Incredible Stories of Survival: Real Stories of Fortitude and the Will to Survive (Aron Ralston and others). Through hardships to the stars: stories of strong-willed people Mark Inglis, the only man without legs to conquer Mount Everest

"Jewish Warsaw - a story about the human spirit" - a new permanent exhibition at the memorial museum Beit Lohamei ha-getaot (house of ghetto fighters, Hebrew).

Why did the museum decide to open an exhibition about Warsaw? After all, this topic is sufficiently covered in many museums, so why another exhibition?
Not at all in the light of the new law adopted in Poland. The exhibition was planned and created much earlier than the adoption of the law - it just coincided so symbolically ...

The history of the Jews of Poland and the history of Jewish Warsaw is the history of the life of the founders of the kibbutz and the history of the founders of the museum. It is difficult to separate a person's life from what is happening around him, from what is happening with his place of residence, especially when there is a war and millions of human lives fall under the wheels of history.
The uniqueness of this exhibition is that it shows the Jewish perspective on life in Warsaw before the Holocaust and during the Holocaust. This is a story about the everyday life of the Jews, about their faith and about their survival.

The story of the exhibition begins long before the Nazis came to power and took over Poland.

With the help of a variety of documentary evidence, the exhibition tells about life, although usually such exhibitions are stories about dying ... Without understanding Jewish life before the war, its aspirations, hopes and expectations, we will not be able to understand the extent of the destruction of an entire culture from which there is no trace.
We return to the Jewish street in Warsaw 1935. , with its political and ideological currents. Who was not there: Hasidim and Mitnagdim; educated and assimilated; members of Zionist youth movements; members of non-Zionist youth movements... The exhibition aims to show the complexity and inconsistency of the Jewish life of those times.
Assimilated, orthodox, workers and socialists fought to raise their children, believing that in this way they would give the next generation the opportunity for a better life.

Mizrahi tablet of the Mizrahi movement ( Mizrachi - Religious Zionist organization and movement ), Warsaw 1920.

traditional Jewish education.

And at the same time...

... joint struggle for the betterment of the conditions of the workers.

Various aspects of Jewish life are presented by people's stories, which represent a spectrum of opinions and experiences.

The theme of repatriation to Eretz Israel is one of the important aspects of Jewish life in pre-war Warsaw.

Congratulations to Shana Tov (Happy New Year) to a repatriate sailing on a ship to Eretz Israel, Warsaw 1925.

Greeting card Shana Tova (Happy New Year), Warsaw 1930.
Repatriates are depicted on the road to Eretz Israel.

Preparation for agricultural activities on a training farm in Gorochowa, Warsaw 1937.

Repatriation certificate issued by the Hashomer HaTzair trade union in Poland, 1924.

The exhibition presents diaries, letters, photographs, films, various objects and documents from the archives of the Lohamei Ha-Getaot Museum. Including exhibits from the Korczak Collection, Zionist youth movements and the Oneg Shabat ghetto archive. Used a lot of documentaries and photographs of that time.

For the first time, materials from the museum's archive that have never been exhibited are presented. The "Korczak Collection" includes letters and other materials from the orphanage.

Technically, the exhibition is focused on the younger generation and tries to speak its language: a lot of interactive showcases, where by touching the image of one of the displayed artifacts, you get information and a story about it. There are separate interactive stories about Jewish theater and cinema, Jewish newspapers, sports...

Illustrated newspaper for children and adolescents "Eaton katan" (small newspaper, Hebrew)" in Hebrew, 1929.

After the war, Jews emigrated to different countries, some came to Eretz Israel.
The seeds of Jewishness were sown in children's souls by the systems in which children were brought up before the war: in Jewish youth movements, in Jewish education, in prayers in synagogues for Yishuv in Eretz Israel, sports associations and newspapers in Hebrew, all this played a role in choosing a life way.

The war burst into the Jewish life of Poland, splitting it into two parts: before and on time.

This is how an artist unknown to me depicted it, in a painting not participating in the exhibition, but photographed by me in the museum.

