Many people believe that if a person has lost a limb, been doused with acid, suffered in a fire, or been 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 people, strong in spirit, proved that despite limited opportunities, you can live a full and vibrant life.

Turia Pitt suffered severe burns in a fire

The story of the Australian fashion model Turia Pitt, who lost her face after a fire, cannot leave anyone indifferent. At 24, she was caught in a terrible fire in which 64% of her body was burned. The girl spent six months in the hospital, went through many operations, lost all the fingers on her right hand and 3 fingers on her left. Now she lives life to the fullest, poses for magazines, plays sports, surfs, rides a bike and works as a mining engineer.

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

The survivors of the disaster drank the melting snow and slept side by side to avoid freezing. There was so little food that everyone did everything to find at least some living creatures for the common dinner. On the 60th day after the accident, Nando and his two friends decided to walk through the icy desert for help. After the plane crash, Nando lost half of his family, and in the time after the disaster he lost more than 40 kg of weight. He is currently 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 she was born this way has never been answered. Meanwhile, the girl grew up, and her parents did everything to ensure that she lived a full life. As a result of her efforts, Jessica learned to eat and dress independently and went into complete regular school, learned to write. Since childhood, the girl was afraid of flying and even swung on a swing with her eyes closed. But she overcame her fear. On October 10, 2008, Jessica Cox received her sports pilot license. She became the world's first pilot without both arms, for which she was included in the Guinness Book of Records.

Tannie Gray-Thompson has achieved worldwide fame as a successful wheelchair racing competitor.

Born with spina bifida, Tunney achieved worldwide fame as a successful wheelchair racing competitor.

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

This man is a true fighter, he overcame cancer and visited the 7 highest peaks of 7 continents. He is the only person in the world to survive a diagnosis of Hodgkin's disease and Askin's sarcoma. He was diagnosed with stage 4 and final cancer at the age of 13, and according to doctors, he was not expected to live even 3 months. But Sean miraculously overcame his illness, which soon returned when doctors rediscovered a tumor the size of a golf ball 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 10 years later, partially using his lung, Sean is known throughout the world for becoming the first cancer survivor to climb Mount Everest .

Jillian 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 don’t need to conform to 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, due to which she is confined to a wheelchair. But this did not stop her from being in the world of high fashion.

Esther Verger - multiple champion with paraplegics

As a child, she was diagnosed with vascular myelopathy. In connection with this, an operation was performed, which, unfortunately, only worsened everything, and both legs were paralyzed. But the wheelchair did not stop Esther from playing sports. She played basketball and volleyball quite successfully, but tennis brought her worldwide fame. Verger became the champion of Grand Slam tournaments 42 times.

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

The famous actor from the film "Back to the Future" found out that he was sick when he was only 30 years old. Then he began to drink alcohol, but against all odds he stopped and dedicated his life to the fight against Parkinson’s disease. Thanks to his help, it was possible to raise $350 million for research into 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, making him unable to stand. Despite all these conditions, the child began to try to play the piano at the age of one year. Later, he was able to enroll in the University of Louisville School of Music Marching and Pep Bands, after which he began playing in the Cardinal Marching Band, where his tireless father constantly took him in a wheelchair. Now Patrick is a virtuoso pianist, winner of many competitions, his performances have been broadcast by many television channels.

Mark Inglis, the only man without legs to conquer Everest

Climber Mark Inglis from New Zealand became the first and remains the only person without legs to conquer Everest. 20 years earlier, he lost both legs, having frozen them in one of the expeditions. But Mark did not give up on his dream, he trained a lot and was able to conquer the highest peak, which was difficult even for him. 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 charity foundation.

"Jewish Warsaw - A Story of the Human Spirit" is a new permanent exhibition at the Beit Lohamei Hagetaot (Ghetto Fighters' House, Hebrew) Memorial Museum.

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

The history of the Jews of Poland and the history of Jewish Warsaw is the life story 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 to 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 and during the Holocaust. This is a story about the everyday life of Jews, about their faith and about their survival.

The exhibition's story begins long before the Nazis came to power and captured Poland.

With the help of a variety of documentary evidence, the exhibition tells the story of life, although usually this kind of exhibition is a story about dying... Without an understanding of 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 of which there is no trace left. trace.
We return to Jewish Street in Warsaw 1935. , with its political and ideological currents. Who was there: Hasidim and Mitnagdim; educated and assimilated; members of Zionist youth movements; members of non-Zionist youth movements... The exhibition seeks to show the complexity and contradictions of Jewish life of those times.
The assimilated, the Orthodox, the workers, and the socialists fought to raise their children, believing that by doing so they would give the next generation the opportunity for a better life.

