Irena Sendler - Savior of 2,500 Jewish Children
Irena Sendler
(1910 - 2008)
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When Hitler and his Nazis built the Warsaw Ghetto and herded 500,000 Polish Jews behind its walls to await liquidation, many Polish gentiles turned their backs or applauded. Not Irena Sendler. An unfamiliar name to most people, but this remarkable woman defied the Nazis and saved 2,500 Jewish children by smuggling them out of the Warsaw Ghetto. As a health worker, she sneaked the children out between 1942 and 1943 to safe hiding places and found non-Jewish families to adopt them.
Her achievement went largely unnoticed for many years. Then the story was uncovered by four young students at Uniontown High School, in Kansas , who were the winners of the 2000 Kansas state National History Day competition by writing a play Life in a Jar about the heroic actions of Irena Sendler. The girls - Elizabeth Cambers, Megan Stewart, Sabrina Coons and Janice Underwood - have since gained international recognition, along with their teacher, Norman Conard. The presentation, seen in many venues in the United States and popularized by National Public Radio, C-SPAN and CBS, has brought Irena Sendler's story to a wider public.
Sendler was born in 1910 in Otwock, a town some 15 miles southeast of Warsaw . She was greatly influenced by her father who was one of the first Polish Socialists. As a doctor his patients were mostly poor Jews.
In 1939, Germany invaded Poland, and the brutality of the Nazis accelerated with murder, violence and terror.
At the time, Irena was a Senior Administrator in the Warsaw Social Welfare Department , which operated the canteens in every district of the city. Previously, the canteens provided meals, financial aid, and other services for orphans, the elderly, the poor and the destitute. Now, through Irena, the canteens also provided clothing, medicine and money for the Jews. They were registered under fictitious Christian names, and to prevent inspections, the Jewish families were reported as being afflicted with such highly infectious diseases as typhus and tuberculosis.
But in 1942, the Nazis herded hundreds of thousands of Jews into a 16-block area that came to be known as the Warsaw Ghetto .The Ghetto was sealed and the Jewish families ended up behind its walls, only to await certain death.
Sendler was so appalled by the conditions that she joined Zegota , the Council for Aid to Jews, organized by the Polish underground resistance movement, as one of its first recruits and directed the efforts to rescue Jewish children.
To be able to enter the Ghetto legally, Irena managed to be issued a pass from Warsaws Epidemic Control Department and she visited the Ghetto daily, reestablished contacts and brought food, medicines and clothing. But 5,000 people were dying a month from starvation and disease in the Ghetto, and she decided to help the Jewish children to get out.
For Sendler, a young mother herself, persuading parents to part with their children was in itself a horrendous task. Finding families willing to shelter the children, and thereby willing to risk their life if the Nazis ever found out, was also not easy.
Sendler, who wore a star armband as a sign of her solidarity to Jews, began smuggling children out in an ambulance. She recruited at least one person from each of the ten centers of the Social Welfare Department. With their help, she issued hundreds of false documents with forged signatures and successfully smuggled almost 2,500 Jewish children to safety and gave them temporary new identities.
Some children were taken out in gunnysacks or body bags. Some were buried inside loads of goods. A mechanic took a baby out in his toolbox. Some kids were carried out in potato sacks, others were placed in coffins, some entered a church in the Ghetto which had two entrances. One entrance opened into the Ghetto, the other opened into the Aryan side of Warsaw. They entered the church as Jews and exited as Christians. "Can you guarantee they will live?" Irena later recalled the distraught parents asking. But she could only guarantee they would die if they stayed. "In my dreams," she said, "I still hear the cries when they left their parents."
Irena Sendler accomplished her incredible deeds with the active assistance of the church. "I sent most of the children to religious establishments," she recalled. "I knew I could count on the Sisters." Irena also had a remarkable record of cooperation when placing the youngsters: "No one ever refused to take a child from me," she said.
The children were given false identities and placed in homes, orphanages and convents. Sendler carefully noted, in coded form, the children's original names and their new identities. She kept the only record of their true identities in jars buried beneath an apple tree in a neighbor's back yard, across the street from German barracks, hoping she could someday dig up the jars, locate the children and inform them of their past. In all, the jars contained the names of 2,500 children.
