8 February 2023
As the saying goes: only a jeweller knows the worth of a jewel.
Once upon a time a wise man gave his student a large object with a brilliant and mysterious appearance, and told him to show it to the tradesmen and finally to the jeweller, but to come back without selling it.
The grocer he showed it to first took the object, which he likened to a shiny bead, in his hand; he turned it this way and that, and then offered 1 lira. The draper he went to next agreed to give five lira for the object, which he likened to a shiny stone. The saddler he visited third said, “This would make a good ornament for my saddles. I'll give ten lira for it.” The jeweller he went to last leapt to his feet. “Where did you find such a valuable diamond, such a jewel?” he cried in astonishment. “I'll give you whatever you want.” When the student said, “No, I cannot give it,” and reached out to take the stone back, the jeweller began to plead: “Please sell it to me. Let me give you my shop, my house, even my land,” he said.
The wise man explained the matter thus: “Only someone who knows a thing's worth understands its value, and it is precious in the hands of the one who knows its worth.” In every person's life there must surely be jewellers who know, sense and recognise their existence and their worth.
We realised that we have many friends, in Istanbul above all, who possess jewels of national and international calibre yet are covered over with the label ‘disabled'. Even when these possessors of jewels are in the same city, the chances of their being in the same place are very slim. So that they might benefit from one another's jewels, reveal their own, be known by others and come to know others, we have tried for now to create a setting in Istanbul. We meet in an extremely simple setting.
Every week we have a distinguished guest. Before, after or during the talk we try to benefit from one another. The venue is easy to reach and well known: the Tophane Disability Centre. Refreshments are tea, simit and cheese.
We look forward to welcoming all possessors of jewels who wish to meet, come together and share with other jewels.
When we meet this week on Thursday 14 December at 18:30, our guest will be the former Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Dr Hilmi Güler. Mr Güler, himself a most important jewel, will speak on “Energy and Regional Developments”. A perspective and a body of experience at this level are rare. Come, let us benefit together.
If you would like to receive information about the guest and topic every week and to be reminded of the Jewel Talks, you can send your telephone number and name to the email address la@lokmanayva.net, or by SMS, WhatsApp and similar means.
See you on Thursday at 18:30 at the Tophane Disability Centre.