1) The document is a poem by Jerzy Ficowski from 1942 memorializing Janusz Korczak. It uses repetition of "I do not know" to convey the inability to understand what Korczak and the children experienced. 2) A second poem by Wladislaw Szlengel depicts Korczak's last walk with the orphan children he cared for to the Treblinka concentration camp. It shows his selfless devotion in refusing release and remaining with the children to the end. 3) A sculpture at Yad Vashem memorializes Korczak embracing the orphan children as a fatherly figure on their final journey. The poems and monument capture Korczak's protection and care for

1. WWW.YADVASHEM.ORG
Janusz Korczak
An Appreciation of Janusz Korczak
through Two Poems and One Monument

2. did he lie to them for instance
in small
numbing doses
groom the sweaty little heads
for the scurrying lice of fear
I do not know
yet for all that yet later yet there
in Treblinka
all their terror all the tears
were against him
oh it was only now
just so many minutes say a lifetime
whether a little or a lot
I was not there I do not know
What did the Old Doctor do
in the cattle wagon
bound for Treblinka on the fifth of August
over the few hours of the bloodstream
over the dirty river of time
I do not know
what did Charon of his own free will
the ferryman without an oar do
did he give out to the children
what remained of gasping breath
and leave for himself
only frost down the spine
I do not know
-1942 In Memory of Janusz Korczak
suddenly the Old Doctor saw
the children had grown
as old as he was
older and older
that was how fast they had to go
grey as ash
Jerzy Ficowski (1924-2006)

3. The phrase, “I do not know” repeats 4 times in the poem. Why do
you think the poet did this? Can this be understood as our inability
to understand what they were going through?
?
What did the Old Doctor do
in the cattle wagon
bound for Treblinka on the fifth of August
over the few hours of the bloodstream
over the dirty river of time
I do not know
what did Charon of his own free will
the ferryman without an oar do
did he give out to the children
what remained of gasping breath
and leave for himself
only frost down the spine
I do not know
did he lie to them for instance
in small
numbing doses
groom the sweaty little heads
for the scurrying lice of fear
I do not know
yet for all that yet later yet there
in Treblinka
all their terror all the tears
were against him
oh it was only now
just so many minutes say a lifetime
whether a little or a lot
I was not there I do not know
suddenly the Old Doctor saw
the children had grown
as old as he was
older and older
that was how fast they had to go
grey as ash

4. What does the poem say about Korczak in the 2nd and 4th verses?
What did he give the children from himself? What is he going
through as a human being?
?
What did the Old Doctor do
in the cattle wagon
bound for Treblinka on the fifth of August
over the few hours of the bloodstream
over the dirty river of time
I do not know
what did Charon of his own free will
the ferryman without an oar do
did he give out to the children
what remained of gasping breath
and leave for himself
only frost down the spine
I do not know
did he lie to them for instance
in small
numbing doses
groom the sweaty little heads
for the scurrying lice of fear
I do not know
yet for all that yet later yet there
in Treblinka
all their terror all the tears
were against him
oh it was only now
just so many minutes say a lifetime
whether a little or a lot
I was not there I do not know
suddenly the Old Doctor saw
the children had grown
as old as he was
older and older
that was how fast they had to go
grey as ash

5. How does the poet portray the problem with the dimension of time
in the 5th verse??
What did the Old Doctor do
in the cattle wagon
bound for Treblinka on the fifth of August
over the few hours of the bloodstream
over the dirty river of time
I do not know
what did Charon of his own free will
the ferryman without an oar do
did he give out to the children
what remained of gasping breath
and leave for himself
only frost down the spine
I do not know
did he lie to them for instance
in small
numbing doses
groom the sweaty little heads
for the scurrying lice of fear
I do not know
yet for all that yet later yet there
in Treblinka
all their terror all the tears
were against him
oh it was only now
just so many minutes say a lifetime
whether a little or a lot
I was not there I do not know
suddenly the Old Doctor saw
the children had grown
as old as he was
older and older
that was how fast they had to go
grey as ash

