A Few Thoughts and a News item
- 3 gün önce
- 3 dakikada okunur
Hello, dear readers,
The gardening season and my experiments with organic farming are continuing at full speed. My mind is constantly on the seedlings and seeds I planted in my garden. Naturally, this means that some household chores are falling behind. Today, I decided to take a break from the garden and organize my books and do some dusting. I tried working outside earlier, but the weather was extremely hot and there were an unbelievable number of flies. Here, it is almost impossible to sit or work comfortably in the garden because of them—especially if, like me, you are allergic to insect bites.
When I left Istanbul, I sadly gave away many of my books. Since moving here, however, I have more than replaced them. I am surrounded by books again. What is interesting is that I have always loved hardcover books, old covers, historical subjects, and anything with an antique feel. Because of that, even before I started learning French, I filled my shelves with dozens of French books bought from second-hand stores known as “friperies.” Now, little by little, I have started reading them.
Speaking of dusting and organizing books, I recently learned that I am actually a serious book collector. There is even a Japanese word for people like me who keep buying books and leave many of them unread at home: tsundoku.
As for my habit of collecting books wherever I go, it is not really about owning them. What attracts me is the desire to discover the stories hidden inside them. Knowing that there are unexplored worlds and stories waiting for me gives me a special kind of pleasure. Perhaps part of that pleasure comes from knowing that they will always be within reach whenever I want them.
When I buy books, what matters to me is not whether the author is famous or whether the book is a bestseller. What excites me is the possibility of finding something different. Today, there seems to be a constant search for popularity in everything and repeating the same quotes and ideas that everyone else shares does not feel particularly valuable to me. Reading different authors and exploring lesser-known ideas may help me think differently from the crowd.
While organizing my books today, I was also thinking about some news articles I had read. In the province where I live, there is an excellent hospital. I first became familiar with it six years ago and remembered the outstanding care I received there. It is a donation-supported institution where every resident of Quebec can receive free healthcare: the Montreal Jewish Hospital.
This Jewish hospital, which serves the entire public, was founded in 1934 after Jewish doctors faced systematic discrimination in Quebec. Nearly a century later, one of its most successful surgeons has reportedly concluded that the environment for Jewish professionals is becoming increasingly difficult.
Dr. Emmanuel Moss, the head of cardiac surgery, has saved countless lives. Now, according to reports, he is leaving Quebec because of rising antisemitism. (Source: The Lawfare Project)
This is a news story I recently read. I do not know how accurate it is. If it is true, it is very sad. I hope it is not. Because when antisemitism drives away talented professionals, the loss is not felt only by one community, it is a loss for society and humanity.
Stay close to nature and tolerance.
That is all for today.
Rahel Çela Behar
IYT dip not:
İfade edilen görüşler İYT web portalının editöryal politikasını yansıtmayabilir.
Yazarların düşünceleri sadece kendilerini bağlar.
*Daha önceki yazımı okudunuz mu?*
Have you read my previous post?
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