"Mizrah" plaque of the Mizrahi movement ( Mizrahi - religious Zionist organization and movement ), Warsaw 1920

Traditional Jewish education.

And in parallel with this...

...joint struggle to improve the situation of workers.

Various aspects of Jewish life are presented through the stories of people who represent a spectrum of opinions and experiences.

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

Congratulations Shana Tova (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 Gorochow, Warsaw 1937.

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

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

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

Technically, the exhibition is aimed at the younger generation and tries to speak their language: many interactive showcases, where by touching the image of one of the artifacts shown, 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 teenagers "Eton 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 raised before the war: in Jewish youth movements, in Jewish education, in prayers in synagogues for the Yishuv in Eretz Israel, sports associations and Hebrew newspapers, all of this played a role in the choice of life ways.

The war burst into Jewish life in Poland, splitting it into two parts: before and during.

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.

An interactive section is dedicated to the capture of Warsaw. We not only see the siege, bombing, shelling on the screens, we feel like we are part of what is happening.

I made several small videos from this section.

The Ghetto section uses video films to show life under the yoke of occupation and isolation for almost two years, between October 1940 and July 1942, when a wall was built to separate the ghetto from the rest of the city and people did not know what was happening outside the ghetto walls , did not know what the new day would bring.

Borders of the ghetto 11/15/1940.

Many testimonies and diaries written at that time illustrate what happened. The story about the events of those days is told from the perspective of real people who lived in the ghetto. This is a story about daily life in the ghetto and the problems of this life: the colossal gap between the rich and the poor in the ghetto, issues related to the observance of religious rituals and the Sabbath, Jewish holidays.

Old films and photographs speak of things that cannot be described in words. Some of these people remain only in photographs; they have neither graves nor names...

Summer 1942, deportation of three hundred thousand Jews, two-thirds of the ghetto population, to death camps.

The exhibition does not end with the Holocaust. It is still in the process of creation.

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

“We have a responsibility to fight for our future” is the message of the exhibition, which is suitable for both Jews and non-Jews.

I have already talked about the ongoing exhibition at the Beit Lohamei Haghettaot Memorial Museum

An artist cannot be a failure;

be an artist‒luck in itself.

Charles Horton Cooley

This story is about how the will to live and fortitude can demolish any obstacles in your path and help you realize your dream, no matter how difficult it may seem.

Fate constantly tests a person on his life path. Some people, being healthy, give in to the slightest difficulties and complain about life. Others, without complaints or excuses, overcome the most difficult trials and find their place in life.

The epigraph to this article was a quote I read on a social network, on the page amazing person whose name is Ildar Apcheleev. This capacious phrase contains a deep meaning with which one cannot but agree.

Ildar- self-taught artist from the Kuibyshevsky district (Bergul village). A happy smile, a perky look and a lot of energy. And also faith in God, in yourself and your limitless possibilities. This is how people see our hero. This strong-willed, talented and strong-willed young man managed to achieve his goal, despite the existing difficulties that stood in his way of life...

Even at birth, the young man received a birth injury; the functionality of his hands was completely impaired. Ildar has cerebral palsy, he is a group 1 disabled person, due to his illness his arms do not fully function, so their work is done by his legs. Ildar has to do everything with his feet, or rather, with his toes. He is a very talented, sociable and kind young man who has many friends. The guy loves to play football and computer games. But my favorite pastime was and remains drawing. Despite his illness, Ildar tries to live fully. His loving family supports him in everything.

Initially, he sculpted figurines from plasticine, created various paper crafts, and even learned to embroider. Soon it opened before our hero amazing world painting...

In 2013, Ildar Apcheleev received a first degree diploma and a “Dream” electric stove for his exhibition of paintings. By participating in the festival of creative people with disabilities“Talent and will” and with such stunning success, Ildar created a real sensation in his native village of Bergul. No one expected that the first participation in the regional competition would be the beginning of a new life for the young man.

The initiator of the guy’s participation in the prestigious regional competition “Talent and Will” was Dina Fayzulina, head of the center of Tatar national culture of the Kuibyshev region. Having learned that the young man painted pictures with his toes, Dina decided to help him feel needed by society at all costs. Ildar's parents supported this idea. The cultural and leisure center of the Kuibyshevsky district provided funds and transport for the trip. And so mother and son took six paintings to Novosibirsk. By the way, the artist comes up with the names of his drawings himself - and they very accurately reveal the meaning and idea of ​​the work. For example, “Corner of Thoughts”, “Free in the Steppe”, “ Native land", "Little Dream" ... Each picture radiates goodness, light, love, happiness and faith. Of course, his parents are always next to his son - their support and understanding help him achieve the results that he has today.

