Schneller Orphanage
Encyclopedia
Schneller Orphanage was a Christian
orphanage
that operated in Jerusalem from 1860 until World War II
. The orphanage grounds, located on Malchei Yisrael Street in central Jerusalem, became a British military base
known as Camp Schneller. After 1948, the compound housed offices of the Israel Defense Forces
. The army moved out in November 2008.
, between Jerusalem and the port city of Jaffa
, and armed guards on horseback patrolled the road, the family returned.
In the wake of the 1860 Lebanon conflict
, when Lebanese Druze
massacred 10,000 Maronite Christians in Lebanon and Syria, Schneller established a home to care for nine orphan boys. By the end of 1861, the facility, known as the "Syrian Orphanage" had taken in nearly 40 boys. Over the years, Schneller bought more land and built additional buildings. The orphanage began accepting girls in the late 1860s and built a dormitory for blind children. Funding came from European Christians, who also sent clothing and blankets. The orphanage ran a clinic, a printing press, a laundry, a bakery and a school.
When World War II
erupted, the British shut down the orphanage and deported its German teachers. The British turned the compound into an army camp known as the Schneller Barracks. The 90th Bn. The Royal Army Pay Corp occupied the barracks in the late 1940s and a company of the 6th Airborne Battalion were also stationed there in 1946.
During Israel's War of Independence, Schneller became the home base of the Haganah
.
For the next 60 years, the site served as an Israel Defense Forces base.
. The Geological Survey of Israel which also operated from the site was moved as well. Current plans are to build a Haredi neighborhood on the orphanage grounds including 600 housing units. The orphanage buildings, architecturally important because of their age and European style, will be preserved and used as public buildings. Right now, environmental organizations are working to ensure the preservations by the municipality
.
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
orphanage
Orphanage
An orphanage is a residential institution devoted to the care of orphans – children whose parents are deceased or otherwise unable or unwilling to care for them...
that operated in Jerusalem from 1860 until World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. The orphanage grounds, located on Malchei Yisrael Street in central Jerusalem, became a British military base
Military base
A military base is a facility directly owned and operated by or for the military or one of its branches that shelters military equipment and personnel, and facilitates training and operations. In general, a military base provides accommodations for one or more units, but it may also be used as a...
known as Camp Schneller. After 1948, the compound housed offices of the Israel Defense Forces
Israel Defense Forces
The Israel Defense Forces , commonly known in Israel by the Hebrew acronym Tzahal , are the military forces of the State of Israel. They consist of the ground forces, air force and navy. It is the sole military wing of the Israeli security forces, and has no civilian jurisdiction within Israel...
. The army moved out in November 2008.
History
In 1855, Johann Ludwig Schneller, a Lutheran missionary who came to Jerusalem at the age of 34, bought a plot of land outside the Old City walls when the area was a complete wilderness. He built a house there but was forced to move his family back inside the walls after several attacks by marauders. When the Turks erected outposts along Jaffa RoadJaffa Road
Jaffa Road is one of the longest and oldest streets in Jerusalem. It crosses the city from east to west, from the Old City walls to downtown Jerusalem, the western portal of Jerusalem and the Jerusalem-Tel Aviv highway. It is lined with shops, businesses and restaurants...
, between Jerusalem and the port city of Jaffa
Jaffa
Jaffa is an ancient port city believed to be one of the oldest in the world. Jaffa was incorporated with Tel Aviv creating the city of Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israel. Jaffa is famous for its association with the biblical story of the prophet Jonah.-Etymology:...
, and armed guards on horseback patrolled the road, the family returned.
In the wake of the 1860 Lebanon conflict
1860 Lebanon conflict
The 1860 Lebanon conflict was the culmination of a peasant uprising which began in the north of Lebanon as a rebellion of Maronite peasants against their Druze overlords. It soon spread to the south of the country where the rebellion changed its character, with Druze turning against the Maronite...
, when Lebanese Druze
Druze
The Druze are an esoteric, monotheistic religious community, found primarily in Syria, Lebanon, Israel, and Jordan, which emerged during the 11th century from Ismailism. The Druze have an eclectic set of beliefs that incorporate several elements from Abrahamic religions, Gnosticism, Neoplatonism...
massacred 10,000 Maronite Christians in Lebanon and Syria, Schneller established a home to care for nine orphan boys. By the end of 1861, the facility, known as the "Syrian Orphanage" had taken in nearly 40 boys. Over the years, Schneller bought more land and built additional buildings. The orphanage began accepting girls in the late 1860s and built a dormitory for blind children. Funding came from European Christians, who also sent clothing and blankets. The orphanage ran a clinic, a printing press, a laundry, a bakery and a school.
When World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
erupted, the British shut down the orphanage and deported its German teachers. The British turned the compound into an army camp known as the Schneller Barracks. The 90th Bn. The Royal Army Pay Corp occupied the barracks in the late 1940s and a company of the 6th Airborne Battalion were also stationed there in 1946.
During Israel's War of Independence, Schneller became the home base of the Haganah
Haganah
Haganah was a Jewish paramilitary organization in what was then the British Mandate of Palestine from 1920 to 1948, which later became the core of the Israel Defense Forces.- Origins :...
.
For the next 60 years, the site served as an Israel Defense Forces base.
Development plans
In 2008, the IDF moved to the Ofrit base near Mount ScopusMount Scopus
Mount Scopus , جبل المشهد , جبل الصوانة) is a mountain in northeast Jerusalem. In the wake of the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, Mount Scopus became a UN protected Jewish exclave within Jordanian-occupied territory until the Six-Day War in 1967...
. The Geological Survey of Israel which also operated from the site was moved as well. Current plans are to build a Haredi neighborhood on the orphanage grounds including 600 housing units. The orphanage buildings, architecturally important because of their age and European style, will be preserved and used as public buildings. Right now, environmental organizations are working to ensure the preservations by the municipality
Municipality
A municipality is essentially an urban administrative division having corporate status and usually powers of self-government. It can also be used to mean the governing body of a municipality. A municipality is a general-purpose administrative subdivision, as opposed to a special-purpose district...
.