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The Tachkemoni School

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At the beginning of the 20 century there were many, varied schools active in
Jerusalem. Most of the schools in Jerusalem belonged to the ultra-orthodox

groups. They didn't provide modern education. The Lemel School provided
a very open curriculum and the Gymnasium was nationalistic but not
religious.
The modern (enlightened) religious element, which wanted to teach their

children "Torah and common courtesy", felt that none of the established
schools in Jerusalem met their needs. In 1909 they established the
Tachkemoni School which combined traditional values, modern science, and

Zionism. Yaacov Orland described the school where he learned:
"The Ethiopian Alley, wherever I might look in it, I will find there something
moving and unique, at times an abandoned corner, or a courtyard of poverty,
or a house in the center of a lot, which is called the Tachkemoni School, my

old school and study hall, that, whenever I speak about it my heart yearns for
it.
For it is still and always will be alive within me; it glides living and warm into

this book; did I not pass my youth and adolescence there as a dreamer in
amazement at everything outside of me and within me.
There my intelligence was broadened, to ponder, first of all, on whence I came

and where I am going; and on what is the thread that connects all things; and
who is it that tugs upon me.
And it was there that a bit of the Yerushalmi of Rav Yochanan and a bit of the

Bavli of Rav Ashi were opened to me; and they taught me Torah, Prophets,
and Writings and a small measure of Rashi; and enabled me to stand before
the ark on Friday Evenings to trill in prayer as is acceptable and pleasant;
for I had a precise and flowing voice, part cricket and part frog; and

according to the understanding of the wise, they decided that that very voice
of mine, that could crumble rock, could tear the heavens, and penetrate hearts,
might also influence the dweller of wildernesses (G-d)."

The Tachkemoni School belonged to the Hapoel Hamizrachi political party.
This was the party of Religious Zionism but the students came from both
religious and secular families, and especially from Sephardic families. This
was because most Ashkenazic families tended toward either totally ultra-

orthodox or totally secular education for their children.

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