Korczak exhibit to tour Ontario,
organized by the Canadian Jewish Congress, B.C.

Jan 07, 2004 - CJN
By: Cynthia Gasner

From the Web editor:

We have just received a letter from Mrs Ewa Junczyk-Ziomecka, Vice-director of the Museum of Jews in Warsaw, informing us about some well documented facts concerning the legendary Doctor and Educator, Janusz Korczak. Apparently, he was offered a save place at the so called Aryan side by his colleagues and friends, Stefania Sempolowska and Maria Falska who headed an orphanage for Christian children. However, he refused to leave his orphans.

The information comes from Igor Newerly's book (whose true name was Jerzy Abramow, 1903-1987). He worked as the secretary of Dr Korczak and editor of children's newspaper that had been launched by Dr Korczak and later passed to him. He married one of Korczak's orphans.

An exhibit on the legendary Polish-Jewish doctor, author and educator Janusz Korczak, who set up homes in the Warsaw Ghetto for orphaned youths and went with them to their deaths at Treblinka, will be shown in cities around Ontario this winter.

From Jan. 19 to March 26, the exhibit "Janusz Korczak and the Children of the Warsaw Ghetto" will travel to five mid-sized communities - Kitchener, Thunder Bay, Barrie, Peterborough and St. Catharines.

Though his fame could have saved him from death, Korczak held one child by each hand and bravely led 200 of his Jewish orphans into the gas chambers, and died with them on Aug. 6 1942.

"You do not leave a sick child in the night and you do not leave children at a time like this," was his answer to the Nazis when they offered to spare his life.

The exhibit, which was developed by the Vancouver Holocaust Education Centre using historical photographs from the ghetto and photographs highlighting contemporary children's rights issues, recently returned from being displayed in England.

The tour is a project of the Regional Jewish Communities of Ontario (RJCO)of Canadian Jewish Congress, Ontario region, and UIA Federations of Canada.

A special one-day preview of the exhibit, hosted by Toronto Deputy Mayor Mike Feldman under the patronage of Polish Consul General Jacek Kiesielewski and Israeli Consul General Yaakov Brosh, took place last month at Metro Hall on International Human Rights Day. It was attended by Holocaust survivors, political leaders, members of human rights agencies and other invited guests.

Ed Morgan, chair of CJC Ontario region, said that over the next few months, thousands of people will be able "to experience the life's story of this remarkable man.

"In today's fast-paced world it behooves us all to remember our heroes, especially those who act through altruism and with dignity. Dr. Korczak, despite the allure of working from outside the Warsaw Ghetto walls, chose instead to tend to the children whose Jewish parents were murdered by the Nazis."

He added that "exhibits like this one can teach us all a thing or two about helping our fellow man."

Carson Phillips, the RJCO's holocaust and adult education co-ordinator, said Korczak's legacy has grown over time to international prominence.

"He could not possibly have known that today, his writing and ideas about progressive educational practices would arouse the interest of teachers and educators today in the 21st century," Phillips said.

The exhibit will be open to the community and school groups, and teachers attending with their students will receive resource material to encourage post-exhibit activities, he said.

An integral part of the exhibit is a 25-minute video testimony from Lilian Boratz, a child survivor of the Warsaw Ghetto who now lives in Vancouver.

The exhibit will be on display at Kitchener City Hall from Jan. 19 to 27. From Feb 9 to 12, it will be at Lakehead University in Thunder Bay. From Feb 16 to 20, Am Shalom Synagogue in Barrie will host the exhibit, and from Feb. 23 to 27, it will be at Trent University in Peterborough. In its final showing before returning to Vancouver, it will be shown at Congregation

B'Nai Israel in St. Catharines from March 22 to 26.

For more information, call Phillips at 416-635 2883, ext. 151.