As She Told Me — Mrs. Helana Tanous Jaha

For some twenty years Mrs. Helana Jaha has been, and remains, a strong pillar of the women's renaissance in North Lebanon, for she has accomplished works in the women's field that only one adorned with the highest virtues could accomplish — foremost among them faith in oneself and sound knowledge.

I called on her at her home in Tripoli, and we sat together in a familial, literary gathering, taking up the past both near and distant; and there was Mrs. Helana, still recalling that past with pride. Yet she, who is known for her modesty, as befits the cultivated, refined woman, would have it no other way than to credit the glorious works she had done to her companions in the work...

I asked her about her memories, and she said:

"I took part in the women's social movements in Tripoli and the Koura through the charitable associations and the national schools." Then she enumerated some of these associations for me, saying:

"Numerous charitable associations appeared in my birthplace, Bishmizzine, when I was too young to be admitted into their membership — such as the Girl of the Home Association and the Daughters of the Church Association. I still remember what a stir this association caused when it performed the play 'Athalie,' and what great success that play won, for it was the first play to be performed by girls in the Koura — indeed in all of North Lebanon. Then a new association arose, 'The First Fruits of Reform,' whose aim was to educate intelligent girls and to give them material assistance and support.

Today I am a member of the association of graduates of the American Girls' School in Tripoli, whose aim is to help eager, needy students to complete their studies and to maintain good relations between the graduates and the said school. I am also a member of the Relief of the Destitute Association, which was founded in al-Fayha twenty years ago and which counts a large number of ladies and young ladies from the various communities; the aim of this association, as its name indicates, is to lighten the afflictions of the wretched in general. I feel that such non-sectarian associations are what we need in this delicate period of our independent life, which demands a great deal of sincerity in the cause of mutual understanding and cooperation."

And when I asked her about the course of the women's movement in Tripoli and the North, and whether it was proceeding along its proper course, she replied:

"The course of the women's movement in Tripoli today gives us tidings of a flourishing social future. Here are associations of varied aims competing in the field of honorable work and striving to establish their existence in all sorts of ways: one comforts the wretched, another founds a kindergarten, another sets up a boarding home, yet another supports a national institute — and so on through all the fruitful public projects there are... And often these associations need to replenish their coffers, so they hold literary and musical evenings, and by this work they cultivate artistic taste in al-Fayha and create in it a splendid literary atmosphere of which it stands in the greatest need."

— And do you believe in the Lebanese woman's participation in the social field? Does it not hinder her from attending to the affairs of her home?

"I believe that the Lebanese woman can work in the field of women's society without its hindering her from raising her children and doing the work of her home. On the contrary, I find that her participation in certain social works develops her talents and increases her experience and her capacity for raising her children and managing her home."

It is worth mentioning that Mrs. Helana has five children — four girls and one boy — the eldest sixteen years old and the youngest seven. They are a model of good upbringing and refined manners.

— Would Madam tell me something of her part in founding the Orthodox Girls' School in al-Fayha?

— "You ask me about the school?

It was a golden dream in the depths of my heart, occupying my thoughts from the moment I became capable of thinking. A beautiful dream that visited my eyelids by night and accompanied me all day long.

With ten pupils we opened the school, but it was not long before it grew and flourished and came to rival the finest schools of the country in learning and refinement, and to surpass them in numbers. I am certain that the greatest reason for its brilliant success and rapid progress is the complete understanding among the members of its teaching staff, and the mutual devotion between them and the pupils."

Before taking leave of this energetic lady, I thought I would sound her opinion of the magazine 'The Woman's Voice,' and whether she had any suggestions to enable this magazine to serve the Arab woman to the fullest. She said:

"Our country is in the greatest need of a women's magazine of the caliber of The Woman's Voice. And The Woman's Voice, though it has not yet reached the level its owners wish for it, has filled a great void in our social life; as for the signs of renewal and improvement apparent in its recent issues, they give us tidings of its glorious, flourishing future, God willing."

And I bade farewell to her and to her husband, Dr. Jirji Jaha, who was my greatest helper in reaching the leading women of the women's movement in Tripoli, after thanking her with all possible thanks.

"Sabin"