The story of the digging of the first Hebrew well in the Negev in 1912 (Zvi Hirshfeld)
As a child I always remember the fascinating stories my grandfather told me about the first Zionist pioneers, of which his father was a leader. In this section, in memory of Zvi Hirshfeld, I would like to retell the story of the digging of the first Hebrew well in1912 at Ruchama (the first Jewish farm in the Negev). His son, Meir, narrated the story:
" The big question that all had was: 'Will there be water (in the well) or not?' The eyes of all were on the well in Ruchama that the man was digging. The head of the workers was a man called Yaacov Baskin, a man who was destined to have a glorious career in one of the operas in Russia. He dropped everything and came to Israel (1913 from Chernikov).
Each day that passed everybody mourned because they didn't find water. One Friday, when they had already dug quite deep, it was afternoon and everyone returned to the farm. Yaacov Baskin felt that he was going to find water that day and stayed alone to dig. When sunset came and he didn't come back, Dad (Zvi Hirshfeld) took 15 men back with him, to see what had happened. As they drew near the well, they heard, from the depths of the earth, a joyful sound of praise: 'Out of the depth I have called you O God, and the Lord answered me and set me in a place broad and free.' (Psalm 130; Psalm 118).
It was the wonderful voice of Baskin. When they arrived at the well, they shouted: 'Baskin! What's up?' And he shouted: 'There is water!'
Baskin was brought out of the well and in his hand was a jug of brackish water! This was the first jug of water that was brought up from the well of Ruchama! The first Hebrew well in the Negev!
When Baskin came out of the well he started dancing and singing 'No longer do we have to be pressured about water. No longer do we have to collect the water from washing our faces so we can also wash our bodies. No longer do we have to collect the water from washing our bodies so we can wash our clothes. But water abundantly! Water enough to irrigate trees and gardens'.
This is where Dad (Zvi) gathered everybody and said, 'Friends, we shall make our Shabbat evening prayer here, next to the well'. Each one had a turn to hold the jug of water, and licked it as if it were some extraordinary drink. At the head of the men was a man called Chacham Nissim Elkayam from Gaza, who was the oldest of the group. He began to pray and when he reached the place in the prayer where we usually say: 'You shall break forth to the right and to the left…' suddenly Dad roared: 'It shall come to pass that the people of Israel will break forth to the west to the east to the north and to the south. And we will establish our country, a country to which all peoples shall come and shall learn from it. Through us will be fulfilled the words of the prophets: "Out of Zion shall come forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem!"'
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