Press Release: Elie Wiesel to Receive Eisenhower Leadership Prize

Elie Wiesel writes to Jiri Oberfalzer, Executive Director of the Patriae Foundation, to express his gratitude for the hospitality shown to him and his wife, Marion, during their recent visit to Prague. Wiesel apologizes for the delay in his correspondence, citing his intensive travel schedule, which included a "hectic--and traumatic--journey to Kielce, Poland, where I participated in a painful commemoration." He reflects positively on the Prague trip, mentioning the city's libraries and museums, and highlights that their time in Theresienstadt was particularly meaningful. Wiesel commends Oberfalzer and his staff for arranging interesting meetings and discussions and for their excellent handling of the visit. He concludes by expressing a desire to work together with Oberfalzer and the Patriae Foundation in the future.

This letter, dated December 18, 2012, is from Martin Vidlak in Prague to Elie Wiesel. It conveys a posthumous message from the late President Vaclav Havel, expressing Havel's unfinished desire to nominate Yohei Sasakawa for the Nobel Peace Prize. The letter details Sasakawa's extensive humanitarian efforts, particularly his tireless work to eliminate leprosy not only as a medical issue but also as a human rights issue, which led to a UN General Assembly resolution in 2010. It highlights Sasakawa's broader humanitarian activism, including work on hunger in Africa, healthcare in developing countries, and assistance for marginalized and internally displaced ethnic minority people in Myanmar. The letter also mentions Sasakawa's role as a Goodwill Ambassador for the Welfare of National Races in Myanmar and his co-founding of Forum 2000 with Havel and Wiesel in 1996. Vidlak requests Wiesel's support for Sasakawa's nomination to fulfill President Havel's wish.

This document is an invitation from Krzysztof W. Kasprzyk, Consul General of the Republic of Poland in New York, for a special event co-hosted with the Georgetown University Alumni Association on April 16, 2009. The event aims to commemorate Jan Karski, a Polish World War II hero and Georgetown professor, known for being the first to inform Allied leaders about the Holocaust. The commemoration includes the official designation of the Madison Avenue and 37 E Street intersection as 'Jan Karski Corner' and a panel discussion titled 'Georgetown Professor Jan Karski: Giving Voice to the Holocaust.' The invitation highlights Karski's role as an underground courier who witnessed the genocide of Jews and informed W. Churchill and F.D. Roosevelt in 1942. It anticipates the presence of Polish government dignitaries, Georgetown alumni, and 'Righteous Among the Nations' from Poland.

This document profiles the eight recipients of the 2009 National Humanities Medal: Robert A. Caro, Annette Gordon-Reed, David Levering Lewis, William H. McNeill, Philippe de Montebello, Albert H. Small, Theodore C. Sorensen, and Elie Wiesel. Each section details the medalist's significant contributions to the humanities, their background, major works, and lasting impact. Robert A. Caro is recognized for his biographies of Robert Moses and Lyndon B. Johnson, focusing on political power. Annette Gordon-Reed is honored for her groundbreaking work on the Hemings family and Thomas Jefferson, and her contributions to African American history. David Levering Lewis is celebrated for his definitive biographies of W.E.B. Du Bois and his studies on various historical subjects. William H. McNeill is recognized as a pioneer in world history, particularly for "The Rise of the West." Philippe de Montebello is lauded for his three-decade tenure as director of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, expanding its collections and public engagement with art. Albert H. Small is acknowledged for his philanthropy and extensive collection of American historical documents, which he has donated to institutions like the University of Virginia Library. Theodore C. Sorensen is celebrated as a pivotal speechwriter for John F. Kennedy, known for crafting inspiring presidential addresses. Finally, Elie Wiesel is honored for his lifelong work as a Holocaust survivor, author of "Night," and advocate for human rights through the Elie Wiesel Foundation for Humanity and the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum. The document highlights the diverse ways these individuals have deepened the nation's understanding of the humanities.

This letter, dated May 5, 2014, is from Ruth Lichtenstein, Director of Project Witness and Publisher of Hamodia Newspaper, to Professor Eli Wiesel of The Elie Wiesel Foundation for Humanity. Lichtenstein begins by marking the 70th yahrtzeit of her brother, Mendele, who perished in the Holocaust, and shares her personal family history of discovering this loss. She highlights the widespread impact of the Holocaust, mentioning a group of 180 Polish Jews, including Yitzhak Katzenelson, who were sent from Vitel via Drancy to Auschwitz. Recognizing Professor Wiesel's unique understanding of such pain, Lichtenstein then extends an invitation for him to provide opening remarks at a special event on July 28th. This event will feature the premier showing of a new Project Witness documentary film focusing on the destruction of Hungarian Jewry, scheduled at the Museum of Jewish Heritage. The documentary aims to educate the next generation about the magnitude of what was lost during the Holocaust.