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HAIFA — In the aftermath of a Hezbollah rocket attack on Saturday that severely damaged a historic Templar building in Haifa, a large-scale rescue operation has been launched to save an invaluable collection of books and artifacts housed at the University of Haifa.
The building, known as Beit Keller, is home to the Schumacher Institute, which holds an extensive archive of materials crucial to the university’s research and historical collections.
The attack, which targeted the city’s Keller Street, caused significant structural damage, particularly to the roof of Beit Keller.
The staff at the Schumacher Institute quickly recognized the urgency of evacuating the materials to prevent further destruction from incoming rainwater. The damage has left the building vulnerable, prompting immediate action to secure the contents.
Dr. Lilach Barak, the director of the Schumacher Institute, turned to social media in a desperate plea for help. Her call for volunteers was met with an overwhelming response.
Dozens of people, including museum staff and volunteers from various local organizations, rallied together to move the precious materials to safety.
Yifat Ashkenazi, curator of the Haifa City Museum, emphasized the significance of the mission.
“The Haifa City Museum is itself housed in a Templar building, and we’re currently working on an exhibition highlighting Haifa’s rich Templar heritage. It was vital for us to be here today to ensure these historic materials are moved to safety,” Ashkenazi said.
“The archive collections are invaluable, as is the Templar building that housed them. I sincerely hope it will be restored soon.”
The historic value of Beit Keller and its contents cannot be overstated. The building, which dates back over 130 years, is not only a cornerstone of Haifa’s architectural heritage but also a repository of the university’s rich academic and historical legacy.
The Schumacher Institute’s collection includes rare books, manuscripts, and artifacts that document the region’s cultural and scholarly development.
Volunteers worked tirelessly throughout the day, carefully packing and transporting the materials to municipal storage facilities to ensure their preservation.
Haifa Museums staff, along with volunteers from the collections department, played a key role in the operation, carefully handling each item to avoid further damage.
The effort highlights the deep sense of community and the shared responsibility to protect Haifa’s cultural heritage in the face of ongoing security threats.
Despite the challenges, there is hope that the Templar building and its collections will be restored once the situation stabilizes.
As of now, the full extent of the damage to Beit Keller remains unclear, but authorities are optimistic that, with the support of local volunteers and experts, the building and its invaluable contents will be safeguarded for future generations.
The rescue operation at Beit Keller serves as a poignant reminder of the resilience of the people of Haifa in preserving their city’s history, even amid the devastation caused by ongoing conflict.