His words were "soothing," like those of a grandfather telling a story from the past, said Natalie Weinstein, a freshman majoring in pharmacy. Elie Wiesel, a world-renowned novelist, activist and survivor of the Holocaust spoke on Thursday to an overflowing crowd at the Student Union Building Auditorium.
"It was so insightful," Weinstein said. "I sat there … with my mouth wide open, listening to [Wiesel's] every single word."
Wiesel was born in 1928 in Transylvania, which is now part of Romania. At age 15, he and his family were deported by the Nazis to Auschwitz, where his mother and younger sister perished. Wiesel and his father were then transported to Buchenwald, where his father died just before the camp was liberated in April 1945.
"Wiesel has written many books, he has told many stories, but perhaps even more important than that, he has lived what is probably the greatest story of our time," UT President Lloyd Jacobs said. "He is a man of great vision … who has inspired people around the world in many languages and for many, many decades."
Wiesel took the podium in the midst of a thunderous round of applause, and, in a moderate Romanian accent, he calmly addressed the crowd.
"The inspiring drive that links father to son, teacher to student or student to student is something that we name culture, and culture's broader sense is civilization. Without learning, neither is possible," he said. "Without learning, one remains ignorant, and ignorance surely does not help civilization, nor does it help humanity."
People cannot live in the past, but they must study it and apply it to the future, he said.
"We are the link between one and the other … we are on the way of bringing some solace, perhaps some light, and, if possible, some warmth to the human condition today," Wiesel said.
He referred to the Old Testament to find the teachings of the "ancient masters." He pointed to the basic stories of "Adam and Eve" and "Cain and Abel."
"No one should ever say 'I am better than you,' because we all have the same grandmother and great grandfather - Adam and Eve," Wiesel said. Citing "Cain and Abel," he said, "Whoever kills, kills his brother. If the world would accept this lesson, the world would be a better world."
UT alumna Rebecca Dorosz said the most poignant moment of the speech was when he spoke of the fanatic as one who does not believe in dialogue.
"I think in our political turmoil, it's really important for us to remember the importance of dialogue and not shutting out the other side," she said.
"Madness is not a result or consequence of uncertainties, but of certainties," Wiesel said. "The fanatic is certain. He has no questions, only answers,"
He highlighted the need for dialogue between groups of people who disagree. He used the conflicting views between Jews and Christians to illustrate the model of humanity found through dialogue.
"After all, we believe in the same God. After all, we believe in the coming of the Messiah - except you think he came and went away, and we think he hasn't come yet. So it's very simple; let's wait together, and when he will come, we will ask him, 'Have you been here before?'" Wiesel said.
In his conclusion, Weisel described what is needed to construct a moral society. Morality exists not in the relationship between himself and God, but between one individual and another, Wiesel said.
"I guess you have to start out with your next door neighbor," said Edward Garsek, a local rabbi who attended the speech.
"It is up to every one of us to say that 'I am here with a goal, with a purpose - that means I can be the personification of despair to my next fellow human being or I can be the open palm ... and say, 'Come, let's walk together, at least for a minute,'" Wiesel said.
"We must begin again tomorrow," Wiesel said to the crowd.
Jacobs said people need to "begin again" tomorrow by recognizing their responsibilities in this world.
"The responsibility for the things we all strive for and value, [Wiesel] places squarely on our shoulders," Jacobs said.
Be the first to comment on this article!