In one of the last of his 92NY lectures, Prof. Wiesel tells of his enduring bond to his murdered parents and youngest sister: "We were very close inside that place. So in truth my father never left me--nor do my mother and little sister. They have stayed with me, appearing in every one of my tales, in every one of my dreams, in everything I teach."

The 2nd day of the Jewish month of Sivan (coinciding this year with Shabbat, Parshat Bamidbar--Friday night, June 7, and Saturday, June 8) was observed by Prof. Wiesel as the yahrzeit of his mother, Sarah, and youngest sister, Tsiporah—who were murdered upon arrival in Auschwitz-Birkenau on this date in 5704/1944.

In tribute to the 80th anniversary of their tragic passing, we share Prof. Wiesel’s extraordinary 1985 essay, “The Death of My Mother,” which was included in his French-language collection, Signes d’exode. May Prof. Wiesel’s tender words open a window to his mother’s richly devout and devoted life—and, as tradition teaches, may his inspired words bring an ascent to the souls of Sarah bas Dovid, Hy”d, and Tsiporah bas Shlomo HaLevi, Hy”d.