As I began thinking about a history day topic, I fixated on one of the most puzzling aspects of the Holocaust: why did no one take a stand against the abhorrent crimes committed by the Nazis? The topic of the Holocaust resonates deeply with me because of my Jewish heritage. For this year's theme, I decided to figure out who had asked themselves the same question.
As I skimmed the New York Times on July 2, 2016, I immediately read the headline, “Elie Wiesel, Auschwitz Survivor and Nobel Peace Prize Winner Dies at 87.” I was shocked and saddened, knowing that he was the most outspoken survivor of the Holocaust and author of my favorite book, Night. After reading several articles and listening to him speak, I knew he was the perfect candidate for this year’s theme.
My formal research began by taking notes on different secondary sources about Wiesel’s life, which included The New York Times, The Jewish Virtual Library, Yad Vashem, and The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. While these sources gave me broader insight into Wiesel’s life, they didn’t provide specificity about what he took a stand on. When I began taking a closer look at primary sources, I found several videos of Wiesel speaking which provided deeper insight into his life.
I was fortunate to be able to interview the Director of Jewish World Section at Yad Vashem as well as my eighth grade English teacher who teaches about Wiesel’s story. Last year, I visited Holocaust sites throughout Europe, which made the Holocaust come to life and connected the pieces of my research. Later on, I looked into academic psychological articles about the culture of silence after the Holocaust and how it developed over time. I also learned about the subtle and direct ways of taking a stand, both of which Wiesel employed. Wiesel’s speeches helped me the most, because I was able to hear firsthand about the ways he took a stand. Wiesel delivered powerful messages to the public about human rights and the need to take a stand against injustices and oppression.
Once the U.S. presidential election began, I realized how Wiesel's message rings true even today. I decided that it was necessary to draw parallels between current political events and the rise of Hitler. After reading extensively about islamophobia, I began to notice similarities to current and past incidents of anti-semitism. I wanted to create a highly relevant research project that would resonate for Jews and non-Jews around the world. I chose to create a website because I really enjoy implementing my design ideas and exploring different features on the website creator. A website presents information in a dynamic manner and is accessible to everyone. It is my hope that people around the globe will follow Wiesel’s example and never stay silent in unjust situations. Elie Wiesel not only shared his own heart-wrenching story, he continued to help oppressed communities around the world by taking a stand against current injustices.