המחרשת | Ha-mahreshet | The Plow (1912)
Artist: Abraham Zvi Idelsohn (1882-1938)
Lyrics: Elyakum Zunser (1836-1913), Translatet by Zunser
Tune: Elyakum Zunser (1836-1913)
This song was written and composed by the Yiddish "troubadour" Elyakum Zunser (1836-1913) in 1888. It was translated to Hebrew and became popular among the early Zionists in Europe and in Erets Yisrael (see above, song no. 66). According to Idelsohn in Sefer Ha-Shirim, the translation was done by Zunser himself.
“Ha-mahreshet” was first published in Shire Am Zion [Songs of the People of Zion], edited by Menashe Meirovitsh (1860-1949) in 1895. The song has nine verses, the first four of which Idelsohn included.
The song spotlights the plow, a tool which helped workers to provide food – and thus happiness – in Erets Yisrael. The melody is in a minor key.
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Original (PDF) Modernized (PDF)