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Korczak
and the Ghetto's Children, 1978, Cast
Bronze
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Located in the Janusz Korczak Square, this sculpture of the great Polish-Jewish educator Dr. Henrik Goldschmidt (known by his pseudonym Janusz Korczak) stands in the center of a group of children and shelters them with his body and his outstretched, embracing arms. The figure of Korczak is considerably bigger than the figures of the children. Only his face and hands are visible, uniting the group with their embrace. The children are tall and skinny, their hands long and lifeless and their heads drooping. Janusz Korczak and the children of his orphanage were sent to the Treblinka death camp on August 5, 1942. Every year on this date a memorial ceremony is held at the monument, attended by members of the Korzcak Society in Israel, including several of the children under his care who survived the war. Janusz Korczak started working with children at summer camps, and in 1908, commenced his work with orphans. In 1912 he was appointed head of the new Jewish orphanage in Krochmalna Street, Warsaw. At the orphanage, Korczak put his educational theories and methods to the test, and succeeded in unlocking the door to the children's hearts and souls. The basic tenets of Korczak's theory are an understanding of the emotional world of the child, and an attitude of respect towards him/her. He wrote many books, and during the occupation he kept a diary. After the war, many organizations were established in his name, keeping his memory alive, and cultivating his educational techniques. His writings have been translated into several languages, and books and plays have been written about him. |
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| Copyright ©2004 Yad Vashem The Holocaust Martyrs' and Heroes' Remembrance Authority |
