Witness: Ariel Burger

"Listening to a witness makes you a witness." A student's homage to Elie Wiesel.

Elie Wiesel taught at Boston University for nearly four decades, where he challenged his students to explore moral complexity and to resist the dangerous lure of absolutes. As a former student and teaching assistant, Ariel Burger reflects on these profound moments both inside the classroom and beyond its walls. His book, Witness: Lessons from Elie Wiesel's Classroom shows the importance of educating against indifference, on the urgency of memory and individual responsibility, and highlights the role of literature, music, and art in making the world a more compassionate place. 

Ariel Burger is a writer, artist, teacher, and rabbi whose work combines spirituality, creativity, and strategies for social change. A lifelong student of Elie Wiesel, he now applies those teachings to urgent contemporary questions. 

FIRST COME, FIRST SEATED

Registration does not guarantee admission. For free events, we generally overbook to ensure a full house. Priority will be given to those who have registered in advance, but registration does not guarantee admission. All registered seats are released shortly before start time, and seats may become available at that time. A stand by line will form thirty minutes before the program.

The Program Room opens at 6 PM.

ASL interpretation and real-time (CART) captioning available upon request. Please submit your request at least two weeks in advance by emailing accessibility@nypl.org.