Page 13 - Issue 8

Name: Michael Hess Date of Aliyah: 03/08/2007

Describe Location: At the moment in a studio apartment in the
student dorms in Ramat Aviv. Soon I will move to a normal
apartment in this area (north Tel Aviv - Ramat Aviv)

Favourite Socialist / Zionist. Why? I wrote a paper about
Nachman Syrkin – a tragic and intriguing figure and one of the
pioneers of the Socialist Zionist movement.

A couple of issues ago we heard about the national dance of
Mexico from Mauri. Is there a national dance of Holland and do you know it? We like
to dance with our clogs on top of windmills whilst floating on boats on the canals of
Amsterdam. Dutch people, only start to dance after they have drunk a lot a beer. Did
you know that in Lancashire in north of England where I'm from, the workers in the
mills and the mines used to wear clogs and people used to go and watch them dance
in them in the working-mans clubs? Incredible. We have a lot in common. Also, one of
our kings was once also the king of England. It's great that we share good culture.

Funniest Movement Moment: I took part in a spaghetti eating contest one summer
machaneh when I was leading the youngest kids. They cheered me fanatically on to
victory. I'm the spaghetti eating champion.

What are you reading right now The Yiddish Policeman's Union by Michael Chabon

What music are you listening to right now? I try to listen as much as I can to Israeli
music. I was recently at a concert of Berry Sakharov so I'm listening to him at the
moment

Food you would rather not eat? I love food and all kinds of food. Since I started to eat
kosher-style, I try to refrain from various dishes that I used to enjoy. The most
difficult to avoid is spaghetti Bolognese; Cheese and meat is the most amazing invention
of human kind. I would now rather it not be put in front of me – it would be too tempting.

Vision for the new Kibbutz Movement… Trying to restore some of the values that the
pioneers had for this country and trying to keep it away from the current state we are in
– e.g. 'bigger is better', people needing to show off what they have, and a place where you
are valued by the size of your bank account and not by your merits

Tafkid in the movement: Responsible with Ari and Sarah for all things that have to do
with Habo Holland, Co-ordinator of English-speaking programs of Maslul Ishi