Saviya Apcheleeva, mother: “ We are very grateful to Dina and the others who helped our son take part in the competition. It was as if wings had grown behind his back. Draws and paints. Now the neighbors are asking him to paint their portrait. Ildar has already completed one order, everyone liked it. Already working on the second one».

Happy is the person who has something to fight for, who has something to achieve. You have to forge yourself. If a person wants to achieve something in life ‒ he must set goals for himself and achieve them. Life is about overcoming. Overcoming your fear, laziness, weaknesses, external circumstances. We live if we persistently learn to win.

Let's remember the story - a man who inspires thousands of people not to give up, despite pain, despair and seeming hopelessness. Through his example, he instills faith and hope in the hearts of millions of people around the world every day.

Strength of spirit, willpower - this is real strength. Victories over yourself are real victories. The life of a strong man is real life.

Ildar is one of those people who do not give up in the face of life's challenges, thanks to his perseverance, talent and enormous power will, we have the opportunity to contemplate beautiful paintings and be inspired creative success artist...

Every person must remember that in every difficulty he is not alone - the One who Created him is with him. The one who sees and hears everything, even what a person is silent about, the one who knows his soul. No matter what grief we experience and no matter how abandoned we feel, the Almighty is with everyone.

The Koran says:

He replied: “Don’t be afraid, both of you! There is no doubt that I [the Lord of the worlds] am next to you, I hear and see everything. [I will not let anyone hurt you, help will be near you at the right time].*

Holy Quran, 20:46

A believer, taking into account the absolute “online” awareness of the Creator, and even more so His control and power over everything and everyone, should never despair and do everything in his power to achieve happiness in both the earthly and eternal!

Gulnara,

Mahalla No. 1

*With comments by Sh. Alyautdinov

Taking inspiration from example strong people, you can achieve success simply because you do 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 just takes work sometimes.

Famous creative personalities often fail at the beginning of their creative careers. There is no need to go back centuries for examples. Yes, cult director Steven Spielberg did not gain popularity immediately. He made two failed attempts to get into film school and was twice rejected with the words “too mediocre.” By the way, the persistent director finally graduated from this institution after 37 years. In addition to worldwide recognition, he holds a B.A.

Examples of famous politicians also show that a strong character helps to achieve a lot. For example, Winston Churchill voted the greatest Briton in history, according to a survey conducted by the BBC in 2002. And although a fair amount of time has passed since this survey, in the scale of history the personality of this politician cannot be overestimated. But we are interested not so much in his political activities 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 as realized opportunities.

It is not only in the world of politics that you can meet people who are strong in spirit. Sometimes your calling and your favorite thing help you stay afloat. Famous modern scientist, theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking- an example of this. After the diagnosis, doctors believed that he would live only 2 years. However, now his name is well known to many, he has made many discoveries, popularizes science, writes books, has been married twice and has flown in zero gravity. And all this - with paralysis, which at first left him with only a finger on his hand, and today - only one muscle of his cheek.

Chemist Alexander Butlerov, while a student, he completely started a fire at the university where he was then studying. The reason was a failed experiment by a hapless researcher. As punishment, he was given a “great chemist” sign, with which he had to walk in front of all the students. But years later he truly 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 that he simply found 1000 ways to make a light bulb. This man was ready to sort through 6,000 materials to find the right one, and was distinguished not only by his efficiency, but by his strong desire not to give up.

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

Giuseppe Verdi did not enter the Milan Conservatory, where he was advised to find a teacher from among 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 an unequivocal verdict from his teacher: “Hopeless.” And at the age of 44 he lost his hearing. But neither one nor the other turned him away from music or stopped him from writing it.

Sometimes talent needs to be revealed, and others do not see it for a long time. For example, in the biography of the singer Fedora Chaliapin There's a pretty funny episode. Being financially strapped, he went to look for work - as a journalist and singer in a choir. His friend Alexey Peshkov, whom we know as Maxim Gorky. The paradox is that Chaliapin was accepted into the newspaper, but his vocal abilities were rejected, and the future writer Peshkov was accepted to sing, but no talent for writing was discovered. Fortunately, life still put everything in its place.

Attentive readers may have noticed that only men are represented on our list. But that doesn't mean history didn't 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

Life is worth fighting for, without giving in to any troubles. Fight is its meaning. Today we have collected for you unique stories about people who overcame all the difficulties sent to them by fate.

