Susan Rosenthal

WITNESS – LESSONS FROM ELIE WIESEL’S CLASSROOM By Rabbi Ariel Burger Having had the unique opportunity to hear Rabbi Ariel Burger speak to our community-at-large (United Jewish Federation of Greater Metro-West) for a Yom HaShoah program, I was a bit concerned about being charged with leading a Book Club review. Rabbi Burger is a most eloquent speaker and clearly captures Professor Elie Wiesel’s and brings his classroom to life with inspirational and unique stories about Wiesel’s teaching style and his incredible wealth of knowledge. Having read the book, I was particularly pleased that many of Elie Wiesel’s quotes which have become the message of the Holocaust today in a world which is basically filled with hatred, intolerance and bigotry were outlined as part of the sub-headings of each section of the book. While never having the personal opportunity to be a student of Wiesel, in reading the book and in some cases, rereading sections, I began to feel as if I was a student actually sitting in the classroom. As a student of the Holocaust and an involved member of my Jewish community, I had the opportunity a few times to hear Dr. Wiesel speak. Interestingly enough, he did not come across as a “teacher” when he spoke in public, yet, the world has learned so much from him and through Rabbi Burger, the lessons he taught and the inspiration he created for people throughout the world too numerous to count. For someone to read this book, one cannot come away without being personally inspired to not only remember the past, but to be an activist with a commitment to humankind. Susan Rosenthal, 26 Beaver Dam Road, Randolph, New Jersey 07869 Chair Emeritus of Holocaust Council of United Jewish Federation of Greater Metro-West