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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.

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 Road, 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" (Template:Lang-de) 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. 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.

Development plans

In 2008, the IDF moved to the Ofrit base near Mount Scopus. 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.

References

1. A Guide to Buildings in Jerusalem
2. A Guide to Buildings in Jerusalem
3. A Guide to Buildings in Jerusalem

External links

• Scheller School: Memoirs of Yousef Mourad

31°47′27″N 35°12′46″E / 31.7908°N 35.2127°E / 31.7908; 35.2127

• Orphanages in Israel
• Buildings and structures in Jerusalem