Elie Wiesel: Unedited Draft on Jewishness, Humanity, and Hope

This document is a draft speech intended for the decoration of Marion Wiesel, dated October 25, 2000. The speaker expresses pleasure in honoring Marion Wiesel, acknowledging her modesty and preference for action over recognition. The speech highlights her unwavering commitment to peace, dialogue, and combating hatred, notably through her role as Vice President of the Elie Wiesel Foundation for Humanity. It recalls her personal history as a Holocaust survivor, detailing her childhood experiences in Vienna, her escape through Europe, and time spent in internment camps. The speech praises her cultural contributions, particularly her translation work for her husband Elie Wiesel, and her poignant documentary, 'Les enfants de la nuit,' which aimed to bear witness to the plight of Jewish children deported by the Nazis. It also emphasizes her dedication to human rights, her organizational skills, and her work assisting Ethiopian Jews and providing educational support in Israel. The speaker concludes by conferring upon Marion Wiesel the title of Officer of the Legion of Honor on behalf of the President of the Republic.

This document is a eulogy delivered by Elie Wiesel in honor of his friend, Abe Rosenthal. Dated May 14, 2006, the tribute acknowledges Rosenthal's significant contributions as a journalist and a humanitarian. Wiesel praises Rosenthal's blend of intellectual rigor, human compassion, humor, and inquisitive curiosity. He highlights Rosenthal's unwavering love for the Jewish people and the Jewish State, as well as his commitment to human rights, citing his reporting on Auschwitz and his courage during a confrontation with a KGB general in Moscow. The eulogy also touches on Rosenthal's professional legacy, his dedication to truth, and personal memories, including his Bar Mitzva and discussions about the Holocaust and journalistic responsibility. Wiesel concludes by affirming Rosenthal's enduring moral legacy.

In this interview with Der Spiegel, Elie Wiesel reflects on his experiences during the Holocaust and his views on post-war Germany and Israel. He expresses concern over Germany's initial forgetfulness of Kristallnacht during its 1990 unification celebrations but is pleased with the current sensitivity of German youth and Germany's consistent support for Israel. Wiesel discusses the concept of collective guilt, emphasizing individual responsibility over intergenerational blame. He recounts his early life in Sighet (then part of Hungary, now Romania), his deportation to Auschwitz in May 1944, and the separation from his family, detailing the inhumane conditions in Auschwitz, Birkenau, and Monowitz-Buna. He shares his father's suffering and death in Buchenwald, and his own struggle with faith and humanity following the atrocities, stating that his passion for study helped him maintain sanity. Wiesel describes the death march to Gleiwitz, the liberation of Buchenwald, and his subsequent career as a writer and activist. He stresses his role as a witness to the Holocaust and the importance of testimonies in preserving its memory, while expressing skepticism about docudramas that might distort the truth of such sensitive events.

Freema Gottlieb writes to Mr. Wiesel, presenting him with a copy of her book, "The Lamp of God: A Jewish Book of Light." She recalls his positive response when it was first published, particularly to the chapter "Light out of Darkness." Gottlieb explains that the widespread positive reception from both Jews and non-Jews has convinced her that the book, which explores the Jewish and human soul, deserves broader distribution than her previous publisher, Jason Aronson, could provide. She mentions regaining the rights to her book and her intention to update and reissue it, possibly in a condensed format. She seeks Mr. Wiesel's guidance on navigating the current publishing environment, asking for pointers, suggestions for editors or agents, or even a brief written response to her book, to help her persevere with the project. She concludes by thanking him and wishing him a happy, kosher Pesach.

This is a condolence letter dated November 18, 2002, from Elie Wiesel and Marion to Suzy. They express their sadness upon learning of Aubrey's passing and share the grief felt by the people of Israel. The letter states that Aubrey will remain in their collective memory as one of the most brilliant lights, whose voice and vision will continue to inspire the Jewish State and the Jewish people. They remember him as the most eloquent and gallant of servants. The letter concludes with a comforting message, wishing Suzy and all those mourning for Jerusalem to be consoled by God, signed with affection by Elie Wiesel.