Contact: Lauren Theodore at 212-650-4154
Jerusalem; July 3, 2016 -- Rabbi Rick Jacobs, President of the Union for Reform Judaism (URJ), released the following statement after learning of the death of Elie Wiesel:
How do we best remember someone whose life’s work was a testament to the power and importance of memory? We think about that challenge as we join so many around the globe in paying a final tribute to Elie Wiesel, who died yesterday at the age of 87.
Elie Wiesel was, of course, a survivor of the Holocaust. He taught us about the magnitude and the intensity of that evil. Although his writing was inescapably rooted in his own horrific experiences, he never allowed that darkness to overcome him. His writing, storytelling and speaking were all full of beauty, energy and life.
“If I survived, it must be for some reason,” Wiesel told The New York Times in an interview in 1981. He reflected on that reason, saying, “For the survivor who chooses to testify, it is clear: his duty is to bear witness for the dead and for the living. He has no right to deprive future generations of a past that belongs to our collective memory. To forget would be not only dangerous but offensive; to forget the dead would be akin to killing them a second time.”
But Wiesel was far more than an historian, a witness. He was an activist as well, and a powerfully effective one. His call on President Reagan not to visit the graves of SS soldiers at Bitburg (“That place, Mr. President, is not your place”) was a powerful example of speaking truth to power. His role in leading the campaign to address the horror of Darfur was indispensable. In 2006 at the Darfur rally on the mall in Washington, DC, Wiesel reminded us that Never Again means never again for any of God's children.
Wiesel was right. He did survive for a reason. He lived to teach us how to live. We will strive to honor his memory every day.
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About the Union for Reform Judaism
The Union for Reform Judaism (URJ) builds community at every level—from the way we collaborate with congregations, organizations, and individuals to how we make connections across North America to advance contemporary and inclusive Jewish life. Providing vision and voice to transform the way people connect to Judaism, we help congregations stay relevant and innovative, motivate more young Jews to embrace Jewish living, agitate for a more progressive society, and foster meaningful connections to Israel.
Founded in 1873, URJ has grown into the largest and most powerful force in North American Jewish life, with nearly 900 member congregations and work that inspires, connects, and educates millions of people. Our legacy, reach, leadership, and vision mean that we can unite thousands of years of tradition with a modern, evolving Judaism to strengthen Jewish communities today and for future generations.
Visit us at www.URJ.org to learn about our social justice initiatives, camps and programs for young Jews, services for congregations and communities, and how you can work with us to create a more just, whole, and compassionate world. Enjoy related content at ReformJudaism.org and connect with URJ on Twitter and Facebook.
