קהילה

ORT and the DP camps  Hofgeismar DP camp was located about 30 kilometres north of Kassel in the American occupied zone. The camp was run mainly by DPs. It maintained a hospital and a  number of schools including a Tarbut school and a Talmud Torah. The living conditions in Hofgeismar were relatively good even though the camp was overcrowded. The DPs were living in barracks, with two or three families living in one room. There was extensive sports and cultural life. In mid 1947 the camp had over 1700 inhabitants. The conditions in the ORT school organized in Hofgeismar reflected good level of living in the camp. An ORT inspector noted: This is one of those ORT schools that immediately reflects the initiative, understanding and proficiency of the director. While it is true that the building in which the shops are housed are in rather good condition, compared with those in some other schools, it is also true that other schools and shops set up in equally good buildings are much inferior. The school gives one a sense of real educational accomplishment in a difficult situation.’ In 1947, ORT’s courses were attended by 164 students who were trained  in tailoring and garment cutting , radio technology, electrical engineering, dental technology, hat making, auto mechanics and dressmaking. ORT also run in Hofgeismar a very successful bricklayers course. Describing the course, an ORT inspector visiting the school, noted ‘This work was being done in a substantial ahead that had probably been used for parking cars. The students were building brick walls, using old bricks. All types of construction were being attempted and accomplished quite efficiently. The teacher, whose appearance was more that of a rabbi than a manual worker, seems to be accomplishing very effective work’[1] The school employed fourteen teachers. Its director was engineer Efraim Kristianpoller. Hofgeismar DP camp was closed in early 1949. מקור:   World ORT Archives d07a152: ORT Schule Hofgeismar, Thursday, 21 August 1947 
נתונים כלליים וסטטיסטיים

מחנה העקורים הופגייסמר, גרמניה, היה באיזור השליטה האמריקאי.
בתי ספר:
באפריל 1947 היו בו: בי"ס יסודי אחד עם 86 בנים ו-44 בנות. 
בי"ס "תרבות" עם 42 בנים ו-88 בנות.
ב-10/04/1947 היו בו:
"תלמוד תורה" (בניהול ש' גבירץ) עם 220 תלמידים  גן ילדים עם 50 ילדים. 
פעילות: כדורגל, אגרוף, קבוצות התעמלות, קבוצת תיאטרון, מעגלי דרמה,  

תושבים יהודים במחנה: 
ב-19/10/1946 היו במחנה 2,103 תושבים  ב-03/10/1947 היו במחנה 1,710 תושבים ב-18/10/1948 היו במחנה 1,291 תושבים ב-20/02/1949 המחנה נסגר.
הנתונים מתוך הספר "מצפים לתקוה" - WAITING FOR HOPE