Not to be confused with the Crusader TemplArs, the TEMPLERS were German Protestants who according to the Christian narrative believed in the second coming. They saw the return of Jews to the Holyland as a sign that the second coming was imminent. In response to this belief, a movement headed by Christoff Hofmann (1815-1885) & George David Hardegg (1812-1879) established a colony in Haifa in 1868 who's adherents were known as the TEMPLERS. Later settlements were established in Jaffa, Sarona (Tel Aviv), Waldheim, (northern Israel), Bethlehem of the Galilee (northern Israel), The German colony (Jerusalem), & Valhalla (Tel Aviv).
The first generation of Templers contributed much to the Holyland. They were responsible for advancing the tourist industry & insituted a coach sevice. As a consequence, they were involved in repairs to existing roads & the construction of new roads. They developed the orange industry and exposed Jaffa oranges to the European market. They engaged in the development of cities & introduced new building techniques to the indiginous population, as evidenced by tiled pitched roofs common to Europe which contrasted to the flat or domed roofs common to the region. The houses comprised of two floors & a basement, the latter of which serving as a work space for the occupants. The work space also extended into the surrounding gardens. Walls were often plastered as opposed to local structures which were most often clad in stone. Shutters were added to the fenestration & biblical passages written in a Gothic script, were often displayed on the façade, particularly over door openings.
Until the arrival of the Templers, self-sustaning farming was the only type of farming practised in the Holyland. With the modern farming tools introduced by the Templers coupled with a different economic approach to farming, namely " agriculture for profit", they focused on products that could be readily sold. Consequently the new arrivals initialy concentrated on grain crops and the dairy industry, later expanding their economic base to include orchards & vinyards.
Unfortunately many of the third generation Templers supported the Nazis. There are photo's of the Nazi flags flying above buildings which were owned by the Templers. This of course did not go down well with either the local Jewish population nor the British. During the mandate period (1917-1948), an arrangement was negotiated between Britain & Germany which allowed for 1000 Templers to be repatriated to Germany in exchange for 550 German Jews. In 1946 the Haganah assasinated the then leader of the Templers, Gotlief Wagner & later killed an additional four members. The remaining community was evicted from Israel and sent mainly to Australia. No members reside in Israel today.
In 1962 all Templer assets were nationalized and the State of Israel paid the owners the sum of 54 million deutsche marks.
Sarona in Tel Aviv is one of seven settlements established by the Templers. Templer houses are aligned parallel to Eliezer Kaplan street, five of which were realigned on site using specially constructed railway tracks. Once in place all houses were renovated & the complex was opened to the public in 2014.
Today Sarona is one of many trendy locations in Tel Aviv and houses gourmet food stores, an array of resturants, subterranean wine bars, jewelry stores & art galleries. Not an unpleasant location to spend either the morning, afternoon or evening.
Ron Traub (Tour Guide & Architect). Website : rontraub-tours.com Photo's : Rimonah Traub. Photo's : Wikipedia. Sketches : Ron Traub.
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