In celebration of 180 lectures over nearly half a century, this evening’s event marks the occasion by saying thank you to Elie and Marion Wiesel. Amongst others, Hilary Clinton calls Professor Wiesel “the conscience of the world” and “a light in the darkness,” who has guided us in moving forward and reminded us of the ways we should not go. Matthew Bronfman considers Professor Wiesel “the heart and the soul and moral conscience” of the 92Y; “you are a witness to the worst, but a paradigm of the best that humanity has to offer.” Erik Kandel refers to Professor Wiesel as “the most remarkable person I’ve ever met” and “the single most powerful teacher of the Holocaust:” “We therefore raise two imaginary glasses: one to you, Melech Yisra’el in the world at large, and the other to Am Yisra’el Chai, the life of the Jewish people that you’ve helped so powerfully.” Natan Sharansky congratulates 92Y on hosting Professor Wiesel 180 times: “I think it’s very good to hear the voice of Elie Wiesel every year. Every day. To every Jew.” Professor Wiesel responds by acknowledging that the Y has been a “second home to us. A cultural home” and, in his final words spoken at 92Y, that he has the feeling that he hasn’t even begun: “And I say to myself, ‘Who knows? Maybe, im’irtzeh ha-Shem -- if God willing -- one day, I will begin.”