Elie Wiesel

Born:

September 30, 1928, Sighet, Maramureș, Romania

Died:

July 2, 2016, New York City, New York, United States

Nationality:

Romanian-born American

Profession(s):

Writer, Professor, Political Activist, Nobel Laureate

Early Life and Education

• Raised in a Hasidic Jewish community in Sighet, Transylvania (present-day Romania).
• Studied Jewish religious texts, including the Talmud, and Kabbalah.
• Deported to Auschwitz-Birkenau in 1944 along with his family during the Holocaust. His later writings, including reflections on the event of his father's death, powerfully chronicled the events of the Holocaust. This personal event, and the context of his life, would inform most of his later work.
• Liberated from Buchenwald concentration camp in 1945.
• Moved to France after the war and studied at the Sorbonne in Paris.

Career and Major Achievements

• Worked as a journalist for various publications.
• Began writing about his Holocaust experiences, initially in Yiddish.
• Published "Night" (originally "Un di Velt Hot Geshvign" in Yiddish) in 1958, his seminal work documenting his experiences in Auschwitz and Buchenwald.
• Became a prominent voice for Holocaust remembrance and human rights.
• Held professorships at Boston University and other universities.
• Awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1986 for speaking out against violence, repression, and racism.
• Founded The Elie Wiesel Foundation for Humanity in 1986.

Notable Works

• Night (1958)
• Dawn (1961)
• Day (1962)
• The Town Beyond the Wall (1964)
• The Accident (1961)
• The Testament (1980)
• Numerous other novels, essays, and plays.

Awards and Recognition

Legacy and Impact

Elie Wiesel's work ensured that the horrors of the Holocaust would not be forgotten. His writings and activism made him one of the world's leading voices for human rights and peace. He challenged individuals and societies to confront injustice and to promote understanding and tolerance.

Related links