The Jewish Historical Institute (ŻIH) together with the Museum of Warsaw will celebrate the 80th anniversary of the death of Janusz Korczak. The series of events “Korczak – New Opening” devoted to the life, writing and teaching of “The Old Doctor” started on March 9.
The year 2022 marks the 80th anniversary of the death of Janusz Korczak. However, the “Old Doctor” should not be remembered only through the prism of the end of his unique life. As part of a joint venture conducted with the Museum of Warsaw, Jewish Historical Museum will try to reread Korczak’s legacy, and the joint events will provide an opportunity to rethink the meaning of his texts.
Meetings devoted to the biography and activities of Janusz Korczak include a wide range of proposals: scientific and popular science events, Warsaw walks and trips and workshops for students.
The organizers intend to analyze again Korczak’s literary and pedagogical output, as well as check how it can be used today in work with children. The guests of the events will be scientists, teachers, journalists, culture animators, educators and practitioners of the “Korczak’s method”.
Janusz Korczak (Henryk Goldszmit) was born into an assimilated Jewish family associated with the Haskalah movement; after graduating from medical studies in Warsaw, he expanded his knowledge in clinics in Berlin and Paris; belonged to the progressive Warsaw intelligentsia at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries.
In 1912 he contributed to the opening of the Orphans’ Home for Jewish children in Warsaw and was its director until his death. From 1919 he collaborated with M. Falska in organizing the “Our Home” educational facility for Polish children. He lectured at the National Institute of Special Education and Free Polish University; he was a regular collaborator of many magazines.
In 1926 he founded the first and unique children’s magazine ”Little Review”, which was edited together with the children. He was also the author of popular radio talks (1935–36) called “Talks with the Old Doctor”. In August 1942, despite the chance to leave the ghetto, he remained with his kids and was taken with them to the death camp in Treblinka, where he died.
Korczak was a precursor of the fight for children’s rights; he paid particular attention to the unequal position of children in society and their dependence on adults; he demanded that the child should be recognized as a fully-fledged human being from the moment of birth, at every stage of its existence, and have the right to be itself as it is.
Organizers are planning to make Henryk Goldszmit’s biography a contribution to a conversation about his versatile personality. They are also aware that they will never know him fully.
Arkadiusz Słomczyński