Forwarded email purports to tell the true story of Irena Sendler, a Polish woman nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize for saving 2,500 Jewish children by smuggling them out of the Warsaw Ghetto during World War II.
Description: Forwarded email
Circulating since: July 2008
Status: Investigation pending
Example:
Email contributed by Sherry C., July 21, 2008:
CAN YOU IMAGINE THIS STORY.......
A Lady Named Irena
There recently was a death of a 98 year old lady named Irena.
During WWII, Irena, got permission to work in the Warsaw Ghetto, as a Plumbing/Sewer specialist.
She had an ulterior motive...
She KNEW what the Nazi's plans were for the Jews, (being German).
Irena smuggled infants out in the bottom of her tool box she carried, and she carried in the back of her truck a Burlap sack, (for larger kids).
She also had a dog in the back, that she trained to bark when the Nazi soldiers let her in, and out of the ghetto.
The soldiers of course wanted nothing to do with the dog, and the barking covered the kids/infants noises.
During her time and course of doing this, she managed to smuggle out and save 2500 kids/infants.
She was caught, and the Nazi's broke both her legs, and arms, and beat her severely.
Irena kept a record of the names of all the kids she smuggled out, and kept them in a glass jar, buried under a tree in her back yard.
After the war, she tried to locate any parents that may have survived it, and reunited the family.
Most of course had been gassed.
Those kids she helped got placed into foster family homes, or adopted.
Last year Irena was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize....
She LOST.
Al Gore won, for doing a slide show on Global Warming.
Investigation pending. See resources below for historical information on Irena Sendler:
Irena Sendler, Lifeline to Young Jews, Is Dead at 98
New York Times, 13 May 2008
Senate Passes Irena Sendler Resolution
Press release, Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky, 23 September 2008
Gore, U.N. Climate Panel Win Nobel Peace Prize
MSNBC, 12 October 2007
Oprah and Gore Among 181 Peace Prize Nominees
The Guardian, 23 September 2007
Nobel Prize Is Sought for Polish Heroine
New York Sun, 29 January 2007
