Letter from General David H. Petraeus to Elie Wiesel declining Nobel Laureates Conference invitation

This document is a draft of a reflection by its author, identified as Elie Wiesel, on his experiences visiting the Soviet Union, which formed the basis of his book 'The Jews of Silence'. He recounts his first trip in the fall of 1965, prompted by Israeli officials Méir Rosenne and Ephraim Tari, to witness the condition of Soviet Jews. He describes his travels through Moscow, Kiev, Georgia, and Leningrad during Jewish holidays, observing both the fear of the older generation and the spiritual courage of the youth. Aided by David Bartov of the Israeli Embassy, Wiesel felt a profound sense of mission to be a messenger for these oppressed communities. He recalls clandestine meetings, receiving desperate notes, and promising to tell their story. The author also touches on later visits, including one in 1979, and a particularly moving encounter with two different dissidents who had independently and secretly translated his book 'Night' into Russian via Samizdat. He concludes by expressing immense joy at the fact that many Soviet Jews have since emigrated to Israel and America, a stark contrast to the hopeless situation he first witnessed.