III 

110TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. CON. RES. 96 

Commemorating Irena Sendler, a woman whose bravery saved the lives of 

thousands during the Holocaust and remembering her legacy of courage, 

selflessness, and hope. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

JULY 29 (legislative day, JULY 28), 2008 

Mr. REID (for Mr. OBAMA (for himself and Mr. SPECTER)) submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the 

Judiciary 

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 life during the 

Holocaust to rescue over 2,500 Jewish children who lived 

in the Warsaw ghetto in Poland from Nazi extermination; 

Whereas Irena Sendler was inspired by her father, a physician who treated poor Jewish patients, to dedicate her 

life to others; 


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•SCON 96 IS 

Whereas Irena Sendler became an 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 faced disease, execution, or deportation to concentration camps; 

Whereas Irena Sendler became 1 of the most successful workers within Zegota, taking charge of the children’s division 

and using her senior position with the welfare department in Warsaw to gain access to and from the ghetto 

to 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, the highest civilian decoration in Poland; 

Whereas ‘‘Tzedek: The Righteous’’, a documentary film, and 

‘‘Life in a Jar’’, a play about the rescue efforts made by 

Irena Sendler, chronicle the life of Irena Sendler; 

Whereas Irena Sendler, a woman who risked everything for 

the lives of others and whose bravery is unimaginable to 

many, expressed guilt for not being able to do more for 

the Jewish people; and 


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•SCON 96 IS 

Whereas the story of Irena Sendler reminds citizens of the 

United States and the world community not only of the 

horrible cruelty at the time of the Holocaust, but also the 

incredible difference 1 person can make: Now, therefore, 

be it 

1 Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives 

2 concurring), That Congress— 

3 (1) mourns the loss of Irena Sendler, a woman 

4 whose bravery and heroic efforts saved over 2,500 

5 Jewish children during the Holocaust; 

6 (2) pays respect and extends condolences to the 

7 Sendler family; 

8 (3) honors the legacy of courage, selflessness, 

9 and hope that Irena Sendler exhibited; and 

10 (4) remembers the life and unwavering dedica11 tion to justice and human rights of Irena Sendler. 

Æ 


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