The interactive section is dedicated to the capture of Warsaw. We not only see the siege, bombardment, shelling on the screens, we feel ourselves a part of what is happening.

I made some small videos from this section.

In the "Ghetto" section, with the help of video films, life is shown under the yoke of occupation and isolation for almost two years, between October 1940 and July 1942, when a wall was built separating the ghetto from the rest of the city and people did not know what was happening behind the walls of the ghetto didn't know what a new day would bring.

Ghetto borders 11/15/1940.

Many testimonies and diaries written at that time illustrate what was happening. The story about the events of those days is conducted on behalf of real people who lived in the ghetto. This is also a story about daily life in the ghetto and the problems of this life: a colossal gap between the rich and the poor in the ghetto, issues related to the observance of religious rites and the Sabbath, Jewish holidays.

Old films and photographs speak of something that cannot be described in words. Some of these people remained only in photographs, they have neither graves nor names ...

Summer 1942, deportation of 300,000 Jews, two-thirds of the ghetto's population, to death camps.

The exhibition does not end with the Catastrophe. It's still in the making.

The exhibition will end with the founding of the kibbutz and the birth of the first child. The circle closed when the children, who grew up in rich European bourgeois houses that were destroyed in the Holocaust, built new houses in Eretz Israel, in kibbutzim and began a new life ..

"We must fight for our future" is the message of the exhibition, which applies to both Jews and non-Jews.

I already talked about the ongoing exhibition at the Memorial Museum of Beit Lohamei ha-gettaot

Being inspired by the example of strong people, you can achieve success simply because you will not lose faith in yourself. Remember that in the most difficult situations there is a solution. And there are people who have proven that success is achievable, it's just that sometimes you need to work for it.

Well-known creative personalities at the beginning of their creative careers often fail. There is no need to go back to the depths of centuries for examples. So, cult director Steven Spielberg gained popularity immediately. He made two unsuccessful attempts to enter the film school and twice his candidacy was rejected with the words "too mediocre". By the way, the stubborn director finally graduated from this institution after 37 years. In addition to worldwide recognition, he has a bachelor's degree.

Examples of well-known politicians also show that a strong character helps to achieve a lot. For example, Winston Churchill recognized as the greatest Briton in history, according to a poll conducted by the BBC in 2002. And although a fair amount of time has already passed since this poll, on the scale of history, the personality of this politician cannot be overestimated. But we are interested not so much in his political activity as in his grandiose work on himself. After all, he became prime minister only at the age of 65, and this was preceded by serious work. This person called the difficulties overcome the realized opportunities.

Not only in the world of politics you can meet people who are strong in spirit. Sometimes a vocation and a favorite thing helps to stay afloat. The famous scientist of our time, theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking is an example of this. After the diagnosis was established, doctors believed that he would live only 2 years. However, now his name is widely known, he made many discoveries, popularizes science, writes books, was married twice and flew in zero gravity. And all this - with paralysis, which at first left him mobile only a finger on his hand, and today - only one muscle of the cheek.

Chemist Alexander Butlerov, being a student, he completely set a fire at the university where he studied at that time. The reason was an unsuccessful experiment of an unlucky researcher. As punishment, he was given a sign "great chemist", with which he had to pass in front of all the students. But years later, he really became a great chemist.

And the inventor of the light bulb Thomas Edison made 1000 unsuccessful attempts before his invention worked. However, he himself did not consider them failures. He claimed to have simply found 1,000 ways to make a light bulb. This man was ready to sort through 6,000 materials in order to find the right one, and was distinguished not only by his ability to work, but by his strong desire not to give up.

You don't have to be a famous singer or an accomplished writer to inspire people to move forward. If we talk about heroic resistance to circumstances, we need to remember Nika Vujicic. This man was born without arms and without legs at all, with one small process instead of a leg. After a difficult childhood and a suicide attempt, Nick took on the cause, and today he speaks to huge audiences, telling people that any life, even accompanied by difficulties, is of great value. He, like Stephen Hawking, has a great sense of humor. The first periodically voices himself in shows and projects using an artificial speech synthesizer, and the second comes up with funny nicknames for his limb. Here you can read the biography of Nick Vuychich.

