with a name reflecting the ring gauge. The blend is a mix of Ecuadoran and Nicaraguan tobaccos. The wrapper is a dark leaf of Ecuador Sumatra; there are two binder leaves, one Ecuadoran Connecticut, the other Nicaraguan Jalapa; and the filler is entirely Nicaraguan, a mix of leaves from Estelí, Jalapa and the volcanic island of Ometepe. The smokes are made at Tabacalera Pichardo, in Nicaragua. Prices will be around $13 to $15. The name Bosphorus refers to the Bosphorus Strait, a slim and historically important body of water that separates Europe from Asia, located in Türkiye. The country’s largest city, İstanbul, straddles both sides of the Strait. www.cigaraficionado.com

Murat (Tim) Özgener

Özgener’s parents were born in Turkey (his father Cano, who died in 2018, was an Armenian Turk, his mother is Turkish). The Bosphorus name reflects not only the cultural mix of that part of the world, but how cigars can unite people from different backgrounds.

The boxes and bands are resplendent, decorated with a combination of modern and traditional artwork. At the center of the band, in gold, are the letters O and Z, a nod to Özgener’s OZ Arts in his hometown of Nashville, Tennessee.

“We’re using the O and the Z as the primary symbol, the logo,” says Özgener. The inside of the lid shows the brand logo for the new cigar, with the Statue of Liberty at the center symbolizing his parent’s arrival in the United States from Türkiye. There’s also a picture of Türkiye’s Mount Ararat, as well as the faces of Özgener’s parents. Cano Özgener, Murat’s father, founded CAO International Inc. in 1968. It was a tiny business focused on pipes. Humidors and cigars followed, and the Özgeners launched CAO cigars in 1995. The brand became a hit, with a host of variations often packaged in striking, non-traditional ways. In 2007, the Özgener family sold CAO to European cigarmaker Henri Wintermans, for undisclosed terms.

In 2010, after the merger between Swedish Match and Scandinavian Tobacco Group, CAO was moved from Nashville to Richmond, Virginia, and Tim Özgener left the company. The cigars are being distributed by Crowned Heads, and Özgener is now one of the owners of that Nashville-based cigar company. Other former CAO executives are part of Crowned Heads, including Mike Conder and Jon Huber

Photo by KORAY KASAP TurkofAmerica

Members of an Azerbaijan Society of America (ASA) delegation visited Azerbaijan on September 6-13, 2022. The delegation trip started with the visit to the Tomb of the late President of Azerbaijan Heydar Aliyev and laying a wreath on behalf of Azerbaijan Society of America, as the symbol of remembrance and to show our formal respect. Continued with visiting the Alley of Martyrs and the Turkish Martyrs’ Cemetery & Memorial. Aesthetically designed and laid out memorial that leads to the monument with the flame burning in memory of martyrs who lost their lives defending Azerbaijan.While in Baku, Azerbaijan’s capital, the group participated in meetings with Mr. Fuad Muradov, Chairman of the State Committee on Work with Diaspora; ADA University Rector Ambassador Hafiz Pashayev; Mr. Anar Karimov, Minister of Culture; Mr. Emin Amrullayev, Minister of Education; Azerbaijan Central Election Commission, Chairman Mazahir Panahov; State Committee on Religious Associations, Chairman Mubariz Gurbanli; Mr. Mashur Mammadov and Ms. Ganira Pashayeva, Members of Azerbaijan Parliament; and Maftun Abbasov, Chairman of the Board at Shusha City State Reserve. Baku. HeydarAliyevinAzerbaijan.

“The trip reminded us the remarkable qualities of this nation. Young, educated, and globally aware heads of the ministries communicated in English with us,’’ Tomris Azeri says.

Mazahr Panahov, Charman of Azerbajan Central Electon Commsson, wth the delegaton.

The group also held meetings with the Embassy of USA; the Embassy of Israel with Ambassador George Deek; and the Embassy of Türkiye

Ambassador Cahit Bağcı.“The trip reminded us the remarkable qualities of this nation. Young, educated, and globally aware heads of the ministries communicated in English with us. All in all, this was very impressive delegation tour,” said Ms. Tomris Azeri, ASA President, who headed the delegation. Another highlight of the visit was the valuable time spent in Shusha, cradle of Azerbaijan's music and poetry. The city is under reconstruction and rebuilding with great government attention to the preservation of heritages of ancient history of the region.

with

Fuad Muradov, charman of Azerbajan's State Commttee on Affars wth Daspora, presented the state decoratons to Tomrs Azer.

AnarKarimov,MinisterofCultureoftheRepublic ofAzerbaijanwithAzeri.

ASA delegation in Shusha.

