SALEM International gemeinnützige GmbH is a German charitable company with limited liability based in Stadtsteinach . It describes itself as an international non-denominational Christian non-profit welfare organisation. Its guiding principles include human rights , vegetarian diet, and the promotion of a non-denominational Christian way of life. Its slogan is "Christian, nonprofit, charitable". 42
7-681: The institution's name "SALEM" refers to Salem ( Hebrew שָׁלֵם, Shalem , "peace"), the home of Melchizedek as given in Genesis 14:18 , possibly to be identified with Jerusalem . SALEM International was founded by " Gottfried Müller and a circle of friends" in 1957 in Germany. In Germany, SALEM established institutions for homeless people, children from disadvantaged family backgrounds, and ex-convicts in Stadtsteinach and Höchheim , Bavaria, and Kovahl, Lower Saxony. In 1980, 200 children were living in
14-555: Is an ancient Middle Eastern town mentioned in the Bible . Salem (say’luhm) is Hebrew for peace (similar roots to the more familiar Hebrew word "shalom", Hebrew being the original language of the Old Testament). Traditionally, Salem is identified with Jerusalem; however, recent scholarship challenges this association. Salem is referenced in the following biblical passages: Traditional Identification with Jerusalem The name refers to
21-557: The "valley of Salem". Possibly a different place is mentioned in Genesis 33:18: "And Jacob came to Shalem, a city of Shechem, which is in the land of Canaan, when he came from Padanaram; and pitched his tent before the city." The town of Salim corresponds to that location. It is also mentioned in the Gospel of John 3:23: "And John also was baptizing in Aenon near to Saleím [ Σαλείμ ], because there
28-606: The long-established villages in Germany. But Müller has said that "Salem is only the model"; he and other organizers have not been interested in increasing the number of the villages belonging to the organization, instead seeing them as models. Further Salem institutions were built in Uganda , Russia , Togo , and Ecuador . Similar independent projects exist in the United States and Israel . Salem (Bible) Salem ( Hebrew : שָׁלֵם , Shalem ; Ancient Greek : Σαλήμ , Salḗm )
35-429: The royal city of Melchizedek and is traditionally identified with Jerusalem . This view is based on linguistic similarities between “Shalem” and the latter part of the name “Jerusalem” (Hebrew: יְרוּשָׁלַיִם, Yerushalayim ). The association also derives from the connection between Melchizedek, the king of Salem, and later biblical references to Jerusalem as a holy city. The deuterocanonical Book of Judith mentions
42-706: Was much water there: and they came, and were baptized." Various towns have been named after Biblical Salem. Recent Scholarly Debate Recent scholarship, particularly by Robert Cargill in Melchizedek, King of Sodom: How Scribes Invented the Biblical Priest-King , has challenged the identification of Salem with Jerusalem. Cargill argues that: • Historical Evidence : Early texts such as Egyptian execration texts (c. 1800 BCE) and Amarna letters (c. 1400 BCE) consistently refer to Jerusalem by longer names like “Ru-ša-li-mum” and “U-ru-sa-lim,” suggesting that Jerusalem
49-546: Was never called “Salem” in antiquity. • Textual Analysis : In Psalm 76:2 , “His tent was in Salem, but his dwelling place in Zion,” Cargill interprets Salem and Zion as distinct locations, with Salem referring to a northern Samaritan city near Shechem. Similarly, in Genesis 33:18 , “And Jacob came to Shalem, a city of Shechem,” Cargill argues that this clearly places Shalem near Shechem, not Jerusalem. This Bible -related article
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