Irena Sendler

Head shot of Irena Sendler (http://moralheroes.org/irena-sendler ())

During World War 2 in the Warsaw Ghetto, Polish social worker, Irena Sendler, rescued 2,500 children. The vast number of children she saved demonstrates how much she truly sacrificed for friends and strangers alike. She was head of the organization nicknamed the Zegota in 1942. This was an underground operation that secretly rescued hundreds of children from the Warsaw Ghetto based from Poland. Later in her career, Nazi officials became suspicious of her actions and arrested her ("Irena Sendler." Newsmakers). She was to be executed but a guard was bribed to let her escape. She then worked "Under the codename Jolanta, with the help of her coworkers, she arranged for Jewish children to be smuggled out of the ghetto and for sheltering them in secure places either with non-Jewish families or in religious institutions" (Paldiel). Heroes have to have the qualities of determination, selflessness, and bravery to become a true hero. Irena Sendler was a selfless hero by making sure the children she rescued had a future, as she was determined to fight for the freedom of each child, and brave enough to risk her own life for the children.

Waiting for help with a rescued child (http://www.chabad.org/theJewishWoman/article_cdo/a ())

Irena Sendler was a selfless hero who risked her own future to rescue many children from death. Sendler's first concern was for the children's safety rather than her own. "'I lost no time in reflecting [on the danger],' she later explained, 'knowing that I and my heart had to be there, had to be a part of the rescue'" (Kroll). Sendler focused solely on the children. They were the most important thing to her, so she risked her life over and over for them. Working tirelessly to rescue Jewish children, Sendler never wavered. When she needed the most motivation, she would remember what exactly she was fighting for. "'And those in the most difficult position were the Jews. And among them those most vulnerable were the children. So I had to help'" ("Irena Sendler." Newsmakers). Sendler recognized the dire situation the Jews were in, so she eagerly went to work saving them. Only looking for more opportunities to help, she never complained. Sendler learned early in life that no matter who you were, help was needed, help was given. "'My parents taught me," Irena wrote back, "that if a man is drowning, it is irrelevant what is his religion or nationality. One must help him'" ("Irena Sendler." Newsmakers). Origin, beliefs, or race did not matter to Sendler, people were people and when they needed help, she was the first to offer. Sendler was dedicated to her cause, but more importantly, she was selfless enough to give her help to humanity.

Irena Sendler with young Jewish children (http://historydaily.org/life-in-a-jar-irena-sendle ())

Even if things became hard, Sendler grew up learning that it was necessary to endure until the end. This perseverance showed through her actions while saving Jewish children every day. Sendler was always looking for ways to help others, whether big or small. She was "...invited to join Zegota. Readily consenting to this, she had already assembled a group of people," (Paldiel). She had a plan even before she was asked to assist in the rescue. Already determined, Sendler started work that would result in saving hundreds of children. Her determination and hard work was well known by those who worked with her on daily basis. "Those who knew her say that it was always Irena's nature to help. Though she lost her father at an early age, his dedication to others - reinforced by her mother's example and words - made a deep impression on her" (Kroll). The dedication of a loving father and mother was taught to Sendler at a young age. It later took seed in her heart and grew into an amazing gift of determination, which was one of Sendler's most helpful attributes in saving the Jewish children. No matter how much work it required, Sendler was determined to save as many young Jewish children as she could. "To save one Jew, she reckoned, required 12 outsiders working in total secrecy: drivers for the vehicles; priests to issue false baptism certificates; bureaucrats to provide ration cards; and most of all, families or religious orders to care for them" ("Irena Sendler." The Economist). Sendler worked hard for each and every child, it took immense effort and time to save even one child. Sendler was determined to save them all or die trying. Through her multiple experiences, Sendler learned that determination was vital in completing the mission.

Worried for the future of the rescued children (https://www.pinterest.com/LynnCobourn/irena-sendle ())

Sendler demonstrated bravery by putting her life on the line for children every day. Assisting Jews was punishable by death, so Sendler had risked her own life by helping them. "To make matters even riskier, Mrs. Sendler insisted on recording the children's details to help them trace their families later" ("Irena Sendler." The Economist). By writing down the names of each child and the family they belonged to, it would only seal Sendler's death if the Nazis discovered them. However risky it was, Sendler was willing to take it to ensure that after the war the family would once again be reunited. Sendler had to be brave in order to help the Jewish families. "In Nazi-occupied Poland, aiding a Jew was punishable by death. Sendler's activities attracted the attention of the Gestapo, the Nazi secret police agency, and she was arrested in October of 1943. She was beaten and tortured, but refused to divulge any details of her work or the names of her fellow humanitarians" ("Irena Sendler." Newsmakers). Sendler under torture would still not divulge any secrets of the work going on. She was brave and strong enough to stay quiet even though she was faced death. Sendler did all that she could to aid the young Jewish children so, "Between 1939 and 1942 Irena, with the assistance of a few trusted friends, forged over 3,000 documents to save Jewish families" (Kroll). Sendler could have died a tragic death if the Nazis found out the documents were forged. She remained brave even in the face of death. Irena Sendler demonstrated immense bravery through forging documents to writing down the names of each child that was rescued.

The selflessness, determination and bravery that Irena Sendler demonstrated while saving Jewish children from a certain death, are the qualities of a true hero. Irena Sendler was a selfless hero by making sure the children she rescued had a future, as she was determined to fight for the freedom of every child, and brave enough to risk her own life for the children. Through her actions and examples that she set, Sendler is a true hero to many. Her life story teaches us that we can place others before ourselves, that we can stay determined amidst our difficulties, while stand up for what we believe in. Sendler is known for the sacrifices she had made and for the compassion she showed to the children she rescued. "She already had a history of sacrifice on behalf of others, and of defying rising anti-Semitism to reach out to and stand up for Jews" (Kroll). She sacrificed so much in order for others to live. She exemplified characteristics of a true hero. Her example motivates others to do good and lift others up. The number of lives Sendler saved was of no importance to her. It was the lives of the children that were paramount.

Works Cited

"Irena Sendler." Newsmakers, vol. 2, Gale, 2009. Student Resources in Context,

link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/K1618004894/SUIC?u=powa9245&xid=fc8424d8.

Accessed 19 Jan. 2017.

"Irena Sendler." The Economist, 24 May 2008, p. 110(US). Student Resources in Context,

link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A179283377/SUIC?u=powa9245&xid=3e20bb0a.

Accessed 18 Jan. 2017.

Kroll, Chana. "Rescuer of the Children of Warsaw." Rescuer of the Children of Warsaw -

Dealing with Challenge.

<http://www.chabad.org/theJewishWoman/article_cdo/aid/939081/jewish/Irena-Sendler.htm>.

Paldiel, Mordecai. "Irena Sendler." Encyclopaedia Judaica, edited by Michael Berenbaum and

Fred Skolnik, 2nd ed., Macmillan Reference USA, 2007. Biography in Context,

link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/K2587518026/BIC1?u=powa9245&xid=e7db04c6.

Accessed 12 Jan. 2017.