Big Strain Open Heart By Elie Wiesel

The Life of Elie Wiesel Elie Wiesel was born in Romania on September 30, 1928. Wiesel followed the Jewish religion and was in the affected area during The Holocaust in World War Two. He survived the death camps and went on to write about his experiences. Speaking out about the injustices in the world and persecution became a frequent expression for Wiesel. This man has affected many across the world, especially those in the Jewish religion. The video we watched in class really opened my eyes to what I really do not know about The Holocaust. In the Oxtoby book on page 153, Wiesel is mentioned as an advocate for the many Jews who question where God was during this horrid time. The Holocaust, to most religious people, puts a very big strain

This book begins with Wiesel’s communications with his doctor as he learns his heart is failing, not his stomach. Wiesel initially reacts to this news with disbelief and denial. He then reflects on his life with his wife and the things he experienced. Most notably, Wiesel faces his ongoing questioning of God, and where it has lead. I think I should learn more about the Holocaust and the individual impact it had on a person who has gone through it. I have always felt a desire to learn about catastrophic events in history, and especially the effect it has on a person’s faith in their religious beliefs. I have always struggled with my own faith, and which religion would suit me best. Elie Wiesel really does question his faith while at the same time showing that he still could find religion a place in his

After working in horrible conditions without adequate nutrition or shelter, Wiesel’s father died in 1945 three months before liberation. After being liberated, Wiesel was in the hospital for internal digestion issues, likely due to the conditions and food in the camps. While he was in the hospital he recalled his experience and wrote down as much as he could remember with details. It would be years before any of his writings would be published. Once he had healed he was placed in an orphanage and was later reunited with his older sisters. In 1948, Wiesel began writing for journals and other literary works. At this point, he and his family still did not want to revisit their terror of the death camps to speak about their experiences. Later in is journalism career, Wiesel interviewed Francois Mauriac for his journal. During Wiesel’s conversations with Mauriac, Mauriac spoke about Jesus and his suffering for the Jewish people, and this bothered Wiesel enough to speak up and say ”…ten years ago, not very far from here, I knew Jewish children every one of whom suffered a thousand times more, six million times more, than Christ on the cross. And we don’t speak about them.” (Achievement) Mauriac encouraged Wiesel to talk about it to help him understand his feelings and get them off his chest. Wiesel wrote a memoir containing approximately 800 pages. His memoir, Night, was reduced to