This February
gives us several significant and joyful dates. They are symbolic, and I personally
like them very much because if you look closely at their significance and
meaning, they are all about love in the broadest sense of this word.
If we start with
the first numbers of the month, it was a pleasant surprise for me to learn that
February 3 is the International Day of Women Doctors! I never knew it. Maybe I
just forgot! Thanks to my colleagues who watch our professional holidays and
remind me.
It turns out
that this new holiday, initiated by American doctors, was established in 2016
and is dedicated to the birthday of the first American certified female doctor,
Elizabeth Blackwell, born on February 3, 1821. She believed that women were
ideally suited to this role because of their maternal instincts, and so became
involved in the social movement that helped fair-sex women gain access and
equality in medicine. Over the past two centuries, women have squeezed out the
strong half of humanity, and today, according to various data, more than 70% of
doctors in the world are women. I have the great pleasure to congratulate my
wonderful female colleagues (and myself), who heals not only with medicines but
also with their warm smiles, love, kind attitude, and a gentle consolation
word. Peace to you, kindness,
stability and patience, dear colleagues!
After this
holiday comes another - New Year of Trees, Tu bi-Shvat, a holiday filled with
life-affirming meaning and love for nature, its prosperity, and preservation.
When you come to Israel, you will be amazed by the abundance of forests, parks,
and gardens that have grown virtually on stones. In Tu bi-Shvat (15th day of
the month of Shvat, or February 6 this year), thousands of people - children
and adults of this country - participate in the massive planting of trees.
Fortunately, Tu Bi-Shvat is increasingly noted among the Jews of America as
well. I also admire the Israeli tradition of planting a tree when a child is
born into a family, and trees are planted not at home, not in their yard, but
on public land. And another tradition is the touching custom of planting a tree
in memory of the other, which my friends in Israel did when this happened a few
years ago for my loved ones. This is the true manifestation of human love,
attention, and care!
In the fuss and
daily worries we either forget to say about the spiritual attitude or in vain
we throw this quivering word «love», not experiencing such feelings. To show a
warm attitude to a special person in your life is not a great good?! Because
love is the best thing that can happen to us one day, and God willing, forever!
The Talmud says: «To live without love means to live without joy, without
blessing, without happiness». And the ancient Greeks thought that love was what
made the globe spin and made life meaningful. And how wonderful that there is a
wonderful holiday - Valentine’s Day, which has long been International, and
which is celebrated on February 14. The day when you can once again express
your tender feelings to loving couples. Happy
holidays of Tu bi-Shvat and Valentine’s Day to you, dear readers!
And the final
chord of this month - February 23rd will be the most significant and the most
remarkable event of our ethnicity: the Jerusalem National Convention Center,
with a capacity of about 5,000 participants, will host the next session of the
World Congress of Bukharian Jews, led by his permanent president, Mr. Lev Levayev.
I remember well the way it has been in the past years, and look forward to new
exciting moments. And what is more pleasing: all the activities before and
after this day will last from 21 to 27 February, and according to the plan of
skillful organizers they are filled with interesting meetings, excursions, and acquaintance
with this amazing country Israel, which I want to learn more and more. I wish
you all a successful experience. And in the next issue of the magazine I will
share with you, dear readers, what I have seen and heard at the World Congress
of Bukharian Jews.
Editor-in-chief Doctor Zoya Maksumova
(February 2023, "Ladies’ World" №260)
