אThose of you who are interested in cemeteries will be able to find a "gem" in Haifa. I don't know why, but I've always been interested in old cemeteries. I like to wander among the silent tombs and read hundreds of old texts, engraved in stone.
I try to imagine what happened and how it happened to that person whose life was cut short prematurely and sometimes I am surprised by the longevity of others, even though they lived in a time when healthcare was not what it is today.
Editor's note: Henk Vogel is a photographer who immigrated to Haifa from the Netherlands. He photographs artistic projects as well as sports. Henk photographs the Maccabi Haifa soccer games. You can find his photos in the ongoing coverage we bring you from the football fields - This link…. We invite additional photographers to take part in the creation. You can contact us here…
When I arrived in Haifa from the Netherlands, 25 years ago, I heard about the German colony, but I did not know about the existence of the Templar cemetery, which is located near my home in the Bat Galim neighborhood. I learned about its existence during the visit of my sister, who chose to travel in Haifa and diligently explored some of the lesser-known corners of the city.
From the moment I entered the place, I was amazed by the silence and beauty of this special cemetery. When you wander around the place in the afternoon, the sun's rays are reflected from the glass windows of the buildings next to it and are returned to the branches of the trees and thus illuminate the graves with a special light. When I was exposed to this special lighting, I decided that it would be my final project in the photography major at Vizzo.
The Templars lived in Haifa between 1864 - 1948. On most of the graves you can find burial dates between 1875 - 1920. Children and adults are buried side by side. Most of the texts on the tombs are taken from the religious existence of the Templar community in Haifa.
For example (free translation): "Only God knows why you left prematurely..."
But, I did not find such a text on one grave. On that grave was written only:
"Heizer Franz Nehls, SMS "Geier" Geb 18.6.1890 – Gest. 31.1.1913"
The meaning of the word "Heizer" is "hewer", that is, the one who puts the wood into the furnace that heats the steam boiler on the ship. This grave is designed differently from the rest of the graves: it has a large metal cross, rising above the rest of the graves. I thought to myself if it was possible to know what was the life story of this Spaniard and what led to his death in the end. Indeed, in the age of Google, things are quite simple. Heiser worked on a German ship, built in 1893, which operated in the Mediterranean for the promotion of Germany's economic interests. The ship was loading a cargo of coal on January 31, 1913, when the coal dust exploded, killing two crewmen…
Map
The exact location of the cemetery on Jaffa Road in Haifa:
The photography project:
The Templar Cemetery in Haifa. Photography - Hank Vogel
Although I am not a fan of the Templars, they did the holy work, of the settlement of the Land of Israel - from their own motives - and nevertheless, every visible part of the past of my city (still in my heart) - is worthy of mention, and for that all the best to Hank the photographer, who reveals to us pictures goddess .
For the information of those who are not yet aware - in the cemeteries of the First World War, the martyrs of the British army, headed by
General Allenby, whose name is commemorated in the three major cities, (perhaps also in Beer Sheva - I did not check) on important streets
- Members of all religions are buried, with a symbol of each religion. This is what I saw on Jaffa Street in Haifa - and also on Mount Scopus in Israel.
And all without any separation.
The mayors and heads of the Jewish community - have a sacred mission - to create inside the cemetery - to consecrate the place - to the sanctity of a Jewish cemetery - and to move the Jewish troops to this separate part.
How come they didn't think of it before? ! ? ! ? !