Giuseppe Verdi did not enter the Milan Conservatory, where he was advised to find a teacher from the city musicians, if he still wanted to study music. Years later, the same conservatory fought for the right to bear the name of the famous musician.

Composer Ludwig van Beethoven received from his teacher an unequivocal verdict: "Hopeless." And at the age of 44 he lost his hearing. But neither one nor the other turned him away from music and did not prevent him from writing it.

Sometimes talent needs to be revealed, and for a long time others do not see it. For example, in the biography of the singer Fyodor Chaliapin there is a pretty funny episode. Being constrained in finances, he went to look for work as a journalist and a singer in the choir. Together with him, his friend Alexei Peshkov tried his luck, whom we know as Maxim Gorky. The paradox is that Chaliapin was taken to the newspaper, but his vocal abilities were rejected, and the future writer Peshkov was accepted to sing, but they did not find any talent for writing. Fortunately, life still put everything in its place.

Attentive readers may have noticed that only men are represented in our list. But this does not mean that history did not know strong women. We have prepared . Remember that the will, the desire to achieve heights in life and at the same time be a worthy person does not depend on age, gender, or anything else. Try, make mistakes, but don't be afraid of mistakes. And don't forget to press the buttons and

December 3 marks the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, proclaimed by the UN General Assembly in 1992 at the suggestion of Russia. In 1981, the World Program of Action for Persons with Disabilities was adopted - the first document that formulated the principles for treating this category of citizens.

According to the UN, there are approximately 1 billion people with disabilities in the world (about 15% of the population), 80% of whom live in developing countries. Most of them face physical, socioeconomic and behavioral barriers that exclude them from equal participation in society. .

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, in his message on the occasion of the Day of Persons with Disabilities, called for the effective integration of people with disabilities into society. “We must remove all barriers that prevent the inclusion and involvement of persons with disabilities in society, including by changing attitudes towards them that lead to stigmatization and perpetuate discrimination,” said the UN Secretary General.

On the eve of the Paralympics in Sochi in 2014, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that the state should do more for the disabled and people with disabilities, should create conditions for a barrier-free environment. “It is important for us that people see this - the unlimited possibilities of our athletes with disabilities. It educates society in the right way. This pushes administrative structures at all levels to create a barrier-free environment. Not only in sports, but everywhere,” Putin said.

There are also people with disabilities among Russian politicians. So the deputy of the State Duma of the Russian Federation from the LDPR party Valery Seleznev lost his right hand at a young age. Seleznev created an inter-factional deputy association of the State Duma for the disabled. Deputy of the State Duma of the VI convocation from United Russia Mikhail Terentyev is a Paralympic champion, world champion among wheelchair athletes, winner of three bronze medals at the European Championships in athletics among athletes with a lesion of the musculoskeletal system and Secretary General of the Russian Paralympic Committee. A Just Russia deputy Alexander Lomakin-Rumyantsev is a group I disabled person and chairman of the All-Russian Society of Disabled People. The first deputy chairman of the State Duma Education Committee, communist Oleg Smolin, is blind from birth. He is the first vice-president of the Russian Paralympic Committee, vice-president of the All-Russian Society of the Blind, an honorary member of the All-Russian Society of the Disabled.

Stephen Hawking is an English theoretical physicist, founder and director of the Center for Theoretical Cosmology at the University of Cambridge. For most of his life, the scientist suffers from multiple sclerosis, which led to paralysis. Hawking communicates using a speech synthesizer
AP Photo/Science Museum, Sarah Lee

Alessandro Zanardi is an Italian racing driver and cyclist who lost both of his legs in an accident in 2001. He is a two-time champion of the 2012 Paralympic Games.
© AP Photo/Alastair Grant

The Russian sledge hockey team won silver at the XI Paralympic Games. In the final, the Russians lost to the Americans, having conceded the only goal. One of the best scorers of the sledge hockey tournament was Evgeny Petrov
© ITAR-TASS/EPA/SERGEI CHIRIKOV

