Irena sendler was born on february 15th, 1910, in otwock, just 15 miles southeast of warsaw, poland. This article is within the scope of wikiproject poland, a collaborative effort to improve the coverage of poland on wikipedia. The foundation promotes irena sendlers 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. How irena sendler saved 2,500 jewish children during the. Working as a nurse and a social worker, she was active. Sendler was influenced by her father who was the first polish socialist, and his patients were mostly poor jews. However, her polish coworkers managed to bribe the executioner and rescued her. This page is dedicated to her memory and to honour such a courageous woman. The irena sendler project by jack mayer is a powerful story of the holocaust and more.
Bringing life to children of the holocaust crabtree groundbreaker biographies paperback susan brophy down. Extensive archive footage and interviews with survivor, sendler, her coworkers and the children she. There were several ruses by which the children were saved. 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. Anne frank, irena sendler stories to be dramatized locally this month. From irena sendler in the name of their mothers youtube. It is a rare glimpse into the heart and mind of an incredibly brave and courageous woman. And i promise, its a story thats also worthy of your attention. There were several subsequent trips back to poland to be with irena before she passed away, and the repeated performances of life in a jar gradually brought irenas story more and more. 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. 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. On march 15 2007 irena sendler was named a national hero by a polish parliament. Irena sendler, who died last week in poland, was a polish catholic social worker who smuggled those kids out of the warsaw ghetto. Now that ive finally finished reading life in a jar, i have to say.
During world war ii, when poland was occupied by nazis, she took about 2,500 jewish children out of poland with help from other members of the zegota the polish council to aid jews. In the name of their mothers, directed and coproduced by american filmmaker mary skinner, brings this miraculous and profound story of human goodness to life. Words of irenas father on february 15th, 1910 born into a catholic family, irena krzyzanowki later became sendler when she married her first husband was born. Mar 10, 1984 irena sendler and the children of the warsaw ghetto, by susan goldman rubin is a great historical fiction book.
Yet there were acts of courage and human decency during the holocaust stories to bear witness to goodness, love and compassion. She rescued over 2,500 children till she was captured and sentenced to. When she assigned each child a new name christian name, she hid there. I would highly recommend having this book in a classroom library.
There is much misinformation, circulating on the internet, about sendler e. Factbased drama about irena sendler anna paquin, a polish social worker who saved nearly 2500 jewish children from being deported to death camps during world war ii by placing them with polish. The irena sendlerlife in a jar foundation promotes the legacy of this great woman and encourages everyone to follow her path of selfless service. The protagonist of this story was a 29yearold polish social worker named irena sendler. Childhood, family and early life if you see someone drowning, you must jump in and try to save them, even if you dont know how to swim. Jan 20, 2011 like the steady stream that creates a canyon, irena sendlers consistent courage, day in and day out, changed the fate of over 2,500 jewish children during the holocaust of wwii. Mazzeos book opens the door to irena sendlers story, an amazing story but i believe irena took her true story to the grave. In 2016, irenas children, a book about sendler written by tilar j. In 1999, 3 kansas students uncover her story and bring it to light through a play, life in a jar. It would be a great book to quickly read through to get a beginning concept of what was happening during wwii. Her photo stares at me dreamy and melancholiclike golden october leaves against a cloudy sky. A new documentary about the life of irena sendler youtube. Mother of the children of the holocaust by anna mieszkowska, witold zbirohowskikoscia, et al. New book on holocaust heroine irena sendler by tilar mazzeo.
Sendler, born irena krzyzanowska, was 2 when her family moved from warsaw to nearby otwock, where her father, a doctor, directed a spa hospital. This is the story of an incredible woman and her amazing gift to. From the new york times bestselling author of the widow clicquot comes an extraordinary and gripping account of irena sendler the female oskar schindlerwho took staggering risks to save 2,500 children from death and deportation in nazioccupied poland during world war ii. There were several subsequent trips back to poland to be with irena before she passed away, and the repeated performances of life in a jar gradually brought irenas story more and more attention. Oct 20, 2017 irena sendler was well aware of the danger, but that didnt stop her from risking everything to save the lives of over 2,000 jewish children. Irena stanislawa sendler nee krzyzanowska, also referred to as irena sendlerowa in poland.
