Elie Wiesel was a Holocaust survivor and renowned author, activist, and humanitarian. His father, Shlomo Wiesel, played a significant role in his life, both before and during the Holocaust.
Before the Holocaust, Shlomo Wiesel was a devout and learned man who ran a grocery store in Sighet, Romania. He was deeply religious and instilled in his son a love for God and the Torah. Elie looked up to his father and admired his intelligence and wisdom.
However, when the Nazis invaded and occupied Sighet, Shlomo's world was turned upside down. Along with his family, he was deported to Auschwitz-Birkenau, the infamous concentration and extermination camp.
In the camp, Elie and his father were separated from the rest of their family and had to endure unimaginable horrors. They witnessed the murder of innocent people, including children, and were subjected to cruel treatment and abuse at the hands of the Nazi guards.
Despite the unimaginable suffering they experienced, Elie and his father remained close and supportive of each other. Shlomo tried to protect Elie as much as he could and even sacrificed his own food to give to his son.
Elie described his father as a "broken, crushed man" who had lost all hope and faith in God. However, he still retained a deep love for his son and was determined to survive for Elie's sake.
Tragically, Shlomo Wiesel did not survive the Holocaust. He died at the Buchenwald concentration camp, just a few months before the war ended. Elie was devastated by his father's death and struggled to come to terms with the loss.
In his memoir, "Night," Elie wrote about his relationship with his father and the profound impact he had on his life. He described his father as a "profoundly good man" who taught him the value of compassion, kindness, and faith.
Elie Wiesel's father, Shlomo, was a powerful influence on his life and played a significant role in shaping his worldview and values. Despite the unimaginable suffering they endured during the Holocaust, the bond between father and son remained strong and enduring.