This house, one of Rishon LeZion's inaugural three, was financed by Schraga Feibel Heisman, a prosperous merchant from Mykolaiv. Heisman played a significant role in the settlement's creation alongside Levontin, Feinberg, and Shalit. After the rebellion against Baron Rothschild's deputies and the subsequent expulsion of Feinberg, Heisman sold his house and conspicuously vacated Rishon LeZion. According to the local legend, he relocated to Jerusalem and aligned himself with the Neturei Karta, a radical Orthodox Jewish movement opposed to the state of Israel.
Interestingly, the basement of this house sheltered Naftali Hertz Imber for several months. Imber, who hailed from Złoczew near Lviv, penned the poem Hatikvah, which later became the foundation for Israel's national anthem. He was originally Composed in Romania, but only here in this basement that he added a few more verses. Despite Theodor Herzl initially rejecting it as the Zionist movement's anthem, it gained prominence during the heated 1903 World Jewish Congress debate about the feasibility of establishing a state in Uganda. Hatikvah was sung in unison by those opposing the project:
"As long as within our hearts The Jewish soul sings, As long as forward to the East To Zion, looks the eye – Our hope is not yet lost, It is two thousand years old, To be a free people in our land The land of Zion and Jerusalem."
The house's second floor narrates the creation of the Israeli flag. In 1885, Rishon LeZion celebrated its third anniversary with grandeur, including a procession led by Osovitsky, a much-admired teacher, astride a white donkey. This Messianic image was completed with the brandishing of a flag. This symbol was conceived by Israel Belkind, who, with Fania Meerovich, crafted a flag modelled after a traditional talit with a Magen David at its centre. Today, this flag is preserved in the Israeli Parliament in Jerusalem.
At the inaugural Zionist Congress in Basel in 1897, David Wolfson suggested this flag to Theodor Herzl, who initially resisted, preferring his own design. However, eventually, Herzl relented, and Belkind's design was adopted, becoming a lasting symbol of the state of Israel.
This journey offers a distinct and unparalleled experience, deviating from the customary city tour by transforming your mobile phone into your guide. As one acclimates to a tour guide's distinctive style, rhythm, and routes, you will also adapt to this unique self-guided experience. Here, you are a participant and the storyteller, navigating and setting your own tempo based on your personal style.
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with this novel approach, and soon you'll find yourself immersed in a narrative rich with the complexities of real people's lives, their moments of joy and despair. As you journey, urban legends rise from the forgotten corners of history, imbuing hope and offering an understanding of where everything started. This isn't just a tour; it's an opportunity to animate the city with your own pace, style, and voice.
Don't be afraid to get lost in new places!
