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Local activist fought for the rights of Arabs and Muslims in the Chicagoland area and also for the rights of all in mainstream American politics. Miriam Zayed was among one of the first two Arab Americans in Chicagoland to run for public elective office in the early 1990s. Her father was the first Imam in Chicago and her family worked with local Muslim leaders to build the first Mosque in Bridgeview which opened in 1981.
By Ray Hanania
Chicagoland’s Arab and Muslim community is mourning the pbading of Miriam Zayed (nee Zayed), an educator, teacher, former candidate for District 230 School Board, community activist and part of the community effort that resulted in the building of the region’s first mosque located in Bridgeview.
Zayed died on Tuesday, October 23, 2018 of natural causes. She was 68 years old. She is survived by her husband Refat Zayed, who is suffering from Alzheimers, her mother-in-law Zahia Zayed, her children Dr. Hythem Zayed, Pharmacist Belal Zayed, educator Holly (Zayed) Murad, and Pharmacist Lena Hussien, and by her siblings, Nancy, Zayid, Adele, Heyam, Hanan, Cindy, and Dena. Her brother Yusef pbaded away several years ago.
Miriam grew up in Burbank, Illinois and was inspired by her father who played a key role in the religious health of Chicagoland’s growing Arab and Muslim community. He helped lead the formation of a coalition in 1959 to raise funds to build and open the region’s first Mosque in Bridgeview in 1981. Sheik Zayid served as the Mosque’s first Imam.
A wake was held at the Hann Funeral Home in Bridgeview on Wednesday morning, followed by religious services and commemoration at the Bridgeview Mosque at noon. Interment was at Mt. Vernon Cemetery in Lemont. There was an evening memorial service following the burial at the Aqsa School in Bridgeview.
Miriam and Refat Zayed. Photo courtesy of the Zayed family
In a moving and inspirational sermon, Sheik Jamal Said, the Imam of the Bridgeview Mosque, called Miriam Zayed “a righteous person and community leader” who broke the stereotype against women and worked unselfishly to give the community a voice in this country.
“Miriam was a very inspirational person. She was a dedicated worker for the community as a Palestinian, as an Arab, as a Muslim and as an American,” Sheik Jamal told more than 600 worshipers gathered at the Mosque for the “Zuhr” or midday prayers, and immediately after for the “Janazeh” or wake service prayers for Miriam.
A resident of Orland Park, Zayed was a school teacher, educator and ran for public office in the 1990s for the District 230 school board. She worked as a CPA and Accountant building her own business. Zayed was also active with the Orland Township Democratic Organization and with the Arab American Democratic Club, organizing public forums to encourage Arab Americans to become engaged in local society, politics and government.
Miriam was also active in national Arab American politics and public service. Jim Zogby, president of the Arab American Institute in Washington D.C., said, “Miriam wanted us to be unified, strong, and successful. She never complained that the challenges we faced were too great and never spoke an unkind word about anyone. She worked to elevate the community, never seeking the limelight for herself. The New Testament reminds us ‘that those who would lead, must first serve.’ This defines Miriam’s commitment to service that made her our irreplaceable leader. Her pbading leaves a hurt that won’t be healed and a hole that can’t be filled. All we can do is try to honor her life by following her example.”
Samir Khalil, executive director of the Arab American Democratic Club, said, “The Arab American Democratic Club mourns the pbading of an important icon and a great leader of our community. Miriam Khalil Zayed, a daughter, a mother, a grandmother, a sister, a wife, a loyal leader, and a friend to all. She will be missed by everyone who knew her, worked with her, and ever met her. She is a genuine and sincere person, a pillar of our community, and the heart and soul of the AADC. She will be missed by all.”
Miriam Zayed. Photo courtesy of the Zayed family
Salman Aftab, on the board of the American Muslim Task Force which works with the state, county and municipal officials, said he would often see Zayed at meetings he attended, adding, “Miriam Zayed was a great political activist and community leader who had the courage and vision to empower the Arab and Muslim communities. She leaves behind a profound and significant legacy.”
Miriam’s daughter Lena offered a remembrance at the memorial service at the Aqsa School Wednesday afternoon following the burial.
“My mother loved her siblings, parents, cousins, aunts and uncles, nieces and nephews very much. She was always grateful that you showed her support in everything that she did,” Lena said.
“Whether it was attending the Arab American Democratic Club brunches, the United Holy Land Fund events, the Beitunia Club events, you guys were all there, shoulder to shoulder with her and she was so proud of you all, always introducing you to all of the distinguished people she met and knew along her pathway of life. She did so much for our community near and far that we are so proud of her.”
Miriam and Refat were married on April 11, 1971. Zayed went to Chicago State Universty and later received her Masters Degree from National Louis University in Curriculum Education. She was the first among her famly to attend and graduate from college.
Zayed was active in Illinois politics and was honored by Governors Jim Edgar and George Ryan. Edgar praised Miriam Zayed for her work on behalf of the Arab and Muslim American community and Ryan honored her as one of Illinois’ top teachers and educators. She was also photographed greeting President Barack Obama, Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley and President Bill Clinton.
(Ray Hanania is a former Chicago City Hall reporter and columnist, and author of the book “Arabs of Chicagoland,” Arcadia Publishing, 2005. He can be reached through his personal website at Hanania.com or at [email protected].)
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rayhanania
Ray Hanania is an award winning political and humor columnist who badyzes American and Middle East politics, and life in general. He is an author of several books.
“I write about three topics, the Middle East, politics and life in general. I often take my life experiences and offer them in an entertaining way to readers, and I take on the toughest topics like the Israel-Palestine conflict and don’t pull any punches about what I feel is fair. But, my priority is always about writing the good story.”
Hanania covered Chicago Politics and Chicago City Hall from 1976 through 1992. Hanania began writing in 1975 when he published The Middle Eastern Voice newspaper in Chicago (1975-1977). He later published “The National Arab American Times” newspaper which was distributed through 12,500 Middle East food stores in 48 American States (2004-2007).
Hanania writes weekly columns on Middle East and American Arab issues for the Arab News in Saudi Arabia at www.ArabNews.com, Middle East Monitor in London, the TheArabDailyNews.com, www.TheDailyHookah.com and at SuburbanChicagoland.com. He has also published weekly columns in the Jerusalem Post newspaper, YNetNews.com, Newsday Newspaper in New York, the Orlando Sentinel Newspapers, and the Arlington Heights Daily Herald.
Palestinian, American Arab and Christian, Hanania’s parents originate from Jerusalem and Bethlehem.
Hanania is the recipient of four (4) Chicago Headline Club “Peter Lisagor Awards” for Column writing. In November 2006, he was named “Best Ethnic American Columnist” by the New American Media. In 2009, Hanania received the prestigious Sigma Delta Chi Award for Writing from the Society of Professional Journalists. He is the recipient of the MT Mehdi Courage in Journalism Award. He was honored for his writing skills with two (2) Chicago Stick-o-Type awards from the Chicago Newspaper Guild. In 1990, Hanania was nominated by the Chicago Sun-Times editors for a Pulitzer Prize for his four-part series on the Palestinian Intifada.
His writings have also been honored by two national Awards from ADC for his writing, and from the National Arab American Journalists Association.
The managing editor of Suburban Chicagoland Online News website www.SuburbanChicagoland.com, Hanania’s columns also appeare in the Southwest News Newspaper Group of 8 newspapers.
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