Almost a year has passed since that black Sabbath, the October 7th massacre - the Simchat Torah massacre - and still the terrible winds of war blow at our doors. What is a day and how we can overcome the difficult events that happened to us and the country - no one knew. But perhaps we can use Viktor Frankl's teaching 'man seeks meaning'.
In his book, Frankl explains that it is possible that the poignant existential experience he himself experienced, along with many others in the extermination camp, revealed in him new insights and ways to deal with evil, and even allowed him to look directly into the deepest experiences of sadness and loss.
An optimistic horizon may predict the following
Now Chaya, we stand at the beginning of a new year, in which we will have to deal with the Ziona of this year in a family celebration or maybe even on a day of joy. With regard to the challenging political, social and personal situation - we must make an addition to Frankl's teachings, with which it can be understood that we can do this more easily only with the help of an optimistic horizon, which may predict and even bring about the future.
'Negative thinking versus positive thinking'
The essence of the 'Optimistic Horizon' these days was best explained by a young girl, Sirin Kamal of Grade 3, XNUMX, who studies in high school at the Koftan Halabi school, Dalit al-Carmel (Arabic: Dalit al-Carmel, and in exact transliteration: Dalit al-Carmel).
Sirin spoke as part of the 'Young Speaker's Competition' on behalf of the 'Rotary' Club, in which this year the topics were adapted to the situation in which the State of Israel is, while referring to what happened on October 7.
The winner of this competition, Sirin Kamal, presented the speech in a professional manner and demonstrated endurance and control. Sirin's words focused on a speech whose main theme was 'negative thinking versus positive thinking'.
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"Set goals - starting tomorrow.
Be positive - and be happy.
An optimistic horizon awaits you
Because the world is so beautiful. "
In the long term, prolonged negative thinking leads to a pessimistic view of life and brings with it processes of depression and despair.
This affects physically, emotionally, cognitively and mentally and then the sense of self-worth decreases, the personal image becomes low and the attitude becomes bad. On the other hand, for the human mind, positive thinking is like sunlight. It makes you feel good and helps you deal with difficult things. Positive thinking does not cause problems to be ignored, but brings the ability to deal with them accompanied by the attitude of "I can, I am able", an attitude that helps foster resilience in the face of challenges.
'On the edge of the fork' - the status of Druze women
With a quick glance (which is not critical or judgmental) we can understand something about the status of women in Druze society: Druze society is a patriarchal - traditional society. Until recently, the father is the head of the family, he has the authority and is responsible for the distribution of economic resources. But today there has been a change in the place of the individual in the family and society. This process happened following the exposure of the sons and daughters of the younger generation to Israeli society, especially in the military and/or national service, when they were introduced to a very different way of life, which changed their views and their attachment to the clans.
At the same time, the status of most women in the Druze family is still inferior to that of the men, but it gets stronger as they progress in the family life cycle.
Until recently, it was customary that women were required to dress modestly, take care of the housework, take care of the children with devotion and avoid contact with foreign men. The essential change occurred only in the last two decades. Today this situation is much more moderate: women (who are not religious) can drive and even go out into the public space for leisure purposes, even without a male escort.
Sirin Kamal - "The apple that fell by the tree"
It will not be surprising that the girl Sirin is the one who carries the 'flag of positive thinking' - since "the apple fell by the tree". Sirin is the youngest daughter of attorney Sausan Kamal who serves as a model for her children and a model of female empowerment for her friends and loved ones in Daliyat El Carmel.
'Female empowerment' is a process for women to redefine gender roles in a way that will allow them to choose options that were previously closed to them. When a woman is considered "empowered", it implies that her position in the past was one of relative disadvantage in the distribution of power - and with the help of certain actions she was able to 'break the glass ceiling' and advance to the status of 'equal among equals'.
Sustainable empowerment - multiple options for women
Women's economic empowerment refers to their ability to enjoy their right to control and benefit from resources, assets and income, as well as the ability to manage risks and thereby improve their economic situation and general well-being. As we know, women's empowerment improves both the quality and the quantity of human resources available to the public, what's more, when referring to human rights, the topic of 'female empowerment' is one of the main topics that should grow and develop.
Sustainable empowerment should include multiple opportunities for women to act and lead change on their own. Without true gender equality, in opportunities in diverse and different fields - society cannot be just and social change cannot occur in it at all.
Three powerful women
On the ridge of Mount Carmel, in the villages of Usafia and Daliyat El Carmel - live three women who, this time, will be able to represent progress, the current gust of wind, and the ability to 'break through the glass ceiling' in the status of women in Druze society.
Let's dive briefly into the lives of the lawyer and notary Sausan Kamal, the artist Samah Awad who is the owner of the gallery "Samah" and Myasa Halabi, the owner of the business and restaurant "Myasa's Cheeses".
