In memory of an elder

Director of the Azerbaijani Cultural Center at the International Association "Israel-Azerbaijan" Egyana Salman

The International Association "Israel-Azerbaijan" and the whole community of many thousands of people from Azerbaijan have suffered a great loss - one of the most prominent representatives of emigrants from Azerbaijan, Professor Myron I. Fel, has died in Haifa at the age of 85.

Myron Fel was born on April 2, 1928 in Baku. His grandfather moved to Azerbaijan in 1907. His father, Iosif Isaevich Fel, having graduated from the Azerbaijani State Medical Institute, spent a lifetime in the health system of Azerbaijan. And Myron I. Fel also dedicated his life to medicine. After presenting his doctoral thesis, Fel for many years was a professor of the Department of Psychiatry of the Azerbaijani State Medical Institute. Being a brilliant specialist in psychiatry and a talented organizer, for many years, until leaving for Israel, he was the chief psychiatrist of Azerbaijan.

After living for more than 60 years in Azerbaijan, Myron Fel remained loyal to his homeland even in emigration. Arriving in Israel in 1990, he created the company "Haifa-Baku". Since its establishment, this society has been a hotbed of Azerbaijan in Haifa. Both Jewish and Azerbaijani holidays were held there, people celebrated their birthdays, held concerts and parties in memory of prominent figures, as well as tea parties, which were particularly precious for former residents of Baku, being a reminder of one of the most beloved traditions of Azerbaijan. In short, the company created by Professor Fel united former Baku residents and helped them to at least partially satisfy their nostalgia.

A series of lectures about the Jews of Azerbaijan held by Myron Fel was especially important in the cultural life of Israel. In his lectures, he talked about the history of the Jews since the time of the Khazars to the present day, of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic (ADR), when the Jews were presented in the Parliament, and, in addition, the two ministers in the government of the ADR were Jews, about the role played by Jews in the culture, arts and social development of Azerbaijan.

A true patriot and a true resident of Baku, in his lectures Professor Fel expressed all his love and gratitude to Azerbaijan for the fact that there has never been anti-Semitism there, Jewish specialists were always highly valued, and for the fact that Azerbaijanis greeted Jews who came there during the famine and during the Great Patriotic War warmly and hospitably.

Since the founding of the International Association "Israel-Azerbaijan" (AzIz) Professor Fel was chairman of the Council of Elders of the Association and to the end remained one of the most active members of the Azerbaijani expatriate community in Israel. “AzIz” members often turned for advice to the wise and far-sighted "elder", who knew how to give good timely advice which was quite significant in the activities of the association.

The Azerbaijani government highly valued the vigorous activity of one of its most patriotic sons living in emigration. In 2006, at the Second Congress of Azerbaijanis of the World, President Ilham Aliyev awarded Myron Fel the medal "Tereggi" (Progress) for his work with people from Azerbaijan.

Myron Fel had a wife - Professor Elmira Nazirova-Fel - two children, four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

The Management Board of the International Association "Israel-Azerbaijan" on behalf of all immigrants from Azerbaijan expresses its deep condolences to the family and friends of the deceased.