An interview with the Nobel laureate

Elie Wiesel

By Marshall Weiss, The Dayton Jewish Observer, March 2010

On March 25, author, professor, and human rights activist Elie Wiesel will return to Dayton to present a lecture (sold-out) sponsored by the University of Dayton and to meet with students at the university. This is his first return to Dayton since he received the Dayton Literary Peace Prize Lifetime Achievement Award in October 2007.

The Elie Wiesel Foundation For Humanity, which he founded and is run by his wife, Marion Wiesel, aims to combat indifference, intolerance and injustice through international dialogue and youth-focused programs that promote acceptance, understanding and equality.

If it’s OK with you, may I dive in at the deep end? I’d like to get your perspective on the Vatican’s move toward sainthood for Pius XII.
Go ahead, ask.

Do you think the organized Jewish community is handling the move toward Pius’ sainthood properly?
I don’t know. I don’t follow the event, nor do I follow the commentaries on the event.

Have you dealt with issues surrounding Pius?
Not personally, except I know exactly what I’ve read. I’ve read a lot about him, not only what he has done — he must have done something — but also what he has not done. The fact is, that more than a thousand Jews were deported literally from under his windows, and not a word came out. Had he written a pastoral letter, even a secret, confidential pastoral letter, asking simply Jews to be saved, that would have reached every single priest in every single village and every single town in Eastern Europe and Western Europe where the Jews lived. And they would have had an impact. Here and there, a Jew would have been saved simply because of the letter that the priest received from the pope. And that letter was never written.

Should the Jewish community as well as the Catholic Church refrain from passing judgment — one way or the other — until the Vatican secret archives have been opened and processed? Granted, that’s a process that probably will take a number of years.
I want, I hope that the archives will be open soon, but personally, I cannot give advice on that. Whatever people feel like doing, they should do according to their conscience.

Have you been asked to get involved in this in any way?
Only the way you are. Actually no movement, no organization has ever asked me to do something about it.

How is your foundation faring in the wake of the Madoff crisis?
Well, from the moment it happened, it was amazing. Almost miraculous. All of a sudden, we began receiving donations from all over the country, all kinds of people: young and old, Jews and non-Jews. It was heartwarming. Children who sent their Chanukah money or their Christmas presents. You have to imagine day after day, hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of donations came in, simply saying, ‘How could he (Madoff) have done that to you?’ Therefore, they want to help. So we decided right away, my wife and I — my wife is handling the foundation, not I — but we decided we are not going to cancel any programs. I don’t want anyone like him or anyone else to destroy what I have done with my life.

What are some of the projects you’re working on these days?
Right now, for instance, we are preparing a full-page ad for The New York Times and the International Herald Tribune (published Feb. 7), an appeal to the leaders of the world to be stronger with Iran. I believe Iran presents a threat to the whole world, not only to Israel, but of course first of all to Israel. Ahmadinejad is the number-one Holocaust denier in the world. And then, he dares, he has the arrogance to say publicly that he wants nuclear weapons to destroy the state of Israel. Really, I think that the whole civilized world should come out against him.

Do you think the United States government is handling its dealings with Iran properly?
I think certainly the president is aware and I think the sanctions are being proposed and have already been applied — I want stronger ones — but I cannot really be critical of the president’s attitude now. He is doing, I think, what he can, for the moment, is trying to more in consultation with other nations in the world and I hope that more results will be available.

What will you speak about when you come to Dayton?
(Laughing) If I tell you, they won’t come to hear it.

A little taste?
I believe in moral philosophy. That’s my favorite subject. I will speak about the morality that must be the beneficiary of priority, or priority standing.

The University of Dayton Diversity Lecture Series presents An Evening with Elie Wiesel, Thursday, March 25, 7:30 p.m. at the Schuster Center is now sold out.