Three kansas teenagers resurrected her story, writes marti attoun in ladies home journal. The children were hidden in various places and some moved several times during the course of the war. Irena saved 2,500 jewish children, and she rescued them before things could have gotten worse. Irena sendler, a catholic social worker, rescued 2,500 children from the nazi death camps. Sendlers list catholic woman rescued 2,500 jewish children. Irena sendler risked her life to save over 2, 500 jewish babies and children during the second world war.
During the war irena risked her life in order to save other people. Irena sendlers life started out normal, built up for her to accomplish her goal. We drop in for irenas advice when life presents us with difficulties, she said. During world war ii she helped create over 3,000 false documents to help. Irena sendler was born irena krzyzanowska in warsaw on february 15 1910 into a polish roman catholic family. In the video, he gives tribute to a woman named irena sendler who died at the age of 98 in may, 2008 in poland.
Irena, who died in may 2008 at the age of 98 in warsaw, poland, is my hero. Working as a nurse and a social worker, she was active in the polish undergroundthe polish resistance movement in world war iiin germanoccupied warsaw during the world war ii. The irena sendler project is a holocaust history and more. Coming up the stairs were nine nazi soldiers, ready to arrest her for her work with the polish underground. Another of those rescued was michal glowinski, now a literature professor. When hitler and his nazis built the warsaw ghetto and herded 500,000 polish jews behind its walls to await liquidation, irena sendler defied the nazis and saved 2,500 jewish children by smuggling them out of the warsaw ghetto. During world war ii, hitlers nazi regime built the warsaw ghetto, a 16 block area in the city.
Irena was polish and did not have to help the jews but decided to help without anyone asking her. Irena sendler and the children of the warsaw ghetto is a glowing example of why picture books are not just for the young. She didnt save people for her own good, but she did it for the safety for the children, and to help those who. Because of irena sendlers courage and leadership, by stepping up out of hundreds to rescue the jewish children, thousands of lives act as her living legacy. Irena sendler was born in 1910 in warsaw and was raised in the town of otwock, a town about 15 miles from warsaw. Jan 26, 2010 the life of laura ingalls wilder tribute little house on the prairie tv show theme song duration. As a health worker, she had access to the warsaw ghetto, and.
Sendler participated, with dozens of others, in smuggling jewish children out of the warsaw ghetto. Irena sendler was a polish catholic social worker who was head of the childrens section of zegota, an underground resistance organization in germanoccupied warsaw during wwii. Amid the horrors of world war ii, irena sendler was an unlikely and unsung hero. She has written extensively on human rights in books such as fireflies in the dark.
Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Jan 12, 20 school assembly i made on the life of irena sendler. From 1935 to october 1943, she worked for the department of social welfare and public health of the city of warsaw. Irena sendler, the woman who smuggled 2,500 jewish. On october 20, 1943, irena sendler threw a package out a window to a friend below, who quickly hid it under her arm. The story of irena sendler the female oskar schindler who took staggering risks to save 2,500 children from death and deportation in nazioccupied poland during world war ii now adapted for a younger audience. Born in 1910, irena sendler was a catholic employee of the warsaw social welfare department when the nazis herded hundreds of thousands of jews into the 16block ghetto. This book offers the first english translation of the compelling heroine story of irena sendler, a polish catholic who organized the rescue of more than 2,500.
Irenas career you cannot separate people based on their race or religion. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Mother of the children of the holocaust translation by anna mieszkowska isbn. During world war two she was an activist in the polish underground and she helped save approximately 2500 jewish children from the warsaw ghetto by smuggling them out of the ghetto, and providing them with hiding places and false papers. Irena sendler friend of the jews i could have done more.
Glowinski is a professor of literature at the polish academy of. Irena sendler was a polish social worker who, during world war ii, helped to rescue 2,500 jewish children from the warsaw ghetto, and placed them in convents or with nonjewish families. Irena heard the mean things that others said about the jewish people. Irena sendler was a polish woman who along with her trusted network is credited to have saved the lives of 2,500 jewish children during the holocaust. Good, wise, kind, always accepting, she shares our happiness and worries. Life in a jarthe irena sendler project book signing at the kansas book festival in topeka. Irena sendler was a diminutive polish social worker who helped spirit more than four hundred children out of the warsaw ghetto during world war ii. Sendler, irenasendler, irena 1910, head of the childrens section of the council for aid to jews codenamed zegota, a polish underground organization created in the latter part of 1942 and which operated primarily in the warsaw area. It all started out when she was born on february 10, 1910, in otwock, poland. You have to remember that irena sendler was a nonperson during the years of communist rule and was never mentioned in. Warsaw, poland 1942 on october 12, 1940 yom kippur the germans issued a decree calling for the establishment of a ghetto in warsaw. A humble heroine the polish catholic social worker, who helped save thousands of jewish children during world war ii, died last week.
