News & Updates

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ANNOUNCEMENT:

BE WATCHING FOR NEW PERFORMANCES IN 2021

News of the Week – 10/13/16

What a wonderful time in Cherry Hill, New Jersey at the Esther Raab Holocaust Museum & Goodwin Education Center for Life in a Jar. The performance was attended by nearly 500 people and there were numerous survivors present. One of the survivors was Stefanie Seltzer, President of the World Federation of Jewish Child Survivors and Descendants of the Holocaust.

The Education Program Coordinator, Helen Kirschbaum, did a marvelous job of organizing and hosting.
Our cast and crew were excellent as always; Megan, Mary, Noah, Erin and Addi. The performance added a short new portion, always looking to improve.
The Chair of the Center, Renee Siegel, shared the following: “I mentioned that when I was in Krakow, Poland last year I met by happenstance, a woman named Roza Friedman. She identified herself to me (in Yiddush) as “a child of Irena Sendler.”
Many email comments have come in:
“Life is so important. Irena Sendler understood that as well as anyone who lived in the 1940’s.”
“We appreciate the wonderful work of the Life in a Jar cast in telling this story that the entire world should know.”
“It was because of you and your students that I knew Irena’s story and could therefore truly appreciate the life-affirming significance of Roza’s survival, and her ability to sit and hold hands with me on that fateful day at the Krakow JCC.”

News of the Week – 9/22/16

17 years ago tomorrow, the Life in a Jar project began. The project and students would discover Holocaust rescuer, Irena Sendler and change the world. Students in Mr. Conard’s class would begin telling an incredible story of courage and valor. Seventeen years ago Megan, Liz and Sabrina began a journey.

See irenasendler.org for the next presentation of Life in a Jar, in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, on Sunday, October 9th.
The cast and crew has changed over the years, although Megan is still in the performance.  Irena suggested years ago we expand to include other schools. As a result, over 45 students have been in the play. The performance has been done over 380 times around the United States and the world.
A best selling book, an Emmy winning movie, a website with 55 million hits and schools all over the world named after Irena form just a part of the legacy of Irena and this project.

News of the Week – 8/26/16

We have just passed 55 million hits on our Life in a Jar website!!!!

as of August 1, 2016 there have been 2,855,524 visits and 55,526,467 hits

(Form Italy) Dear Mr. Conard,

“Yesterday I did a lesson about Irena Sendler at University (in Bologna). This is a very big opportunity that my supervisor had given me. I spoke about Irena for 100 minutes; I showed some videos (some parts of “The courageous Heart of Irena Sendler “, an Irena’s video and the moment when you and yours students meet Irena in Varsavia); I read the message that you send me for italian students some months ago; one of my dear friends played an Irena’ s letter (the letter about Pawiak), a song’s test (Auschwitz of Modena city rambles & Guccini) and a Borges’s text that speaks about a Jewish sentenced  of death. In the end of the lesson I asked every one for writing a thought about Irena and bringing a note that was in a jar ( I brought a jar with hundreds polish nomes because I would like that they can reflet about this big Irena’s action). In the end I also made students listen to Aria of Eugenie Bozza. It was a very touching moment in fact many people were crying.”

From Marzanna of Lowell Milken Center Europe:

11th December 2015 – a presentation in the prison for women. The female prisoners in Turawa near Opole, Poland, realize the project on Irena Sendler, preparing the performance in which they discovered a powerful parallel between the lives of Jewish mothers who had to give their children to unknown people and their own lives.

