Irena Sendler In the name of their mothers

Irena Sendler (1910-2008) was a Polish social worker who worked to save Jewish children during World War II-often sneaking them to safety out of the Warsaw Ghetto. A member of the underground organization the Council for Aid to Jews, she barely escaped execution by the Nazis. In 1965, she was designated as one of the Righteous Among the Nations by Israel's Yad Vashem Holocaust research center. This moving tribute to Sendler works in an effective and compelling manner, held together by telling interviews with Sendler shortly before she died at the age of 98. The strength of her character shines through her words. Brave Poles who helped in the resistance efforts offer additional insights. Rescued Jewish children-now older adults living in Israel and in the United States-are interviewed as they return to Poland to give thanks to these remarkable individuals. The children survived by adopting a Polish Catholic persona and often living in convents. Sendler talks about the importance she attached to keeping records throughout the war of the true names, identities, and parents of these youngsters. Historical footage flows easily with interwoven contemporary scenes. Viewers of all ages will be moved by this documentary, which serves as an excellent introduction to these Holocaust heroes.-Paul Kaplan, Lake Villa Dist. Lib., IL (c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Gr 9 Up-Some of the worst anti-Jewish atrocities took place in Poland during World War II. Millions of children and adults were murdered. In this climate of inhuman brutality, a group of five women made it their duty to rescue and hide as many children as possible. Their leader was Irena Sendler, a young social worker in Warsaw, who created a vast network of safe homes, look-outs, and resistance fighters. Her testimony only recently became public. Sendler, an octogenarian, talks about the heartbreaking yet essential work she performed. In 1942, the Nazis required that 5,000 Jews be sent to the central plaza for deportation to death camps. Mothers hesitantly trusted Irena to take their children, with no guarantees that they would survive. She and her four sisters-in-arms smuggled Jewish youth through breaks in the ghetto walls or via Warsaw's sewers. It is astounding that every one of the hundreds of children Irena helped to hide survived the war. Many interview segments are in Polish with English subtitles. Testimonies are raw, real, and riveting. The film features a combination of contemporary interviews, vintage stills, movie footage, and some reenactments. Irena Sendler will be etched into viewers' minds as a uniquely courageous and moral woman. This program is an emotionally memorable addition to high school and adult collections of Holocaust history.-Robin Levin, Fort Washakie School/Community Library, Holocaust Teacher-Fellow, Fort Washakie, WY (c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.