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This book is a tribute to Elie Wiesel, Nobel Peace Prize winner, that features essays and poems by twelve renowned scholars, artists, and commentators. Exclusively for this book, Elie Wiesel has contributed seven original works previously unpublished in English: a sequence of three poems, two interviews, and three personal reflections on the things he most values. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Words of tribute for a great moral teacher of Mankind
Elie Wiesel wrote the book which more than any other perhaps, brought home to mankind the horror of the 'Shoah' His work 'Night' was one of the eternal classics of witnessing.
This commemorative volume opens with an interview by its editor Harry Cargas with Wiesel. Wiesel as always speaks in a fascinating and moving way. He talks about his being primarily a teacher and writer, and explains how he after surviving the 'Shoah' chose that path instead of one in business. He tells the story of how he after the War wandered in New York hungry most of the time even though he was employed by an Israeli newspaper as a reporter.
Wiesel speaks of how he has to be his own Rebbe, and how he spends much time thinking of those teachers and friends who were lost in the Shoah.
He is the person of remembrance, and he speaks of how with the years the memories have not grown less or diminished but rather intensified.
The volume also contains a number of moving writings by Wiesel including a concluding piece on his relation to Jerusalem.
Among those who provide essays in tribute are one of the great Jewish thinkers of the century, Emil Fackenheim, and the Christian theologian and friend of the Jewish people, Franklin Littell.
Wiesel truly deserves to be honored as the courageous witness of the Shoah, and its evil. He also deserves to be honored as a moral voice for Mankind who has repeatedly spoken out against Man's inhumanity to Man. ... Read more

Product Description

A deeply reflective work, written by a number of eminent scholars both Jewish and Christian who represent a variety of disciplines and perspectives, this book explores basic issues in Wiesel's work -the nature of God, madness, silence, horror, and hope. With essays by such authorities among others, as Robert McAfee Brown, Eugene J. Fisher, Hary James Cargas, Eva Fleuschner, and Irving Abrahamson, the bool reflects the inspitation of Wiesel's reconstructed belief in God, humanity, and the future. These eminent theologians, literary scholars, and philosophers show how Wiesel's thinking has changed over the past thirty years, and how it has remained the same.

Customer Reviews (1)

The Witness
I was held captive by this book for two weeks in August, when I would traditionally be reading beach fare.I picked it up because the author is Peace Nobelist and Holocaust survivor, Elie Wiesel.What could he tell me about the future of Israel in this history of Jewish sages and dreamers, some of whom lived in Israel and others in exile?

A brief note about myself:although I'm not Jewish, I became an enthusiastic Zionist at age 13, after reading Exodusand Mila 18 by Leon Uris.Now, 50 years later, I'm not so certain.

Please help me, Dr. Wiesel!

"Sages and Dreamers" begins with Noah and, as the author puts it:"Let us begin at the end--I mean, at what could have been the end, not of a story but of history itself."

All the way through this extraordinary book, Wiesel stares the end in the face.The apocalypse.The endless night.

Jephthah follows Noah, and sacrifices his daughter.This is the man who most resembles Israel's current leaders."He was a judge in Israel.He fought for Israel.He saved Israel.His name ought to evoke relief and gratitude--yet it resonates in the darkest recesses of our religious imagination like a warning."

What Jephthah had forgotten was that judges are "supposed to be compassionate as well as fair.A judge is supposed to hold high the value, the sanctity of human life."He killed his daughter because he thought the sacrifice was part of a pact he had made with God to save Israel.

"Sages and Dreamers" is divided into three parts:"The Bible;" "The Talmud;" and "The Hasidic Tradition."There are twenty-five chapters (originally lectures), each about "a man or a woman whose inspired life story [the author] found intriguing and demanding of investigation."

Four of the lectures in the Talmudic section form what seems to me to be the heart of this book.The four sages in these chapters witnessed the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans.Rabbi Akiba , the main figure was born around the year 40 of the Common Era.He was already married with adult children before he began to study the Torah."'If it were not for him,' says the Talmud, 'the Torah would have been forgotten.'"

In the core episode, Rabbi Akiba and three of his friends, also sages entered the 'Pardes,' the orchard of forbidden knowledge."One lost his mind, another lost his faith, a third lost his life--and only Rabbi Akiba entered in peace and emerged in peace."

The author explores in depth what happened to each of the four sages, and why.In order to do this, he moves backward and forward in time: from the parting of the waters at Creation; to the Roman persecution of the Jews (when the four friends went on their metaphysical adventure); and ultimately forward into the darkness of Birkenau.

Is it possible that what the four sages saw in the orchard of forbidden knowledge was the future?

We are more fortunate than we know that Elie Wiesel still stands witness.What will happen when he dies?We will still have his books.It is up to all of us to read them and remember.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Very Interesting and Informative Book
This book is very interesting, creepy at times, but still interesting and informative without getting boring. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Dawn by Elie Wiesel
I tried to use this book in a philosophy of religion course I taught years ago.The students and professor became so emotional at times that we had difficulty making any headway.The lesson we learned:weep.

