Page 243 - קרובים רחוקים
P. 243
S afed was one of the four holy Jewish cities. In the early 19th century it had the largest Jewish
population in the land of Israel, but over the course of the century lost its lead to Jerusalem,
remaining the city with the second-largest concentration of Jews. Its Ashkenazi community, in
contrast to its Sephardi community, grew rapidly, becoming the largest community in the city,
with most adherents belonging to the Hassidic sect. By the end of the second decade of the
20th century, Jews for the first time formed the majority of the city's population.
G lobal historical processes, the social and economic condition of Safed, its isolation and its
lack of leadership together formed a convenient basis for the increased interest of European
missionaries hoping to convert its Jews. The London Society was the first to try to stake a
claim in Safed, but was forced to withdraw and only in the last three decades of the 19th
century managed to establish itself in the city. Its primary activities were in the missionary fields
of education and medicine, creating educational facilities and medical services for the city's
Jewish population. The London Society's activities engendered difficulties and resistance, but
the determination of its emissaries, together with a chronic shortage of medical services, led
to its consolidation in the city of Safed. At the same time, stiff competition for the city's medical
hegemony was posed to the London Society by the Scottish mission which, although based in
Tiberias, slowly and systematically expanded its medical activities in Safed, led by Dr. David
Torrance.
In the spring of 1894, Dr. Walter Henry Anderson was appointed to the position of director of
medical activities of the London Society in Safed. His arrival marked a change in the medical
activities of the society. A man of vision and a natural leader, he managed after a long struggle,
and in collaboration with the apostate Ben Zion Friedman, the man in charge of the overall
activities of the London Society in Safed, to gain medical control of the city. Dr. Anderson's
activities convinced the London Society's board of directors in London to build a medical center
in the northeast of Safed. Under pressure of time, while in the meantime running a temporary
hospital for the London Society, he built a medical center designed by the Templar architect
Gottlieb Schumacher. This center, consisting of a modern hospital with 40 beds, an outpatient
clinic and doctor residence, was officially inaugurated in 1904 (the residence and clinic were
up and running by 1900).
T he medical center developed quickly, and over the years, the number of patients grew
consistently. From October 1906 to August 1907 (a period of nine months), 576 patients were
hospitalized, 84% of whom being Jews, and 168 operations were performed; and over the next
12 months 20,666 patients were treated at the outpatient clinics. During 1908, 28,315 patients
visited the outpatient clinics and 508 were admitted. By 1911, the outpatient number had grown
to 28, 915. The demand for medical services, and the esteem in which the London Society
held Dr. Anderson, led to the development of the compound. The hospital was expanded to
include a wing and a loggia, and extra rooms were added to the residence as Dr. Anderson's
family grew. The outpatient clinics gained a waiting room, and a gatehouse and storeroom
were added to the entrance of the complex.
241
population in the land of Israel, but over the course of the century lost its lead to Jerusalem,
remaining the city with the second-largest concentration of Jews. Its Ashkenazi community, in
contrast to its Sephardi community, grew rapidly, becoming the largest community in the city,
with most adherents belonging to the Hassidic sect. By the end of the second decade of the
20th century, Jews for the first time formed the majority of the city's population.
G lobal historical processes, the social and economic condition of Safed, its isolation and its
lack of leadership together formed a convenient basis for the increased interest of European
missionaries hoping to convert its Jews. The London Society was the first to try to stake a
claim in Safed, but was forced to withdraw and only in the last three decades of the 19th
century managed to establish itself in the city. Its primary activities were in the missionary fields
of education and medicine, creating educational facilities and medical services for the city's
Jewish population. The London Society's activities engendered difficulties and resistance, but
the determination of its emissaries, together with a chronic shortage of medical services, led
to its consolidation in the city of Safed. At the same time, stiff competition for the city's medical
hegemony was posed to the London Society by the Scottish mission which, although based in
Tiberias, slowly and systematically expanded its medical activities in Safed, led by Dr. David
Torrance.
In the spring of 1894, Dr. Walter Henry Anderson was appointed to the position of director of
medical activities of the London Society in Safed. His arrival marked a change in the medical
activities of the society. A man of vision and a natural leader, he managed after a long struggle,
and in collaboration with the apostate Ben Zion Friedman, the man in charge of the overall
activities of the London Society in Safed, to gain medical control of the city. Dr. Anderson's
activities convinced the London Society's board of directors in London to build a medical center
in the northeast of Safed. Under pressure of time, while in the meantime running a temporary
hospital for the London Society, he built a medical center designed by the Templar architect
Gottlieb Schumacher. This center, consisting of a modern hospital with 40 beds, an outpatient
clinic and doctor residence, was officially inaugurated in 1904 (the residence and clinic were
up and running by 1900).
T he medical center developed quickly, and over the years, the number of patients grew
consistently. From October 1906 to August 1907 (a period of nine months), 576 patients were
hospitalized, 84% of whom being Jews, and 168 operations were performed; and over the next
12 months 20,666 patients were treated at the outpatient clinics. During 1908, 28,315 patients
visited the outpatient clinics and 508 were admitted. By 1911, the outpatient number had grown
to 28, 915. The demand for medical services, and the esteem in which the London Society
held Dr. Anderson, led to the development of the compound. The hospital was expanded to
include a wing and a loggia, and extra rooms were added to the residence as Dr. Anderson's
family grew. The outpatient clinics gained a waiting room, and a gatehouse and storeroom
were added to the entrance of the complex.
241
