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at The 92nd Street Y, New York. Supported by The Elie Wiesel Foundation for Humanity
Apr 15, 2010
Although Professor Wiesel recognizes that the world has always been in crisis (since Adam and Eve), he asks the question whether we are now witnessing a moral disaster. Further, although the evening’s topic concerns our moral obligations, Professor Wiesel approaches the question not from a political viewpoint, but from a passion for learning. Professor Wiesel defines what is meant by morality in the Jewish tradition: the code of divine law, the interpretation of that law; and individual pursuit of justice. Morality, however, is flexible and sometimes the law can be unlawful; therefore, Professor Wiesel believes the real definition is that a person, who is concerned with the other and is responsible for and respects (not just tolerates) the other, is moral. Professor Wiesel teaches us that “the most beautiful part in our scripture” is the commandment to not stand idly by, that as the Hebrew word for morality (musar) comes from the word to communicate (limsor), morality is always a communal act and that moral education is a necessity.
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