Dawn Review
Elie Wiesel is a brilliant writer. Like all of his books, this one touched my heart and opened my eyes. I would recommend this book to all readers - even to younger readers. My children are 10 and 11 and they have read this book. ... Read more

Product Description
This volume offers critical analysis of all of Wiesel's major writings, with full chapters on Night, Dawn, The Oath, and four other full-length works. His most recent five novels, including The Testament (1980) and Twilight (1987), are also covered. Plot, character development, thematic concerns, and style are discussed, as are historical contexts and alternate critical perspectives. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Elie Wiesel
This clearly-written, accessible biography tells the story of Elie Wiesel's life in the context of historical events, both in his native Romania and in Europe. Using a wide variety of sources, Moore paints the picture of a young teen, his family, and his community torn asunder during the Holocaust. Moore's dramatic, vivid writing communicates the horror the Jews faced: "The Jews of Sighet were frightened by what they heard. Hitler was a fire on the horizon; his flame grew closer as months went by." (p. 34). Moore describes Wiesel's life after 1945 and includes interesting bits about his wife and son. She offers a fascinating glimpse into Wiesel's writing--both content and process.
The book includes elements that help the young reader navigate: contents, timeline, chapter notes, glossary, and index. In addition, separate pages act like sidebars to the main narrative. Some examples are: mini-biographies of Adolf Hitler and François Mauriac, as well as Wiesel's acceptance speech on receiving the Nobel Peace Prize in 1986. Unfortunately, the book contains several errors in word usage. For example, "omnipotent" is quoted from a source instead of "impotent". (p.65) This book should help promote Elie Wiesel's ineluctable aim: "For the dead and the living, we must bear witness." Let us hope this goal is achieved.
Reviewed by Anne Dublin

A great young-adult biography
This is a can't-put-it-down biography that delves into the details, from painful to remarkable, about the life of Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel.The book shows how Wiesel - dealing for decades with the effects of his harrowing experience - wrote a host of memorable books and became a powerful voice for morality. A really good read -- even for an adult! ... Read more

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BRAND NEW 2006 PAPERBACK EDITION. SOME SHELFWEAR MARKS. OVERSTOCK MARK. ... Read more

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In light of the Holocaust, what is the significance of the fact that Christianity has its roots in Judaism? The disquieting question is only one of many addressed in this new book by renowned Catholic theologian Johann Baptist Metz, author of The Passion for God. His reflections are joined by those of Jewish writer and activist Elie Wiesel, author of Night, who says that the reflective Christian knows it was not the Jewish people who died at Auschwitz, but Christianity itself.In independently conducted interviews, these two men show why they are today's most important commentators on the Holocaust. Though they were on opposite sides of the war, these are men of deep faith who share the sense that the Holocaust was a rift in history itself, after which nothing could ever be seen in the same way as before. And yet for both, there is hope "nonetheless."For each man, the book includes a biographical introduction, the major influences on his thought, and his reflections on anti-Semitism, interfaith dialogue, the meaning of God and faith, and why both the Church and God were silent at Auschwitz. The two are united by their common passion for memory, the remembrance of human suffering, and the suffering unto God. This is a work of enduring interest to anyone involved in Holocaust studies, Jewish/Christian dialogue, theological studies, and the problem of evil. ... Read more

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Elie Wiesel is a master storyteller with the ability to use storytelling as a form of activism. From his landmark memoir Night to his novels and numerous retellings of Hasidic legends, Wiesel’s literature emphasizes storytelling, and he frequently refers to himself as a storyteller rather than an author or historian. In this work, essays examine Wiesel’s roots in Jewish storytelling traditions; influences from religious, folk, and secular sources; education; Yiddish background; Holocaust experience; and writing style. Emphasized throughout is Wiesel’s use of multiple sources in an effort to reach diverse audiences. ... Read more

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Since it was first published in 1980, From Generation to Generation has inspired thousands to pursue the unique challenges and rewards of Jewish genealogy. Far more engaging than a mere how-to reference guide, this landmark book is also part detective story and part spiritual quest. As Arthur Kurzweil takes you along on his own fascinating journey through his family’s past, you’ll learn about the tools, techniques, and the step-by-step process of Jewish genealogical research – including the most current information on using the Internet and the newly accessible archives of Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union. But even more, after reading this fully updated, revised, and beloved classic, you will undoubtedly be inspired to embark on a genealogical quest of your own! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

From Generation to Generation: How to Trace Your Jewish Genealogy and Family History
All novice researchers of Jewish genealogy should own this book. Yes, Jewish genealogy is different from all other genealogy, but the author Kurzweil is more than equal to the task of explaining it. Admittedly, this review can include only highlights of this wonderful book. Not a collection of dry facts, throughout, the author inspires with the tale of his own quest to learn about his Jewish ancestors.

On specifics, Kurzweil provides guidance on how to collect family stories, get the research underway, use historical records, and access key Jewish resources such as Memorial Books from Jewish communities. He claims that Jewish towns and surnames are the key to the research, and so he lists the towns with published Memorial Books, and provides lists of Jewish names. He gives extensive information and guidance to elaborate on these topics.

