Tambach, Thüringen, Germany
On 2-8 August I attended the German Baha'i Summer School in the village of
Tambach-Dietharz on the edge of the Thüringen forest in central Germany. The
theme was "Bringing Baha'i ideas into social discourse", with sessions on
social action, the environment and climate change, migration, women's issues
and education. Each topic started with a short introduction, followed by two
workshop sessions on selected references from the Baha'i writings and
statements. I was responsible for the second topic on environment and
climate change. There were three wonderful evening presentations on the
Covenant and the Baha'i Holy Places in Israel by Jamshid Ardjomandi of
Surinam who with his wife had spent 17 years there as custodians of the
Shrine of Baha'u'llah. There was also a games night and a final variety
evening with music and singing by various groups from the toddlers to the
singing workshop. There was a strong family atmosphere, with many children
among the 150 participants. It seemed like half the people there held a baby
in one arm.
There was a break in the middle of the school when many of us crossed the
Thüringen mountains to visit a garden show in the old village of
Schmalkalden with its 16th century castle. We also could go for walks in the
forest, and visit a nearby spring where Martin Luther claimed that the water
cured him of a kidney ailment from which he thought he was dying.
While it was difficult for me to be one of only three people there (with the
Ardjomandis) who did not speak German, there were many helpful translators
when needed.
The German Summer School
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Berghotel Tambach; gathering and children playing in front of the
hotel
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Opening of the summer school; games evening
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Jamshid Ardjomandi sharing about the Covenant and the Baha'i Holy
Places with Mike Law translating
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Olaf Akhtar-Khawari presided; the Ardjomandis and a friend; thanking
the Ardjomandis
Variety night performances
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Composition by the music workshop; the small children perform and
show off their craftswork
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The toddlers danced; the children sang
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The junior youth put on a play
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The junior youth; musicians; the audience was enthusiastic
Excursions
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Learning about edible and medicinal plants in the forest; a walk to
Lutherbrunnen, the spring visited by Martin Luther
Lutherbrunnen, Martin Luther's
spring near Tambach
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Marker at the spring quoting Martin Luther
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Panel explaining Martin Luther's stay in the region 500 years ago;
walking through the forest from the spring to the stream
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Spruce forest around Tambach; younger trees; mature trees and
recently harvested area
Schmalkalden
The garden show spread over a former industrial site that has recently been
restored.
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Visit to parts of the Thüringen garden show in Schmalkalden restored
from a heavy industrial site
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Flowers and bird houses at the garden show
Town of Schmalkalden
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Church, market and narrow streets
Schloss Wilhelmsburg (Castle) in Schmalkalden
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Entrance to Schloss Wilhelmsburg, leading the first gateway
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View of Schmalkalden from the castle; the first courtyard; gardens
below the castle walls
Castle courtyard; second tower; tunnel to the second courtyard
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Castle kitchen
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Gardens alongside the castle