Leaving the world better for his having lived in it, and poorer for his no longer being in it, Elie Wiesel has passed away at age 87.
An outstanding life, risen from the deepest pit to which mankind descended in our age, to speak for the silenced voices, to shine light at the dark, to bear true witness before those who would forget or deny.
I remember skimming through “Night” in a bookstore and I was in tears reading the part about him helplessly watching his father die. I also went to hear him speak. He was one of the people I admired.
“But Wiesel said his greatest role in life was as a witness, and he found great comfort among those like himself who witnessed the Holocaust. He said he worried who would be its last witness, who would have that burden.”
My parents are witnesses having survived the ghetto, concentration camps, slave labor. After witnessing one family member after another marched to the gas chambers. My mom just turned 90. Soon, who will be left who speak from their own memories?
May your memory be a blessing- thank you for your work in repairing the world (tikkun olam)
I agree. My parents participated in the Shoah project and have given numerous speeches detailing their stories. One day all voices will be silenced and that historical record will be all we have.