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at The 92nd Street Y, New York. Supported by The Elie Wiesel Foundation for Humanity
Mar 04, 1993
Professor Wiesel responds to questions and comments from two interviewers, David Woznica and Joseph Telushkin, concerning general and personal issues. Regarding a moral society Professor Wiesel says there is no place that is a just society, which would be a utopia—and utopia means “nowhere.” What is rather needed is a society that aspires to be just. Regarding how to show the meaningfulness of Jewish life and learning to young Jews: I would try to show the beauty and richness in Jewish tradition, Jewish learning, Jewish culture, Jewish law; to waste it is silly. A Jew who is not involved with his or her Jewish memory is mutilated, since this memory is all-encompassing and brings everything together. For a week I would teach a page here, a law there, tell a story, and then we would see how all of that fits together. Regarding end of life issues: I don’t know enough to answer; I’m still studying. Regarding being afraid when meeting a president: I’m more afraid of a policeman, truly; I continue to think like a refugee.
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