Sausan Kamal - attorney and notary public
The law firm of Amir, Osama and Susan Kamal is a firm of three brothers engaged in the "family profession: law". It goes without saying that there are many lawyers in the Kamal family... much more than in any other family.
Sausen's family consists of five sisters and two brothers. Sausan, and her two brothers Amir and Osama are also lawyers, and the three together have a common office. Susan specializes in labor law, personal status, inheritance law, wills and guardianships - Adv. Amir specializes in real estate law and her second brother, Adv. Osama, deals with torts and national insurance matters. Even her four sisters "do not kill canes", as they are engaged in teaching: kindergarteners and special education teachers as well.
As in all matters, the matter of education in general and its importance in particular begins at home... Sausan's father finished 21th grade and even aspired to continue his studies, but at the same time his father died and he had to go out to work and work as a building and paint renovator. He married his mother at the age of XNUMX - and when the children were born, the two decided that education for values and higher studies would come before anything and everything.
Sausan (born in '74) describes a happy childhood in Daliyat El Carmel, she tells about yard games with her friends, at a time when there were no televisions or mobile phones at all.
A gifted and excellent student
She was a disciplined and polite girl, a gifted and excellent student. That is why she continued her studies at the Arab Orthodox High School in Haifa, which is ranked as one of the ten most outstanding high schools in Israel and the most outstanding in Haifa. The percentage of graduates of the "Orthodox High School" who are entitled to a matriculation certificate is close to one hundred percent and the average score in the matriculation tests of many of them is 96.
Upon graduating from high school, Sausan studied in Haifa at the Arab Academic College of Education, which is an academic institution for teacher training. For about 10 years she was an English teacher who taught in Usafia and Daliyat El Carmel. The desire to break through led to the fact that, while teaching, she combined her studies in law.
In practice, the father of her family was the main initiator for all his children to go and study, especially academic studies. It so happened that three of them became lawyers. Sausan and Amir studied law together in the first semesterNetanya Academic College And their brother Osama studied there for a short time after them.
Sausen as a social activist
In the past she was active in the 'Tolerance Association' which aims to encourage and foster mutual tolerance between Israeli citizens of their different denominations, religions and parties - as well as in the 'Rotary Club'. She took an essential part in the realization of a dream that was woven and came true: the 'Shared life in sign language' project. In its actual activity, which is behind the scenes, the people of the world of silence were treated to a fine and exciting Druze tour.
On Monday 13/6/22, a dream came true illustrating the concept of "coexistence" through brotherhood and peace, a concept that was replaced by a more accurate phrase: "shared life". A wonderful collaboration with the 'Al Carmel Rotary Dalit Club' headed by Dr. Adv. Amal Kamal, gave birth to a royal Druze tour day, in fellowship with the people of the world of silence, 'Beit Borla AHA Haifa'.
After two postponed dates, thanks to an impressive tenacity and adherence to the goal, under the direction of Dr. Adv. A royal tour and fine Druze hospitality, superbly made.
Members of the Sawsan family and Amal Kamal
The office of the Sawsan brothers, Amir and Osama is on Palaim Boulevard, right next to the court building in Haifa. However, they have another and larger office in Daliyat El Carmel, which today even has two (female!) interns - which indicates the great progress in the status of women in society Furthermore, it can be said that Sausan was among the first to make a breakthrough in this area.
Sausan married a... lawyer, he is Amal Kamal. By the way, during their entire lives, the two work in different and separate offices. Dr. Adv. Emel and Adv. Sausan have 3 children. Maher, Elam is cute, tall and handsome. Maher, a boy with special needs who recently finished his studies at Orat Kiryat Bialik in the media class. Today he is already learning to drive and is going to serve in His 'national service' at the secretariat of the Regional Court in Haifa.
The daughter Luzen - a tall and beautiful young lady, is a 12th grade student in the cyber major at the high school in Daliit El Carmel and her younger sister, Sirin - is the one who has the spark of wisdom in her eyes, studies in middle school and boasts of the first place prize in the 'Young Orator' competition.
'Women's Arrow' as a role model and a model for success
Many obstacles face the empowerment of women, some of which are embedded in cultural norms. Furthermore, many women feel different pressures, which men do not feel and do not feel them at all. Many times they are the people who are afraid to change the status of women, because they know that the empowerment of women has positive effects (mainly economic) - and therefore they continue to let social norms interfere with the realization of this empowerment.
Sausen claims and explains that the women of Dalit El Carmel and Asafia - are indeed able to serve as 'arrows of women' who are a role model and a model for success. This is thanks to the location of their residence being close to the modernization of the city of Haifa. In her opinion, thanks to the proximity to the northern part, the cultural progress develops, which is also realized in business, clothing, education and the status of its women.
