Elie Wiesel and Me

I have a unique connection to Elie Wiesel, of blessed memory, who passed away this week.  

My parents named me Elimelech after my father's father.  (I also have a legal name, but it's top secret.)  They felt, however, that Elimelech is too long a name for a baby, so they decided to call me by the shorter nickname: Elie.  OK.  How do you spell it?  The more common spelling is Eli, but that's really a different name.  Others go in the Elli or Elly direction.  So they were left with the dilemma of how to spell my name.

While pregnant, my mother had been reading Elie Wiesel's "Night."  She figured what better spelling of my name than that of the great author and Jewish hero.

So I'm named after my grandfather, but Elie Wiesel gives me the spelling of my name.  I'm honored to have even this minor connection to such a great Jew and human being.

A lot has been - and will be - written and said about Elie Wiesel.  For me, the crux of his impact comes from his refusal to remain silent.  He spoke up about the need to remember the Shoah, to remind us about Soviet Jewry (his book "The Jews of Silence" is so powerful), to fight against evil and hatred, to support Israel, to demand morality and justice.  Elie Wiesel's outspokenness is a model for each of us to live up to when we encounter something wrong.

I felt this sentiment at Wednesday's rally in Jerusalem in support of Rabbi Lookstein and to demand better treatment for converts from the Diaspora.  (See my report of the event here.) The event was spearheaded by Ramaz alumni and the sentiment of the organizers and attendees was one of "We need to speak up."  

Speaking up and taking action have been at the core of the soul of the KJ/Ramaz community for decades.  Whatever the cause or issue, when action is required, our role is to say, "Hineni," here we are, ready to act.  

Another lesson I learn from Elie Wiesel is to embrace the complexity of life and Judaism.

Take the issue of God.  I often quote Elie Wiesel’s commenting on faith after the Holocaust, "One can be for God or against God, but it is impossible to be without God."

People have different views of God, but it’s a subject we must talk about.

This is classic Elie Wiesel.  Our existence is complicated.

We live in complicated times.  They're so complicated, I prefer not to count all the ways.  (Send me your suggestions!)  I am currently in Jerusalem participating in the Hartman Institute's Rabbinic  Leadership Initiative.   This week, I am studying with 200 rabbis from all over North America who run the gamut of denominations and religious backgrounds.  The word "complicated" is CONSTANTLY heard.  Rather than deter us, today's challenges should animate us to respond. 

Life is full of complexity.  Embrace it. 

We will miss Elie Wiesel's voice and his struggle.  The greatest way to honor his memory is for us to speak up and embrace it.

Yehi zichro baruch - May Elie Wiesel's memory inspire action that will lead to blessing.