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David Hyde Pierce, Jessica Hecht, Joel Grey and More Honor Elie Wiesel

The event, held by The Museum of Jewish Heritage and National Yiddish Theatre Folksbiene included a reading of Wiesel’s memoir ”Night”.

David Hyde Pierce, Zalmen Mlotek, Joel Grey, and Ron Rifkin backstage at the community reading of Elie Wiesel's Night.
David Hyde Pierce, Zalmen Mlotek, Joel Grey, and Ron Rifkin backstage at the community reading of Elie Wiesel's Night.
(© Victor Nechay)

Yesterday, National Yiddish Theatre Folksbiene and Museum of Jewish Heritage held an event in honor of International Holocaust Remembrance Day and the recent passing of Holocaust survivor and author Elie Wiesel. Those in attendance include Jessica Hecht, David Hyde Pierce, Zalmen Mlotek, Joel Grey, Ron Rifkin, Ellen Burstyn, Tovah Feldshuh, and Sheldon Harnick. Wiesel's son, Elisha, was also in attendance.

Jessica Hecht reads from Elie Wiesel's Night.
Jessica Hecht reads from Elie Wiesel's Night.
(© John Halpern)

The event consisted of the testimony of Holocaust survivors before a vocal reading of Wiesel's memoir Night. The reading began at 3pm and continued into the evening until the entire memoir was read aloud.

"This event honors the legacy of Elie Wiesel and gives us the opportunity to bring his groundbreaking and eloquent account of the Holocaust to life for one night, through the voices of New Yorkers of all backgrounds," said Michael S. Glickman, President and CEO of the Museum of Jewish Heritage. "As New York’s Holocaust Museum, it is our responsibility to amplify Wiesel’s words in whatever way we can to continue his work of teaching the world about the dangers of indifference and the importance of fighting for justice."

Ellen Burstyn and Tovah Feldshuh share an embrace at the Museum of Jewish Heritage.
Ellen Burstyn and Tovah Feldshuh share an embrace at the Museum of Jewish Heritage.
(© Victor Nechay)
Sheldon Harnick and Joel Grey attended in honor of International Holocaust Remembrance Day.
Sheldon Harnick and Joel Grey attended in honor of International Holocaust Remembrance Day.
(© Victor Nechay)

Since 1915, the award-winning National Yiddish Theatre Folksbiene has presented a window into the world of Jewish culture. It is not only the longest consecutively producing Yiddish theatre company in the world, but also the the longest consecutively producing performing arts company in the United States.