ELIE WIESELcarving dedication

Tuesday, October 12, 20213:30 pm

washington national cathedral

The addition of Elie Wiesel to the Cathedral is a permanent reminder that each of us is called to vigilance and steadfastness on behalf of others. In keeping watch over the Cathedral, his likeness will serve as a testimony to his indomitable spirit in the face of unchecked hatred. His memory is a blessing, and we pray that this carving will inspire generations to come.

Using medieval techniques, the depiction of Wiesel was hand-carved by Cathedral stone carver Sean Callahan, who also carved the depictions of Mother Teresa, Rosa Parks, Jonathan Daniels, and other sculptures throughout the Cathedral. The Wiesel model was sculpted by North Carolina artist Chas Fagan, a member of the U.S. Commission on Fine Arts whose other works include several carvings at the Cathedral and the U.S. Capitol.

The Dedication of the Elie Wiesel CarvingOctober 12, 2021 • 3:30 pm

The people’s responses are in bold.

gathering music A selection of Eastern-European klezmer

the welcome and occasion The Very Reverend Randolph Marshall Hollerith, Dean, Washington National Cathedral

The Human Rights Porch celebrates the extraordinary contributions that individuals have made to advance human rights, social justice, and civil rights to promote the equality, dignity, and welfare of all human beings. Among those remembered in stone are Eleanor Roosevelt, Archbishop Óscar Romero, Mother Teresa, Rosa Parks, Jonathan Daniels, and Bishop John T. Walker. Today, for the first time, we add the first modern day member of the Jewish community. Writer and activist Elie Wiesel dedicated his life to ensuring that the Holocaust and its victims are never forgotten. He survived the concentration camps where his parents and younger sister were murdered along with six million other Jews. His powerful 1960 memoir Night conveyed the nightmare of the camps to the world. Wiesel was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1986. Today we gather to dedicate for the edification of all God’s people, the carving of Elie Wiesel in this “House of Prayer for All People” as part of the Cathedral’s Human Rights Porch.

y’did nefeshSung by Elisha Wiesel, son of Marion and Elie Wiesel

יְדִיד נֶפֶשׁ אָב הָרַחְמָן,מְשֹךְ עַבְדְךָ אֶל רְצוֹנֶךָ,

יָרוּץ עַבְדְךָ כְמוֹ אַיָליִשְתַחֲוֶה מוּל הֲדָרָךְכִי יֶעְרַב לוֹ יְדִידוּתָךְ

מִנּפֶת צוּף וְכָל טָעַם.

Lover of my soul, merciful God,bring your servant close to Your will.Your servant will run like a gazelle, to prostrate before Your glory.For Your companionship is purer than any fine taste or flavor.

the opening prayerDean Hollerith O God our Creator, be with us now as we praise your holy name and let there be love and understanding among us. May every heart which seeks your presence find it here in this sacred space, that this house may be a house of prayer for all peoples. Amen.

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the first reading Isaiah 58:6-9Read by Rabbi David Saperstein, Former United States Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom

No, this is the fast I desire:To unlock fetters of wickedness,And untie the cords of the yokeTo let the oppressed go free;To break off every yoke. It is to share your bread with the hungry,And to take the wretched poor into your home;When you see the naked, to clothe them,And not to ignore your own kin.Then shall your light burst through like the dawnAnd your healing spring up quickly;Your Vindicator shall march before you,The Presence of the Eternal shall be your rear guard. Then, when you call, the Eternal will answer;When you cry, God will say: Here I am.

the psalm Psalm 145:1-13Responsive reading led by Jan Smith, Member, Cathedral Chapter

I will exalt You, my Sovereign God;I will bless Your name for ever.Every day will I bless You;I will extol Your name for ever.Great is the Lord and worthy of praise;His greatness is infinite.One generation shall acclaim Your work to the next;they shall tell of Your mighty acts.They shall consider Your radiant glory;they shall reflect on Your wondrous works.They shall speak of Your awesome might, and make known Your greatness.They shall tell the world of Your great goodness, and sing of Your righteousness.“The Lord is gracious and compassionate, endlessly patient, overflowing with love.”“The Lord is good to all; His compassion shelters all His creatures.”All Your works, O Lord, shall thank You;Your faithful shall bless You.They shall speak of the glory of Your kingdom, and tell of Your strength:to reveal Your power to the world, and the glorious splendor of Your Kingdom.Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom;Your dominion endures through all generations.

