110 HCON 361 EH: Commemorating Irena Sendler, a woman whose bravery saved the lives of thousands during the Holocaust and remembering her legacy of courage, selflessness, and hope. U.S. House of Representatives 0 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

IV 110th CONGRESS 2d Session H. CON. RES. 361 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRENT RESOLUTION Commemorating Irena Sendler, a woman whose bravery saved the lives of thousands during the Holocaust and remembering her legacy of courage, selflessness, and hope.

Whereas on May 12, 2008, Irena Sendler, a living example of social justice, died at the age of 98; Whereas Irena Sendler repeatedly risked her own life to rescue over 2,500 Jewish children in Poland’s Warsaw ghetto from Nazi extermination during the Holocaust; Whereas inspired by her father, a physician who spent his career treating poor Jewish patients, Irena Sendler dedicated her life to others; Whereas Irena Sendler became an early activist at the start of World War II, heading the clandestine group Zegota and driving an underground movement that provided safe passage for Jews from the Warsaw ghetto, who were facing disease, execution, or deportation to concentration camps; Whereas Irena Sendler became one of Zegota’s most successful workers, taking charge of the children’s division and using her senior position with the city’s welfare department to gain access to and from the ghetto and build a network of allies to help ferry Jewish children from the Warsaw ghetto; Whereas Irena Sendler was arrested by the Gestapo on October 20, 1943, tortured, and sentenced to death by firing squad; Whereas Irena Sendler never revealed details of her contacts, escaped from Pawiak prison, and continued her invaluable work with Zegota; Whereas in 1965, Irena Sendler was recognized as Righteous Among the Nations by the Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial in Israel; Whereas in 2006, Irena Sendler was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize; Whereas Irena Sendler was awarded the Order of the White Eagle, Poland’s highest civilian decoration; Whereas Irena Sendler’s life has been chronicled in the documentary film, Tzedek: The Righteous and Life in a Jar, a play about her rescue efforts; Whereas Irena Sendler, a woman who risked everything for the lives of others and whose bravery is unimaginable to many of us, expressed guilt for not being able to do more for the Jewish people; and Whereas Americans, as well as the world community, are reminded not only of the horrible cruelty at the time of the Holocaust, but also the incredible difference one person can make by knowing Irena Sendler’s story: Now, therefore, be it

That Congress— (1)mourns the loss of Irena Sendler, a woman whose bravery and heroic efforts saved over 2,500 Jewish children during the Holocaust; (2)pays its respect and extends its condolences to the Sendler family; (3)honors her legacy of courage, selflessness, and hope; and (4)remembers the life of Irena Sendler for her heroic efforts to save over 2,500 Jewish children during the Holocaust, and for her unwavering dedication to justice and human rights.

Passed the House of Representatives July 30, 2008.Lorraine C. Miller,Clerk.