Remembering Elie Wiesel

By Rabbi Debra Smith

I visited the Florida Holocaust Museum in St. Petersburg this past week. The museum had a special exhibit on the life and work of Elie Wiesel, who has been a longtime hero of mine.

Years back, I had the pleasure of seeing Elie Wiesel honored at the North American Choral Festival in the Catskills, New York.  I remember that being such a thrill as we all stood and honored him as he entered the room. He had written a piece of music that the choral  group sang.

The Holocaust Museum in St. Petersburg featured many photos and artifacts, along with taped speeches that Wiesel had given. There were pictures of him and his wife and pictures of him with his son, Elisha.

Included in the exhibition was a metal with an inscription from Isaiah 62.1, which is a promise of God’s unwavering commitment to Zion (Jerusalem) and the Jewish people.

I also listened to a recording of Elie Wiesel delivering his acceptance speech when he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Additionally, there was a text from a speech he had given at Yad Vashem in 1987. The exhibit also had a beautiful suit in hot pink worn by Elie Wiesel’s wife, Marion.

The exhibit was very comprehensive, giving visitors a glimpse into Eli Wiesel‘s personal as well as his public/professional life. I highly recommend visiting this exhibit if you are ever in St. Petersburg, Florida.  It was a rich and meaningful experience for me to visit the museum and this exhibit.