Jack London "Martin Eden"

Novel by an outstanding American writer Jack London about dreams and success. A simple sailor who is easy to recognize as himself Jack, goes through a long, hard-fought path to literary immortality. By chance Martin Eden turns out to be in secular society. And from now on, two goals relentlessly stand before him: the glory of a writer and the possession of his muse - his beloved woman. But dreams are unpredictable and insidious: it is unknown when they will come true, and whether it will bring Eden long-awaited joy.

Nujood Ali "I'm 10 years old and I'm divorced"

This book describes the true story of a little Yemeni woman who dared to challenge tradition by demanding a divorce from her forced husband. And she got it! In a country where half of girls get married before they reach eighteen, Nujood She was the first to decide on this. Her act resonated in the hearts of people around the world and excited international press. Nujood I decided to openly tell people my story.

Solomon Northup 12 Years a Slave. True story betrayal, kidnapping and fortitude"

In 1853, this book alarmed American society, becoming a harbinger civil war. 160 years later, she also inspired Steve McQueen(46) and Brad Pitt(51) to create a film masterpiece that received many awards, including “ Oscar" For the most Solomon Northup the book became a confession about himself dark period his life. A period when despair almost stifled the hope of breaking free from the chains of slavery and regaining the freedom and dignity that had been taken from him.

Abdel Cellu "You changed my life"

The true story of the main characters of the most popular French film " The Untouchables" (or " 1+1 "). This is the story of the amazing friendship of two people whose paths should never have crossed - a paralyzed French aristocrat and an unemployed Algerian emigrant. But they met. And they changed each other's lives forever.

Jin Kwok "Girl in Translation"

Kimberly emigrated with my mother from Hong Kong V America and found ourselves in the very heart Brooklyn, in the New York slums. Now all hope is only for Kimberly, because my mother doesn’t know English at all. Soon Kimberly a double life begins. During the day she is an exemplary American schoolgirl, and in the evening she is a Chinese slave working in a small factory. She doesn’t have money for new clothes, cosmetics and other girlish pleasures, but she has abilities and incredible determination. She is confused and scared, but she believes in herself and is not going to back down.

Erich Maria Remarque "Spark of Life"

One of my favorite books by my favorite writer. What do you think remains with people who are choking in the whirlpool of war? What remains for people who have been robbed of hope, love, and even life itself? What remains for people who simply have nothing left? Just a spark of life. Weak, but unquenchable. Remarque will show you the spark that gives people the strength to smile on the verge of death. A spark of light in pitch darkness.

Khaled Hosseini "A Thousand Splendid Suns"

At the center of the novel are two women who were victims of the upheavals that destroyed idyllic Afghanistan. Mariam is the illegitimate daughter of a wealthy businessman, who has known from childhood what misfortune is. Leila, on the contrary, is a beloved daughter in a friendly family, dreaming of an interesting and have a wonderful life. There is nothing in common between them, they live in different worlds, which were not destined to cross if not for the fiery squall of war. From now on, Leila and Mariam are connected by the closest ties, and they themselves do not know who they are - enemies, friends or sisters. They only know that they cannot survive alone.

Jojo Moyes "Me Before You"

A sad story about impossible love. Main character Lou Clark loses his job at a café and takes a job as a nurse to a bedridden patient. Will Traynor was hit by a bus. He had no desire left to live. Neither of them knows how life will change after this meeting.

John Green "The Fault in Our Stars"

In 2012, John Green's novel amazed the whole world. This is a story about teenagers who suffer from a serious illness. But they are not going to give up, remaining restless, explosive, rebellious, equally ready for hatred and love. Hazel and Augustus defy fate.

Ruben David Gonzalez Gallego "White on Black"

When you feel like life is unfair and everything is going wrong, just open a book. Gallego and stay in the world of people with disabilities for a while. Their optimism and completely unconventional view of familiar things will be a real medicine for you.

Mikhail Remer "Down"

Main character's story Bones consonant with " To the rain man" It was written for people who care, for those whose souls have not yet become completely callous. Kostya never pretends and wishes harm to no one. But he knows how to enjoy life in a way that few of us do. A child with a pure soul and a rich, but so different inner world from ours.

Daniel Keyes "The Mysterious Case of Billy Milligan"

It is inhabited by 24 separate individuals, different in intelligence, age, nationality, gender and worldview. Billy Milligan- the real and most mysterious and crazy character in our history, a kind of experiment of nature on man.

Also see our other selections with fascinating books: