Elie Wiesel, the Nobel peace laureate and one of the most respected figures in Jewish life in the 20th and 21st centuries, first spoke at The 92nd Street Y on February 19, 1967, at a reading at the Unterberg Poetry Center of his book, The Town Beyond the Wall.
From then on, over almost five decades, he enlightened audiences with readings and commentaries on some of his own works — sometimes giving them their first public airing. He lectured on Biblical luminaries and Hasidic masters, and illuminated the teachings of the great Talmudic sages. He twice gave the Annual State of World Jewry Lecture, and shared the stage with notables such as Eric Kandel, Marvin Kalb and David Axelrod. Over the course of 47 years, he delivered 180 lectures. From his wisdom, we have gained immeasurably.
On Wednesday, March 23, The 92nd Street Y is honored to launch The Elie Wiesel Living Archive at 92Y: a repository for his recorded presentations from 1967-2014. The Archive will provide free online access for scholars and students to an unparalleled resource for the study and appreciation of Elie Wiesel’s life and work and allow people of all backgrounds and ages access to a multimedia exploration of his lectures, readings, and conversations focusing on Jewish learning and tradition, chronicling his pursuit of justice, and contextualizing his unwavering belief in the power of humanity.
Join Rabbi Peter J. Rubinstein, Elisha Wiesel, son of the late Elie Wiesel, and Dr. Avraham Rosen, author and student of Elie Wiesel and our Project Scholar for the Elie Wiesel Living Archive at The 92nd Street Y. Together they will pay tribute to one of the world’s most revered teachers of what Professor Wiesel referred to as “the art of morality.” They will also share insights and appreciation for his remarkable work at 92Y, discuss the newly launched Archive, and explore his recently published book, Filled with Fire and Light: Portraits and Legends from the Bible, Talmud, and Hasidic World, edited by Dr. Avraham Rosen. Matthew Bronfman introduces the discussion.
These archives are made possible by a generous grant from The Elie Wiesel Foundation for Humanity.