But the Nazis became aware of Irena's activities, and on October 20, 1943 she was arrested, imprisoned and tortured by the Gestapo , who broke her feet and legs. She ended up in the Pawiak Prison, but no one could break her spirit. Though she was the only one who knew the names and addresses of the families sheltering the Jewish children, she withstood the torture, refusing to betray either her associates or any of the Jewish children in hiding.
Sentenced to death, Irena was saved at the last minute when Zegota members bribed one of the Germans to halt the execution. She escaped from prison but for the rest of the war she was pursued by the Gestapo .
After the war she dug up the jars and used the notes to track down the 2,500 children she placed with adoptive families and to reunite them with relatives scattered across Europe. But most lost their families during the Holocaust in Nazi death camps.
The children had known her only by her code name Jolanta. But years later, after she was honored for her wartime work, her picture appeared in a newspaper. "A man, a painter, telephoned me," said Sendler, "`I remember your face,' he said. `It was you who took me out of the ghetto.' I had many calls like that!"
Irena Sendler did not think of herself as a hero. She claimed no credit for her actions. "I could have done more," she said. "This regret will follow me to my death."
She has been honored by international Jewish organizations - in 1965 she accorded the title of Righteous Among the Nations by the Yad Vashem organization in Jerusalem and in 1991 she was made an honorary citizen of Israel .
Irena Sendler was awarded Poland's highest distinction, the Order of White Eagle in Warsaw Monday Nov. 10, 2003.
This lovely, courageous woman was one of the most dedicated and active workers in aiding Jews during the Nazi occupation of Poland . Her courage enabled not only the survival of 2,500 Jewish children but also of the generations of their descendants.
She passed away on May 12, 2008, at the age of 98.
Sources : Irena Sendler ; The Unsung Heroines ; Wikipedia ; The Telegraph (May 13, 2008); The Irena Sendler Project
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Truly an amazing women.
What an amazing story of the human spirit, Kavika. Thank you for sharing it with us. If there is a heaven, I am sure she is there.
Perrie, you know the Creator will welcome her with open arms.
At the time there was a lot of anti-Semitism amongst the Poles, Ukranians and Russians (but, as this story illustrates, not all Poles were like that). Members of the resistance were fighting the Nazis. A few helped save the Jews-- but some hated the Jews so much that while they were fighting the Nazis they also turned over Jews in hiding to the Nazis.
This women was extremely brave-- and had very humane values. There have been others like that too, in most countries the Nazis conquered. (Especially amongst the Dutch and the Danes). During the war many Danes smuggled Jews to safety in Sweden (because it was a neutral country. In recent years, however, there has been a big rise in anti-Semitism in Sweden).
The Jews have a name for people like her-- they call them "righteous gentiles". I believe there isd a monument of some sort in Israel honouring them (?)
There is a field of Trees planted in honor of the ''Righteous Gentiles'' at the Holocaust museum in Israel. I think that there is also a monument in Poland as well Krish.
2500 is quite a few . What a remarkable accomplishment ...
Great story Kavika! While the Schindlers and Wallenbergs get much deserved acclaim, I am always delighted and astounded to hear of these unbelievably brave people who risked everything to save strangers during the Holocaust. I often try to assess my own character against heroes such as these and always come up far short. I may not be able to measure up to their incredible levels, but these stories do inspire me to do more to help those in dire straits. Thanks again for putting this up on NT. It is a welcome relief from all the petty political bickering and other nonsense which takes up much of the space here.
It truly was a remarkable accomplishment Petey.
Thanks pokermik. It was really a pleasant surprise to come upon her story. A truly amazing story, with so much courage.
''but these stories do inspire me to do more to help those in dire staits''. That, in itself is a great story pokermik.
I get pretty fed up with the constant political BS as well. I try to find different stories like these to post.
Irena Sendler, a candidate for the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize, is credited with saving 2,500 Polish Jews from the Holocaust.
She LOST.
Al Gore won, for a slide show on Global Warming called "An Inconvenient Truth", better known as Al Gore's "Convenient Lie".
GORE REFUSES TO TAKE PERSONAL ENERGY ETHICS PLEDGE
The Nobel Peace Prize lost all meaning for me when arch-terrorist Yassir Arafat won it. There have been several other ridiculous winners of the prize since then, but none can compare with awarding it to Arafat. There was a man whose entire life was devoted to mass murder, terrorism, and thwarted chances for peace at every opportunity.