2nd March 2016 – co-organizing the performance prepared by women imprisoned in the local detention center. The performance, devoted to Irena Sendler life was watched by about 250 hundred students Irena Sendler’s life in prisoner’s performance. The female prisoners some months ago found out about Irena Sendler and her incredible life. Moved by the story of Irena, the prisoners, sometimes also deprived of possibility of taking care of their children, decided to write a script for the play related to Irena Sendler. In the performance the audience watched both the war scenes and post war episodes so that they could perfectly imagine Irena Sendler’s heroism. After the play, the actors got long ovation, were presented with some items of a book “Life in A Jar: the Irena Sendler Project” and answered the students’ questions on their creating the performance. The play is going to be presented in other locations as a unique example of Irena Sendler’s powerful impact that goes beyond the thickest walls. Even if on the other side there is a prison. Info and pictures

News of the Week – 7/15/16

The new Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes has a wonderful ‘Life in a Jar, Irena Sendler Exhibit.’

The new exhibit is large in scope and powerful in every way.  If you haven’t made it to Fort Scott for our new Hall of Unsung Heroes, you must come and visit. 3,000 visitors have come to the Center since the beginning of May.
The Irena Sendler exhibit is the most popular of many featuring a number of artifacts from the Holocaust, plus some wonderful kiosks with video.
Exhibit Associates of Kansas City did the professional paneling. They have also contributed to the Truman Library, Union Station, 18th and Vine and much more.
The great story of Irena and the Life in a Jar kids continues on and on.

News of the Week – 5/6/16

As we leave Holocaust Remembrance Day and the 73rd anniversary of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising, we approach the passing of Irena Sendler on May 12th. She passed away in 2008.  Megan Felt, Life in a Jar Co-Founder’s birthday is also May 12th

History passes and we remember with sadness, but there is joy as we honor heroism, bravery, kindness and compassion.
The new Unsung Heroes museum in Fort Scott, Kansas has an incredible exhibit on Irena and the Life in a Jar project. You must see this exhibit. The Grand Opening ceremony is May 24th. The days following the grand opening this summer would be a great time to visit Fort Scott and our many historic sites.
Fifty students have been in the Life in a Jar project with about 10-15 involved at any current time. Twenty-eight of the 50 have acted in the Life in a Jar performance with Megan Stewart Felt, Jaime Walker, Jessica Shelton Ripper, Liz Cambers Hutton, Travis Stewart, Mary Fischer, Melissa Query and Sabrina Coons Murphy leading in total hours for the 17 years of the project.

News of the Week – 4/4/16

The new Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes will have a spectacular exhibit on Irena Sendler. The exhibit will include films, artifacts from the Warsaw Ghetto, panels of the entire story, and ‘the tree.’

The ‘tree’ alone is worth the visit. You will be brought to great emotion in sharing this beautiful story. The new Center is directly across the street from the present Center. The lot it is built in was the location of historic buildings, before the famous fire of 2005. The new Center has been called one of the finest small town museums in America.

News of the Week – 03/23/16

We had a wonderful audience and performance at the JCC in Overland Park, Kansas on March 5th. We send a big thank you to the JCC staff and to Howard Jacobson for the wonderful hospitality, full house and enthusiastic reception.

We have received dozens of notes about the performance and Irena’s story.  It is such a joy to continue sharing her story with the world. A big thank you to the cast and presenters: Megan Felt, Jaime Walker, Mary Fischer, Joseph Fischer, Erin Simons, Addi Brown and Mary Kerr.  The cast continues to put forth a tremendous dedication and effort.
See irenasendler.org for our list of future performances. Be watching for a performance in Cape Cod this July.
 
“I applaud your work, keep sharing Irena’s beautiful story, the world needs it very much right now.”
 
“I’m still getting several calls a day about the outstanding job the students did Saturday night. Several people had seen the play 10+ years ago and were blown away with the professionalism of the cast members and the addition of the short movie to introduce the play. Please send a big “THANK YOU” to,all the cast and helpers who took time to come to KC Saturday evening.”
 
“My family feels extremely blessed!  Last night, we finally, after several years of waiting, got to come to the Jewish Community Center and see you perform, Life in a Jar!  I tried to get tickets several weeks ago, but they were sold out. But, by God’s good grace, we were put on a waiting list and got a call Friday night there were 3 tickets available for my husband, 13 yr old daughter, and myself!. I know listening last night made an impression on our 13 year old on what a difference one person really can make for the world!”

