On the recordJuly 7, 2016
I rise today to celebrate the life of a cherished friend and a champion of freedom in Auschwitz, Elie Wiesel. In Auschwitz and Buchenwald, Elie traveled far beyond the limits of human suffering, descending deep into an abyss of agony and pain that surpassed the torment of hell itself. Yet Elie survived this hell, and he lived to tell his story. Through his solemn witness, he worked tirelessly to ensure that the world would never forget the horrors of the Holocaust. With Elie's passing, we have lost a true hero and a luminary of Holocaust literature. Now that Elie is gone, we must remember--now more than ever--his solemn charge to all mankind: Never forget. Never forget the Holocaust that it may never happen again. Elie was the living conscience of a generation. He knew perhaps better than anyone the depths of human depravity. Having suffered as few ever have, he spoke on matters of human nature with a moral authority unmatched by his contemporaries. I was blessed to know Elie and even more fortunate to call him a friend. I first met Elie when I was asked to serve with him on the board of trustees for the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum. Elie's warmth was immediate, his spirit contagious. That he remained compassionate and kind even after the atrocities of Auschwitz is a testimony to his character and the resiliency of his spirit. I remember speaking with Elie when he came to watch Prime Minister Netanyahu address a joint session of Congress.…
