Mayor Nir Barkat (L) with Prof. Elie Wiesel
Mayor Nir Barkat (L) with Prof. Elie WieselNir Arieli

Professor Elie Wiesel became an honorary citizen of Jerusalem on Sunday, in accordance with a Jerusalem City Council resolution passed in his honor. 

Wiesel received the honor for his many speeches on the importance and power of Jerusalem, and his work for the benefit of the city.

Among other things, he has described Jerusalem as "heart of our heart, the soul of our soul," and campaigned for Jerusalem to remain Israel's undivided capital. 

The ceremony was held at the home of Ira and Inge Reinhart in New York, which was attended by relatives and acquaintances of Wiesel and his wife; Jerusalem's mayor, Nir Barkat; Israel's ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon; and two other honorary citizens of Jerusalem: James Schneider, Managing Director of the Israel Museum, and businessman and philanthropist Charles Bronfman.

During the ceremony, Wiesel was awarded a scroll with the reasons for him receiving the honor written upon it, as well as a gold pin with the Jerusalem city symbol. 

"It is a privilege and a source of great pride for us to express in this letter the deep gratitude and appreciation that Jerusalem has for your personal strength," Barkat said. "Through your Zionist mission, values ​​and ethics which you have expressed in the public domain, you have contributed much to Israel and its capital."

"You are a loyal ambassador and a true friend of our city, and your uncompromising and honest efforts demonstrate a shared destiny with the people of Zion."

"Your ability to reach, on a personal level, the hearts of so many has caused your diverse activities for Jerusalem to seep into the public consciousness," he continued. "Wiesel represents for me the voice of six million Jews who perished in the Holocaust."

An emotional Wiesel thanked Barkat.

"During my life I have published more than 60 books," he said, "but trust me when I tell you, Mr. Mayor, that Jerusalem is the heart and soul of my work."

"I'm excited to receive the medial of honorary citizenship of the city and will continue to work for it and for Israel."