February is a special month. It feels as though it was created to remind us
of what matters most: closeness, attentiveness to one another, and love in all
its forms. Valentine’s Day has long gone beyond cards and flowers – it has
become an occasion to reflect on how we meet one another in life and what we
truly mean by the words “love” and “family.”
Love rarely begins with grand declarations. More often, it starts with a
conversation - with the ability to listen, with a genuine interest in another
person’s thoughts, values, and inner world. This simple yet most difficult
skill - being truly present - has become increasingly rare. We are surrounded
by people, yet we feel lonely more often. We text constantly, but speak less
and less from the heart.
On February 2, our organization hosted Unique Evening of New
Connections – an evening of new encounters and meaningful, live communication
together with Mountain, Georgian, and European Jews
in the city. Symbolically, it took place on Tu BiShvat, the Jewish New
Year of Trees, a holiday devoted to growth, rootedness, and future fruits.
Today, Tu BiShvat is often seen as a day of beginnings - a time to create
conditions for growth rather than demand immediate results. It is sometimes
called an informal “Jewish Valentine’s Day”: not romantic, but thoughtful,
focused on care, commitment, and attentiveness. Here, love does not ignite
instantly; it grows over time.
Tu BiShvat reminds us that a tree does not bear fruit right away. It needs
time, care, and patience – just like relationships. Love begins not with loud
words, but with attention and the willingness to truly see another person. This
understanding guided us in organizing the evening.
By the time this issue went to print, the event had already become part of
our shared story. In the magazine (page. 20-21), you will find a detailed report
with faces, emotions, and conversations rarely found at ordinary social
gatherings. We deliberately chose a format centered on dialogue and sincerity,
where people meet consciously, and every conversation matters. Watching
strangers gradually become closer once again confirmed that genuine connection
is possible wherever there is space for openness.
Ladies’ World magazine has always welcomed
conversations about values, family, and responsibility for the choices we make.
This February issue continues with that dialogue.
Details of the evening can be found in the report by the event’s host,
Evgenia Aronova - a charismatic and dedicated professional who, together with
her co-host Elena Kalendareva, successfully led a complex event with 108 young
participants (another symbolic number for our Jewish community - 108 street in
Queens). I am especially glad that the younger generation recently joined our
magazine and organizing committee, investing their knowledge, love for our
people, and desire to help young adults build Jewish families.
Special thanks go to our sponsors, who believed in this noble cause and
generously supported it. The names of the organizers, sponsors, committee
members, and matchmakers appear on the facing page, along with a group photo
taken during the post-event discussion and planning for the future. Notably,
many young participants have asked us to hold such gatherings more often.
My heartfelt thanks to everyone who made this our very first experience a
success – and especially to the young guests, whose trust and engagement made
it possible. Their feedback and first results will be shared in the next issue.
May this time between Tu BiShvat and Valentine’s Day remind us that love,
like a tree, needs roots – and where roots are strong, fruits will surely
follow.
Editor-in-Chief,
Doctor Zoya Maksumova
