Each stone echoes a tale, and every townhouse harbors its secrets. Our story unfurls in the late 19th century, during the First Aliyah, a pioneering wave of Jewish immigration to the Ottoman-ruled Land of Israel. Meet Esther and Yaakov Cohen, a young and visionary couple whose love for the Holy Land led them to forsake their tranquil life in Romania, embarking on a transformative journey to establish their home in Zichron Yaakov’s welcoming embrace. Within the heart of the Moshava, they nurtured their family of eight – four boys and four girls – and their dwelling swiftly evolved into a cherished cornerstone of the community. By 1888, this remarkable couple embarked on a unique venture, extending hospitality according to the principles of Jewish Halacha to fellow travelers.

Amidst the tumultuous currents of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, as geopolitical shifts shaped the region, Zichron Yaakov ascended to prominence. Serving as the clandestine headquarters of NILI, a Jewish intelligence network aiding the United Kingdom in their struggle against Ottoman control, the townhouse found itself enmeshed in history. Concealed beneath its venerable exterior lay an intricate network of underground tunnels, a clandestine passage that linked disparate corners of the Carmel Mountain range.