In the late sixties and early seventies the idea of establishing a secular organization in the United States was in the minds of many of our people.  In 1973 a few dedicated individuals in the Syriac community got together and took the first steps to form an organization called The Aramaic American Association.

Many immigrants of Syriac heritage from the Middle East who settled in the New York, New Jersey area were looking for a cultural and social organization which would satisfy their needs to form friendships and share their cultural backgrounds.  The Aramaic American Association satisfied this need.

In April 1975 the Association purchased a building for use as center to conduct its various activities.  In 1976 a Constitution was formally adopted and the Association was registered as a non-profit organization.  The constitution clearly demonstrates the noble objectives of the Association, which are:

Preserving the language, heritage, culture, and Syriac identity of our people.
Defending our people anywhere in the world.
Supporting our Holy Church, The Syriac Orthodox Church of Antioch.
Establishing a school to teach the reading, writing and speaking of the Syriac language.

The Association started a new school in February 1975 and named it the Mor Ephraim Syriac School.  The school has seen as many as 150 students registered per year.  Many of our students have gone on to become deacons and members of the choirs of our churches.

The Aramaic American Association has been very active in hosting many parties and seminars since its inception.  Recently, the Association honored the scholars of the community as well as those who faithfully served the Association and the school.

The Association adopted a unique structure having a High Council comprised of past Presidents with an authority to protect the Association and insure its principles, objectives, continuity and constitution.  The Aramaic American Association also has a sister organization in California.

Since its inception in 1973, the Aramaic American Association has played a very active, commendable and honorable role in serving our people and supporting our Church, as many of its members have  served as Trustees on the Boards of our Churches.

There was a need to establish an International organization which would link together all of our people and their secular institutions.  Out of this need the Aramaic American Association, along with the Syriac Federation in Sweden, was instrumental in founding the Syriac Universal Alliance in 1983.  In 1999 the Aramaic American Association played a major role in the United Nations accepting the Syriac Universal Alliance as a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO).  The Aramaic American Association continues to be an active member of the Syriac Universal Alliance.