Letter from Community Hebrew Academy of Toronto to Israel Shelanu regarding commentary on Elie Wiesel and the Holocaust

This document is a faxed invitation from the Office of Protocol, US Mission to the UN, sent on February 11, 2000. It is an invitation from Richard C. Holbrooke and Kati Marton Holbrooke, representatives of the United States of America to the United Nations, to Mr. Eli Wiesel and Mrs. Marion Wiesel. The invitation is for a dinner honoring President Nelson Mandela and Ms. Graca Machel, scheduled for Saturday, February 26, 2000, at 7:00 p.m. at The Waldorf Astoria Towers, located at 100 East 50th Street, Suite 42A. Handwritten notes on the document indicate that the invitation was "Accepted" on February 14, 2000, but the "Dinner Cancelled" on February 18, 2000.

The document, titled "Trains and Tracks," explores the profound impact of train journeys during the Holocaust on survivors' memories and writings. It describes the physical and psychological ordeal of being transported in cattle-cars, detailing the cramped, dehydrating conditions and the indelible fear. The essay highlights personal accounts, including that of Leon Shlepanski, who at fourteen was transported with his family, and his struggle to obtain snow for water. It also references Primo Levi's observations on the journey to Auschwitz, emphasizing the struggle for survival and the ambiguities of human nature. The piece contrasts the horrific wartime train experiences with the post-liberation perspective, where trains, though still carrying survivors, had irreversibly lost their initial meaning of travel, serving instead as a means to search for remnants of families and homes across a devastated Europe.

This document is an invitation from Stacey and Matthew Bronfman to a reception honoring Professor Elie Wiesel. The event includes the unveiling of a bronze portrait bust of Wiesel, sculpted by Marc Mellon and gifted by Larry and Cindy Bloch. The reception is scheduled for Thursday, October 18, 2012, at 6:30 PM at the 92nd Street Y's Weill Art Gallery, located at 1395 Lexington Avenue, New York City. Following the reception, a program titled "Elie Wiesel: Ezekiel and his Frightening Visions" will be held at 8 PM in the Kaufmann Concert Hall, exploring Ezekiel's life, mission, and prophetic visions in the context of tragedy, despair, and reconciliation. Attendees are requested to RSVP to Heather Jakub by October 5, 2012. The document also features a photograph of Elie Wiesel with an unidentified woman and background information on various centers within the 92nd Street Y.

This letter, dated March 8, 1984, is from Sylvia Frankel to Professor Elie Wiesel. Frankel expresses admiration for Wiesel's presence and her dream of taking his courses on the Talmud, T'nach, or Midrash. She thanks him for his offer to assist the Holocaust Resource Center and inquires about an upcoming conference on 'rescuers,' seeking contact information for further details. Frankel also requests information concerning an event involving Hungarian Jewry, specifically referencing the Kastner group and the special transport to Bergen-Belsen, mentioning two families she knows who were part of it, one sent to Switzerland and the other to Theresienstadt. She concludes by enclosing a program from a recent event organized to benefit the Oregon Holocaust Resource Center and extends a Purim greeting.

This document provides a biographical profile of Elie Wiesel, detailing his early life in Transylvania, his experiences as a Holocaust survivor in Auschwitz and Buchenwald, and his subsequent career as a journalist and writer in Paris. It highlights his significant literary work, "Night," and his dedication as a spokesman for peace and human rights globally. The profile lists his numerous accolades, including the Grand-Croix in the French Legion of Honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the Congressional Gold Medal, and the 1986 Nobel Peace Prize. It also mentions the establishment of the "Elie Wiesel Foundation for Humanity" with his wife, Marion, focusing on human rights and ethical issues. The document notes his long tenure as a professor at Boston University and his extensive published works and honorary degrees from various institutions. Handwritten annotations at the top suggest an internal review process, with a note stating "for Milan... looks Ok to me. Approved?". It is unclear what this profile was intended for.