6. How is the phrase, "death is an equalizer" portrayed in the last
verse??
What did the Old Doctor do
in the cattle wagon
bound for Treblinka on the fifth of August
over the few hours of the bloodstream
over the dirty river of time
I do not know
what did Charon of his own free will
the ferryman without an oar do
did he give out to the children
what remained of gasping breath
and leave for himself
only frost down the spine
I do not know
did he lie to them for instance
in small
numbing doses
groom the sweaty little heads
for the scurrying lice of fear
I do not know
yet for all that yet later yet there
in Treblinka
all their terror all the tears
were against him
oh it was only now
just so many minutes say a lifetime
whether a little or a lot
I was not there I do not know
suddenly the Old Doctor saw
the children had grown
as old as he was
older and older
that was how fast they had to go
grey as ash

7. In your opinion, what is the message the poet is trying to
convey in this poem??
What did the Old Doctor do
in the cattle wagon
bound for Treblinka on the fifth of August
over the few hours of the bloodstream
over the dirty river of time
I do not know
what did Charon of his own free will
the ferryman without an oar do
did he give out to the children
what remained of gasping breath
and leave for himself
only frost down the spine
I do not know
did he lie to them for instance
in small
numbing doses
groom the sweaty little heads
for the scurrying lice of fear
I do not know
yet for all that yet later yet there
in Treblinka
all their terror all the tears
were against him
oh it was only now
just so many minutes say a lifetime
whether a little or a lot
I was not there I do not know
suddenly the Old Doctor saw
the children had grown
as old as he was
older and older
that was how fast they had to go
grey as ash

8. 4.
Janusz Korczak marched forward with no hesitation
Bare-headed, eyes focused, gaze firm.
A little child clutched his one pocket
With two more held safe in his arms.
......
5.
Someone approached at a run,
Document in hand, he proclaimed:
Sir, Herr Brandt here has signed your release!
At which Korczak simply marched on in disdain.
... ...
6.
All his life he had spent
Creating some warmth in their world,
How now could he leave them to go
The last road in their lives all alone.
1.
Today, I saw Janusz Korczak
As he and the children took their last walk.
Dressed in clean clothes
As if on a garden stroll to enjoy the Shabbat.
... ...
2.
The face of the city turned anxious
Like a torn and defenceless giant.
Empty windows searching the streets
As in eye-sockets vacant and lifeless.
......
3.
And the children lined up in orderly fives,
Not one pulled out from his line.
Orphans, these – with no chance
Of a bribe and reprieve.
......
A Page from a Deportation Report – 10/08/1942
Wladislaw Szlengel

9. A Page from a Deportation Report – 10/08/1942
Wladislaw Szlengel
VERSE NOTHEME
4,6Adult responsibility and love
3Inequality of opportunity in a ghetto
2The anxiety of impending doom
5The ultimate heroic response
Educational Activity:
The following is a list of themes that Szlengel presents in these verses from the poem and one suggested activity is
for the pupils to identify the theme in the verses, indicate the verse number and explain in his words how the theme
is reflected in the verse chosen. Possible subjects are: Adult responsibility and love, Inequality of opportunity in a
ghetto, The anxiety of impending doom, The ultimate heroic response.
In your opinion, what is the message the poet is trying to convey in this poem?

10. “Janusz Korczak and
the Children”
by sculptor Boris Saktsier (1978).
Janusz Korczak Square,
Yad Vashem,
Jerusalem, Israel.

11. In your opinion do the poems and the monument present the same
picture of Korczak on his path with the children to their joint deaths??
For example:
The Monument Ficowski's poem Szlengel's poem
Korczak embracing the
orphans
Verse 3: the fact that he is taking care
of them by cleaning their heads of lice
Verse 4: the physical
closeness of children
clinging to an authority
and protective fatherly
figure
A class discussion on the different elements in the monument could be held with the pupils. Suggestions
of elements to focus on are: the children's gaze, Korczak's gaze, Korczak embracing the orphans and a
joined fate. In addition, the children can now compare the two poems with the monument. A table might
help the pupils organize the elements more clearly and compare aspects of the monument and the
poems.