Letter from Vice President George Bush to Elie Wiesel regarding Congressional Gold Medal

The Elie Wiesel Foundation for Humanity (EWF) invites President Bill Clinton to be the first speaker at a planned seminar series in New York, which will involve media leaders. This initiative is being organized in cooperation with Harlem Live, a journalism, technology, and leadership program for inner-city youth aged 14-21 in the United States. The letter highlights EWF's sponsorship of education programs for at-risk youth and expresses anticipation for the Clinton Global Initiative. Elie Wiesel, joined by Marion, extends warm regards to President and Mrs. Clinton. David L. Phillips, EWF's executive director, is slated to follow up on arrangements.

This document is a letter from Ron Prosor, the Permanent Representative of Israel to the United Nations, addressed to Sir Elie Wiesel, dated May 4, 2012. The letter expresses deep appreciation for Wiesel's participation in a panel commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Eichmann trial. Prosor praises Wiesel's powerful words and personal perspective on the Shoah, which resonated in the United Nations and served as a reminder of the international community's obligation to transmit the lessons of the Holocaust. The letter highlights Wiesel's wisdom, courage, and insight as an inspiration to the Jewish people and the Jewish State. An additional handwritten note from Ron Prosor emphasizes the honor of hearing Wiesel and his profound impact on fostering deeper thought and better human beings, conveying sincere admiration.

This document is a printed copy of an email from Elie Wiesel to President Clinton, dated December 17, 2009. In the email, Wiesel expresses his approval for intervention on behalf of Mikhail Khodorkovsky, who has been imprisoned in Russia for many years. As a human rights advocate, Wiesel supports the efforts to help Khodorkovsky. The email concludes with warm wishes for the holidays.

Lech Wałęsa, writing from Gdańsk on September 15, 1988, addresses Elie Wiesel, expressing gratitude for his fraternity and solidarity. Wałęsa highlights the new stage beginning in Poland, expressing hope that the country will gradually join democratic nations and affirming his commitment to this goal. He states his reliance on support from people like Wiesel. The letter also extends heartfelt congratulations to Wiesel on receiving an honorary doctorate from the University of Connecticut, remarking that the university made a correct decision.

Samuel Flor1 was born in Czernowitz, Romania. He talks about experiencing antisemitism, his education, and his career as a composer, musician, and a professor at the university in Czernowitz. He describes life in Czernowitz first under Russian and then under German occupation. He explains why it was impossible to leave and how he and his wife, Gertrude tried to escape in June, 1941, but failed. He was part of a brutal roundup of Jewish men, and had to bury Jewish men who were machine-gunned to death by Germans near the River Prut. After being tormented by the Germans, the survivors, including Samuel Flor, returned home. In October, 1941 all Jews had to move into a ghetto until they were deported to the Ukraine under terrible conditions, including periodic whippings by both German and Romanian soldiers. He describes a particularly cruel incident involving Jews from Mogilev, a forced circular death march, and several atrocities committed by Ukrainian peasants. Mr. Flor worked as a slave laborer in a stone quarry in Ladesti on the Bugac and in Tulchin in a hospital. He relates a chilling vignette in which Sonderführer Fritz von Rohde explains why killing Jews is a service to humanity. As the Germans retreated Mr. and Mrs. Flor and about 66 other people hid in a hole they had dug previously for more than three days, until March 15, 1944. He describes how the 300 Jewish survivors tried to cope once the Russian army came, and his return to Czernowitz. His apartment had been nationalized so Mr. and Mrs. Flor joined the Czech army. He explains how they got out of Prague, emigrated to Barranquilla, Colombia, (South America) and then to the United States where Mr. Flor continued his musical career.