Iris Vartanii, The Story of The Nazareth Hospital
Nakhle Bishara
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Iris Vartani: The Story of Nazareth Hospital is a unique primary historical-medical study based on over 30 years of empathetic research. The book explores the origins of modern medicine in the Holy Land through the lives of committed missionary physicians, medical mission organizations, and the local community of Nazareth. It documents 150 years of continuous medical activity since 1861, using primary archival sources and approximately 100 restored historical photographs, many published for the first time. The book stands as an authoritative source on medical, religious, and social history in the region.
Hebrew, Hardcover, 200 pages, 100 images, 22X28 cm, 8.7X11 in, 0.9 kg, 1.9 lbs, First Edition, 2011, ISBN/Code 978-965-7459-17-1
Missionary medicine is often seen only as a quest for souls. This book, for the first time, also shares the perspective of the missionary physicians themselves—their beliefs, inner struggles, and moral convictions that led them to risk their own lives and those of their families in order to heal both body and soul in remote, underserved regions.
— Prof. Yoel Donhin
About the Book
The uniqueness of Iris Vartani lies not only in its rare visual material but primarily in its long-term primary and empathetic research, conducted over nearly three decades. Written by a physician and former hospital director, the book combines professional medical insight with deep archival investigation and sensitivity to the local community.
This book will appeal to anyone interested in the country’s history, thanks to its compelling subject, clear and elegant prose, and polished presentation, reflecting the high standards readers have come to expect in recent publishing.
— Prof. Nissim Levy
About the Author
Dr. Nakhle Bishara is a physician, former hospital director, and medical historian in Galilee. Born in Nazareth in 1948, he graduated from Hadassah Medical School at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and served as Director of Nazareth Hospital from 1988 to 2006. His 30-year research project combines medical expertise, archival scholarship, and a deeply human perspective, making this book a highly credible and authoritative account of medicine and community life in the region.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes Iris Vartani unique?
The book is the result of more than 30 years of original, empathetic research into the beginnings of modern medicine in the Holy Land.
What is the book about?
It explores the history of Nazareth Hospital, the work of missionary physicians, and the medical mission organizations active in the region since the 19th century.
What sources does it draw on?
Primary archival materials, firsthand testimonies, and rare historical photographs.
What role do the photographs play?
The book includes 100 professionally restored photographs, most more than a century old. These images serve as a powerful visual record, enriching the historical narrative while also standing on their own as compelling works of visual history.
Who is the book for?
Scholars of history and medicine, educators, photography enthusiasts, and general readers interested in the origins of modern medicine in the Holy Land.
Key Topics
Origins of modern medicine in the Holy Land
Missionary physicians and medical ethics
Medical mission organizations and their development
Nazareth Hospital as a central historical institution
Long-term, community-based medical history
