When
we are young, we want to be friends with elders - to learn from them, to absorb
their life experience. But as we grow older, our perspective changes, and we
begin to enjoy communicating more with younger people. They are a source of
fresh ideas, new thoughts, and boundless energy. And most importantly, when you
spend time with young people, you yourself feel young!
I
am very happy that in recent years I’ve been meeting more and more of an amazing new generation — intelligent, educated, active, and deeply inspiring. As the head of a women’s organization,
I’m most interested in people like them — both for participation in our magazine and in community life.
Here’s
an example. In June, our San Diego community honored a Dental School student, Vita Davydova (daughter of Evgeny Davydov and Dr. Lyudmila Gerova). She made history at UCLA
(University of California, Los Angeles) by founding the very first Jewish
Dental Students Association. And she did it during a challenging time, when
antisemitic student protests were spreading across America.
And
this is not an isolated case; such examples inspire us increasingly often.
Quite
recently, I was lucky to get acquainted - so far only by phone - with another remarkable student, this time from law school - Sarina Kushmakova. From the very first minute, I sensed intelligence, modesty, respectfulness, and good upbringing. We spoke for a long time about life, family, studies, and the magazine. She reads our magazine, loves it, and is eager to write for it.
When
Sarina asked what I would like her to write about, I suggested that she choose
the topic herself, because I try not to impose my own ideas on newcomers, but
rather to give them the freedom to express their own thoughts and dreams. Her answer truly touched me: Sarina said she had long dreamed of sharing with
young people the life wisdom of the older generation - of her parents, grandparents,
and elders.
It
is exactly people like her I’ve always been searching for in our magazine. Life shows that the young generation sometimes treats the advice of elders with a hint of skepticism, saying that they “need to learn from their own
mistakes.” But then, what are parents for - just to feed and clothe?, or grandparents, older relatives, and wise people whose life experiences deserve
attention? After all, as the saying goes, a wise person learns from the
mistakes of others, while a foolish one learns from his own.
The
wisdom of our elders is truly the greatest treasure - it helps the young avoid
stumbling where others once stumbled.
That’s
how our magazine’s new section came to life - “From Your Wisdom to Our
Youth.”
This
theme is so close to my heart that I’d like to end this column with a poem by Irina Samarina, in which everything is expressed more precisely than any explanation — and which, I believe, will touch your heart with its depth and warmth.
Youth and Maturity sat down on a bench.
Youth said: “Try to be like me for once!”
Maturity replied: “Beauty doesn’t last forever —
Learn instead to share the beauty of your heart.”
Youth, with a
mocking smile: “What’s so great about you?
A house, a family, a job — boring chains!”
Maturity smiled, as if to a younger daughter:
“Without the bonds of family, people live alone.”
Youth insisted:
“Everything about me is perfect —
I’m young, I’m free, I’m beautiful, isn’t it obvious?”
Maturity answered: “I am wiser than you, my dear,
And I wouldn’t dare argue with you, little one.
Grow up — you’ll learn that happiness isn’t in freedom,
Nor in nightlong parties, nor in Parisian fashion.”
Youth laughed: “All
nonsense!
If happiness isn’t in that — then it doesn’t exist!”
Maturity replied: “Oh, it does exist —
When heaven allows you to live with your beloved,
When children’s laughter fills your home...
You, my little one, don’t yet know happiness.”
Youth asked softly:
“If that’s true,
Then why do you cry at night, and what are your secrets?”
““Because
I didn’t value it enough back then...”I cry at night,” — Maturity said
