Petra recommends this “interview” with Theodor Herzl, founder of modern Zionism. Whether or not historical exercises like these are your cup of tea, it’s hard to disagree with “Herzl” on the social agenda.

Q: And suggestions for those hoping to be Israel’s next prime minister?

Herzl: The social agenda must take priority. My Altneuland must become a model for your Tel Aviv, Sokolov’s brilliant translation of my novel. In it, “We neither reward nor punish our children for their fathers’ business transactions. All our educational institutions are free from the elementary schools to the Zion University. All the pupils wear the same kind of simple clothing… We think it unethical to single out children by their parents’ wealth or social rank.”

Stirring words, in these times of financial crisis.