The committee that awards The Nobel Peace Prize is notoriously non-objective-- their decisions are coloured by a strongly biased political agenda. (Among other things, they awarded the peace Prize to Yassir Arafat-- perhaps no single person has done more to sabotage peace efforts between Israel and the Arabs. Iin addition to ripping off his own people. (see: Arafat's Billions )
Six, I rarely discuss politics, but in this case I have no use for Al Gore, for the reasons stated above, and also his blown out of proportion service in Vietnam.
I don't even bother with the ''Nobel Peace Prize'' nonsense.
Like Pokermik said, once Yasser Arafat won, it was nothing but political bullshit.
pokermik, I totally agree with you re Arafat winning the Nobel Peace Prize.. A total joke, rewarding a terrorist with the prize.
It simply doesn't have any meaning any long IMO.
Billions, just thing of the things that could for the betterment of the Palestinian people with that kind of money. Nope, it went in the crooks/terrorist pocket.
I totally agree Kavika. I have to say Obama donated his $1.4 million and Al Gore put his into his own organization.
My comment got stuck on "saving" and didn't post the last part. The short of it is in this comment.
Yup, his organization means his pocket.
I don't know where she got the courage, but she had a dose of courage that would put most to shame, Justice.
Therer was also another winner who was controversial.
Regardless of what anyone thinks of Obama's accomplishment to date, the is that he won it so early in his term in office that he didn't actually have time to accomplish much.
Criticism was directed not so much at their choice of Obama, but rather that the timing was certainly premature. (One newspaper compared giveng him the prize so early in his term was like giving a child movie star a "lifetime achievement award").
List of individuals and groups assisting Jews during the Holocaust
Good link Six. I thought one of the most interesting was Albania, which is a Muslim country.
Dear Friend Krish: At the Israeli Holocaust Memorial Yad Ve Shem (Hand and Name) Memorial there is the Avenue of the Righteous. It is a whole street devoted to honoring the Sacred memory of those who at great personal risk helped out Jewish and other peoples survive Nazi brutality and inhumanity.
May the works and memory of Ms. Sendler be an inspiration as well as a Blessing to all in the human family.
Peace, Abundant Blessings and Kol Ha Cavod (All due honor) to the righteous among us.
Enoch.
P.S. Thanks for posting this must read article Kavika. E.
Thanks for the information niijii.
I thought it was really worthwhile to post, since I don't believe many people knew about her.
I think many of us, under similar circumstances, would do the same thing - or at least do what we could. This woman is incredible and wonderful.
There is still room in our world for people like her.
''There is still room in our world for people like her''...There sure is Grumpy, lot's of them.
Arafat wasn't really a Palestinian. He was an Arafatian.
Out for himself. That is true Grumpy.
Wanna know what a true super hero looks like, look no further. Nice article kavika and thank you.
:~)
That she is Larry, a true hero.
Thanks for stopping by.
Here's an interesting article I seeded a while back on another site (that shall not be named for now):
Excellent link and story Krish.
Here is another, A Japanese Diplomat that saved thousands.
Reminds me of another woman. Corrie Ten Boom ...her story resounded when I read this article here. I remember reading The Hiding place as a child, and always will.
Thanks for her name Larry. I goggled her, and this is what I found on this amazing lady.
My pleasure for such a great story in return!
:~)
I believe there were several high ranking Japanese who did similar things-- all the more amazing, since Japan & Nazi Germany were allies! (In several allied and/or Nazi occupied countries, while the Germans pressured local leaders to cooperate with extermination plans, some secretly resisted).
It isn't a field of trees. The trees are planted along the Avenue of the Righeous. I recall seeing a very large pile of stones beside the tree planted by Oskar Schindler.
She was truly one of the righteous - may she rest in peace.
A Nobel Committee member resigned in disgust when Arafat was awarded the prize.
Hitler asked the Japanese occupiers of Shanghai to murder the refugee Jews who escaped to there because visas were not required, but as bad as the Japanese were, they couldn't understand why people should be murdered because of their religion and didn't comply with Hitler's wish.
We've got a real history lesson going on here. Thanks to all for posting these incredible stories Gakina Awiiya (we are all related).