A historic stone house built nearly 120 years ago by German Protestants in northern Israel is on the market for NIS 16 million (about $4.8 million), offering a rare glimpse into the architecture and legacy of the Tempelgesellschaft, or Templer Society.
The 500-square-meter (5,380-square-foot) residence, located in a small Galilee community, was originally constructed as a health clinic by the Templers, a pietist group that settled in the Holy Land in the late 19th century to await the Second Coming. Known for their masonry skills, the Templers built several communities in what was then Ottoman Palestine.
Current owner Eitan Bloch, who purchased the property in 1989, lovingly restored the home over three decades and three marriages, honoring its history and preserving much of its details, while modernizing its facilities and infrastructure and even including a bomb shelter.
Bloch says there are rooms in the house that are just as secure because of the way it was built. "This house does not have concrete pillars. They dug deep and placed it on the ground, making it very sturdy," he says. "I added concrete to protect against earthquakes."
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The property spans over a quarter acre and includes 16 rooms across four floors. Two self-contained units on the ground floor surround an English garden, while the first floor houses a large living room, kitchen, larder and a dining room with space for 16 guests.
Bloch and his third wife have used the home both as a residence and a venue for retreats and workshops. He says he is willing to sell it fully furnished, including custom pieces crafted from the home’s original window frames and doors, as well as a bespoke dining table.
“It is with a heavy heart that I’ve decided to sell after years of emotional investment,” Bloch said. “But at this point in our lives, we need to separate our home from our business.”