ARAMAIC…is a branch of the Semitic family of languages, especially the language of Syria used as a lingua franca in the Near East from the 6^th century B.C. It replaced Hebrew locally as the language of the Jews, and displaced by Arabic in the 7^th century A.D…..Aramaeans (Arameans) were an ancient Northwest Semitic tribe who emerged from the region known as Aram (present-day Syria)…..they established independent kingdoms and seized large tracts of Mesopotamia…..the use of the language declined due to the Arab Islamic conquest of the area….and the native Aramaeans soon became a minority in their homeland….they never really formed a unified state but had small independent kingdoms across parts of the Near East (Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Israel, Palestinian territories, northwestern Arabian peninsula and southern-central Turkey)…..which were entirely absorbed into the Neo-Babylonian Empire by the 9^th century B.C. (The Hanging Gardens of Babylonia – one of the seven great wonders of the world).…..and then conquered by the Middle Assyrian Empire (1365-1050 B.C.)….the history of the Aramaeans is very interesting….but the reason I’m talking about them is because I met a wonderful person last night who still speaks the language….he is Aramaean and he gave me a brief history lesson on what the 3 million people living on this rock and who still speak the language have/had to go through….an Aramaean identity is mainly held by a number of Syriac Christians in south central and south eastern Turkey….central, southern and northern Syria…Aramaean diaspora is recognized  in Germany and Sweden….and Israel recognizes the Aramean minority Arab and Aramaic-speaking Christian community. 

He was a 10-year-old boy…living in Lebanon…where Aramaeans were and still are treated like shit….this during a time when Lebanon was once considered the Paris of the Middle East….before all the senseless fighting with Israel began…..a time when Aramaeans were rounded up by the police, murdered for no reason or beaten to death….something witnessed by this 10-year-old many times….before the police would eventually throw him and many other children in prison….if you have an idea how the Roma Gypsies are treated in Europe then you have an idea what they have to deal with in the Middle East….till this day…..he never had a chance to attend any schools…he never learned how to read or write….and until this day (2017)….he still hasn’t accomplished these feats….yet, he is a perfect example….proving school isn’t always the answer….his father fled Lebanon…to join his sister in Germany….when my friend was finally released from prison (at the age of ten)….he and the rest of his family came to Germany and lived with his father….receiving an education was still not part of his future….so at the age of 10…..he started working….and became a carpenter…..he learned how to build houses….and now he has his own company…he designs houses….does total reconstruction….and if you could see what he did to his family’s home….by hand…and all alone….your jaw would drop….here is a man who’s family caught hell because of their heritage….they were threatened with death every day while living in the Middle East….constantly on the move in order to survive…..and now…because of his determination to survive….while never receiving what some would call a formal or proper education…he now owns three houses….is constantly in demand to create magic in other homes….and is doing all of this to make sure his family will be ok…..and after all he’s been through….and  still dealing with the hatred he sometimes has to face……if you have a chance to meet him….his inner spirit will win you over…..and his smile will definitely get you….anyway,…..I wanted to share a nice story about my new friend with you…..oh, I almost forgot…..do you know who else used to speak Aramaic, had to deal with racism and hatred and was also a carpenter?……Jesus Christ…….Merry Christmas!