Livestream with Wiesel looks to educate younger generation

By Elizabeth Lenart

Chabad of Plano/Collin County invites the community to “The Legacy of Elie Wiesel through the eyes of his son, Elisha Wiesel,” on Sunday, March 21, 7:30 – 8:30 p.m., livestreamed and free from https://chabadplano.org/event. The event’s Signature Sponsor is H-E-B/Central Market.

 The event will feature guest speaker Elisha Wiesel — the only child of Elie Wiesel, the famed Holocaust survivor, Nobel Peace Prize recipient, author and human rights advocate — sharing a timely story of resilience and healing. Through his personal recollections and journey, Elisha will deliver a message of optimism, mutual understanding and compassion. 

“It is a great honor to host an evening that will feature the legacy of Elie Wiesel through the eyes of his only child, Elisha,” said Rabbi Menachem Block, executive director, Chabad of Plano. “He will share how his father’s wisdom and understanding, gleaned through the horrors of the Holocaust, are relevant and meaningful today as we struggle as a society to reach a place of mutual respect and acceptance.” 

Elie Wiesel was a Nobel Prize winning writer, teacher and activist known for his internationally acclaimed memoir “Night,” in which he recounted his experiences as a teenager surviving the Holocaust and brought real awareness of its horrors to the public consciousness. Born on September 30, 1928, in Sighet, Romania, Elie Wiesel pursued Jewish religious studies before his family was forced into Nazi death camps during WWII. Wiesel survived, but his parents and little sister perished. Praised as a “messenger to mankind” by the Nobel Committee, Wiesel penned more than 50 books and became an activist, orator and teacher, speaking out against persecution and injustice across the globe. 

He was the founding chairman and leading force behind the establishment of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. He was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the U.S. Congressional Gold Medal, the Medal of Liberty Award, and the rank of Grand Officer in the French Legion of Honor. Wiesel, who became a United States citizen, lived with his wife and only child, Elisha, in New York City. Soon after he received the 1986 Nobel Prize for Peace, he and his wife established The Elie Wiesel Foundation for Humanity. Wiesel died on July 2, 2016, at the age of 87, leaving a legacy of calling for people to stand and speak out against injustice and bigotry.

When Elie passed, Elisha realized many missed his voice. This has led him to speak from time to time about his father’s legacy and share his message when the right opportunities arise for impact. 

“My father never forgot,” said Elisha Wiesel. “The things he saw stayed with him all the days of his life. He lived to speak of them to me and to my children. My father became the witness for the six million murdered Jews.”

Elisha Wiesel retired from a 25-year financial markets career as chief information officer at Goldman Sachs and recently joined the Israeli fintech startup, The Floor, as chairman of its board of directors. He lives in New York with his wife and their two children.

During the livestreamed event, Mabrie Jackson, director of public affairs for H-E-B/Central Market, will be honored with the Florence Shapiro Distinguished Leadership Award. Prior to joining H-E-B/ Central Market in 2016, she served as president and CEO of the North Texas Commission, a member of the Plano City Council and as interim president and CEO for the Plano Chamber of Commerce. She has also held roles with Fortune 500 companies (Microsoft and EDS) and ran for Texas Legislature as the Republican primary and run-off election candidate for the Texas House District 66 seat. An advocate for global trade, Jackson currently serves as the Honorary Consul for the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Dallas. She holds numerous positions on boards, councils, and committees across North Texas.

“Civically engaged for decades on state and local levels, Mabrie Jackson has strengthened the fabric of our community,” added Rabbi Block. “She is a role model of optimism during our challenging times and believes deeply in the vital role of diversity and in celebrating the uniqueness and beauty of the many cultures found in our communities. Chabad of Plano is honored to present this distinguished award to Mabrie Jackson in recognition of her many accomplishments and contributions.”

Event co-chairs are Marla Buskin, Karen Glanger, Bonita Gluckman, Sharona Ohayon, and Erin Simon. To RSVP and receive reminders about the upcoming, free, livestreamed event, and for more information, visit chabadplano.org/event. 

For questions, contact Cynthia Musgrave, 972-596-8270, or [email protected]. Sponsorships are available and donations are welcome.

“Anyone from anywhere may join us for this free, meaningful livestreamed evening with Elisha Wiesel,” said Rabbi Block. “We must never forget what happened, we must never look the other way, and we must continue to educate the younger generations. Spend an hour with us on March 21, hear the inspirational story of an incredible man who survived unthinkable horrors and dedicated his life to telling his story and educating and helping others, and go forward and make a difference.”