The Aramaic voice in Israel | President Shadi Khalloul

Shadi Khalloul is the President & Founder of the Israeli Christian Aramaic Association (ICAA), an NGO. Chapter summary : *01:05 - Unity of Christians and Jews:* He explains the deep historical and ancestral connections between Aramaic Christians and the Jewish people, emphasizing their shared roots in the land. *02:35 - History of the Maronite Church:* A look at the indigenous Syriac-Aramaic and Phoenician people, their survival through centuries of conquest, and the preservation of their culture in the mountains of Lebanon. *03:38 - Israel as a "Light Among Nations":* Khalloul highlights Israel as a beacon of equality and freedom of worship in the Middle East, contrasting it with the treatment of minorities in neighboring regions. *04:22 - The "American Dream" vs. the "Aramaic Dream":* He recounts his time in Las Vegas and how a university Bible course sparked his return to Israel to revive the Aramaic language and identity. *10:29 - Founding the Israeli Christian Aramaic NGO:* The story of establishing an organization to preserve Aramaic culture and encourage Christian integration into Israeli society through the IDF. *11:56 - Achieving Official Recognition:* Khalloul details the long journey of lobbying the Israeli government, which eventually led to the official recognition of "Aramaic" as a national identity in 2013. *14:12 - Partnership and Future Leadership:* Discussing the pre-military leadership programs for Christian and Jewish youth and the 350+ Christians currently serving in the IDF. *15:03 - Rebutting False Narratives:* A powerful response to international accusations against Israel, citing his community's own historical experiences with genocide. *16:01 - A New Aramaic Town:* An exclusive reveal that plans have been approved to build a new Christian Aramaic town in the Galilee. #israel #icej #jerusalemsummit #christianleadership #aramaic #jewish #ShadiKhalloul #ICAA