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Janusz Korczak's Life 



Korczak was born to an assimilated middle class Jewish familyin Warsaw. His life and identity is a representation of many Jews in modern times who tried to integrate themselves into the surrounding society. All his life Korczak has to deal with his belonging to two worlds and two societies or his not belonging to any.

 

Korczak learned to be a pediatrician but in early stges of his life who chose the life of an educator, a philosopher of education, writer, journalist and public figure in young new Poland. Nearly forty years ofd educational work came to a tragic end - along with most of the Polish Jews - in Treblinka death camp on August 5th 1942.

 

Korczak Life time line

 

  • 1878  Birth of Korczak (Henryk Goldszmit)

  • 1883  First learn about his Jewish identity

  • 1898  Commenced medical studies

  • Received literature prize and assumed the pen-name of Janusz Korczak

  • 1904  Began his work in the Hospital for Jewish Children in Warsaw

  • 1904-1905 Conscripted as a doctor in the Russo-Japanese War

  • 1906-1908 Undertook pediatric studies in Berlin, Paris and London

  • 1909-1910 Youth leader of Jewish and Polish children at summer camp

  • 1912  Founding of the Jewish orphanage at 92 Krochmalna Street

  • 1914-1918 Conscripted as a doctor in the First World War

  • 1919 Together with Maryna Flaska set up the “Our Home” orphanage for Polish workers' children

  • 1920  Pogroms sweep Poland

  • Death of his mother

  • 1922 Published the eighteen prayers book

  • 1923 Published “King Macius the First” his first book for children

  • 1926  Published the young people’s newspaper “Maly Prezgland”

  • 1931  Production of Korczak’s play “Senate of Madmen”

  • 1934  Korczak’s first visit to Palestine

  • 1935  Elected to the Jewish Agency council

  • 1936  Second visit to Palestine

  • Contract for radio station broadcast is terminated

  • Discontinued work at the “Our Home” orphanage

  • 1937-1938 Became active in Zionist youth movements

  • Wrote stories about Jewish children and Eretz Israel

  • 1939 Outbreak of World War Two.  Radio Broadcast .  Tended to the war injured; appealed for aid for the orphanage.

  • 1940  Last summer camp for children before being sent to the ghetto

  • 1942  Kept a diary 15 May to 4 August

  • July 18, Staging of the play “The Mail” at the orphanage

  • 1942 Augusst 5th:  Deportationto Treblinka

  • Korczak together with 192 children and 7 staff members walks silently to the deportation place. Korczak was 64 and Stefa 56.

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