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Women’s History Month Edition March 2014
THE CEDAR CONNECTION Published by the Lebanese-American Club of Michigan (LACOM)
Happy Women’s History Month from LACOM!
“Behind every great man there's a great woman.”
This month’s edition honors every great woman for her
sacrifices, resilience, and hard work.
Community Events
March 21
March 14 Global Fridays with Victor
Ghannam & Friends. Visit
arabamericanmuseum.org
for more info.
Justice Viviano launches re-election campaign (Page 2)
Married man becomes Maronite Catholic priest (Page 3)
Angelina Jolie visits Lebanon (Page 5)
OSCAR PERFORMERS CROON IN SPARKLING LEBANESE DESIGNS
Bejeweled dresses by Lebanese designers Reem Acra and Elie Saab
sparkled on stage Sunday night at the 86th annual Academy Awards.
In addition to dressing their usual clientele of A-listers for both the red
carpet and the after parties, Lebanese designers’ looks also featured on
several of the night’s performers.
Pink gave a spine-tickling ode to Judy Garland during the awards show
with a rendition of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.” In an unusual look
for the singer, one of Saab’s billowing, flower-covered gowns in scarlet
gave the punky pop star a hint of old-time glamour.
Acra made an appearance on stage when Broadway-turned-movie star
Idina Menzel performed “Let It Go,” the chart-topping song from the
animated film “Frozen,” in one of her gowns.
Among those who donned Acra for the red carpet was Bette Midler, who
arrived in a nude sheath covered with snaking red embroidery. Middler
told E! Television host Ryan Seacrest that Acra went to her house
personally for the fitting.
Continued on Page 4
www.lacom.org
Submit your event for next month’s
edition! info@lacom.org
Ali El Deek & Bassam
Saleh perform in
Dearborn. Visit
petraentertainment.com
for tickets.
March 7 ACCESS Domestic
Violence Awareness
Fundraising Banquet. Visit
accesscommunity.org for
more info.
2
Women’s History Month Edition March 2014
Lebanese-American Justice launches re-election campaign
Michigan Supreme Court Justice David F.
Viviano recently launched a re-election
campaign to keep his seat on Michigan’s highest
court.
Governor Rick Snyder appointed Justice
Viviano to the court on February 27, 2013. He
previously served as Chief Judge of the 16th
Judicial Circuit and Macomb County Probate Courts.
Justice Viviano, whose mother is of Lebanese descent, received the 2013 Lebanese-American
Club of Michigan Trailblazer Award.
For more information about his campaign or to learn how you can get involved, visit
VivianoForJustice.com or Facebook.com/JusticeDavidViviano.
FEATURED BOOK OF THE MONTH
“Beirut Knights” pokes fun at Lebanese dating disasters. The book follows several interconnected short stories of a fictional character named Nadia and her closest friends. Illustrating some of the challenges women face, the book offers insight on catastrophic, yet amusing dating stories. Author Jasmina Najjar has worked as a journalist, managing editor, and copywriter since 2002. She currently works as a Communication Skills Instructor at the American University of Beirut.
To order the book, visit tpbooksonline.com.
BEIRUT KNIGHTS By Jasmina Najjar
Published in December 2013 Softcover - 180 pp
ISBN 978-9953-0-2790-6
3
Women’s History Month Edition March 2014
Married Man Becomes Maronite
Catholic Priest in US When Wissam Akiki was ordained as a Maronite Catholic priest in St. Louis, he was welcomed by
hundreds of supporters, including his wife and daughter. For the first time in nearly a century, the Maronite Catholic Church in the United States ordained a married priest in a ceremony at St. Raymond's Maronite Cathedral
near downtown St. Louis.
Maronites are among more than a dozen Eastern Catholic church groups in the U.S.
Eastern Catholics accept the authority of the pope but have
many of their own rituals and liturgy.
Akiki, 41, speaking at the end of the two-hour ceremony,
called it a "historic day" and said he had been given two
great blessings - marriage to his wife of 10 years, Manal, and
"the dream to serve the Lord and church as a priest."
Pope Francis gave permission for Akiki to be ordained.
"He'll be a wonderful priest," Linda Hill, 54, said. "The fact that he's married will be exciting for the church. It's tradition in the old country. I guess we're finally catching up to the old country."
It was about a year-and-a-half ago that he and the church petitioned the Vatican to allow him to enter the priesthood. Akiki completed seminary studies at Holy Spirit University in Lebanon, Our
Lady of Lebanon Maronite Seminary in Washington, D.C., and the Aquinas Institute of Theology in St. Louis.