Myasa Halabi - bright smile and kind eyes
Everyone who looks at Myasa Halavi sees first and foremost her bright smile and kind eyes. Miasa, the 38-year-old woman who looks like a teenager, is a mother of three: an 18-year-old, a 13-year-old and a tiny baby about two months old.
Today she is the owner of the 'Miasa's Cheese House', located in Esfia (Arabic: Asfia, a common mispronunciation: Esfia) in Mount Carmel. The road to Meona winds through the village streets until you reach her house and a spacious restaurant that offers gourmet breakfasts alongside a spectacular countryside view.
With the help of 'superpowers' and female intuition - "recalculating a route"
Myasa was born in Usafia to a father who was a locksmith at "Dashnish" (the "Dashnish" company plant was established next to the refineries in Haifa in order to use the waste from the refineries to produce fertilizers), and to a mother who is a housewife and has two sisters and two brothers. She describes a "fun childhood" with tremendous love from her mother who cooked and served delicious and appetizing dishes to everyone every day.
Myasa completed 12 years of schooling and has high school diploma grades that allowed her to be admitted to the University of Haifa. However, "a minute before the start of the studies" she sat, hesitated and thought that with the long-awaited academic degree - it is likely that she will be engaged in teaching... or then 'with the help of superpowers' - she did a "recalculation of the route" and then she decided!
With tremendous inner strength, she decided that her life path would be only "in the field that she really, really loves and in which she enjoys!". With this firm decision, she was accepted to study at "Dan Gourmet", and has a cooking certificate type 1+2. Accompanying these certificates, she specialized and worked in various restaurants, including these in Gigor, in Acre, in the Technion kitchen and in restaurants in Daliit El Carmel.
"best derived from worse"
Myasa married Ayman Halavi, who serves in Yeltam, which is the unit for underwater missions. In fact, it is a unit in the Israeli Navy designed for professional diving, sabotage and naval bomb disposal missions. the unit, many of them sign permanently for several years in the unit.
Because of this, Myasa found herself at many points in her life making many decisions on her own. So even when her father fell seriously ill at the age of 48, he retired early and bought two cows that grazed in the village yard.
As for Myasa - "Dare turned out sweet." About 5 years ago, when she dined with her father and his preoccupation with the milk of the new cows in the yard of his home, a thought popped up in her head: there is a lack of knowledge about women (cheese It is the specialty of cheese makers from breast milk) and in dairy restaurants!
Using the milk of the cows that her father raised from Yasa Halabi, she started holding workshops where she taught her neighbors how to make quality homemade cheeses, and then even prepared breakfast for them. Time after time the women who participated in the workshops praised her food and suggested that she serve breakfasts to the general public as well and not just to come to her for the workshops. Miyasa listened to them and started planning the new restaurant that she would open and serve breakfast in.
Needless to say, she consulted relatives and friends and all of them tried to convince her that the idea would lead her to failure. Against all odds, a neighbor decided to open a small restaurant in the yard of her house overlooking the Carmel Mountains, and serve the elaborate breakfast she creates there. Her decision stemmed from the knowledge that there are no dairy restaurants and according to her the lack in the market is what will bring her success.
Without any bank financing, but only with the family's money - Miasa started from her home kitchen, and with a small number of tables she began to operate the area and even opened the place to the general public.
A success story of a woman who started small and never gave up
The restaurant, 'Miasa's Cheeses', opened in 2017 after she decided to share her special methods of making cheese and food with the diners. Today you can find in her restaurant a variety of fine breakfasts, all of which are prepared on the spot from high-quality and natural ingredients.
The breakfasts are served with fresh bread that has just come out of the oven and the whole experience combines in an extraordinary way with the pastoral and green view of the Carmel mountains and creates a unique and captivating atmosphere. It goes without saying that, among other things, there are also rich desserts prepared on the spot by hand by the staff of the place.
Miyasa wants to tell all the women in the world that if you have a dream, chase it. In her version, the main thing is that you start, because starting is already half the way. She emphasizes that believing in yourself is the most important thing - especially despite the fact that many people told her that her idea was not good and that she would not succeed. Indeed, she had all the reasons in the world not to open this restaurant, and many even tried to convince her to 'get off the idea'... but now see her alive!
Myasa sums up her strength and success in the sentence: "Nowadays, there is nothing more satisfying than seeing my customers eating and enjoying themselves, and especially when they come back to me and send me messages and compliments."