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the second reading Excerpts from Elie Wiesel Nobel LectureRead by Dean Hollerith“And then I explained to him how naive we were, that the world did know and remained silent. And that is why I swore never to be silent whenever and wherever human beings endure suffering and humiliation. We must take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented. Sometimes we must interfere. When human lives are endangered, when human dignity is in jeopardy, national borders and sensi-tivities become irrelevant. Wherever men and women are persecuted because of their race, religion, or political views, that place must—at that moment—become the center of the universe.”“As long as one dissident is in prison, our freedom will not be true. As long as one child is hungry, our life will be filled with anguish and shame. What all these victims need above all is to know that they are not alone; that we are not forgetting them, that when their voices are stifled we shall lend them ours, that while their freedom depends on ours, the quality of our freedom depends on theirs.”“We know that every moment is a moment of grace, every hour an offering; not to share them would mean to betray them. Our lives no longer belong to us alone; they belong to all those who need us desperately.”

remarks Dean Hollerith

the presentation & dedicationDean HollerithAs people of God, we now come to dedicate and bless this carving of Elie Wiesel.

Ms. SmithOn behalf of the Cathedral Chapter’s Facilities and Fine Arts Committee, we present to you this carving to be set apart for the people of God.

Dean Hollerith and Rabbi Saperstein All things come from you, O Lord; And from your own gifts do we give you praise.Prosper the work of our hands;Prosper our handiwork.Show your servants your works;And your splendor to their children.

Almighty and eternal God, we thank you that you have put into the hearts of your people to make offerings for your service, and have been pleased to accept their gifts. May this carving be for all a reminder of your call to seek and serve the least, the lost, the broken, the marginalized, and the oppressed.

Following in the example of Elie Wiesel, may we, by our words and actions, pattern our lives after your love that we may strive for justice and freedom of people everywhere. In your holy name we pray. Amen.

Bless the memory of Elie Wiesel as a sign of your eternal presence, and grant that it may proclaim your love, benefit all people of faith, and minister grace and joy to those who behold this image. Amen.

God of Abraham, whose prophets taught us righteousness in the care of your children: By the guidance of your Holy Spirit, grant that we may do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly in your sight this day and always. Amen.

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AllGod, there is so much injustice and suffering crying out for our attention: victims of hunger, of racism, and of political persecution. May our lives no longer be ours alone; may we use our freedom to pursue the freedom of others. Amen.

the closing prayersDean HollerithGod of our fathers and mothers, you made us in your own image. Look with compassion on the whole human family; take away the arrogance and hatred which infect our hearts; break down the walls that separate us; unite us in bonds of love; and work through our struggle and confusion to accomplish your purposes on earth; that, in your good time, all nations and races may serve you in harmony around your heavenly throne; in your Holy Name we pray. Amen.

Rabbi Saperstien Oseh shalom bimromav-May the One who creates peace in God’s heavens, create peace for us and for all Israel; and say, Amen.

oseh shalomSung by Cantor Susan R. A. Bortnick, Washington Hebrew Congregation

עושֶה שָׁלום בִּמְרומָיו הוּא יַעֲשֶה שָׁלום עָלֵינוּוְעַל כָל יִשרָאֵל וְאִמְרוּ אָמֵן.

He who creates peace in His celestial heights,may He create peace for us and for all Israel;and say, Amen.

the dismissal Be watchful, stand firm in your faith,be courageous and strong.Practice justice and mercyand let all that you do be done in love.Thanks be to God.

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service participants The Very Reverend Randolph Marshall Hollerith

Dean, Washington National Cathedral

Rabbi David Saperstein Former United States Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom

Elisha WieselSon of Marion and Elie Wiesel

Jan SmithMember, Cathedral Chapter

Susan R. A. BortnickSenior Cantor, Washington Hebrew Congregation

musicians

Seth Kibel, clarinet

Vladimir Fridman, guitar

permissions First opening prayer taken from Mishkan T’filah: A Reform Siddur, Copyright 2007, Central Conference of American Rabbis. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Second opening prayer and Psalm 145 taken from Gates of Prayer: The New Union Prayerbook, Copyright 1975, Central Conference of American Rabbis. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Scripture reading taken from Tanakh: The Holy Scriptures, Copyright 1985, The Jewish Publication Society, Philadelphia. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Elie Wiesel Nobel lecture, Copyright 1986, The Nobel Foundation. Used by permission. Presentation and dedication taken from The Book of Occasional Services, 2003 (adapted), Copyright 2004, Church Pension Fund, used by permission, all rights reserved; Holy Women, Holy Men, Copyright 2010, The Church Pension Fund, used by permission; and Sojourners, https://sojo.net/articles/prayer-day-adapted-elie-wiesel. Closing prayer (adapted) taken from the Book of Common Prayer, 1979. Public domain. Dismissal based on 1 Corinthians 16:13-14.