One thousand men and women participated in a festive celebration inspired by the discovery of water on ground to be occupied by the Hakovesh group.
As many of the celebrants as possible were crowded into the dining hall, while the overflow surrounded the building, standing for hours in a heavy mud to hear speeches and listen to music.
The story of the actual boring was dramatically told by one of the well-diggers, who related the discouragements encountered by the workers before water was finally struck at a depth of 162 meters.
An orchestra played a number of stirring selections, some of which were the compositions of Yehudah Shertok, the director. Singing, dancing and other merry-making were freely indulged in and scenes of wild enthusiasm were enacted.
A cantata—”Spring up, oh, well! Sing ye unto it!”—was sung and a picket air, also written by Shertok, was played. The orchestra was accompanied by a chorus.
Help ensure Jewish news remains accessible to all. Your donation to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency powers the trusted journalism that has connected Jewish communities worldwide for more than 100 years. With your help, JTA can continue to deliver vital news and insights. Donate today.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.