Telleskuf (Tel Keppe) is a Chaldean name composed of two parts: Tella Zqeepa — Tella meaning “hill” and Zqeepa meaning “upright” or “cross.” The town’s origins date to the mid–second millennium B.C. Ancient manuscripts reference Telleskuf. In the archives of the Chaldean Diocese of Kirkuk, there is a manuscript written in 1582 by Abraham bin Bid‘a of Telleskuf.
Read MoreOld bridges and arches are living monuments that carry the weight of history. They are not merely structures to cross rivers and roads—they have facilitated communication, trade, and human interaction between friends and foes alike. Over time, they have shaped culture, geography, and historical memory. Few bridges illustrate this as vividly as Pira Dalal, or the Dalal Bridge, in Zakho, northern Iraq.
Read MoreParts One and Two of this series explored the history and plight of Iraq’s Jewish community, an indigenous minority that practiced its faith and civil rights amid conspiracies and persecution that ultimately forced its emigration to Israel. We also examined the displacement of Christians, Mandaeans, and Yazidis, who were scattered across the globe.
Read MoreFor 2,600 years, Jewish life flourished in Mesopotamia—modern-day Iraq—stretching back to the time of Babylon, where the Jews composed the Babylonian Talmud, and to the city of Ur, birthplace of the Prophet Abraham.
Read MoreGeneration after generation, locale after locale, it is true when people get educated, they get life lessons, advance intellect, and join the modern world. This is a glimpse into the history and contributions of the renowned Chaldean deacon, author, teacher, and educator Yousif Mansour Mary (Miri).
Read MoreThe historical connection between Babylon and the Israelites is profound and enduring. While Jerusalem is widely recognized as a sacred city central to Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, its deep ties to ancient Mesopotamia are less commonly acknowledged.
Read MoreThe city of Erbil in northern Iraq is truly magnificent in many ways. Few places on Earth can claim as much uninterrupted history. Erbil is one of the world’s oldest continuously inhabited cities, with settlement origins dating back at least 8,000 years.
Read MoreMesopotamia—largely situated in present-day Iraq—is considered the cradle of civilization. It is home to many historical “firsts” and the birthplace of philosophy, religion, and mythology. Among its most iconic symbols is the striding dragon featured on the Ishtar Gate.
Read MoreArameans in the Holy Land are a Christian minority living in Israel. They claim to descend from the Arameans, an ancient Semitic-speaking people in the Middle East in the 1st millennium BC. Some Syriac Christians in the Middle East espouse an Aramean ethnic identity, and a minority still speak various Neo-Aramaic languages, with the Eastern branch being widely spoken.
Read MoreThe Chaldean Community Foundation (CCF) is expanding to reach across Woodward and establish a presence with the Chaldean American Chamber of Commerce (CACC) on Oakland County’s west side. Formerly known as The Corners, the property at Walnut Lake and Inkster Roads next to Market Square is being transformed into the new Chaldean Community Center, housing the CACC and administrative offices for the Foundation. Chamber staff has been calling it “CCF West” for a while.
Read MoreMosul, meaning “the linking point” in Arabic, serves as a vital connector between Iraq and Syria. Known historically as Nineveh, the city is named after an Assyrian goddess associated with fish. One of the world’s oldest cities, Mosul has been a strategic crossroads for millennia, facilitating the movement of diverse peoples, ethnicities, and religions, including some of the world’s oldest Christian communities.
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