This document provides background information on Elie Wiesel and his memoir Night. It summarizes key events of the Holocaust and Wiesel's experiences. It then imagines the contents of Wiesel's office, analyzing various objects and their significance. Pictures, a worn Beethoven record, his father's knife, and other items represent important memories and motivations for why Wiesel wrote about the Holocaust - to fight indifference, educate others, and prevent future genocides.
Elie Wiesel was a Holocaust survivor and renowned author and activist. He was born in 1928 in Romania and deported by the Nazis to Auschwitz in 1944 at age 15. He survived Auschwitz and Buchenwald, where his father died. After the war Wiesel wrote about his experiences in Night and became a prominent voice against indifference, genocide, and injustice. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1986 for his work promoting peace and human rights.
Elie and his family lost their possessions, were forced to wear yellow stars, and had to leave their neighborhood to assemble outside for a few days. They were then stripped, shaved, and Elie witnessed some people being hanged. Elie and his father survived many selections to avoid the gas chambers. His father suffered through death marches in cold weather until the end of the book when the camps were bombed and survivors rushed to the kitchens.
The document provides background information on Elie Wiesel and his memoir Night. It discusses Wiesel's childhood in Sighet, Romania, the Nazi invasion and deportation of Wiesel and his family to concentration camps, and Wiesel's post-war work to educate others about the Holocaust through his writing. Night is considered an important work that helped shift discussion about acknowledging and remembering the Holocaust after World War II.
Elie Wiesel was born in 1928 in Sighet, Romania to Orthodox Jewish parents who owned a grocery store. During World War II, the Nazis occupied Sighet and deported Wiesel and his family to concentration camps. Wiesel and his father survived Auschwitz and Buchenwald, but his mother and younger sister perished in Auschwitz. After the war, Wiesel published his memoir Night about his Holocaust experiences, which brought international attention. He went on to write over 40 books and receive numerous honors including the Nobel Peace Prize for his work promoting Holocaust remembrance and human rights.
Elie Wiesel was a Holocaust survivor and author from Sighet, Transylvania (modern-day Romania). In 1944, at age 15, he and his family were deported by the Nazis to the Auschwitz concentration camp. He endured unspeakable horrors and witnessed the deaths of his family members. After the war, Wiesel wrote about his experiences in Night, which has since been translated into 30+ languages and brought awareness to the Holocaust. He has dedicated his life to speaking out against hatred and genocide.
The document provides study guide notes for the book Night by Elie Wiesel. It outlines five key motifs to look for in the book: night, bearing witness, father-son relationships, loss of faith, and voice vs. silence. It also notes that over 6 million Jews were killed in the Holocaust by the end and encourages looking at how Elie Wiesel's relationship with his father and faith change throughout the book.
Elie Wiesel is a Holocaust survivor and author. He was born in 1928 in Romania and survived Auschwitz and Buchenwald as a teenager. His most famous book, Night, describes his experiences in the concentration camps during World War II and the horrors he witnessed, including the death of his father. After the war, Wiesel became a professor and advocate for human rights, receiving the Nobel Peace Prize in 1986 for raising awareness about the Holocaust. Night is relevant to understanding World War II because it provides a first-hand account of the suffering inflicted upon Jews by the Nazis in the concentration camps.
This document provides a 25-question study guide for Chapter 1 of the memoir Night by Elie Wiesel. The study guide questions probe various details from the chapter, including the introduction of Moshe the Beadle and the rising tensions experienced by the Jewish community in Sighet, Hungary as the Germans gained control of the area. The study guide also includes questions about literary devices and themes within the chapter, such as imagery of nature and the implications of the book's title being "Night."
Elie Wiesel was a Holocaust survivor and renowned author and activist. He was born in 1928 in Romania and deported by the Nazis to Auschwitz in 1944 at age 15. He survived Auschwitz and Buchenwald, where his father died. After the war Wiesel wrote about his experiences in Night and became a prominent voice against indifference, genocide, and injustice. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1986 for his work promoting peace and human rights.
Elie and his family lost their possessions, were forced to wear yellow stars, and had to leave their neighborhood to assemble outside for a few days. They were then stripped, shaved, and Elie witnessed some people being hanged. Elie and his father survived many selections to avoid the gas chambers. His father suffered through death marches in cold weather until the end of the book when the camps were bombed and survivors rushed to the kitchens.
The document provides background information on Elie Wiesel and his memoir Night. It discusses Wiesel's childhood in Sighet, Romania, the Nazi invasion and deportation of Wiesel and his family to concentration camps, and Wiesel's post-war work to educate others about the Holocaust through his writing. Night is considered an important work that helped shift discussion about acknowledging and remembering the Holocaust after World War II.
Elie Wiesel was born in 1928 in Sighet, Romania to Orthodox Jewish parents who owned a grocery store. During World War II, the Nazis occupied Sighet and deported Wiesel and his family to concentration camps. Wiesel and his father survived Auschwitz and Buchenwald, but his mother and younger sister perished in Auschwitz. After the war, Wiesel published his memoir Night about his Holocaust experiences, which brought international attention. He went on to write over 40 books and receive numerous honors including the Nobel Peace Prize for his work promoting Holocaust remembrance and human rights.
Elie Wiesel was a Holocaust survivor and author from Sighet, Transylvania (modern-day Romania). In 1944, at age 15, he and his family were deported by the Nazis to the Auschwitz concentration camp. He endured unspeakable horrors and witnessed the deaths of his family members. After the war, Wiesel wrote about his experiences in Night, which has since been translated into 30+ languages and brought awareness to the Holocaust. He has dedicated his life to speaking out against hatred and genocide.
The document provides study guide notes for the book Night by Elie Wiesel. It outlines five key motifs to look for in the book: night, bearing witness, father-son relationships, loss of faith, and voice vs. silence. It also notes that over 6 million Jews were killed in the Holocaust by the end and encourages looking at how Elie Wiesel's relationship with his father and faith change throughout the book.
Elie Wiesel is a Holocaust survivor and author. He was born in 1928 in Romania and survived Auschwitz and Buchenwald as a teenager. His most famous book, Night, describes his experiences in the concentration camps during World War II and the horrors he witnessed, including the death of his father. After the war, Wiesel became a professor and advocate for human rights, receiving the Nobel Peace Prize in 1986 for raising awareness about the Holocaust. Night is relevant to understanding World War II because it provides a first-hand account of the suffering inflicted upon Jews by the Nazis in the concentration camps.
This document provides a 25-question study guide for Chapter 1 of the memoir Night by Elie Wiesel. The study guide questions probe various details from the chapter, including the introduction of Moshe the Beadle and the rising tensions experienced by the Jewish community in Sighet, Hungary as the Germans gained control of the area. The study guide also includes questions about literary devices and themes within the chapter, such as imagery of nature and the implications of the book's title being "Night."
This document provides an introduction and background information about the memoir Night by Elie Wiesel. It describes that the memoir recounts Wiesel's experiences as a Jewish teenager imprisoned in Nazi concentration camps during the Holocaust. It provides context about Wiesel's life before the war, the Nazi rise to power and conquest of Europe, the persecution of Jews and others in Nazi-occupied territories, and the setting up of concentration camps including Auschwitz where Wiesel was imprisoned. The document ends with discussion questions about blindly following orders, bystander behavior during genocide, and other genocides throughout history.
Elie Wiesel was a Holocaust survivor and author who dedicated his life to educating others about the atrocities of the Holocaust. He was born in 1928 in Romania and deported to Auschwitz in 1944 where his family perished. After the war, Wiesel published Night, a memoir of his experiences, and became an advocate speaking out against indifference, racism, and oppression. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1986 for his efforts to remember the victims of the Holocaust and promote human rights.
Night by Elie Wiesel is an autobiographical memoir that recounts the author's experiences in Nazi concentration camps during the Holocaust as a teenager. It describes his imprisonment in Auschwitz and Buchenwald and his witnessing of atrocities like selections, starvation, and brutal executions. The book conveys the horrors of the Holocaust and the loss of humanity that Wiesel experienced.
Ernesto Genoni (1885-1975) trained as an artist at the Brera Academy of Fine Art. He served in the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) as a stretcher bearer on the battlefields of the Somme in WW1. He met Rudolf Steiner and introduced Anthroposophy and biodynamic agriculture into Australia.
Ernesto Genoni, Australia’s Biodynamics Pioneer (in his own words) by Dr John...johnpaull
Ernesto Genoni, Australia’s Biodynamics Pioneer (in his own words) by Dr John Paull.
Ernesto Genoni met Rudolf Steiner at the Goetheanum, Dornach, Switzerland and he was the first Australian to join the Experimental Circle of Anthroposophical Farmers and Gardeners.
Here is a sample Venn Diagram comparing Peter and Anne with 3 similarities and 3 differences each:
Similarities:
- Both are teenagers
- Both are hiding from the Nazis
- Both keep diaries
Differences:
Peter Anne
- Male - Female
- Older than Anne - Younger than Peter
- Gets into arguments with Anne - Writes in diary to express feelings
Elie Wiesel's memoir Night recounts his experiences during the Holocaust as a teenage boy. He describes being sent to the Nazi concentration camps of Auschwitz and Buchenwald in 1944 with his father. By the end of the war in 1945, Wiesel had lost his mother and sister in Auschwitz, and his father died shortly before Buchenwald was liberated. Wiesel wrote Night to bear witness and ensure that the horrors of the Holocaust would never be forgotten.
The document provides details from Anne Frank's timeline from 1942 to 1945. It describes how Anne and her family went into hiding in 1942 to escape Nazi persecution. While in hiding for over two years, Anne taught herself about the war and wrote in her diary. However, in August 1944 the secret annex where they were hiding was discovered and its occupants were arrested. Anne was sent to multiple concentration camps and died of typhus at Bergen-Belsen just before her 16th birthday.
Night by Elie Wiesel describes his experiences as a teenager imprisoned in Nazi concentration camps during World War II. The memoir details his separation from family members, harsh conditions, starvation, sickness, and witnessing horrific atrocities and deaths of prisoners. It provides insight into how the young Wiesel struggled to maintain hope and faith in God and humanity despite facing intense suffering and evil.
Anne Frank kept a diary from 1942 to 1944 while in hiding from the Nazis in Amsterdam. She was forced into hiding with her family and four others after the German occupation of the Netherlands. In her diary, she documents her experiences in the secret annex, including her struggles sharing close quarters with others and her burgeoning romance with Peter. Unfortunately, the eight people in hiding were eventually discovered and arrested in 1944. Anne and her sister both died in the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp. Only her father Otto survived.
The document provides biographical details about Anne Frank, including key events in her life from her birth in Germany in 1929 to her death at the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp in 1945 at the age of 15. It discusses how Anne and her family hid from the Nazis for over two years in an secret annex in Amsterdam before being arrested in 1944. It also provides context about Anne's diary, which she wrote in while in hiding and was published after her death.
HISTORY OF THE WORLD: ANNE FRANK - A VICTIM OF THE HOLOCAUSTGeorge Dumitrache
HISTORY OF THE WORLD: ANNE FRANK - A VICTIM OF THE HOLOCAUST. It contains: who was Anne Frank, early life, persecutions, arrest and death, the diary, the journal, life before hiding, Achterhuis, the Annex, the arrest, Auschwitz deportation, death, the diary of a young girl, Anne's legacy.
Anne Frank was a young Jewish girl who lived in Germany and Amsterdam before going into hiding from the Nazis during World War II. She received a diary for her 13th birthday, where she documented her experiences living secretly with her family for over two years. Though Anne and her family were eventually discovered and died in concentration camps, her diary was published after the war and has inspired millions with her hopeful spirit and insights into life under Nazi occupation. Her diary is one of the most widely read books in the world and has helped shape understanding of the Holocaust.
Anne Frank was born in Germany in 1929 and fled to the Netherlands with her family in 1934 to escape Nazi persecution of Jews. In 1942, after anti-Jewish laws were imposed in the Netherlands, Anne and her family went into hiding in a secret annex. They lived there until they were arrested in 1944 and deported to concentration camps, where Anne and her sister ultimately died at Bergen-Belsen in 1945, just before it was liberated.
- Anne Frank was a 13-year-old Jewish girl who went into hiding for two years with her family to escape the Holocaust in Nazi-occupied Amsterdam. She chronicled her experiences in hiding in her famous diary.
- Anne and seven others hid in a secret annex, but were eventually arrested in 1944 and sent to concentration camps. Only Anne's father Otto survived.
- Anne's diary provides intimate insights into her life in hiding as a teenager and gives faces to some of the millions who suffered during the Holocaust.
Irena Sendler was a Polish social worker who rescued 2,500 Jewish children from the Warsaw Ghetto during World War II. As a member of Zegota, a Polish underground organization, she used methods like coffins and ambulances to smuggle children out of the ghetto and placed them with Christian families and orphanages. Sendler was captured by Nazis in 1943, tortured, and sentenced to death but escaped. After the war, she was recognized for her heroism with awards from Israel, Poland, and others for saving children's lives at great personal risk during the Holocaust.
Anne Frank received a diary for her 13th birthday, which she named Kitty. She lived a normal, happy life until the Nazis took control of her area. Anne and her family, along with another family that included a boy Peter her age, were forced into hiding in a secret annex for almost two years. During this time in hiding, Anne became miserable, anxious, and afraid. However, she remained hopeful and never gave up, seeing the beauty that still remained despite her circumstances.
The holocaust had a profound impact on Jewish communities in Europe. Adolf Hitler rose to power in Germany in the 1930s and 1940s, and sought to eliminate Jews and others he deemed undesirable. Over 6 million Jews were killed, as Hitler occupied many European countries and instituted policies of ghettoization, forced labor, and mass murder. Survivors struggled to rebuild their lives after enduring immense suffering and loss during this dark period of history.
The document provides an overview for a unit on Elie Wiesel's novel "Night" about the Holocaust. It includes discussion questions about genocide, the Holocaust, and crimes against humanity. It outlines key events in Wiesel's life and experience during the Holocaust. The unit will involve reading survivor stories, Wiesel's novel, completing study questions, discussions, vocabulary, poetry, and writing assignments related to themes in the novel.
Anne Frank was born in Germany in 1929 to a Jewish family. When the Nazis came to power, the Franks went into hiding in a secret annex behind her father's office to escape persecution. Anne received a diary as a gift for her 13th birthday, which she used to record her experiences while in hiding. In August 1944, the annex was raided and the Franks were arrested and deported to concentration camps, where Anne and her sister eventually died of typhus at Bergen-Belsen. After the war, Anne's father Otto had her diary published, which has since become one of the most widely read books about the Holocaust.
This document provides an introduction and background information about the memoir Night by Elie Wiesel. It describes that the memoir recounts Wiesel's experiences as a Jewish teenager imprisoned in Nazi concentration camps during the Holocaust. It provides context about Wiesel's life before the war, the Nazi rise to power and conquest of Europe, the persecution of Jews and others in Nazi-occupied territories, and the setting up of concentration camps including Auschwitz where Wiesel was imprisoned. The document ends with discussion questions about blindly following orders, bystander behavior during genocide, and other genocides throughout history.
Elie Wiesel was a Holocaust survivor and author who dedicated his life to educating others about the atrocities of the Holocaust. He was born in 1928 in Romania and deported to Auschwitz in 1944 where his family perished. After the war, Wiesel published Night, a memoir of his experiences, and became an advocate speaking out against indifference, racism, and oppression. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1986 for his efforts to remember the victims of the Holocaust and promote human rights.
Night by Elie Wiesel is an autobiographical memoir that recounts the author's experiences in Nazi concentration camps during the Holocaust as a teenager. It describes his imprisonment in Auschwitz and Buchenwald and his witnessing of atrocities like selections, starvation, and brutal executions. The book conveys the horrors of the Holocaust and the loss of humanity that Wiesel experienced.
Ernesto Genoni (1885-1975) trained as an artist at the Brera Academy of Fine Art. He served in the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) as a stretcher bearer on the battlefields of the Somme in WW1. He met Rudolf Steiner and introduced Anthroposophy and biodynamic agriculture into Australia.
Ernesto Genoni, Australia’s Biodynamics Pioneer (in his own words) by Dr John...johnpaull
Ernesto Genoni, Australia’s Biodynamics Pioneer (in his own words) by Dr John Paull.
Ernesto Genoni met Rudolf Steiner at the Goetheanum, Dornach, Switzerland and he was the first Australian to join the Experimental Circle of Anthroposophical Farmers and Gardeners.
Here is a sample Venn Diagram comparing Peter and Anne with 3 similarities and 3 differences each:
Similarities:
- Both are teenagers
- Both are hiding from the Nazis
- Both keep diaries
Differences:
Peter Anne
- Male - Female
- Older than Anne - Younger than Peter
- Gets into arguments with Anne - Writes in diary to express feelings
Elie Wiesel's memoir Night recounts his experiences during the Holocaust as a teenage boy. He describes being sent to the Nazi concentration camps of Auschwitz and Buchenwald in 1944 with his father. By the end of the war in 1945, Wiesel had lost his mother and sister in Auschwitz, and his father died shortly before Buchenwald was liberated. Wiesel wrote Night to bear witness and ensure that the horrors of the Holocaust would never be forgotten.
The document provides details from Anne Frank's timeline from 1942 to 1945. It describes how Anne and her family went into hiding in 1942 to escape Nazi persecution. While in hiding for over two years, Anne taught herself about the war and wrote in her diary. However, in August 1944 the secret annex where they were hiding was discovered and its occupants were arrested. Anne was sent to multiple concentration camps and died of typhus at Bergen-Belsen just before her 16th birthday.
Night by Elie Wiesel describes his experiences as a teenager imprisoned in Nazi concentration camps during World War II. The memoir details his separation from family members, harsh conditions, starvation, sickness, and witnessing horrific atrocities and deaths of prisoners. It provides insight into how the young Wiesel struggled to maintain hope and faith in God and humanity despite facing intense suffering and evil.
Anne Frank kept a diary from 1942 to 1944 while in hiding from the Nazis in Amsterdam. She was forced into hiding with her family and four others after the German occupation of the Netherlands. In her diary, she documents her experiences in the secret annex, including her struggles sharing close quarters with others and her burgeoning romance with Peter. Unfortunately, the eight people in hiding were eventually discovered and arrested in 1944. Anne and her sister both died in the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp. Only her father Otto survived.
The document provides biographical details about Anne Frank, including key events in her life from her birth in Germany in 1929 to her death at the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp in 1945 at the age of 15. It discusses how Anne and her family hid from the Nazis for over two years in an secret annex in Amsterdam before being arrested in 1944. It also provides context about Anne's diary, which she wrote in while in hiding and was published after her death.
HISTORY OF THE WORLD: ANNE FRANK - A VICTIM OF THE HOLOCAUSTGeorge Dumitrache
HISTORY OF THE WORLD: ANNE FRANK - A VICTIM OF THE HOLOCAUST. It contains: who was Anne Frank, early life, persecutions, arrest and death, the diary, the journal, life before hiding, Achterhuis, the Annex, the arrest, Auschwitz deportation, death, the diary of a young girl, Anne's legacy.
Anne Frank was a young Jewish girl who lived in Germany and Amsterdam before going into hiding from the Nazis during World War II. She received a diary for her 13th birthday, where she documented her experiences living secretly with her family for over two years. Though Anne and her family were eventually discovered and died in concentration camps, her diary was published after the war and has inspired millions with her hopeful spirit and insights into life under Nazi occupation. Her diary is one of the most widely read books in the world and has helped shape understanding of the Holocaust.
Anne Frank was born in Germany in 1929 and fled to the Netherlands with her family in 1934 to escape Nazi persecution of Jews. In 1942, after anti-Jewish laws were imposed in the Netherlands, Anne and her family went into hiding in a secret annex. They lived there until they were arrested in 1944 and deported to concentration camps, where Anne and her sister ultimately died at Bergen-Belsen in 1945, just before it was liberated.
- Anne Frank was a 13-year-old Jewish girl who went into hiding for two years with her family to escape the Holocaust in Nazi-occupied Amsterdam. She chronicled her experiences in hiding in her famous diary.
- Anne and seven others hid in a secret annex, but were eventually arrested in 1944 and sent to concentration camps. Only Anne's father Otto survived.
- Anne's diary provides intimate insights into her life in hiding as a teenager and gives faces to some of the millions who suffered during the Holocaust.
Irena Sendler was a Polish social worker who rescued 2,500 Jewish children from the Warsaw Ghetto during World War II. As a member of Zegota, a Polish underground organization, she used methods like coffins and ambulances to smuggle children out of the ghetto and placed them with Christian families and orphanages. Sendler was captured by Nazis in 1943, tortured, and sentenced to death but escaped. After the war, she was recognized for her heroism with awards from Israel, Poland, and others for saving children's lives at great personal risk during the Holocaust.
Anne Frank received a diary for her 13th birthday, which she named Kitty. She lived a normal, happy life until the Nazis took control of her area. Anne and her family, along with another family that included a boy Peter her age, were forced into hiding in a secret annex for almost two years. During this time in hiding, Anne became miserable, anxious, and afraid. However, she remained hopeful and never gave up, seeing the beauty that still remained despite her circumstances.
The holocaust had a profound impact on Jewish communities in Europe. Adolf Hitler rose to power in Germany in the 1930s and 1940s, and sought to eliminate Jews and others he deemed undesirable. Over 6 million Jews were killed, as Hitler occupied many European countries and instituted policies of ghettoization, forced labor, and mass murder. Survivors struggled to rebuild their lives after enduring immense suffering and loss during this dark period of history.
The document provides an overview for a unit on Elie Wiesel's novel "Night" about the Holocaust. It includes discussion questions about genocide, the Holocaust, and crimes against humanity. It outlines key events in Wiesel's life and experience during the Holocaust. The unit will involve reading survivor stories, Wiesel's novel, completing study questions, discussions, vocabulary, poetry, and writing assignments related to themes in the novel.
Anne Frank was born in Germany in 1929 to a Jewish family. When the Nazis came to power, the Franks went into hiding in a secret annex behind her father's office to escape persecution. Anne received a diary as a gift for her 13th birthday, which she used to record her experiences while in hiding. In August 1944, the annex was raided and the Franks were arrested and deported to concentration camps, where Anne and her sister eventually died of typhus at Bergen-Belsen. After the war, Anne's father Otto had her diary published, which has since become one of the most widely read books about the Holocaust.
2. OVERVIEW
In this project, it will go over a quick summary of the Holocaust
and also of Elie Wiesel‟s life and his experiences in his book Night
as well as his life after the war. This will then explore Elie Wiesel‟s
apartment…or at least how it is imagined. After „going through‟
his office in his apartment, it will hopefully provide in depth
reasons as to why Wiesel wrote his novel Night.
4. THE HOLOCAUST
o 1933-Adolf Hitler (leader of the
German National Socialist Party [Nazi])
came into power in Germany
o Their campaign claimed that the Jews
were the cause of the depression after
WWI
o Laws were put in place (Nuremberg
Laws of 1935) designed to dehumanize
the German Jewish people
o Hitler came up with the “Final
Solution” to exterminate all German
Jews
o The Final Solution resulted in the
largest genocide EVER!
o It killed Jews, gypsys, homosexuals and
other „non-desirables‟ of Germany
o Auschwitz was the biggest death camp
(located in Poland)
o It was broken into 3 camps…
o Auschwitz I (main camp)
o Auschwitz II (Auschwitz-Birkenau)
o Auschwitz III (Auschwitz- Buna)
o 39 sub-camps were created (one being
Gleiwitz)
o At least 1.1 million people were killed
at Auschwitz
o If the people were „good quality‟, they
were put into labor camps (some within
Auschwitz, others outside), if not
„good‟ , they were killed through awful
means (ie: crematory, gas chambers)
5. ELIE WIESEL
o Born on Sept. 30. 1928, in Sighet,
Transylvania (now Romania)
o Had 3 sisters…Hilda, Bea, and Tzipora
o Had very strong Jewish beliefs and
would study the Talmud and eventually
the Cabbala.
o Up until 1944, Jews of Hungary were
relatively unaffected by Hitler like the
Jews in other parts of Europe
o In March 1944, Germany now occupied
Hungary
o His family and him where deported to
“Birkenau, reception center of
Auschwitz” (26) in 1944.
o Was separated from his mother and
sisters but stayed with his father
o Only him and his two oldest sisters
survived
o Father and Elie were moved to Buna to
work in an electrical warehouse.
o Jan. 1945-Auschwitz is evacuated to
Buchenwald because of the Russian
troops advancing
o Father dies from dysentery and
starvation (Jan. 28. 1945)
o April 11. 1945-Buchenwald was
liberated
o 15,000 Jews lived in Pre-War Sighet and
after the war only around 50 families
had survived
6. ELIE WIESEL (POST-WAR)
o When the camp was liberated, the
orphans (Elie included) went to a
France orphanage
o He took a 10 year vow of silence to
not talk about the Holocaust
o Wiesel got into journalism while in
France
o Wrote for the Tel Aviv paper
o 1954-Francois Mauriac (French
writer) was interviewed by Wiesel
and encouraged him to write about
his experience
• For more on the interview…see the
Foreword of Night
o Le Nuit was published in 1958..it
has since been translated in to more
then 30 languages (Night showed up
in English in 1960)
o Wiesel went on to write more then
40 books
o 1986- Elie and his wife started the
“Elie Wiesel Foundation for
Humanity”
o Foundation‟s purpose is to fight
indifference, intolerance and
injustice
o He is a noble peace prize winner
(1986) and is a professor as Boston
University
8. THE OFFICE
In Wiesel‟s office there are many items and objects. They range from something as big as
his corner glass cabinet, containing all his works of literature to something as small and as
simple as a broche. All things have their special place in the office but there are a few things
that catch a person‟s eye who walks in for the first time.
Near the glass cabinet, there is an old record player with a stack of records sitting beside it.
And on top of the pile, there is an extremely worn album of Beethoven‟s works.
Near his desk there is a pile of newspapers laying on the ground. On a closer look they
appear to be recent and have the same topic…they are all in regards to the new countries
on the Human Rights Council.
Right across from the desk there is a family picture hanging on the wall.
On the shelf below the picture, there is a plaque from the „Elie Wiesel Foundation‟ and
sitting beside it, there is a knife.
The desk is a little cluttered but a few things stick out. One is a dainty broche and the other
is a hand written letter, signed by Francois Mauriac.
And propped up beside the desk is a cane.
9. THE IMPORTANCE
OF…BEETHOVEN
When Elie and his father arrived at Buna, they were chosen by a Kapo and taken to the musician
block. There they met quite a few people but one in particular was Juliek, “a bespectacled Pole
with a cynical smile on his pale face” (47). He played violin for the band. Another musician had let
them know that Jews weren‟t allowed to play Beethoven because it was German music (47).
Once the prisoners were evacuated from Buna to Glewietz, Elie „met up‟ with Juliek again in a pile
of bodies. Somehow Juliek got out of the pile and started playing on his violin a piece of
Beethoven‟s concerto.
“And it was as though Juliek‟s soul were the bow. He played his life…his lost hopes, his charred
past, his extinguished future…I shall never forget Juliek…to this day, whenever I hear Beethoven
played my eyes close and out of the dark rises the sad, pale face of my polish friend, as he said his
farewell on his violin to an audience of dying men” (90).
It was an important event in Elie‟s life. Elie had lost a friend that day (and friends were very hard
to come by in the camps). But through Juliek‟s last act of defiance, playing Beethoven, there was
a peace that I believe Elie felt as his friend gave his last concert. It was the first time in a few years
that Juliek had some enjoyment, despite that his death was very near. He was able to play his violin
and play what he wanted to, in a sense rubbing it the Germans faces that he was a Jew who would
do as he pleased especially since he would be „free‟ from them very soon. And this became an
important memory in Wiesel‟s life because it gave a peaceful kind of hope for the moment. And
that moment is something that Wiesel wants to always remember, which is why his Beethoven
music is very worn.
10. THE IMPORTANCE OF…THE
FAMILY PICTURE
When Elie‟s family was separated at Birkenau, Elie never saw his mother and
youngest sister, Tzipora, again. His father later died of dysentery. Once Elie was
taken to the French orphanage, a reporter came in and took pictures and it was
through those pictures that him and his sister was reunited. His other sister had
gone back to Sighet and a year later Elie and both his sisters were together again.
The picture is, in part, a good memory of his family because it was taken a few
years before they were deported. Elie would remember the important things that
he has seen of his family and pre-war life. It is a good memory of his childhood
before the Holocaust. But is also a reminder of the damage that the Nazi‟s had
done to Europe and his family. It is why Elie writes and fights for human rights
the way he does; to stop anything like this happening to other families because he
knows exactly the devastation that it had caused in his own family. (In fact, Night is
dedicated “In memory of my parents and of my little sister, Tzipora” which makes
the book that much more touching I found.)
11. THE IMPORTANCE OF…HIS
FATHER’S KNIFE
At Buna, there was a selection that took place. Elie‟s father‟s number had been
recorded as an „undesirable‟ during the it because he was getting frail and weak.
The men who had past selection were to go to work and the others were suppose
to stay so that the SS officers could get rid of them. As Elie was leaving the camp
to go to work, his father gave Elie his knife and spoon. “„Take this knife…I don‟t
need it any longer….Quickly! Go on. Take what I‟m giving you!‟ The inheritance”
(71). After when Elie got back to the camp, his father was still there miraculously
and Elie gave back his inheritance for the time being. (Even though it doesn‟t say
that Elie got the spoon and knife back in the book, I like to think his father did
give him his inheritance again before he died.)
The knife on Wiesel‟s desk is a reminder of his father and what he suffered before
he was “free at last” (106) from the concentration camps. It jerked on my heart
strings when I realized that this was Elie‟s inheritance. It showed that his father
wanted to maintain some sort of normalcy even during the Holocaust. It also
showed how little they had left and how much of people‟s lives were stripped
away; giving your son who means the world to you nothing more then your knife
but yet it is the most meaningful thing that you would every give him. Even
though it is a „sad item‟, it gives Wiesel motivation as to why he writes and why he
wants people to remember the Holocaust.
12. THE IMPORTANCE OF…THE “ELIE
WIESEL FOUNDATION” PLAQUE
The “Elie Wiesel Foundation for Humanity” was founded in 1986, soon after
Wiesel was awarded the Noble Peace Prize in the same year. “The Foundation's
mission, rooted in the memory of the Holocaust, is to combat indifference,
intolerance and injustice through international dialogue and youth-focused
programs that promote acceptance, understanding and equality”
(http://www.eliewieselfoundation.org/aboutus.aspx ). These human rights‟ issues are
something that are very dear to Wiesel‟s heart and he wants to have an impact in
on individuals and the world.
The plaque from the Foundation is an encouraging piece in Wiesel‟s office. It
shows that as terrible and awful as the Holocaust was (not that he would still want
it to happen if there was a chance to do it over), there was some good that came
out of it. And because of his experiences, he is able to help those who are dealing
with “indifference, intolerance and injustice”. The plaque shows that the is a light
at the end of a tunnel and that Wiesel is using his strengths to help change the
world. He is making head-way despite of the circumstances.
13. THE IMPORTANCE OF…THE
NEWSPAPERS
The newspapers are all in regards to a current human rights issue based around
the fact that countries like Saudi Arabia, Cuba, China and Russia have gotten seats
on the United Nations Human Rights Council. There is concern that since these
countries are known to have violated human rights in the past, there is a chance
that they might do it again even if they are on the council supporting human
rights. Not saying that these countries won‟t change because there is, of course, a
possibility that they are now completely pro-rights and want to protect them but
what is concerning is that Human Rights Watch has noted that some of the new
members have not allowed UN investigators into their country to check out
supposable rights violations. Peggy Hicks, a global advocacy director, was quoted
saying “Countries that haven‟t allowed UN experts appointed by the council to
visit have a lot of explaining to do. It‟s like hiring someone, then not allowing
them to enter the office” (http://news.nationalpost.com).
With the stack on newspapers near Wiesel‟s desk, it shows that he is concerned
about this issue. That there might be more going on then what meets the eye.
Wiesel has fought most of his life for people who are victim to human rights
violations and now that certain new member countries may be violating laws that
they swear to protect, it is very concerning to him.
14. THE IMPORTANCE OF… THE
LETTER
Francois Mauriac was a famous French author and a prominent Catholic
theologian. Wiesel was suppose to interview Mauriac for the Tel Aviv paper.
Mauriac recalls that Wiesel “immediately won my sympathy, and our conversation
very quickly took a personal turn” (vii). Wiesel was soon telling Mauriac about the
Holocaust, telling him things that he swore not to talk about 10 years prior. But
during this „interview‟, Mauriac encouraged Wiesel to tell people about the
Holocaust and not keep quiet. This was something very important that he had to
do. This talk then lead to the writing of Night.
The letter from Mauriac is dated October 3, 1954. The same year that Wiesel and
him had the interview. Mauriac encourages Elie to keep up with writing the book
saying, “One must speak out – one must always speak out”
(http://www.crisismagazine.com). This letter held lots of importance to Wiesel
because it showed that someone believed in him and wanted to know his story.
This was essentially Wiesel‟s turning point and after this he began to speak out and
write book after book after book and also start the “Elie Wiesel Foundation for
Humanity”. Mauriac was a very important person in Wiesel‟s life, hence him
keeping the letter where he could always read it.
15. THE IMPORTANCE OF…THE
CANE
In the middle of January 1945, Elie‟s foot “began to swell because of the cold”
(74). He went to the camp‟s hospital and a Jewish doctor checked it out and told
him that there had to be an operation done now or else he may lose his foot. Elie
got the operation done and was in the hospital recovering when there was news
that the camp was to be evacuated because the Russians were gaining ground and
getting closer to Buna. The people in the hospital would stay behind but Elie
didn‟t want to be separated from his father and if they were both admitted into
the hospital, they weren‟t sure what would happen to the patients. So Elie decided
to be evacuated from camp with his father. During the evacuation his foot split
where it was operated on and caused lots of pain.