News of the Week – 12/08/15

Irena Sendler always encouraged us to reach out during the holidays to the many friends around the world. So from Irena and the Life in a Jar family, we wish you a Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah (started Sunday and ends next Monday) and much more to her many, many friends 

 
It also brings us great joy to see so many schools around the world now named after Irena Sendler. 
 
Also, our website is one of the most active concerning the Holocaust. 
 
Also, Jack Mayer’s book, Life in a Jar; The Irena Sendler Project, keeps getting rave reviews and more awards.
 
The Life in a Jar play continues to be in great demand. We receive a request per week, but can barely fulfill more than 4 or 5 trips a year.
 
There is much to be happy for thanks to Irena Sendler and her brave network, who changed the world.

News of the Week – 11/24/2015

WHAT A WONDERFUL GROUP OF PERFORMANCES IN BANGOR, MAINE. We send a big thanks to Allison Berube and her fantastic committee for hosting three Life in a Jar performances. Peter Witt, the incredible Norman Stern, Kathryn King and too many others to name, were a part of this beautiful event.

The audience was large for each performance, and the response was tremendous. We love Maine and the beautiful coastline. More than that, we love the people who put together this great series of shows.
Our cast had some new members, but the story of Irena and Life in a Jar is still the same powerful story.
Mary Kerr did a wonderful job with the orphan role. Erin Simons just keeps getting better and better as Mrs. Rosner. Addi Brown played Marie for the first time and took care of the sound. Mary and Noah Fischer were outstanding yet again. Mary Fischer also played Irena for the first time. Megan Stewart Felt missed her first performance out of 347 in sixteen years!!! As most of you know, she is expecting a little boy in early January.
We receive a request per week for performances, but our volunteer troupe can barely make four or five trips per year. The continued demand for performances is a testimony to the incredible stories of Irena and Life in a Jar.
WE WISH EVERYONE A HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVEN IN A WORLD OF TURMOIL AND TRIAL. IF IRENA WERE ALIVE, SHE WOULD REMIND US ALL THAT WE CAN BE THANKFUL FOR THOSE PEOPLE WHO CHANGE THE WORLD. TIKKUN OLAM TO OUR MANY FRIENDS ALL OVER THE WORLD. IRENA’S STORY BY PERFORMANCE, BOOK AND MOVIE HAS BEEN TOLD IN ALL 50 STATES AND IN OVER 150 COUNTRIES.

News of the Week – 11/03/15

Irena Sendler’s legacy continues to grow!

The Irena Sendler Award was awarded last month in Warsaw, Poland. This teaching award continues to bring Irena’s actions to the forefront of Poland’s history while honoring an amazing woman who made a difference. 

As the days go by more and more schools around the world are being named after Irena Sendler!

Irena Sendler and Life in a Jar will be featured in the new Lowell Milken Center’s Hall of Heroes, located at 1 S Main in Fort Scott. This exhibit will focus on Irena’s actions and feature the students who found her story. The large exhibit will have interactive components for visitors to explore.
Thanks to some of our biggest supporters throughout the years, Howard and Ro Jacobson, over $125,000 have been given in scholarships to students who have worked on the Life in a Jar project or other diversity projects.
When Irena Sendler was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2007, we new she would not win based on the qualifications for nomination. However, we were hoping it would make her story more known. This was a success. The world gained a greater of knowledge of Irena Sendler and her 25 collaborators due to the nomination. For example, she was featured with a photograph and story on the front page of the Chicago Tribune.
As time goes on, we will continue to work to spread her story and message of those who follow the motto her father taught her. “If you see someone drowning you must jump in and save them whether you can swim or not.”

ANNOUNCEMENT

BE WATCHING FOR NEW PERFORMANCES IN 2023