Elie Wiesel

Elie Wiesel was a Romanian-born Jewish writer, Holocaust survivor, and human rights activist.

Elie Wiesel was a Romanian-born Jewish writer, Holocaust survivor, and human rights activist. He is best known for his memoir *Night* and for receiving the 1986 Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts to promote peace, atonement, and human dignity.

What it is

Elie Wiesel (1928–2016) was a writer, professor, and humanitarian who became a leading voice on Holocaust memory and human rights. His memoir *Night*, based on his experiences in Auschwitz and Buchenwald, is one of the most widely read accounts of the Holocaust. He wrote dozens of books and was awarded the 1986 Nobel Peace Prize.

Why it matters

Wiesel’s work is central to Holocaust education and remembrance in Canada and globally. His message — that silence in the face of injustice is dangerous — continues to shape discussions on human rights, tolerance, and moral responsibility. Schools across Canada study *Night* as a key text.

Key details

Born in Sighet, Romania, Wiesel was deported with his family to Nazi camps during World War II. His parents and younger sister died; he and two older sisters survived. After liberation, he studied in Paris, became a journalist, and later moved to New York City, where he became a U.S. citizen. He died in 2016 at age 87.