She became a polish nurse and social worker and used her skills to serve in the germanoccupied warsaw during world war ii. This article taken from a website is a secondary source. The courageous heart of irena sendler is a 2009 television film directed by john kent harrison. While many people lived in fear of the nazis, irena defied them, even though it could have meant her life. Irena sendlerowa, also known as irena sendler was born on 15 february 1910 in warsaw, is a former social worker in poland. Irena sendler wrote that tragic events can produce beautiful feelings. The story of irena sendler a social worker who was part of the polish underground in world war ii and was arrested by the nazis for saving 2,500 jewish children by smuggling them out of the. Irena sendler saves jewish children from the warsaw ghetto. Actions like these remind us that it is in the darkest moments where the brightest heroes often shine. Irena sendler and the children of the warsaw ghetto. The hallmark hall of fame award winning dvd featuring anna paquin as irena sendler is now available to order. Books such as irenas jars of secrets have been published over the years.
The dvd is a great secondary addition to reading the life in a jar. Irena stanislawa sendler nee krzyzanowska, also referred to as irena sendlerowa in poland. Gal gadot to play irena sendler, polish hero who saved 2,500 children from nazis wonder woman star to hit big screen in thriller about social worker. Irena made me believe that not all europeans were bad during the holocaust. The film is a coproduction between american and polish companies. She joined the zagota a polish underground group that specialized in assisting jews. Irena sendlerpolish social worker irena sendler 19102008 saved 2,500 jewish children from death in the gas chambers of concentration camps run by nazi germany during world war ii. Impacts the things that irena sendler did, had an immediate impact on the war effort. She is the author of six books, has contributed to numerous journals and archives, and is a frequent guest on polish public radio and literary and cultural television shows. The irena sendler project from the worlds largest community of readers.
After the merciless bombing of warsaw by the german luftwaffe in 1939, irena, then a deeply religious young catholic social worker, did her best to help the wounded and needy. Catholic social worker irena sendler risked her own life to rescue over 2,500 jewish children from the warsaw ghetto during the nazi occupation of poland in wwii. Irena sendler was a young social worker in poland when the germans invaded in 1939. Over the course of the first two years of the war sendler helped forge documents and locate hiding places for jews who were fleeing the nazis accounts estimate that she. Irena sendler and the children of the warsaw ghetto rubin, susan goldman, farnsworth, bill on. Irena sendler was born into a catholic family in poland in 1910.
Irena sendler and the children of the warsaw ghetto a. Life in a jar the courageous story of irena sendler. Little house on the prairie tribute videos by me recommended for you. Among the many mourners at warsaws historic powazski cemetery was elzbieta ficowska, 66, one of the children sendler rescued from the ghetto in 1942. In the words of michael glowinski, rescued as a child by irenas network, the. She obtained documents that allowed her to enter the ghetto, and she began to smuggle children out. She sympathized for jews from an early start, mainly because. Mar 10, 1984 irena sendler didnt see herself as a hero. As a member of zegota, the council for providing aid to the jews, an. Ficowska was taken out of the ghetto in a carpenters wooden box. Irena sendler of poland, nobel peace prize, a real winner.
Oct 02, 2016 during world war ii, irena sendler saved more people than oskar schindler, smuggling some 2,500 jewish children from warsaws ghetto to safety. Her father was a physician who ran a hospital at the suburb of otwock, and a. The irena sendler project kindle edition by mayer, jack. The irena sendler project by jack mayer the book, published by long.
Irena sendler and the children of the warsaw ghetto is not exception, and is filled with information for the older picture book readers. Book on holocaust heroine irena sendler sheds light on her longsuppressed life. She grew up in otwock, a small town 15 miles from warsaw. Irena sendler was a young polish woman living in warsaw during world war ii. May, 2008 sendlers list catholic woman rescued 2,500 jewish children whoever saves a single life, it is as if he had saved the whole world. The irena book is an integral part of the museums 5th grade. In the name of their mothers dvd,this is the story of 29yearold irena sendler who saw the suffering of warsaws jews, and reached out to her most trusted colleagues for help, and outwitted the nazis during world war ii. Irena saved thousands of polish children during the second world war. Irena saved at least 2,500 jewish children from certain death during the holocaust. Irena sendler, irena krzyzanowska, polish social worker born february 15, 1910, otwock, russian empire now in polanddied may 12, 2008, warsaw, pol. The irene sendler project one world library project.