"Samah" - the gallery and studio of Samah Awad
Samah Awad was born in Dalit Al Carmel (1967), she is a mother of three and a grandmother of three granddaughters. She is an art teacher and an expert in the field of 'young entrepreneurs' at the Ministry of Education, a graduate (University of Haifa) with a bachelor's degree in Middle Eastern Studies and Israel Studies and conversion to special education, and a certified instructor on behalf of the Ministry of Education in creative arts.
Samah participated and presented her works in many exhibitions in Israel and abroad (in Jordan and Azerbaijan) and now she manages the "Samah Art Gallery and Studio" which is located in a Mouna building.
From childhood - a desire to create from nothing
Samah tells about a happy childhood with her friends in the village courtyards. Already at that time, she felt a desire to create something out of nothing, but the situation in her childhood home made it impossible to purchase materials for craft work and leisure. Her mother was engaged in sewing and her father in horticulture... and from here it was a short way to reach materials that are now called 'recycled materials' and the desire for a 'green environment'.
The little girl collected remnants of pieces of fabric, buttons, glass bottles, boxes and cardboard pieces which she glued, drew and painted, and with which she created her initial works.
Members of the Awad family
At the age of 18, immediately after graduating from high school in Daliyat El Carmel, she married a permanent army man who immediately understood her inherent passion for creativity. He is the one who pushed to focus on the artistic side of her, and together with him they went out to buy creative materials in the shops of the "big city" Haifa.
What is special about Samah's works is the focus on sculpting a variety of shapes and themes made from paper pulp based on recycling from different materials, and all of them are based on the principles of the green environment. She creates wall tapestries and tapestries from papier-mâché, acrylic paintings whose subjects are focused on social and women's stories. She also creates sculptures for the garden made of cement.
In addition to this, Samah and her husband have three children: Anna, 38 years old, who is a physical education teacher and has three daughters, Amir, 31 years old, Alam Chen, who has special needs, who went to Leo High School in the media class and even served in national service at the KPFH in Daliit Al Carmel - and Ben Zakonum: Tomer, 16 years old, who attends Urban High School III in Haifa.
Through art we create connections and hope for a good future
Samah's house is a magical place located in a well-kept garden, just like from the fairy tales, and it is embedded in the works of the owner of the place. A side entrance leads to the gallery itself and to the studio (Dahliat El Carmel, turn right up the path from the "Dahlia Crackers" store).
Samach, who, in addition to being such a pleasant woman, is also an extremely talented artist who creates in various materials and even operates the studio, which works to raise the awareness of art and aesthetics school students, through educational and educational activities - and this is thanks to the visits of the school's students to the studio and to the gallery . And according to Samach: "Through art we create connections and community with hope for a better future."
applies and lives the proverb "there is nothing that stands before the will".
In the studio, Samah teaches the principles and techniques of papier-mâché, from the preparation of the pulp to the finishing and coloring. Workshop visitors can create figures, animals, birds, bowls and many other different shapes. In Samach's studio, the paper pulp, which consists of paper chips, wallpaper glue and white glue - has to be kneaded, felt and felt, therefore the work in her workshop is without gloves.
In fact, paper pulp is a material that has an emotional and educational value, because the creators of this material train themselves with feelings of both patience and the exercise of imagination and creativity. Samah's studio is a magical and special world of colors and shapes that brings great pleasure to everyone who visits it.
In the gallery itself - there are Samah's paintings which are in a naive style, and with a careful look you can see that they are full of thoughts and even criticism about the society in which she lives.
Samah is very connected to her family and her surroundings, a connection that is very evident in her works. She often paints family scenes as well as the figures of women, emphasizing their inner feelings. Sometimes these intense feelings become circles and like bullets they erupt from her heart and soul.
Samah says that she has an inner drive to create, and therefore when she dreams, asks and talks about the things she wants to come true - it is out of absolute confidence. According to her, she does apply the proverb that says: "There is nothing that stands before the will."
Three women who meet Beauvoir's definitions
Simone de Beauvoir, a French philosopher and writer, said that "a woman is not born a woman, she becomes a woman" from this we can conclude that a powerful woman is the one who is confident in herself, in her femininity, in her skills and in the ability to maneuver between her various roles during her life.
Beauvoir even added and said that femininity is not intrinsic or natural, but rather acquired over the years, according to the patterns of the society, culture and economy in which we live. That is, according to Dida, the woman herself is the one who defines her essence "according to her own way of dealing with the nature around her".
Undoubtedly, the three women in this article represent and respond to both Beauvoir's definitions and the ability of female empowerment in Israeli society in general and Druze society in particular. May God bless us and even next year we will get to meet more women like Sausen, Miasa and Samah - and we will even have a good year, a good year. A year of the end of polarization, the end of the war, the chaos and the return of the girls and boys to their border. Amen - so be it.
For women in Israel, religion should be separated from the state! According to Or and former rabbi Yaron Yedan