Kfar Yehoshua was founded in 1927 and named after Yehoshua Hankin, in recognition of his management of the purchase of land in the Jezreel Valley in 1921. Hankin realized that it was a historical opportunity that would not return and was motivated by a sense of urgency, persistence, and faith to buy more and more land on behalf of the Jewish settlement in Eretz Israel. He was therefore named the “redeemer of lands in Israel.”

Beit Hankin was founded in his memory as a museum of natural studies and of the land of Israel. This corner exhibits items related to Hankin and his life. Most of the furniture here was his personal furniture. The photos are also authentic. On a high pedestal stands a death mask made of plaster, which captured his facial expression at the time of his death. The source of the custom to eternalize the faces of national heroes at the time of their death comes from ancient Rome. Around the room are a few of the gifts given to Hankin during his lifetime. Some of them are precious objects designed at the workshop in the Bezalel Academy of Arts in Jerusalem. Look at the leather whip that belonged to Olga Hankin, which she used to protect herself when she rode alone among the villages on her white donkey. Look around for Hankin’s personal belongings: glasses, hats, tefillin. Try to envision his unique character, his dark clothing, his long hair, the Star of David necklace made of nails, a hat on his head, leather boots on his feet, galloping alone on his horse all over the country.

Hankin was born in Russia in 1864 and immigrated with his parents at the age of 17, after completing his studies at a gymnasium. His parents were among the founders of Rishon Lezion, and following the farmers’ revolt against the clerks of Baron Rothschild, the family moved to Gedera.

Yehoshua learned Arabic, with all of its different dialects, from his Arab neighbors, who also taught him the customs of the local population.

In 1888, he married Olga Belkin, who was 12 years his senior. Olga was a midwife back in St. Peterburg, where she was also known as a social and political activist. Like Yehoshua, she learned fluent Arabic in Eretz Israel. After their marriage, Yehoshua and Olga left Gedera and moved to Jaffa, where Hankin dedicated himself entirely to Zionist activities.  Olga worked as a midwife and became famous among the wealthy Arabs of Jaffa and the area.

Hankin believed that Jews had to buy land in Eretz Israel and settle it. He quickly turned out to be especially skilled in acquiring land. His exceptional success was due to his determination, his familiarity with the different Arabic dialects and the local culture, and his proficiency in the Ottoman real estate laws. He was often quoted for his statement: “Every bit of land that we did not redeem yesterday - who knows if we will be able to redeem it today; what we did not succeed in purchasing today, who can say whether we will have the opportunity tomorrow!” In 1890, he purchased Hirbat Duran, on which the moshava of Rehovot was built. In 1891, he purchased the land for the city of Hadera. At first, he purchased the land with his own money, and the settlers would repay him. Later, he bought land on behalf of IKKA, and from 1910 until his death, he purchased land using money from the Palestine Land Development Corporation.

In 1920, he negotiated a deal to purchase lands in the Jezreel Valley from the owner, Sursock, who lived in Lebanon. The contract was signed, but due to an argument with the World Zionist Organization, the purchase was delayed until 1921. During the argument, Hankin made the following claim at the Zionist Conference: “If you decide in the negative and the purchase is cancelled - while it will be a personal loss to me, this land will never again be resurrected.  We must purchase this land as soon as possible, lest we miss the chance.”

During the fifty years of his operations, Hankin bought approximately 750,000 dunams, most of which were for agricultural settlement. He later remarked: “I will admit that my deepest aspiration was always to redeem the entire land - within the shortest period of time. I aspired, with my entire being, to turn this dream into a palpable fact within my lifetime. This is why I was never satisfied, and I never said - it is enough.”

Throughout their lives as a couple, Olga was an active partner in her husband’s work, both thanks to her social connections in Israel and abroad, as well as her strong, supportive personality.  Yaakov Yaari wrote, in his book: Yehoshua Hankin, the man and his work: “This woman, with her emotions and energy, with her heart and mind, was proven by God to Yehoshua Hankin!”

Unfortunately, the two were childless. Olga passed away in 1943, and Yehoshua in 1945. They were buried in a plot that they purchased at Ma’ayan Harod, near their home, where they did not have the privilege of living.