Esther Vergeer is a Dutch tennis player. Considered one of the greatest wheelchair tennis players in history. At the age of nine she lost her legs. Esther Vergeer - multiple Grand Slam winner, seven-time world champion, four-time Olympic champion
© AP Photo/Alastair Grant

Skier Mikhalina Lysova and her track leader Alexei Ivanov achieved success at the Sochi Paralympics, winning gold medals in the 6 and 10 km distances in the visually impaired category

Jim Armstrong is a member of the Canadian wheelchair curling team. In 2009, his wife died and he was left alone with three children. But he is not going to give up and end his career, because he believes that all life's difficulties did not affect him in any way.
© ITAR-TASS/ Vladimir Smirnov

Italy's Francesca Porcellato has competed in six Summer and three Winter Paralympic Games, including competitions in Sochi. Three-time winner of the Games: twice won in 1988 in Seoul (in the 100 m and in the relay) and in 2010 in the cross-country skiing in the classic sprint
© ITAR-TASS/ Artem Korotaev

Adopted in the United States, a native of Ukraine Oksana Masters, having lost both legs, began to row. In rowing, she won bronze at the 2012 Paralympics, and at the Winter Games in Sochi, she won silver and bronze in cross-country skiing.
© AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti

Alexandra Frantseva from Russia wins silver in super-G (visually impaired) in alpine skiing at the XI Paralympic Winter Games
© ITAR-TASS/ Artem Korotaev

Jessica Long is an American Paralympic swimmer of Russian origin. Multiple champion of the Paralympics, world championships, world record holder among athletes without legs
© EPA/JONATHAN BRADY

Eric Weichenmeier is the first climber in the world to reach the summit of Everest while blind. He conquered many mountain peaks, including Kilimanjaro and Elbrus. Lost his sight at the age of 13, but managed to become a high school teacher, then a wrestling coach and a world-class athlete
© EPA/FRANCIS R. MALASIG

Despite his blindness, Italian opera singer Andrea Bocelli has become one of the most memorable voices of modern opera and pop music.
©AP Photo/Arnulfo Franco

There are many good and strong people in the world. But the example should be taken from the best. Having lived a life after which it is not scary to die. The lives of these great people are examples of real love, real friendship, real fortitude, real kindness.

But in our time of total confusion, it is not always easy to distinguish between real great people among those who were just famous and dreamed of being great. Among the so-called "stars".

Such strong people as Alexander Nevsky, Admiral Nakhimov, Admiral Ushakov will always shine on us. But the strength of the spirit is not somewhere in the past. Heroes are born in our time, and not necessarily the heroes of war.

Distance (online) course helps to gain courage and calmness: “ Overcoming fears and anxieties

The truth about the 6th company of the Pskov landing

Firefighter Yevgeny Chernyshev: remained in the line of fire

Archimandrite Alipy Voronov: the best defense is an offensive

Boyar Evpaty Kolovrat - death as a victory

Teenagers are heroes of the Great Patriotic War

Prince Alexander Nevsky: the sun of the Russian land

Admiral Ushakov - invincible naval commander

Innokenty Sibiryakov: "Help, I'm terribly rich!"

Mikhail Skobelev: fearless general

Colonel Konstantin Vasiliev: life is for friends

Nikolay Pirogov: War with pain

Elisaveta Feodorovna Romanova: mercy and purity

Good Doctor Gaaz

Metropolitan Seraphim Chichagov: fiery

Many believe that if a person has lost a limb, was doused with acid, suffered in a fire or was injured in an accident, then he should feel sorry for himself and give up. Unfortunately, most people who find themselves in such situations do just that, but fortunately there are people who pull themselves together and begin to inspire others by their example. These strong-willed people have proven that despite limited opportunities, you can live a full and vibrant life.

Turia Pitt suffered severe burns in a fire

The story of Australian fashion model Turia Pitt, who lost her face after a fire, cannot leave anyone indifferent. At the age of 24, she was caught in a terrible fire, in which her body was burned by 64%. The girl spent six months in the hospital, went through many operations, lost all fingers on her right hand and 3 fingers on her left. Now she lives a full life, starring for magazines, playing sports, surfing, cycling and working as a mining engineer.

