Washington, D.C.—Senator Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, took to the Senate floor today to pay tribute to his friend: the acclaimed author, political activist, and Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel. Wiesel passed away in his home last week at the age of 87.

(Via YouTube)

With Elie’s passing, we have lost a beacon of humanity and hope. We have lost a hero of human rights 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.

Senator Hatch and Elie Wiesel on Capitol Hill in 2015

The full speech, as prepared for delivery, is below:

Mr. President, I rise today to celebrate the life of a cherished friend and a champion of freedom: 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 beacon of humanity and hope. We have lost a hero of human rights 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.

Mr. President, 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 testament to his character and the resiliency of his spirit. 

I remember speaking with Elie last year when he came to watch Prime Minister Netanyahu address a joint session of Congress. I surprised Elie that day when I showed him my mezuzah, which I have worn around my neck every day for the past 40 years. I carry this mezuzah as a symbol of my respect and love for the Jewish people. The mezuzah represents the Lord’s watchful presence in our lives. Elie was delighted that I, a gentile, would wear this religious symbol around my neck. I wanted to show Elie my mezuzah as if to say that I am still listening; I am still remembering; I am still fighting the incessant tides of anti-Semitism that threaten Jews across the globe. 

Mr. President, through his writing, Elie gave a voice to the millions of Jews whose voices had been silenced during the genocide. Of course, Elie’s account is but one story; there are six million more. Although we can never begin to fathom the suffering of each individual Holocaust victim, Elie used the power of his pen to make their suffering more tangible.

Night was the foundation for Elie’s other works. I strongly encourage all of my colleagues to read Elie’s somber account of life in a Nazi death camp. One of Elie’s most poignant verses stays with me to this day:

Never shall I forget that night, the first night in camp, that turned my life into one long night seven times sealed.

Never shall I forget that smoke.

Never shall I forget the small faces of the children whose bodies I saw transformed into smoke under a silent sky.

Never shall I forget those flames that consumed my faith forever.

Never shall I forget the nocturnal silence that deprived me for all eternity of the desire to live.

Never shall I forget those moments that murdered my God and my soul and turned my dreams to ashes.

Never shall I forget those things, even were I condemned to live as long as God Himself.

Never.

How did Elie ever find hope after witnessing such unspeakable atrocities? He found hope in the promise of a Jewish nation. He found hope in the belief that Israel matters—that Israel is both a State and a state of being. Although many disagreed with this view, Elie remained steadfast in his support for Israel. After being recognized for the Nobel Peace Prize, Elie pleaded before world leaders who had grown apathetic in their own support. He said:

“If you could remember what I remember, you would understand. Israel is the only nation in the world whose existence is threatened. Should Israel lose but one war, it would mean her end, and ours as well. But I have faith...Without it no action would be possible. And action is the only remedy to indifference, the most insidious danger of all.” 

Elie warned us that neutrality only helps the oppressor, never the victim. He also taught us that we must take sides. Perhaps most importantly, Elie told us to never forget.

There is a quiet elegance and fierce determination in this plea. Often times, people try to put a positive spin on this same sentiment by saying always remember. But Elie eschewed this more uplifting phrase because he wasn’t concerned with helping people feel better about the Holocaust; he was concerned with helping them understand the true horror of the genocide to ensure that it would never happen again. He wanted all who listened, all who read, and all who prayed to understand that hate is a virus—and it’s a virus that spreads quickly. For Ellie, it was not enough to merely remember those who died; he wanted us to never forget how they suffered. 

Today we can honor Elie Wiesel and his legacy by remembering always his humble plea: never forget.