Date of Birth: September 30, 1928
Zodiac Sign: Libra
Date of Death: July 2, 2016
Biography
Elie Wiesel was a Romanian-born American Jewish writer, professor, political activist, Nobel Laureate, and Holocaust survivor. Born on September 30, 1928, in Sighet, Transylvania (now part of Romania), Wiesel is best known for his book “Night,” a harrowing account of his experiences in Nazi concentration camps during World War II. He was liberated from Buchenwald in 1945, after which he began a career as a journalist and author, writing extensively about the Holocaust and advocating for human rights. His literary work and activism earned him the Nobel Peace Prize in 1986. Wiesel’s contributions to literature and human rights have left an enduring legacy.
5 Interesting Facts about Elie Wiesel
1. Elie Wiesel was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1986 for his efforts to ensure the Holocaust would never be forgotten and to combat indifference, intolerance, and injustice.
2. His autobiographical work “Night” has been translated into more than 30 languages and is considered one of the most important pieces of Holocaust literature.
3. Wiesel was a professor at Boston University, where he taught humanities and was a member of the faculty in the Department of Religion.
4. He founded the Elie Wiesel Foundation for Humanity, which focuses on combating indifference, intolerance, and injustice through international dialogue and youth-focused programs.
5. Wiesel was a vocal advocate for numerous causes, including the plight of Soviet Jews, apartheid in South Africa, and the victims of genocide in Bosnia and Rwanda.
5 Most Interesting Quotes from Elie Wiesel
1. “The opposite of love is not hate, it’s indifference.”
2. “For the dead and the living, we must bear witness.”
3. “There may be times when we are powerless to prevent injustice, but there must never be a time when we fail to protest.”
4. “No human race is superior; no religious faith is inferior. All collective judgments are wrong. Only racists make them.”
5. “Because I remember, I despair. Because I remember, I have the duty to reject despair.”
Highest Net Worth Achieved
Elie Wiesel’s highest net worth was estimated to be around $5 million.
Children
Elie Wiesel had one son, Elisha Wiesel, who works in finance and has continued his father’s legacy of activism and philanthropy.
Relevant Links
1. [Elie Wiesel – Nobel Prize](https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/peace/1986/wiesel/biographical/
2. [Elie Wiesel Foundation for Humanity](http://www.eliewieselfoundation.org/
4. [Elie Wiesel – Biography on Britannica](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Elie-Wiesel
5. [Elie Wiesel – Night (Book](https://www.sparknotes.com/lit/night/