Jerusalem Real Estate: 1876 Bishop's House Sells for 59 Million Shekels

A historic estate in central Jerusalem sold for 59 million shekels, equivalent to 18.7 million dollars, marking a record transaction for the property. The sale includes 9 million shekels in value-added tax. A private company has purchased the site, known locally as the Bishop's House.

The property sits on a 1,000-square-meter plot at 25 HaNevi'im Street. The main structure covers 630 square meters and features a courtyard, rooftop terraces, and horse stables. Architectural elements include thick stone walls and vaulted ceilings that reflect late 19th-century construction techniques. A rooftop chamber called the Prophet's Room offers views of the Old City, the Temple Mount, and the Judean Desert.

Constructed in 1876, the building was originally erected by the London Society for Promoting Christianity Amongst the Jews. It was designed to house representatives of the Anglican mission in Jerusalem. Reverend Arthur Hastings Kelk occupied the residence between 1878 and 1902, overseeing the Anglican Church's missionary activities in the region.

The estate has served various functions throughout its history. During World War II, the Phoenicia company converted the property into a glass factory to address a shortage of medical laboratory glassware in Mandatory Palestine. After the division of Jerusalem in 1948, Finnish missionary sisters ran a kindergarten on the site before Jewish owners purchased it. In the 1970s, the family of publisher Robert Maxwell inhabited the property.

Ronit and Tomer Dowek of Prosperity Real Estate brokered the sale. They plan extensive preservation and restoration efforts on the site. Dowek stated that standing inside a structure built 150 years ago allows one to reflect on the history and people who lived within its walls. They described the transaction as offering a sense of privilege that extends beyond commercial value.

The sale occurs as interest in luxury housing in Jerusalem and other central cities rises. Some analysts attribute this trend partly to fears of increasing antisemitism abroad, which has led buyers to seek secure locations. Last week, a French Jewish high-tech entrepreneur purchased two floors in a Tel Aviv beachfront tower for 119 million shekels, or 38 million dollars. Last year, Dowek brokered the sale of a 100-year-old home in the Talbieh neighborhood for 21 million dollars. That property was once owned by the philosopher Martin Buber.