He and his wife have one daughter, 8-year-old Perla. She read a brief prayer at her father's ordination. Peters said that in the most recent Maronite Patriarchal Synod, the church reaffirmed its
position in support of allowing married priests, a tradition that, worldwide, dates back centuries.
In a statement, the Archdiocese of St. Louis congratulated Akiki. "The Archdiocese of St. Louis
values its strong relationship with the Maronite community in St. Louis," the statement read in part. Those attending the ordination applauded the new priest several times, which clearly left him
moved. "It is a day of grace and of joy," he said.
4
Women’s History Month Edition March 2014
Continued from page 1
Lebanese-American
of the Month Reem Acra is a renowned
Lebanese fashion designer best known for her use of silk and embroidery in her gowns. Acra studied fashion in both Paris and New York where she won several awards, and began creating custom wedding gowns in 1995. Acra combines detailed needlework with Swarovski crystals and seed pearls to create beautiful, highly detailed
designs on the bodices and skirts of her wedding gowns. Many of her gowns are constructed using silk-satin, though she also incorporates taffeta, chiffon, charmeuse and organza in her gowns as well to create beautiful, one-of-a-kind gowns for brides. The beadwork on Reem Acra’s gowns complements wide variety of dress styles that she has created. The delicate detailing and rich fabrics used by Acra have attracted a large number of celebrities to her gowns, including
Halle Berry, Angelina Jolie, Beyonce Knowles and Catherine Zeta-Jones. Her gowns are available to the general public at her Madison Avenue boutique in New York, as well as at a variety of stores internationally such as Bergdorf Goodman, Saks Fifth
Avenue and Neiman Marcus.
“Just about to hit the Red Carpet, courtesy of Reem Acra, the most
adorable designer. Thank you, Reem! (She actually came to my house!)
#Oscars,” Middler tweeted.
Angelina Jolie was back in Los Angeles after a trip to Lebanon last week,
where she met with local leaders and toured Syrian refugee camps in the
country. The actress opted for a metallic silver sequined gown by Saab,
which she wore on stage to present alongside Sydney Poitier.
Saab, best known for his high-waisted gowns, was featured on the
uncustomary silhouette of actress Elsa Pataky, who is seven months
pregnant with twins. To accommodate her baby bump, the aquamarine
dress was given a drop waist.
Also dressed in sparkling Saab couture was Sarah Paulson, who starred in
“12 Years a Slave,” winner of best film of the year award.
Rising Lebanese designer Rani Zakhem has had a successful awards
season this year. He wrapped it up with a billowing, wedding-ready white
gown worn by retired Olympic ice skater Tara Lipinksi.
Lebanese designers also starred on the sidelines of the award ceremony.
Kate Hudson wore spring couture from Zuhair Murad to the Vanity Fair
Oscar Party. The designer showed the black and nude sheath dress mere
weeks ago in Paris. Lebanese designer Georges Hobeika also dressed
several stars for postshow parties.
Photo: Lupita Nyong'o, left, is embraced by Angelina Jolie, and Brad Pitt embraces Chiwetel Ejiofor as they celebrate in the audience after ”12 Years a Slave” was announced the winner for best picture during the
Oscars at the Dolby Theatre on Sunday, March 2, 2014, in Los Angeles.
5
Women’s History Month Edition March 2014
TOP
@LucimaraSa: @LACOMNews Thank
you!! Extremely happy for my picture being
selected! Cheers!
@DowntownBeirut: @LACOMNews Beautiful photograph.
Thanks for sharing! #LebanesePride
@LACOMNews:
Attendees at @TEDxBeirut fill in the blank on the question,
“All we need is ______.”
OF THE MONTH
Also, a special thanks to
Michigan Supreme Court
Justice David Viviano,
the Arab American
Museum, comedian
George Khabbaz,
Downtown Beirut, and
TEDX Beirut for tweeting with us.
#LebanesePride
Join the Conversation!
@LACOMNews
Angelina Jolie visits Lebanon
The UN Refugee Agency Special Envoy Angelina Jolie visited
Lebanon and held talks with President Michel Sleiman and
Prime Minister Tammam Salam.
Jolie also visited children living in harsh conditions at a Syrian
refugee camp in
Lebanon, calling it
“a heart-rending
experience.”
The “Mr. & Mrs.
Smith” star and
United Nations
special enjoy spent
three days touring
a camp of 3,500
children who were
either orphaned or separated from family as they fled the
bloody civil war in neighboring Syria.
