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at The 92nd Street Y, New York. Supported by The Elie Wiesel Foundation for Humanity
Apr 14, 2005
Professor Wiesel talks poetically about prayer and how much prayer has in common with literature: “both are as open as an open wound.” Adam was the first liturgical author, composing the Psalm for the Sabbath; Abraham, Isaac and Jacob divided between them the three daily prayer services; Rachel and Leah shared the midnight prayers. Israel became a concept in prayer. Whereas the Torah was written by God, prayer was composed by man. Before Auschwitz, artistic imagination preceded reality; after Auschwitz, art followed reality at a great distance, defeated and impotent. Man has yet to write an adequate liturgy. Professor Wiesel teaches us that Jewish tradition uniquely allows man to question God; to turn refusal of prayer into prayer and prayer into an appeal; to choose rebellion and remain within Judaism.
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