Sarona and the Templers

 

The Templers were a Protestant sect from the Kingdom of Wurttemberg, now part of Germany, who inspired by millinarian beliefs and their belief in the imminent second coming of Jesus attempted to establish utopian communities by espousing a life of Christian virtue combined with productive labor. They set up a number of religious communities in Palestine, primarily around Haifa, Jaffa and Jerusalem. This settlement was established in 1871 and was one of three settlements established around Jaffa.

 

Inadequate credit has been given to the Templers for their contribution to the development of Palestine. They came to the country with skills in light industry and agriculture-for-profit which were not yet present in the Jewish community. Sarona, in particular, became a leading colony in terms of modern agriculture and technological innovation. Their success in building communities was also an example to the Jews.

 

Their initial efforts in the area of Sarona were extremely difficult and many of the Templers died from malaria until the marshy land was drained. Nevertheless, by 1931 their community had grown to 564 inhabitants and 104 houses.

 

The Templers maintained strong emotional ties to Germany and some fought in the German army during World War I. Their colonies were interned in Egypt during the war, but they were able to return after the war, although their colonies had been vandalized. During the Second World War many Templers, especially the youth, became Nazi sympathizers and Sarona was the center of the Nazi party in Palestine. They were interned again and eventually expelled by the British to Australia and Germany. Their homes were taken over by the British and used for a military camp.

 

When the British left the country Sarona was handed over to the Jews and it was used by the Hagana as a military camp. This was where the foundations of a regular military force were laid. When the State of Israel was declared in 1948 the buildings were used for government offices in what was known as the Hakirya (the compound). At that time Jerusalem was not yet functioning as the administrative center for the country. When this did happen after the War of Independence, these buildings were taken over by the Israel Defense Forces. Israel did eventually compensate the Templars for their properties, although it was the British and not the Israelis who expelled them from the country.