Elie Wiesel- Nobel Prize for Peace

He came from a very religious family that was considered well to be. Which means they didn't go hungry. He spent most of his time talking to God. He felt that God was his friend, partner, teacher, King, and sovereign. He became a Hasid because of his grandfather and mother's influences and he still feels that they are his soul. His father taught him to reason and reach his mind. He always liked religious books as a child.He has written dozens of book, including novels, plays, books of esays, biblical commentary and works on Jewish folkware and mysticism. At the age 15 his family was departed from their home in Romania to concentration camp, Auschwitz. His father, mother, and younger sister all died at the hands of the Nazis. His older sister survived whom he met up with in Paris at the age of 16 at an orphanage. He became a Chairman of the Presidents Commission of the Holocaust in 1978. He appointed a survivor of the Holocaust to every committee. He wanted to glorify the survivors. He was the one who first used the word "Holocaust" in context. He was reading about sacrifices and burning and felt this word best described the ordeal. Ten years after the war he wrote his book "Night" about the Holocaust. He had a hard time getting it published because many people felt it was too morbid Finally a small publisher in America published the book and it orginally only sold 1500 copies. Throughout his career he has spoken out for his victims of oppression all over the world. I think this is what hept him going after his ordeal, he survived forced labor, forced marches, starvation, disease beatings and torture. He felt victims should be heard and not only the enemy. He knew that silence never helps the victim it only helps the victimizer. He thinks of the killer and loses faith but then he thinks of the victim and he feels compassion. He feels people need to be sensitive to indifferences.His American Dream would be that no group is superior to another group, that people should be generous and give back to one anoter, and finally we need to remember that every minute can be the begining or the end of adventure. I enjoyed reading the interview about Elie Wiesel and learning about his life , struggles, and accomplishments.