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Natashia H. began her presentation on Elie Wiesel by showing the things that had to be left behind when he and his family were deported. These are the symbols of his culture and religion.

Elie Wiesel was born in Romania in 1928. By 1944, Wiesel and his family believed they had escaped being captured by the Nazis. But, they were not so lucky. They were deported first to Auschwitz then to Buchenwald. Wiesel was fifteen. By the time he was released, he had lost his family and all connections to his religion. 

After a time spent in an orphanage in France, learning French, learning table manners, and learning how to interact with people, he wanted to regain his Jewish identity. He wanted to learn about Jewish mysticism, the essence of divinity, and understand the wisdom of God.

As an intellectual and a journalist, Wiesel became a political activist, a strong defender of human rights, and an advocate for justice. He wanted to confront hatred, write about dignity, and spread wisdom.

Wiesel asked the essential questions of our human existence: What do we do when we encounter chaos? Do we confront it or do we hide from it? How can you make a change within your sphere of influence? How can you make a difference? And, perhaps the most important question of all, how do we fight indifference?  

Natashia encouraged us to perform acts of kindness, as well as acts of critical thinking. As we do at our weekly CWLC meetings, we talk to each other, we listen, we talk about ideas, and we ask questions.

Chaos is darkness. We have the opportunity to be the light.  

Written by Sandra E.