HaTikva info request

[arubin <arubin...>]

I'm interested in getting the final word on the Israeli National Anthem.  I've
always been told that the melody for HaTikva was originally an Eastern
European nigun.  Is this true?  Where exactly did the tune come from? 
Was it Hasidic?  Was it used only for religious purposes?  Did Smetana
use the same source for the Moldau, or did he "independently" compose
the melody?  And who wrote the words to HaTikva?  When was the
song (words + music) "canonized" as the national anthem?  Any
information on this interesting subject would be greatly appreciated!

B'shalom,

Andy Rubin (klezmer banjo player (or at least trying to be) from
Sacramento, CA)