- Elie Wiesel was born on September 30, 1928, in Sighet, Transylvania, later known as, Romania. Ellie, who grew up with three siblings, all three sisters. He pursued religious studies at a nearby synagogue, and was influenced by the traditional spiritual beliefs of his grandfather and mother, and his father's liberal expressions of Judaism. He sought the teaching/mentoring or Moishe the Beadle, and learned about the Kabbalah. Elie was unusually dedicated to learning Jewish religious traditions and teachings, and only Moishe would teach want he wanted. Moishe was banned from Sighet along with the other foreigners, and barely escaped death once the police started killing off their prisoners. Moishe warned Elie, but Wiesel did not believe just like the other Moishe told. At the age of twelve, Wiesel's hometown was invaded by the nazi troops. Soon after, Nazi Germany forced Jews living in Bulgaria, Hungary and Romania to relocate to concentration camps in Poland. When Elie was 15, he and his entire family were sent to Auschwitz as part of the Holocaust. Elie Wiesel and his family lived in the camps under inhumane conditions. They were gradually starving, but were freed in 1945. Of his family members, only he and two of his sisters survived.
- Wiesel was influenced to write about his experiences in the camps and he went on to write dozens of books. The most widely read is Night, but also includes Town of Luck, The Gates of the Forest and The Oath, and such nonfiction works as Souls on Fire: Portraits and Legends of Hasidic Masters and All Rivers Run to the Sea. Wiesel has also become a world-renowned international activist and figure of peace over the years, speaking out against injustices perpetrated by multiple countries and groups. Elie's efforts for peace have caused him to be honored across the world with a number of awards, including (and not limited to) the U.S. Presidential Medal of Freedom and the French Legion of Honor's Grand Croix. His impact on society didn't stop there, and he went on to teach. In the mid-1970s, Wiesel taught at Boston University as a Professor in Humanities. Later, he taught Judaic studies at the City University of New York. He is a visiting scholar at Yale, and is highly regarded in multiple universities. He has moved millions, and his works have more hearts to change still.
- Wiesel is still a peace activist, and is still alive, at the age of 85. He is regularly asked to attend conferences world-wide. He has even visited his old home and the camps with President Barack Obama. A large change is his life and career was when Wiesel won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1986. He later founded the Elie Wiesel Foundation for Humanity with his wife Marion Wiesel. His foundation is his legacy as an activist. Elie has spoken out against acts of violence over the years. His valiant efforts have helped immensely with our worlds major issues.