[HIGHLIGHTS] Saying goodbye to Sami Michael: "We cut down one of the most important trees in the forest of Hebrew literature" - voila! culture

Sami Michael passed away today at the age of 97. Politicians, writers and artists paid tribute to the great writer.

President Yitzhak Herzog paid tribute: "The late Sami Michael's contribution to Israeli culture and existence is priceless" The poet Roni Somek said: "Sami is a date tree that was uprooted on the banks of the Tigris and all the streams in Israel wanted to be replanted on its banks" He added: "If we compare Hebrew prose to a kind of forest, then one of the most important trees will be cut down"