Celebrating the Life of Elie Wiesel

It’s like the song, “Seasons of Love’ How do you measure, measure a year?

How do we measure the first year remembering the life and legacy of Elie Wiesel?

Boston University had a special day on September 17, “A Day of Learning and Celebration;

Celebrating the Life of Elie Wiesel in Word, Image, and Music.” How can we remember him?

My question includes, “how do we continue his legacy and his passion for tikkun olam, repairing the world, his concern for justice and remembering?” For me, it’s not just his words that inspire me, but also his songs. His plaintive and raw songs from a childhood brutally taken from him, those sweet memories as a Viznitzer hassid, a studious and melodious young boy.

Many speakers had wonderful questions and lessons to share from Elie Wiesel’s books and teachings-

What does it mean to be a hero?

How does a book like Night, really change you?

Can we learn to be more compassionate?

Tell your own story- you never know who will be impacted by it.

Imagine if we found light and truth in each other’s words as Elie Wiesel did as a teacher

What can we do now to live a morally courageous life as he did?

Hope is not an emotional luxury but a moral necessity!

Neutrality never helps the victim-  His son Elisha concluded with powerful and beautiful words-

Don’t be silent, continue to be a messenger of peace, compassion and hope

One person can make a difference.

I remember powerful lessons from my teacher and mentor, but also the songs. My friend Cantor Riki Lippitz and I shared a few of our favorite Elie Wiesel songs that day- a Niggun, Tzave, Fun Kosev Biz Kitev, and song for him, Mi Haish. Songs about redemption, the spiritual longing of the Baal Shem Tov,  and what is it to be righteous and a mentch ( Mi Haish).

May his voice continue to teach and inspire us- to “feel deeper and think higher”.

“How do you measure, measure a year… how about love. seasons of love.”

As we approach the season of Hanukkah- let our candles remind us of the light that can cast away darkness, light that can become hope, and light that renews our spirit and our courage to remember the lessons of Elie Wiesel of blessed memory.