Letter from William Jefferson Clinton to Elie Wiesel

This is a letter written by Mikhail Khodorkovsky to Professor Wiesel, dated January 16, 2009. Khodorkovsky expresses profound gratitude to Wiesel for his kindness and attention towards his son, Pavel, and for his support during a dire personal situation. He mentions that he recently read Wiesel's book "Night," which provided him strength and comfort. Khodorkovsky hopes to meet with Professor Wiesel one day to discuss his situation and seek suggestions on what can be done. The document includes handwritten notes in Russian and English, mentioning 'States', 'Siberia', and 'Trip to Anado'.

This is an invitation letter from Jakub Klepal, Executive Director of the Forum 2000 Foundation, addressed to Professor Elie Wiesel. Dated April 30, 2014, the letter invites Professor Wiesel to speak at the 18th annual Forum 2000 Conference, which is scheduled to be held in Prague from October 12-15, 2014. The letter acknowledges Professor Wiesel's long-standing support and his role as a member of the International Advisory Board. The conference aims to critically reflect on democratic transitions of the past 20-30 years, honoring the legacy of Václav Havel. The letter emphasizes the global importance of their work in fostering freedom, democracy, human rights, and the rule of law amidst international challenges. It refers to historical events like the crumbling of the Iron Curtain, the 1988 Chilean referendum, and the 1986 People Power Revolution in the Philippines as contexts for discussing the evolution and current state of democracy. Other topics for discussion include the role of religion in liberal democracy, the rise of extremism, and generational differences in views on democratic processes. Professor Wiesel is asked to confirm his attendance with Ms. Elena Sabová.

This document consists of an envelope and a handwritten letter from Samantha Bell to Dr. Elie Wiesel, dated April 4, 2014. The letter expresses profound gratitude and admiration for Wiesel's teaching and friendship, specifically noting his impact during a class at Eckerd College. Bell reflects on how his presence helped her overcome a period of mental detachment and appreciate daily life. She hopes to maintain their relationship as teacher and friend. The envelope provides the sender's address in St. Petersburg, Florida, and the recipient's address in New York, New York. The document also includes a Hallmark card with a floral image and production details.

Rose Fine, nee Hollendar, was born in Ozorkow, Poland in 1917 to an Orthodox Jewish family. Her father was a shochet. She briefly describes living conditions during the German occupation before and after the establishment of the Ozorkow Ghetto in 1941: health conditions, deportations, and her work in the ghetto hospital where children were put to starve to death. She refers to the behavior of the Volksdeutsche in Ozorkow and her mother’s deportation to Chelmno where she was gassed to death. She witnessed the old and infirm deported in chloroform-filled Panzer trucks in March 1941 as well as the public hanging of 10 Jews. She was transferred to the Lodz Ghetto in 1942 where she worked for Mrs. Rumkowski until she was deported to Auschwitz in August 1944. After one week, following a selection by Dr. Mengele, she was transferred to the Freiberg, Germany air‌ plane factory and later to Mauthausen in Austria, where she was liberated by the Americans in Spring 1945. She describes the birth of a baby girl (both mother and baby survived) just prior to liberation and help by a German farmer. After liberation Rose stayed briefly in Lodz and Gdansk. She describes life in Gdansk where she got married. She and her husband lived in Munich, Germany for four years where they belonged to Rabbi Leizerowski’s1 synagogue and she attended the ORT school. She and her husband emigrated to the USA in 1949 with the help of the Joint Distribution Committee. She recounts the story of the hiding of a Torah by a non-Jew of Ozorkow and his giving it to a survivor from Ozorkow to take to Atlanta, Georgia. See the May 4, 1981interview with Rabbi Baruch Leizerowski.

This is a letter from William J. Clinton to Elie Wiesel, dated April 2, 2008. Clinton congratulates Wiesel on receiving an honorary degree and inaugurating the President's Lecture at the City College of New York. He reflects on Wiesel's impactful life and work, particularly his survival of the Holocaust and the profound influence of his book "Night." Clinton praises Wiesel for his continued dedication to human rights through the Elie Wiesel Foundation for Humanity, drawing a parallel to the Passover song "Dayenu." He expresses admiration for Wiesel's chosen lecture topic, "Confronting Fanaticism: Building Moral Unity in a Diverse Society," affirming the importance of shared values, the inherent worth of every individual, and collective effort for a better society.