“The generosity and solidarity shown by Lebanon and
Lebanese to its neighbor serves as an example to the world for
which we should all be grateful. We all need to help them bear this burden,” Jolie said.
6
Women’s History Month Edition March 2014
RECIPE CORNER Leftover Tabouli Quiche
Recipe courtesy of Bethany Kehdy
Ingredients 2.5 cups strong white bread flour, plus extra for dusting
1⁄2 tsp sea salt
1 tsp sugar
4 tbsp olive oil
2 tsp dried active yeast
2 cups of parsley leaves, washed, and dried
1 tbsp finely chopped mint
150g or 2 tomatoes, very finely chopped
1 spring onion, very finely chopped
1/4 tsp allspice
1 lemon, juiced
4 eggs
1.) Sift the flour into a mixing bowl, add the salt and sugar and pour in the oil, then mix well with your hands.
2.) Add the yeast to 150ml/5fl oz/scant 2/3 cup lukewarm water and stir until dissolved. Pour the water and yeast
mixture into the flour and oil mixture, little by little, combining it with your hands as you go, until a ball is formed.
Depending on the age and brand of flour, you may find that you need more or less water.
3.) Transfer the dough to a well-floured work surface and continue kneading it until it is smooth and elastic. Return
the dough ball to the mixing bowl, then score the top with a knife to loosen the surface tension. Cover with a damp,
clean kitchen towel and place it in a warm, draught-free place for about 1 hour or until it doubles in size.
4.) Slice the parsley into super thin threads using a very sharp knife. Put in a salad bowl along with the mint and
tomatoes. Season the chopped spring onions with the allspice and then add them to the salad bowl. Add a little of
the lemon juice and olive oil and season with salt and pepper to taste. Leave it to sit for an hour or so and then
strain the tabouleh well of its juices and reserve them for serving. The salad should be quite sharp to contrast with
the bland dough.
5.) Once the dough has doubled in size, turn it out on to a lightly floured work surface and knock it back, then knead
gently before rolling it into a log. Divide the log into two balls of equal size, each weighing about 220g or 7 3/4 oz
each. Lightly flour the work surface once more and use a rolling pin to roll out each ball. Cover the loaves with a
kitchen towel and leave to rest for a further 10 minutes.
6.) Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 450 ̊F and place a baking sheet in the oven to warm up. Baking one loaf at a time,
spray a loaf lightly with water and bake for 1.5 minutes just until a pocket of air has formed but not until the top
and edges are lightly golden as you’ll need to be able to work with a pliable and not a brittle bread.
7.) As soon as you remove the first loaf from the oven, use a damp tea towel and go around pinching the edges of the
bread to create a wall or rim. Once the quiche wall or rim has been shaped then very gently begin removing the top
layer of the Arabic bread pocket making sure you don’t tear the base layer. Set aside the flatbread quiche and repeat
the same process with the remaining loaf.
8.) Crack and beat two eggs for each quiche in a separate bowl. Once you’ve whisked two eggs into each flatbread
quiche, sprinkle the strained tabouleh over each flatbread quiche. Transfer to the oven and bake for about 5
minutes or until the egg mixture has set and the edges are golden and crisp. Serve immediately!
7
Women’s History Month Edition March 2014
NEWS IN PHOTOS
Sarah Paulson in Elie Saab. Catherine Zeta Jones in
Zuhair Murad.
Jenna Dewan-Tatum in Reem Acra.
THE OSCARS
PHOTOS BY OUR FANS ON TWITTER
Photo by Jack Keilo -- @Centrici Photo by Lucimara Sa -- @LucimaraSa
Women’s History Month Edition March 2014
LACOM salutes strong & hardworking women in
celebration of Women’s History Month.
“No man succeeds without a good woman behind him. Wife or
mother, if it is both, he is twice blessed indeed.” -Godfrey Winn
The Lebanese-American Club of Michigan
P.O. Box 1452
Warren, MI 48090 info@lacom.org
Cedar Connection Published by LACOM
Dr. Wissam Shaya – President
Elias Yammine – Vice President
Maurice Farah – Secretary Tom Sokol – Treasurer
Naji Chidiac – Board Member
Dr. Wissam B. Malouf – Board Member
Pierre Rechdan – Board Member
Charlie Kadado – Editor
Write for us! Send your article or editorial to
thecedarconnection@lacom.org on or before the 1st of the month!
Thank you!
PRESS RELEASES: thecedarconnection@lacom.org
248-924-4854
313-744-3498
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