One of the greatest gifts Miriam gave the people was belief in redemption and remaining connected despite adversity
Miriam’s well was one of ten creations that came into being at twilight on Erev Shabbos.
The Maharal explains the significance of the timing: whatever was made at twilight — that time when day and night mingled, at the merging of Shabbos and weekday, sacred and profane — had unique characteristics. These creations contain elements of the natural world as well as aspects of Shabbos, the supernatural. The wondrous well that traveled through the desert, providing Am Yisrael with sparkling water in the arid dunes, was no exception.
The Yalkut Shimoni tells us that this well provided so much water that a boat was needed to traverse the watery expanse if one woman wanted to visit her friend in another shevet. Today, the well is believed to be in the Kinneret. Indeed, there’s a tradition that people draw water from there on Motzaei Shabbos in the hope of accessing this water and thereby facilitate healing. Miriam’s well will reappear in the future as the water that emanates from under the threshold of the Beis Hamikdash. From there, the streams will water the land, causing even non-fruit-bearing trees to give forth fruit; the water will also bring healing.
This miraculous well merged the physical and spiritual. We know the well was given to Klal Yisrael in the merit of Miriam. But what is the inner connection between the well’s characteristics and those of Miriam the prophetess?
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