Shoshana Feld-Sobol
Strategic and Corporate Communication (’17)

On Thursday, April 20th Chapman University hosted An Evening of Holocaust Remembrance with a special tribute to the late Elie Wiesel. This event was intended to honor Yom Ha’Shoah also known as Holocaust Remembrance Day, which was Monday, April 24.

The ceremony was a beautiful and moving experience with live music, dance, documentary film, memorial candles, and written excerpts from Elie Wiesel’s work.

The introduction and welcome was given by Dr. Marilyn J. Harran, Stern Chair in Holocaust Education Director at Chapman University. She detailed her experiences working alongside the late Eli Wiesel both professionally and personally. Eli Wiesel was an American Jewish writer, political activist, professor, Nobel Laureate, and survivor of the Holocaust.

He is most known for his book Night, which detailed his experiences as a prisoner in the concentration camp entitled Auschwitz, although he also has written 57 other works. In 2010 Wiesel was appointed a Distinguished Presidential Fellow at Chapman University. During his time at Chapman he worked closely with students developing lasting and personal relationships with individuals and faculty alike. His presence was missed at the annual Lighting of Candles of Remembrance.

The evening continued with a tribute to dance followed by reflections from Rabbi Eli Spitz of Congregation B’nai Israel. The candles were lit by distinguished guests followed by several musical tributes concluding with a deeply moving excerpt from Molly Blank’s documentary Memory Keepers, which followed the journey of Holocaust survivors and their families back to the land in Eastern Europe where their families once lived.