Elie Wiesel

Marion Wiesel, born Mary Renate Erster in Vienna, Austria, was an Austrian-American Holocaust survivor, humanitarian, and translator who passed away in 2025 at the age of 94. Her life was marked by displacement and a deep commitment to combating injustice. Fleeing Nazi annexation in Austria, she experienced internment in France before finding refuge in Switzerland. A passionate Zionist, she later emigrated to the United States, where she became involved in civil rights activism.

Wiesel is widely recognized for her significant contributions as a translator, rendering 14 of her husband Elie Wiesel's books from French into English. Her translation of his seminal work, 'Night,' which recounts his experiences in Auschwitz and Buchenwald, achieved substantial success. Beyond translation, she was instrumental in establishing and leading the Elie Wiesel Foundation for Humanity, dedicated to fighting discrimination and promoting international dialogue. Her philanthropic efforts also extended to supporting educational programs for children in Israel. Wiesel received numerous honors for her humanitarian work and contributions to Holocaust remembrance.

Born Mary Renate Erster in Vienna in 1931, her early life was disrupted by the 1938 Nazi annexation of Austria. Her family was forced to flee, first to Belgium, where she began using the name Marion, and then to France. Following the Nazi occupation of France in 1940, the family endured internment in the Gurs camp. They eventually escaped and, with the help of neighbors, managed to reach Marseille. In 1942, they sought refuge in Basel, Switzerland, living there until 1949. Wiesel later reflected on the importance of a strong Israel, stating that its existence was the best guarantee against future atrocities like Auschwitz. The family emigrated to the United States in 1949, where she pursued education and became active in civil rights, advocating against racial segregation and discrimination.

Marion Wiesel played a crucial role in disseminating her husband Elie Wiesel's literary legacy by translating fourteen of his books from French into English. Her translation of 'Night,' a powerful memoir of Holocaust experiences, achieved significant commercial success, selling millions of copies. She also contributed to Holocaust remembrance through her work on 'To Give Them Light,' a collection of pre-war Jewish life photographs, and by producing the documentary 'Children of the Night,' focusing on children murdered during the Holocaust. Furthermore, she was a founding Chairperson of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. Alongside her husband, she co-established the Elie Wiesel Foundation for Humanity, an organization dedicated to combating prejudice and fostering understanding.

Following Elie Wiesel's Nobel Peace Prize in 1986, the couple established the Elie Wiesel Foundation for Humanity. Marion Wiesel served as Vice President and later Executive Director and Chairperson, dedicating herself to its mission of combating discrimination and injustice. The Foundation's work included supporting the Beit Tzipora Centers in Israel, which provide education and assistance to over a thousand Israeli Jewish children of Ethiopian origin facing integration challenges. Her advocacy extended to promoting international dialogue and educating younger generations about the dangers of indifference to suffering. She was recognized for her lifelong commitment to human rights and humanitarian causes.

“We didn't have [a state of Israel] in the 1940s when my family needed somewhere to go, and a strong state of Israel is the best guarantee in the world than there will never again be an Auschwitz to consume six million Jews.”