There have been many people who have impacted the world for their various good deeds and accomplishments. However, some individuals seem to stand out more than others, including Holocaust survivor, Elie Wiesel. No one alive today, unless experienced it themselves, could fully understand, mentally and emotionally, what Wiesel witnessed and was treated like during the Holocaust. He has impacted the world, with his bravery and strength, in such a way that his story of the Holocaust, and his work following, will carry on forever, into the history of tomorrow.
Elie Wiesel was born on September 30th, 1928 in Sighet, Transylvania, which is now part of Romania (Elie Wiesel ¶ 1). Wiesel and three sisters, two older and one younger, were born to Shlomo and Sarah Wiesel (Eliezer Wiesel ¶ 3, Elie Wiesel-Biography ¶ 5). In May of 1944, Wiesel’s world came crashing down when Nazi’s invaded his residence, among others, and deported all Jews to concentration camps. Wiesel’s family was transported to Auschwitz where his mother and younger sister were killed immediately. Wiesel and his father managed to stay together through Auschwitz and into the Buchenwald concentration camp in 1945; his father died shortly before the camp was liberated (Wiesel, Elie 1928- ¶1-2). Following Buchenwald’s liberation, Wiesel was sent to study in France with a group of orphaned Jewish children, which ultimately began his journey to where he has ended up today (The Life and Work of Wiesel ¶ 4-6).
Elie Wiesel attended the Sorbonne in France studying philosophy, psychology and literature from 1948 to1951 (The Life and Work of Wiesel ¶6, Wiesel, Elie 1928- ¶6). Wiesel started a career as a translator, reporter and journalist and became the United Nations correspondent of the Israeli newspaper: Yediot Aharonet, after emigrating to New York in 1956 (Elie 1928- ¶6). During an interview Wiesel had with French writer Francois Mauriac, he was persuaded to finally speak out and write about his experience at the death camps during the Holocaust (The Life and Work of Wiesel ¶6, Elie Wiesel ¶2). His personal encounter with the Holocaust, put down on paper, resulted in the phenomenal book entitled Night (La Nuit). Along with being an author, Wiesel was a Professor, a member of several organizations and is a strong supporter of causes for those in need. Wiesel has won multiple awards including the astonishing Nobel Peace Prize, in 1986. He became one of the more famous Holocaust survivors because of his writings, speeches and humanitarian work (Wiesel, Elie 1928- ).
Elie Wiesel was the voice for those who had perished along with many Holocaust survivors who did not speak out or could not find words to say what had happened to them. Wiesel’s novels describe in great detail the events that went on during the Holocaust. He gave insight to the horrific tragedies he was faced with along with thousands of others. Because he survived he felt it was his duty to share his experience and speak out for those who could not. Although he vowed not to speak until ten years after camps were liberated, his story has still impacted millions. Since the original writing of Wiesel’s memoir, written in 1958, it has been translated into 30 languages and has sold over seven million copies worldwide (The Life and Work of Wiesel ¶6, Elie Wiesel ¶2). Following Night, Wiesel has published over 40 other novels both fiction and non-fiction (The Life and Work of Wiesel ¶8, Elie Wiesel ¶6). His writings are mostly focused on keeping the memory of the Holocaust, and those involved, alive in story.
Because of Elie Wiesel’s schooling for philosophy and literature, and his early career in journalism, he eventually became a teacher following his studies. Elie Wiesel was the Professor of Judaic Studies at the City College in New York from 1972 until 1976 (Elie Wiesel-Biography ¶7, Wiesel, Elie 1928-¶ 6, The Life and Work of Wiesel ¶13). He has been the Andrew W. Mellon Professor in Humanities at Boston University since 1976. Also at Boston University, Wiesel is a faculty member in the Department of Religion as well as the Department of Philosophy (Elie Wiesel ¶5). During 1982 to 1983, Wiesel was the Henry Luce Visiting Scholar in Humanities and Social Thought at Yale University (The Life and Work of Wiesel ¶13). Among other things, Elie Wiesel dedicated his time as being a member, chairman or president of many organizations that benefitted the well being of others.
In 1978 President Jimmy Carter named Wiesel as chairman in the President’s Commission of the Holocaust (The Life and Work of Wiesel ¶12). Following that he was elected chairman of the United States Holocaust Memorial Council from years 1980 to 1986, and then resigned in protest to President Regan (Wiesel, Elie 1928- ¶6, Elie Wiesel ¶3). Elie Wiesel is a large supporter of Israel and defends causes of the Soviet Jews, the Nicaragua’s Miskito Indians, Argentina’s Desaparecidos, the Cambodian refugees, the Kurds, and the victims of famine and genocide in Africa (Elie Wiesel ¶ 4). While supporting many groups and being chairman in different organizations, Wiesel received and is still receiving awards for his great humanitarian work. He has received many awards including: the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the U.S. Congressional Gold Medal, the national Humanities Medal, the Medal of Liberty, the rank of Grand-Croix in the French Legion of Honor and ultimately the Nobel Prize for Peace; which was awarded to Wiesel in 1986 (Elie Wiesel ¶ 7).
Shortly after receiving the Nobel Peace Prize he founded the Elie Wiesel Foundation for Humanity. Today his foundation focuses on helping those in need, especially the youth. The foundation’s mission “Is rooted, in the memory of the Holocaust, is to combat indifference, intolerance and injustice through international dialogue and youth-focused programs that promote acceptance, understanding and equality” (About Us ¶1). The foundation has different sections and programs that are in the United States as well as internationally, for children. The Elie Wiesel Foundation for Humanity has a program in Israel to give Ethiopian immigrants academic tutoring, support and the opportunity to overcome early educational inequalities. A quote from Wiesel himself states that “The opposite of love is not hate, it’s indifference. The opposite of art is not ugliness, it's indifference. The opposite of faith is not heresy, it's indifference. And the opposite of life is not death, it's indifference.” (Elie Wiesel American Novelist ¶ 1). Although the quote explains itself, Wiesel’s word to the world is to not judge someone or use their culture, race or religion to hate them, like the Nazi’s did to the Jew’s. Because of Wiesel’s experience with the Holocaust and surviving, it gave him the courage and the drive to share with the world his story and to give back to those in need of help and support. Elie Wiesel has contributed to more lives than one could imagine and receiving awards, like the Peace Prize, thanked him for doing so.
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