Bloom, Michael

Son of Miriam and Abraham. He was born on December 10, 1901, in the city of Zago in Bilta. On his mother’s side he was a descendant of a well-known family of rabbis. Michael was educated on religion and studied in a “cheder” and yeshiva. During World War I, the family moved to a large city in Russia where Michael studied in high school and even completed two years of university studies. During this period he even joined the Hechalutz movement. At the end of the war, when Lita gained her independence, the family returned to Lita, and as a member of the Hechalutz, Michael began his training for a life of toil in Palestine. In 1924, Michael immigrated to Eretz Yisrael with the Third Aliya, and with his wife Zippora, and joined the Gdud Ha’avoda, which worked on paving the Tzemach road. Michael was one of the members of the Gdud who immigrated to Jerusalem and established Kibbutz Ramat Rachel. In 1928, after the death of his young son, Michael and his family left the kibbutz and moved to Haifa. Michael decided to complete his university education, was accepted to the Technion and was certified as a construction engineer. For a short period, Michael worked as a building contractor in Tel Aviv and in September 1937 he was hired by the Potash Company in the northern Dead Sea. Every morning he would leave the camp and go to his place of work in the prairie areas without any fear. The northern potash plant would receive fresh water from Ein Eros springs. One morning, on the 12th of Tevet 5739 (January 3, 1939), the water ceased to flow. Michael, together with a group of workers and guards, set out to examine the problem. On their way, they encountered stones at the checkpoint, were shot from the ambush and Michael was hit and killed on the spot. He was brought to rest in the Nahalat Yitzhak cemetery. He left a wife, two sons and an old mother.