Invitation to the Fifth Presidential Conference Facing Tomorrow 2013

This is a formal invitation letter dated March 31, 2009, from Oldřich Černý, Executive Director of the Forum 2000 Foundation, to Elie Wiesel. The letter invites Mr. Wiesel to a one-day conference titled "Peace, Democracy and Human Rights in Asia," scheduled for September 11, 2009, in Prague. The foundation, co-founded by Václav Havel, Elie Wiesel, and Yohei Sasakawa, is organizing the event. The conference idea originated from a meeting of Nobel Peace Prize Laureates in Gdansk. Participants will discuss the implementation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in Asia, focusing on freedom of thought, cultural and religious rights, education, and environmental rights. The event will be held at St. Anne's church – Prague Crossroads and hosted by Václav Havel. The letter includes a personal, handwritten note from Václav Havel, expressing his hope to see Mr. Wiesel in Prague in September. The foundation offers to cover all travel and accommodation expenses.

This letter, dated May 28, 2002, is from Elie Wiesel, University Professor at Boston University, to Dr. Condoleezza Rice, the National Security Adviser at The White House. Wiesel expresses his pleasure in having listened to Dr. Rice at a recent Remembrance ceremony and having had a brief conversation with her. He states that he finds the idea of meeting again to discuss issues of common interest very appealing. However, recognizing Dr. Rice's extremely crowded schedule, he decides not to take up the half-hour her office made available, expressing hope for other opportunities to meet in the future. The letter concludes with Wiesel's warm wishes for her continued success.

Rebecca Johnson writes to Elie Wiesel, expressing her profound inspiration from his work, particularly "Night," which motivated her to dedicate herself to Holocaust education. She describes her experience teaching Holocaust classes for middle, high school, and adult groups, advising teachers, and publishing articles on the Holocaust and anti-Semitism, with the goal of developing a Holocaust Education Center in Virginia. Johnson recounts her recent visit to Israel, including Yad Vashem, and meeting Sholom Rosenfeld, editor of Maariv. She plans to attend a conference in Boston and hopes to meet Wiesel, who chairs the President's Council on the Holocaust, to offer her assistance. She also mentions proposing a Committee on Holocaust Studies for the National Council of Teachers of English.

This letter, dated February 5, 1999, is from Elie Wiesel of The Elie Wiesel Foundation for Humanity to Václav Havel, President of the Czech Republic. Wiesel thanks Havel for the invitation to this year's Forum 2000 and expresses relief at Havel's improved health. He confirms that both he and Marion Wiesel will be happy to attend the October 1999 conference and offers their support for Havel's endeavors. The letter concludes with warm wishes to Mrs. Havel and President Havel himself, signed by Elie Wiesel.

Elie Wiesel sends a message to the leaders and friends of OSE, expressing his regret for not being able to attend their centenary celebration. He describes OSE as an extraordinary organization, dear to him for its warmth and dedication, and considers it a haven of relief and friendship, as well as the pride of the Jewish people. He concludes by stating that he will never forget what he owes to OSE.