“Seek to correct injustice with knowledge, not iron”  -Ginza Raba—the chief Mandaean Holy Book 

The Mandaeans (Aramaic: people of knowledge) are a pacifist ethno-religious minority population believes in the purity and cleanliness of man and nature. For the past 2000 years, they have lived in Iraq and Iran, after originally emigrating there from Jerusalem. In the past two decades, they were displaced from Iraq and Iran as a result of extreme violence and persecution. Their religion predates Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. Unable to defend themselves due to their pacifist religion, the 60-70,000 adherents were scattered throughout the world. Since 2008, over 2,000 were resettled to Worcester by Lutheran Services (Ascentria) and Dr. Breegi, a Mandaean community advocate, as a way to help the community rebuild itself. Yet, until now, they have remained largely unknown in Worcester due to linguistic and cultural challenges. 

In 2016, Worcester proclaimed April 30th as Mandaean Cultural Day as a way to bring attention to the culture and resilience of the Mandaeans whom number over two thousand people and have lived in Worcester since 2009. The proclamation and welcoming gesture officially acknowledged the Mandaean community for the first time anywhere in the world since they were brutally displaced during the Iraq War. This recognition has brought great joy and celebration from the Mandaean community all over the world.

This year, Mandaean Culture Day seeks to highlight the unity, success, culture, and resilience of the Mandaeans who call Worcester their home, and their neighbors and friends who have supported the community with open arms for the past eight years.