The cane helps Wiesel to get around when he needs it. His foot has always caused
him some pain because it never did heal up right. The cane again is a reminder of
the Holocaust and the reason in which his writes. And like the cane, Wiesel‟s job is
to be there, for those struggling, to lean on when they need help, which is what his
Foundation is all about.
16. THE IMPORTANCE OF…HIS
WIFE’S BROCHE
Marion Wiesel, Elie‟s wife, also underwent hardships in the Holocaust. Her
family was taken to a French internment camp. The people here weren‟t killed
outright but were left to die of the cold and starvation. Her family did manage
to escape to Switzerland, where they stayed until 1947. In 1969, Elie and
Marion where married. And in 1972, they had a son. Marion translated all of
Elie‟s books after they were married.
Having his wife‟s broche on the desk is a constant reminder to Elie that there
is good in life and that it is worth living. Elie has a wife and a son that he
loves very much and despite all the hardships and painful memories, he can
look at the broche on his desk and smile because his life is meaningful and
rewarding.
17. WHY DOES WIESEL WRITE?
Most objects in Wiesel‟s office are a form of reminders and motivation in one
way, shape or form. He writes to share his story and to prevent anything like
the Holocaust from happening again as well as preserving and protecting
people who have had their human rights violated. Wiesel can be quoted saying
“The opposite of love is not hate, it's indifference. The opposite of art is not
ugliness, it's indifference. The opposite of faith is not heresy, it's indifference.
And the opposite of life is not death, it's indifference”
(http://www.eliewieselfoundation.org). Wiesel wants to fight this indifference
and he does so by writing, speaking and through his foundation.
18. BIBLIOGRAPHY
"Bearing Witness - François Mauriac and Elie Wiesel." Jennifer Pierce:. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Nov.
2013. <http://www.catholicity.com/commentary/pierce/08663.html>.
"Bearing Witness: François Mauriac and Elie Wiesel." Crisis Magazine RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 19
Nov. 2013. <http://www.crisismagazine.com/2010/bearing-witness-francois-mauriac-and-eliewiesel>.
"China calls on Sri Lanka to 'protect and promote human rights'." The Hindu. N.p., n.d. Web. 20
Nov. 2013. <http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/world/china-calls-on-sri-lanka-toprotect-and-promote-human-rights/article5366982.ece>.
"China, Russia and Cuba to police human rights abuses." FRANCE 24. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Nov.
2013. <http://www.france24.com/en/20131113-china-russia-cuba-saudi-arabia-un-humanrights-council>.
"ELIE WIESEL: THE TRAGEDY OF THE BELIEVER | Ministry100's Blog." Ministry100s
Blog. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Nov. 2013. <http://ministry100.wordpress.com/2006/08/04/eliewiesel-the-tragedy-of-the-believer/>.
19. BIBLIOGRAPHY (CONT’D)
"Elie Wiesel biography." Bio.com. A&E Networks Television, n.d. Web. 23 Nov. 2013.
<http://www.biography.com/people/elie-wiesel-9530714>.
"Elie Wiesel » Department of Religion | Boston University." Department of Religion RSS.
N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Nov. 2013. <http://www.bu.edu/religion/faculty/bios/wiesel/>.
"The Elie Wiesel Foundation for Humanity." The Elie Wiesel Foundation for Humanity. N.p.,
n.d. Web. 22 Nov. 2013. <http://www.eliewieselfoundation.org/aboutus.aspx>.
"François Mauriac - Biographical." François Mauriac - Biographical. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Nov.
2013. <http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/literature/laureates/1952/mauriac bio.html>.
"Marion Wiesel." Marion Wiesel. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Nov. 2013.
<http://www.learntoquestion.com/seevak/groups/2001/sites/wiesel/biography/marionwi
esel.html>.
20. BIBLIOGRAPHY (CONT’D)
"Noted human rights abusers China, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Cuba all win seats on UN Human
Rights Council." National Post News Noted human rights abusers China Russia Saudi Arabia Cuba all win seats on
UN Human RightsCouncil Comments. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Nov. 2013.
<http://news.nationalpost.com/2013/11/12/noted-human-rights-abusers-china-russia-saudi-arabia-cubaall-win-seats-on-un-human-rights-council/>.
"Oprah Interviews Elie Wiesel - Oprah.com." Oprah.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Nov. 2013.
<http://www.oprah.com/omagazine/Oprah-Interviews-Elie-Wiesel>.
" Never Again starts here." Auschwitz. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Nov. 2013.
<http://www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/article.php?ModuleId=10005189>.
"Night." SparkNotes. SparkNotes, n.d. Web. 19 Nov. 2013.
<http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/night/context.html>.
Wiesel, Elie. Night. New York, NY: Bantam Books, 1960. Print.
"World." World China Russia Cuba Win UN Human Rights Council Seats Comments. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Nov. 2013.
<http://world.time.com/2013/11/12/china-russia-cuba-win-u-n-human-rights-council-seats/>.