On Thursday, Irena Zubsendler was honored to be a smuggler. During World War II, nearly 2,500 Jewish children were smuggled out of the Jewish community in Warsaw by Polish social workers. She gave them a new identity, created a safe place for them with the kindness of Christians, and buried the children's real names in a jar in the neighbor's garden. ) At the age of 93, Sendler lived in a nursing home in Warsaw. In 2003 1 month, she was too weak to go to the American Cultural Center in Washington, D.C. to receive the Karski Prize for Courage and Love from Polish culture. One of the children she saved received the award on her behalf.

You risked your life to save that child.

My father taught me that when someone is drowning, you shouldn't ask them if they can swim, but jump directly to help them. Everyone was drowning during the war, but most of them were Jewish children.

How did you persuade your parents to give up their children?

I have to answer honestly. I don't even know if we can get past the guards.

When is the most terrible moment?

I saw a priest in charge of the Jewish children's orphanage in the slum. He came out with his children and was killed. The children wear their best holiday clothes. The priest was killed with them.

How did you get the children to behave when you smuggled out?

I make older children pretend to be sick and sometimes give sleeping pills to younger children. They were told to remember their new names. I also asked the children to tell the guards that they were just visiting a servant in the slum and preparing to go home outside the slum.

Did you tell your two children what you do?

I never told them. My daughter didn't know what I had done until she went to Israel. I think this is the only normal practice. This is a very difficult question. I always wonder (why) I can't do more.

-Samantha Levin

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