Kurzweil thoroughly explains a wealth of other resources. Examples include helpful websites such as JewishGen.org.; journals of Jewish genealogy such as "Avotaynu"; resources for Holocaust research; and Jewish encyclopedias including "Encyclopedia Judaica".

In the Foreward to the book Elie Wiesel said it all. That Kurzweil's beautiful and important book ....."shows us that each name is a mysterious call transmitted from generation to generation in order to force themselves to question the meaning of their survival."

really interesting and helpful
This is an awesome book. I am a novice at family genealogy, with a research background.When I became interested in tracing my family's roots, I was intrigued by the data available on the web.It was hard to figure out where to look first.I saw the reviews for this book on Amazon, and I first took this book out from the library.When I realized how much I'd use it, I bought my own copy.
This book is very easy to read, especially in terms of how to sort out the kinds of information you can look for, hints about where to find it, and realizing that it's okay to decide for yourself how far to delve.The enthusiasm of the author is contagious.I couldn't put it down.

The single best source for Jewish Genealogy I've found yet
Having become interested in doing the genealogy of my family about two years ago, I began by going it alone and stumbling around Google and visiting some resources in New York City including the fascinating Municipal Archives.

I was told about this book some months ago and, voila!, it has opened the whole world of Jewish geneaology for me.I've bought 14 other books on the subject and find this the most interestingly written and the most complete.There are updates to the book so I'd caution the buyer to get the latest one from Amazon rather than one of the much older ones being sold as used.The list of resources is exhaustive and clearly organized and each area of investigation is illustrated by the author through sharing his journey of discovery of his own roots.

You'll find information about how to use resources in the US and in the major cities like NY and Chicago as well as information about national resources such as YIVO, the National Archives, the Mormon Church's extensive records and how to access them.Special interest groups for Rumania, Latvia, etc. are listed and you'll eventually find many rich sources which you'd probably not discover on your own except by accident.

This is the book I wish I'd had two years ago and I would have saved much time, money and frustration.No one book can be the only one worth having, but I'd definitely buy this one first, read it through with a highliter and post-it notes to mark sections worth exploring again more deeply.

Part detective story, part spiritual quest,, part how-to text
Along with the new Avotaynu Guide, indispensable.

Kurzweil's book is not as lengthy and technical as the Avotaynu book, nor as concise and tightly organized as Barbara Krasner-Khait's Discovering Your Jewish Ancestors (2001).But what it offers is something unheard of in genealogy textbooks - a work that reads like a novel.He is not afraid to be expansive and anecdotal, even chatty.His personal stories with genealogy, dating back to 1970, are gripping.Especially so because Kurzweil (unlike many genealogical authors) knows how to tell a story.The book is often lyrical and intensely earnest, without being melodramatic or overwrought.His passion for discovering his ancestral roots is sincere and infectious.In fact, his discovery of a descent from a famous Hasidic rabbi led him to embrace more traditional Judaism in his spiritual life.

But the book is not ALL personal stories, as interesting as they are.He packs the bulk of these into his opening chapters, and then sprinkles them as useful illustrations throughout the work.He covers all of the important topics, and is quite up to date on the online resources (through about late 2003).He has a great command of the details of doing Jewish genealogy, and he has some very brilliant recommendations for some unique and creative sources. (He was a founding father of Jewish genealogy in the mid-70s, and has given something like 600 lectures around the country).

His enthusiasm is infectious, and he makes strong arguments for the moral and spiritual value for Jews to explore their roots (bolstering his case with short gripping quotes from the Old Testament, Jewish sages, and Talmud).Further, he makes a good case against cremation (with which this Christian reviewer agrees).

The only shortcomings of the book:
1. As noted above, this is not absolutely comprehensive.You will want both the Avotaynu and the Krasner-Khait books to fill in all of the blanks.
2. While a good scholar and critically oriented, he is generally a littel more eager than I am to accept oral traditions or unproven claims of rabbinic lines.See, for example, the material pp.30-34.At the end he is willing to claim it is `likely' he is a direct descendant from King David, because a certain famous rabbi living 1500 years after David claimed descent from him (how could he know?).And another rabbi living 600 years later claims to be a descendant of that rabbi, etc.Four or five jumps like that and Kurzweil makes it to his famous 3x-great-grandfather rabbi. Utterly unprovable beyond perhaps the first or second `jump' backwards, and pretty unlikely. But in fairness, he acknowledges the problems with these rabbinic genealogies.

In any case, a wonderful read, and a good practical tool.

It might make a nice gift for a relative who is mildly interested in their family history, but in need of inspiration to get more involved.Also, every synagogue library, public library, and local historical society needs to have a donated copy (along with the Avotaynu guide).And at just $16 (for a beefy, nicely illustrated hardback), VERY affordable.

Excellent Primer for anyone considering Genealogy Research
While this book focuses on one man's search for his family history, his examples could be of value to anyone who is considering beginning a research project.Mr. Kurzweil's joy of discovery is very compelling, and was probably a big reason why I got into the hobby myself.

There is plenty of practical advice on how to start, where to look for documentation, how to interview, etc.While the book lacks depth in some areas, it covers every important facet of Genealogical research, and provides a point to jump from in search for more information. ... Read more