Talitha Kumi

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This busy intersection is on King George Street in central Jerusalem.

But when Talitha Kumi was built in 1867 it was in the middle of nowhere.
It was one of the first buildings to be built outside the Old City's protective wall.

It was founded as a home for orphaned Arab girls, later developing into a girls’ boarding school.

These are some of the Deaconess Sisters who cared for and taught the girls.

The photo is from the website of the modern, and now co-ed, Talitha Kumi School run by the Evangelical Lutherans.
In 1961 the School moved to Beit Jala, a Christian village outside Bethlehem, in the West Bank.

Enlarge this photo above to see the peace dove with olive branch, the symbol of the Deaconesses.

These windows, the chimney, and part of the facade were saved when Old Talitha Kumi was demolished in 1980.
The three elements were erected here, 50 meters from the original site.
That we may remember.

The plaque explains that German architect (and explorer) Conrad Schick (who designed so much of 19th century Jerusalem) incorporated European academic style with Eastern motifs for this unique building.

I was surprised to learn from this vintage photograph that the arch with the clock was actually on the upper level.
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If you open your New Testament to Mark 5:41, no matter what language your Bible is in, you will probably see the Aramaic words talitha, kumi.
 It means "Little girl, arise."

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Dr. Georg Dürr, principal of the school, writes this in his welcome to the nice website:

The name of the institution has been linked with the story of the resurrection of that little girl from the dead, the Evangelist Mark writes: "And Jesus took the damsel by the hand and said to her "Talitha Kumi" which means "Little Girl I say unto thee arise." 
The name itself has turned into a commitment for us. It's a word that calls for life. A word that fills someone's heart with courage and make him look at the future with hope and optimism. We prepare our students to face life with courage and self-confidence. . . .

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Conflict transformation

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For full impact click on the photo and read the writing on the wall.

It's a good thing that the inscription on this building is safely hidden behind a tall stone wall, a sliding metal gate, and a security guard. An ultra-Orthodox Jewish neighborhood is just a block away.

What the historical building plaque posted outside the wall says is rather tame and lackluster in comparison, pointedly.

The English Mission Hospital was completed in 1897 and the doctors served all the different peoples of Jerusalem. The rabbis were dead-set against any Jew entering the doors of a Christian hospital.

But since the early 1960s the Anglican International School Jerusalem is housed here.

The school cat who came right over for a cuddle shows just how friendly the atmosphere is.

The place is old and beautiful. For their 100th anniversary the stones were cleaned with sandblasting.

The school has grades K-12, all taught in English. The student body is made up of 20-25% Palestinians, a handful of Jews, and the rest from the consular corps.

Speaking of foreign diplomatic families . . . this is especially for blog-buddy Catherine Mark-Beasant who writes about her years at the Anglican School decades ago in this interesting and touching post.
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The sundial quotes the Song of Songs in the Bible: "Until the day break and the shadows flee away."

And some shadows did flee away during the ten weeks I participated in a weekly Slim Peace group in this classroom behind the arch. All women. A few Arabs, a few Jews, a nun, a nutritionist, a facilitator, and a film-maker. Ostensibly coming together to discuss better nutrition and healthier living, but much more than that.

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What's your world like? You too can share it every Monday night with the bloggers at That's My World , or just come for a visit. Shalom!

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