The courageous heart of irena sendler rotten tomatoes. The irena sendler project by jack mayer the book, published by long. First, it is the story of the extraordinary irena sendler, the great rescuer of warsaw. The foundation promotes irena sendlers legacy and encourages educators and students to emulate. Students are asked to consider irenas actions and her motives. Like the steady stream that creates a canyon, irena sendlers consistent courage, day in and day out, changed the fate of over 2,500 jewish children during the holocaust of wwii. Irena sendlers father and many of the women who participated in the polish resistance came from this szlachta class, which is basically the impoverished nobility, who were leftistleaning during this interwar period. 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 jewish children from the warsaw ghetto during world war ii. But in this book tells the story of irena sendler, her brave coworkers, and those they rescued, largely in their own words. The film is a coproduction between american and polish companies.
Irena sendler stories of women who rescued jews during the. She was greatly influenced by her father, who was a doctor to mostly poor jews. She saved 2,500 jewish children during world war two while she worked with the polish underground, which help maid polish jews. And there s another story involving the rescue of as many as 2,500 jews that glenn sunshine recently brought to our attention. Another gal hosted our group for a lively lunch and discussion. Sep 28, 2016 and there s another story involving the rescue of as many as 2,500 jews that glenn sunshine recently brought to our attention. Nationality, race, and religion do not play any role. Sendler was known there by her conspiratorial pseudonym klara and among. Tennis volleyball recreation game room trampolines outdoor games. A fitting heir to a legacy of courage and sacrifice remembered today as the female oskar schindler, irena sendler was an activist and outspoken critic of antisemitic policies long before the. Kelly, nathan roach, irene dennis, stephen estey and garrett fitzgerald.
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. It is a book that i will recommend all teachers, educators, and students because it conveys the message of how one person can change the world around them with their love and service. Irena stanislawa sendler 15 february 1910 12 may 2008 was a nurse and social worker in warsaw, poland. When she assigned each child a new name christian name, she hid there fake names along with their real names under a tree at her neighbors house, where only she knew. 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. Irena sendler simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Irena sendler died 12 may 2008 aged 98 in warsaw, poland.
Irena sendler, a roman catholic who created a network of rescuers in. Irena sendler was born on 15th of february, 1910 and played an angelic role in rescuing jewish kids and infants from warsaw ghetto. Sendler died of pneumonia in 2008 at the age of 98, leaving behind her legacy in mutliple ways including the life in a jar project which remember her through a play as well as a book life in a jar and also. Irena sendler, born in 1910 to a polish catholic family, was. If you would like to participate, please visit the project page, where you can join the discussion and see a list of open tasks. Jan 12, 2016 although not widely known outside of poland, irena sendler saved hundreds of jewish children from the clutches of the nazis. In 1942, one young social worker, irena sendler, was granted access to the warsaw ghetto as a public health. Irena sendler, born to a polish catholic family, was raised to respect people of all backgrounds and to help those in need. It is also the inspirational story of students from kansas, each carrying their own painful burden, each called in their own complex way to the history of a catholic woman who knocked on jewish doors in the. This lesson uses irena sendler and the children of the warsaw ghetto to introduce students to a true story of a catholic, polish social worker who saved the lives of thousands of jewish children during.
Even into her 90s she was haunted by the memories of parents handing over their children knowing they would probably never see them again. During the german occupation of poland during wwii irena lived in warsaw as early. Thank goodness the library sent life in a jar back to me today. Their innocent drama was first seen in kansas, then the midwest, then new york. The company felt that it was a compelling choice and we went from there. In poland, she is affectionately known as the mother of the holocaust children. Mazzeos book opens the door to irena sendler s story, an amazing story but i believe irena took her true story to the grave. Irena sendler is well known in history, even today. Jun 01, 2005 thank goodness the library sent life in a jar back to me today.
The irena sendler project the book by jack mayer, middlebury, vt. They were for a free and independent poland, but they were also for socialist, humanitarian values. The film is based on unique and exclusive interviews with the heroine, which were recorded and shot during the last days of her life. It will appeal to anyone with an interest in history, as well as teachers of all subjects. In fact, using illustrated narrative to tell the story of a difficult time in history, sets the tone and helps to place the event in time through pictures, while teaching children the importance of historical events. Irena sendler poland when world war ii broke out, irena sendler was a 29yearold social worker, employed by the welfare department of the warsaw municipality. She became a polish nurse and social worker and used her skills to serve in the germanoccupied warsaw during world war ii. This nobel peace prize nominee was largely unknown in america until a group of teenagers in kansas discovered her inspiring and heartbreaking life story.
How one woman helped save 2,500 children during the holocaust, is written by jennifer roy. In the fall of 1999, four young girls from kansas began research for a high school history project. May, 2008 irena in the middle, visiting school in tel aviv in israel in 1983. I want the jewish community to know that there was resistance and a spirit among the jews in the ghetto. Ode to irena sendler poem by paul hartal poem hunter. Irena in the middle, visiting school in tel aviv in israel in 1983.
In fact, using illustrated narrative to tell the story of a difficult time in. After the german occupation, the department continued to take care of the great number of poor and dispossessed people in the city. Irena sendler and the children of the warsaw ghetto by susan. Im back reading it again and continued to be totally fascinated. Words of irenas father on february 15th, 1910 born into a. 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. And i promise, its a story thats also worthy of your. Irena sendler biography childhood, life achievements. During world war ii, when poland was occupied by nazis, she took about 2,500 jewish children. This lesson uses irena sendler and the children of the warsaw ghetto to introduce students to a true story of a catholic, polish social worker who saved the lives of thousands of jewish children during world war ii by relocating them. Irena sendler was born in 1910 in warsaw and was raised in the town of otwock, a town about 15 miles from warsaw. The irena sendler project is a holocaust history and more.
Although not widely known outside of poland, irena sendler saved hundreds of jewish children from the clutches of the nazis. Sendler tells her story of saving the lives of the poorest children imprisoned behind the walls of the warsaw ghetto. The irena sendler project is based on a true story, it reads like a novel. A version adapted to be read by children was created by mary cronk farell. Petition reward irena sendler the nobel peace prize. The last time my book club got together we discussed the book, life in a jar.
Mar 28, 2011 inspired by irena sendler, they are living examples of the power of one person to change the world and models for young people everywhere. She rescued over 2,500 children till she was captured and sentenced to death by shooting. This article is within the scope of wikiproject biography, a collaborative effort to create, develop and organize wikipedias articles about people. From october 1943 she was head of the childrens section of zegota, the polish council to aid. Verdict purchase where there is a high demand for holocaust nonfiction. Irena sendler and the children of the warsaw ghetto is a glowing example of why picture books are not just for the young. Irena sendler stories of women who rescued jews during. To the last days of her life she remembered almost everything. Irena was a candidate for the 2007 nobel peace prize. She bends gently her oval head towards her right shoulder. Irena saved thousands of polish children during the second world war. Irena sendler, lifeline to young jews, is dead at 98 the new york.
Her story has been retold in a bestselling book and in a hallmark tv movie, and. It is the inspirational story of protestant students from kansas, each carrying her own painful burden, each. Irena sendler and the children of the warsaw ghetto by. I am using this article to show the impact irena sendler had because without her those 2,500 children she saved would most likely have been killed. All interested editors are invited to join the project and. The courageous heart of irena sendler is a 2009 television film directed by john kent harrison. New book on holocaust heroine irena sendler by tilar. This article taken from a website is a secondary source.
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