Life In A Jar

Irena Sender and her daughter, 1950. Photo from Irena Sender.org

I just found out about this, and thought I'd share the news:

Two performances of Life in a Jar, the heroic story of Irena Sendler, a Catholic social worker who saved 2,500 Jewish children from certain death in the Warsaw ghetto will take place Sunday, October 19 at 2:30 PM and again at 7:30 PM at Ohavi Zedek Synagogue, 188 North Prospect Street. This play was written by three girls from a poor, rural high school in Kansas, who found a brief reference to Sendler's heroism while doing research for a school history project and were moved to use the story. Governor Douglas has proclaimed October 17th as IRENA SENDLER DAY to honor both her legacy and the Life in a Jar students, who rescued Sendler's remarkable story from obscurity. The performance is suitable for all adults and for children in middle school and high school.

Six Kansas students and their teacher, Norm Conard, are coming to Vermont to present the play in Montpelier, Middlebury and Burlington. These Kansas students have performed their play in the U.S., Canada and Poland. Their presentation highlights the legacy of Irena Sendler, her belief in the worth and dignity of all people, the need to respect all people and the power of one person to make a difference in the world. Due to their efforts, Sendler, who recently died at the age of 98, became a national hero in Poland. In 2007, the President of Poland and the Prime Minister of Israel jointly nominated her for the Nobel Peace Prize.

The local performance at Ohavi Zedek Synagogue is sponsored by Christ Church Presbyterian, Merchants Bank, The University of Vermont Carolyn and Leonard Miller Center for Holocaust Studies and the University of Vermont Hillel Center. Tickets are only $5.00 apiece and are available at the door.