author: 陈彦儒
Eight years ago, in a small Kansas town, four young women embarked on a journey that would unearth a forgotten hero of the Holocaust. Megan Stewart and her schoolmates, motivated by their shared passion for history, decided to delve into the life of Irena Sendler, a Polish Catholic social worker. Their journey began when they stumbled upon Sendler’s name in a magazine article about Holocaust heroes.
Their high school teacher, Norm Conard, had introduced the concept of “Tikkun Olam” - repairing the world. Encouraging respect for all races and creeds, he inspired the students to tackle a story far removed from their small Kansas town.
Facing sparse information online, the students sought assistance from a Jewish organization to locate Sendler in a Warsaw nursing home. Then they made multiple trips to Poland, conducting interviews with Sendler and the children she saved, creating the world’s most extensive collection of research and artifacts documenting her heroic acts.
Their journey reached its first milestone with a 10-minute play for National History Day, a project that would expand into a 35-minute drama performed globally after a few months. Irena Sendler, once a name in the shadows, gradually gained global recognition. The students’ dedication earned her a nomination for the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize. Despite graduating from high school and college, getting married, and starting families, their connection to Sendler and her story remained an integral part of their lives.
As the years passed, Sendler’s story became better known, and the bond between the Kansas women and the Polish heroine deepened. Sendler, often referred to as a surrogate mother, played a significant role in shaping the lives of the four women. They wore heart necklaces given by Sendler, exchanged emails and letters regularly, and planned a visit to Poland on her 100th birthday.
The most valuable possession for these women is a history-steeped glass jar from Poland. A tangible symbol of Sendler’s commitment, the jar represents the enduring impact of four young students from Kansas who, against all odds, unveiled the unsung story of a Holocaust heroine and became the “rescuers of the rescuer.”