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Brandeis eyes Korczak

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As part of the Yom HaShoah VeHagevurah Curriculum, Mrs. Genosar’s seventh grade class learned about Janusz Korczak, a doctor and author who developed groundbreaking views on raising children, urging adults to treat them with both love and respect. Korczak ran a Jewish orphanage in Warsaw from 1911 to 1942.

 In late July 1942, German authorities began the deportation of Jews from the Warsaw ghetto.  Students were placed in pairs and assigned one of Korczak’s various occupations (writer, doctor, journalist, radio host, principal and solider). Their assignment was to detail the qualities and skills needed for the role. Only after completing their task, did students learn that Janusz Korczak was indeed all of the above.

Students then assembled their work into a puzzle that created a portrait of Janusz Korczak. Although given the chance to avoid deportation, he and his staff stayed with the orphaned children even as German authorities deported them all to their deaths at Treblinka in August 1942.

Janusz Korczak’s career as an author, doctor, and champion of children’s rights continues to inspire educators and childcare experts today.