Taghiyev,Baku'smostrenownedoilbaron.Azerbaijaninational industrialmagnateandphilanthropist.Hebuit

AZERBAIJAN

Additionally,

Shusha,

ASA Board members at Fuzul Internatonal Arport n the cty of Fuzul n Azerbajan. It s one of the country's seven nternatonal arports.

the delegation saw reconstruction and renovation of old Muslim monuments and mosques and the ancient Christian churches. The delegation was made welcome at the Khari Bulbul hotel and Karabakh hotel in Susha.

Tomris Azeri and her longtime friend Ganira Pashayev, Member of the National Assembly of Azerbaijan.

often described as the “cradle of Azeri culture,” Shusha was home to Azerbaijani intellectuals, poets, and writers and houses important cultural sites such as mosques and mausoleums.

The 1979 model car used by President Heydar Aliyev. The factory named after I.A. Likhachev, designed for high-ranking officials of the USSR.

The Ottoman soldiers killed during the World War I in Azerbaijan.

Azerbaijan Carpet Museum in Baku. It has the largest collection of Azerbaijani carpets in the world.

“Nico is amazing!! I had scratched up the side of my car really bad I came to him and he completely fixed it!”, “All-in-all, this is a great shop along with great personnel. I will definitely come back here for my auto-body problems and especially to Nico.”, “Highly recommend this place. Nico was very quick giving an estimate on my wife's SUV.”. These are some reviews from Yelp about Gold Coast Motorsport in Edgewater, NJ.Over 10 years’ experience specializing in auto body and all mechanical, Emir (Nico) Koca says, “We are Edgewater's most trusted auto body shop.” The vehicles of Borough of Cliffside Park, NJ also fixed by Koca and his team. “Ambulances, fire trucks, and police cars are maintained at our shop regularly,” Koca says. “We represent the finest automotive body repair, vehicle body repair and collision center in Bergen County. The quality of our work and the personal attention of our professional staff will assure you peace of mind should you need our service. Our Pleasanton collision repair center and auto body shop are grounded in the belief that customers are of the greatest importance. With distinction in the auto repair arena, Gold Coast Motor Sport is your one-stop auto body shop, automotive collision repair, and restoration facility that uses only the most advanced, state-of-the-art, state-approved equipment,” he says. Koca says their mission is to provide every customer with not just quality collision repair, but exceptional customer service. “We believe quality auto body repair must be combined with courteous and professional service, and our management and staff are dedicated to meeting and exceeding all your expectations in these areas,” he says. Collision Repair, Glass Repair, Insurance Claims, Paint Services, Towing Services, Frame Straightening, Mirror Repair, Battery Services, Hail Damage Repair, After Hours Drop-Off, Shuttle Services, Car Rental Services, Classic Cars, Window Replacement, Dent Repair, Mirror Installation, Rust Repair, Interior Detailing, Breakdown Services, Windshield Repair, Paint Restoration, Auto Body Restoration, Auto Customization, Window Repair, Car Wash, Free Estimates, Headlight Restoration, Headlight & Taillight Services.

The Gifted

Koray Kasap is potentially one of the most famous and talented Turkish American photographers in 21st century joined to TURKOFAMERICA team as a creative art director and lead photographer.

Kasap has worked as both an image maker and a photographer for several well-known Turkish singers, TV stars, model, and artists such Tarkan, Mazhar-Fuat-Özkan, Müslüm Gürses, Ahmet Kaya, Kenan Doğulu, Cem Yılmaz, Yılmaz Erdoğan, Bayezıt Öztürk. After moving to the United States in 2017, Kasap also worked with Hollywood stars Sylvester Stallone, Whoopi Goldberg, and Jason Statham. Most recently he shot photos of Netflix movie which was shot in New York, Kıvanç Tatlıtuğ and Beren Saat have leading roles. He shot over 800 album covers, movie posters, fashion brands. He also photographed one of the most famous visionary jeweler Sevan Bıçakçı’s 85-piece unique watch collection for his book, “Sevan Bıçakçı: The Timekeeper,” with text by Vivienne Becker, published in December by Assouline in 2019. Kasap was the photographer who shook up the photography industry in the 1990’s in Türkiye. As a regular contributor to Vanity Fair, Vogue, Marie Claire, Kasap created spontaneous-feeling travel images for travel magazines. Born on 1967 in İvrindi, Balıkesir in Türkiye. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Mimar Sinan Fine Arts, founded in 1882, the first Western-style art academy of its kind in the Middle East, majoring in photography in 1987.

Photographer Joined TURKOFAMERICA Team

Wth Tarkan Statham

n ger actor

Wesley Snpes

Sylvester Stallone

Kıvanç Tatlıtuğ

TURKOFAMERICA

LIFE & STYLE

THE FOCUS OF THE CITY

CITY FASHION PHOTOGRAPHY MAN WOMAN

PHOTO