Nando Parrado survived the plane crash and waited 72 days for help

The survivors of the disaster drank the melted snow and slept side by side to keep warm. There was so little food that everyone did everything to find at least some living creatures for a common dinner. On the 60th day after the accident, Nando and two of his friends decided to go through the icy desert for help. After the plane crash, Nando lost half of his family, and during the time after the crash he lost more than 40 kg of weight. Now he is engaged in lecturing on the power of motivation in life to achieve goals.

Jessica Cox became the world's first pilot without both arms

The girl was born in 1983 without both arms. Why was she born like this, the answer was never found. Meanwhile, the girl grew up, and her parents did everything so that she lived a full life. As a result of her efforts, Jessica learned to eat on her own, dress herself and went to a completely ordinary school, and learned to write. From childhood, the girl was afraid to fly and even swung on a swing with closed eyes. But she overcame her fear. On October 10, 2008, Jessica Cox received an athlete pilot's license. She became the first pilot in the world without both hands, for which she got into the Guinness Book of Records.

Tanni Gray-Thompson has become world famous as a successful wheelchair racer.

Born with a diagnosis of spina bifida, Tunney gained worldwide fame as a successful wheelchair racer.

Sean Schwarner overcame cancer and climbed the 7 highest peaks on 7 continents

This man with a capital letter is a real fighter, he overcame cancer and visited the 7 highest peaks of 7 continents. He is the only person in the world to have survived a diagnosis of Hodgkin's disease and Askin's sarcoma. He was diagnosed with cancer of the 4th and last stage at the age of 13, and according to the doctors' forecasts, he was not supposed to live even 3 months. But Sean miraculously overcame his illness, which soon returned when doctors re-discovered a golf ball-sized tumor on his right lung.

After the second operation to remove the tumor, the doctors decided that the patient would last no more than 2 weeks ... But now, 10 years later, partially using his lung, Sean is known to the whole world for being the first cancer survivor to climb Mount Everest .

Gillian Mercado, diagnosed with dystrophy, entered the fashion world and became successful

This girl proved that in order to get into the world of fashion, you do not need to comply with generally accepted canons. And it is quite possible to love yourself and your body, even when it is not perfect. As a child, the girl was diagnosed with a terrible disease - dystrophy, in connection with which she was confined to a wheelchair. But this did not prevent her from being in the world of high fashion.

Esther Werger - multiple champion with paralyzed legs

As a child, she was diagnosed with vascular myelopathy. In this regard, an operation was performed, which, unfortunately, only worsened everything, and she was paralyzed in both legs. But the wheelchair did not prevent Esther from playing sports. She quite successfully played basketball and volleyball, but tennis brought her worldwide fame. Verger has won 42 Grand Slam titles.

Michael J Fox overcame all the hardships associated with Parkinson's disease

The famous actor from the movie "Back to the Future" found out that he was sick when he was only 30 years old. Then he began to drink alcohol, but in spite of everything he gave up and devoted his life to the fight against Parkinson's disease. Thanks to his help, it was possible to raise $ 350 million for the study of this disease.

Patrick Henry Hughes, being blind and having undeveloped limbs, became a great pianist

Patrick was born without eyes and with deformed, weakened limbs, which makes him unable to stand. Despite all these conditions, the child at the age of one year began to try to play the piano. Later, he was able to enroll at the University of Louisville School of Music Marching and Pep Bands, after which he began playing in the Cardinal Marching Band, where he was constantly driven in a wheelchair by his tireless father. Now Patrick is a virtuoso pianist, winner of many competitions, his performances were broadcast by many TV channels.

Mark Inglis, the only man without legs to summit Everest

Climber Mark Inglis from New Zealand became the first and remains the only person without legs to summit Everest. 20 years earlier, he lost both legs, frostbitten them in one of the expeditions. But Mark did not part with his dream, he trained a lot and was able to conquer the highest peak, which is difficult even for ordinary people. Today he continues to live in New Zealand with his wife and 3 children. He has written 4 books and works for a charitable foundation.