She was greatly influenced by her father, who was a doctor to mostly poor jews. Irena and the members of zegota led some children out through the underground corridors of a courthouse and through a tram depot. School assembly i made on the life of irena sendler. Susan goldman rubin is the author of more than fiftyfive books for children. Rubin have teamed up to create several childrens books dealing with the holocaust and world war ii. Book on holocaust heroine irena sendler sheds light on her. It is a combined story, about a holocaust hero, irena sendler, who rescued 2,500. Irena sendler saved some 2500 children and adults from the warsaw ghetto under german occupation. May 1st is holocaust remembrance day it is also the national premiere of pbs in the name of their mothers, a documentary film about the polish social worker irena sendler, who saved 2,500 jewish babies and children from the warsaw ghetto and almost certain death at treblinka. Irena sendler, who has died in a warsaw hospital at the age of 98, was one of the heroes of the nazi occupation of poland. Like the steady stream that creates a canyon, irena sendlers consistent courage, day in. Irena sendler, a woman who saved the lives of 2,500 jewish.
Irena sendler saved the lives of 2,500 jewish children during the second world war, risking her life to smuggle them out of the warsaw ghetto. It is the inspirational story of protestant students from kansas, each carrying her own painful burden, each called in her own complex way to the history of a catholic woman who knocked on jewish doors in the warsaw ghetto and, in sendlers own words, tried to talk the mothers out of their children. When michal glowinski, who as a child survived the war with sendlers help, was working on his book the black. Irena sendler saved the lives of 2500 jewish children during the second. Irena sendler and the children of the warsaw ghetto is a glowing example of why picture books. The foundation promotes irena sendler s legacy and encourages educators and students to emulate the project by focusing on unsung heroes in history to teach respect and understanding among all people, regardless of race, religion, or creed. She is an example of pure religion, to visit the fatherless in their affliction. She was only 4 ft 11 in tall, a wisp of a catholic girl in her early 30s, a.
Irena sendler, the woman who smuggled 2,500 jewish children out of the warsaw ghetto. Each time, she escaped certain death, as the price. It is a clip from the television show of syndicated talk show host glenn beck. Book on holocaust heroine irena sendler sheds light on her longsuppressed life she was only 4 ft 11 in tall, a wisp of a catholic girl in her early 30s, a fairhaired blueeyed beauty, and an. As a health worker, she sneaked the children out between 1942 and 1943 to safe hiding places and found nonjewish. During the holocaust, irena sendler worked for zegota, a unit within the polish underground established specifically to help jews in hiding. Mieszkowska was a consultant to mary skinners documentary, in the name of their mothers, as well as on the 2009 television movie the courageous heart of irena sendler. Educator, norm conard, irena sendler project member, jaime walker berndt, and author jack mayer, sign books. To me and many rescued children, irena sendlerowa is a third mother. Sendler was born as irena krzyzanowski on february 15, 1910 in warsaw, poland. Sep 16, 2016 book on holocaust heroine irena sendler sheds light on her longsuppressed life she was only 4 ft 11 in tall, a wisp of a catholic girl in her early 30s, a fairhaired blueeyed beauty, and an. Such events can also produce beautiful actions like the breathtakingly brave rescue of 2500 jewish children by sendler and her network of helpers in occupied poland.
Nov 09, 2008 every jewish child saved with my assistance is a justification for my existence in this world, not a reason for glorification, sendler told an interviewer. The irena sendler project the book by jack mayer, middlebury, vt. This page is dedicated to her memory and to honour such a courageous woman. This book tells the story of an amazing woman named irena. From the new york times bestselling author of the widow clicquot comes an extraordinary and gripping account of irena sendlerthe female oskar schindlerwho took staggering risks to save 2,500 children from death and deportation in nazioccupied poland during world war ii.
Irena sendler, born to a polish catholic family, was raised to respect people of all backgrounds and to help those in need. During the war she pursued conspiratorial activities, such as rescuing jews, primarily as part of the network of workers and volunteers from that department, mostly women. Throughout the german occupation in world war ii, irena worked tirelessly to help save polands jews from the nazi horror. Her story along with those with whom she worked is amazing. In 2016, irenas children, a book about sendler written by tilar j. Irena sendler keeps a photo of her kansas girls on the bedside table in her nursinghome room in warsaw, poland. Irena sendler became the head of zegotas childrens bureau. Irena sendler 19102008 a 98 yearold german woman named irena sendler recently died. Irena sendler is a a normal human being, she helped save 2,500 people and she isnt even a soldier. Irena sendler and the children of the warsaw ghetto by susan. She credited heroism to the children she rescued and the parents who set them free. Professor michal glowinski one of the jewish children rescued by irena.