Holocaust survivor and Nobel Laureate Elie Wiesel dies aged 87

July 5, 2016

On Saturday, acclaimed writer died in  at age 87, his family said, following a lengthy illness.

Wiesel was born 1928 in the town of in. Twelve years later, in 1940, his town was included in an annexation by. In 1944, Wiesel, fifteen at the time, and his family, along with the entire population in Sighet, were sent to. He was freed in 1945. His mother and one of his three sisters died in death chambers, and his father from disease and starvation. Elie Weisel, on the advice of an older Jew, had lied to the Nazis about his age, as an eighteen-year-old would be useful to them as a worker.

Ten years after his freedom, he wrote the famous book  &mdash; written in, first published in translation &mdash; detailing his experience in the camp and his regret of survival. His book sold only about a thousand copies in the first year it was published, however today the book has been translated into 30 different languages with more than ten million copies sold. In 2006 personality  added it to her book club, prompting the swift selling of three million copies.

Wiesel wrote around 60 books, two plays, and two.

Wiesel first started a career in in 1948 for the French newspaper L'Arche, which sent him as a correspondent to. He also became a Paris correspondent for Israeli newspaper  and he was encouraged by an interviewee to write about his experience in the camp.

In 1972, Wiesel was a professor of Judaic Studies at the for four years until he became a professor of Humanities at, where he remained.

Wiesel then became an activist and advocate during many conflicts, such as the of the 1990s. He advised the actions of several U.S. presidents, including then-President. During his acceptance of the, he advised Reagan not to visit a military cemetery containing  graves. Reagan, however, continued with his trip, which created much controversy. Former President also appointed Wiesel as Chairman of the Presidential Commission on the Holocaust.

In 1986, Wiesel won the as an advocate for racial and religious groups and a spiritual leader.

Wiesel also helped in the creation of the. He was the chairman of the organization that collected funds from other survivors of the Holocaust to create the museum.

Israeli Prime Minister called him "a ray of light and an example of humanity that believes in the goodness of man". President called him a "living memorial". President called him a "grand humanist" and a "tireless defender of peace".

He is survived by his wife Marion and his son Elisha.