This past week one of the Jewish community’s giants passed away– Elie Wiesel: Shoah survivor, author, voice for all those who survived “The Kingdom of the Night”.
What can we say about the fearless Nazi hunter who taught us that neutrality always helps the oppressor, never the victim? Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented. We cannot remain neutral. We must not remain silent.
Thirty years ago in 1986 Wiesel was honored by being granted the Nobel Peace Prize. The words of his acceptance speech speak more eloquently of the man than anything we may say.
“It frightens me because I wonder: do I have the right to represent the multitudes who have perished? Do I have the right to accept this great honor on their behalf? I do not. No one can speak for the dead; no one may interpret their mutilated dreams and visions.”
“I remember: it happened yesterday or eternities ago. A young Jewish boy discovered the kingdom of night. I remember his bewilderment; I remember his anguish. It all happened so fast. The ghetto. The deportation. The sealed cattle car. The fiery altar upon which the history of our people and the future of mankind were meant to be sacrificed.”
“I remember: he asked his father: Can this be true? This is the twentieth century, not the Middle Ages. Who would allow such crimes to be committed? How could the world remain silent?”
“And now the boy is turning to me: Tell me, he asks, what have you done with my future? What have you done with your life?”
Shalom, Elie.
B’Shalom
Rabbi Stanley Halpern