Elie Wiesel's incredible survival story can inspire us all. He defied all odds and escaped the German concentration camps alive. Today he is a well-known author, human rights activist and Nobel Peace Prize winner. He spent his days wondering if he would wake up to see the next one, but now he spends them making sure no one else will have the same experiences as him. Wiesel was born on September 30, 1928 in Transylvania. He grew up in the small community of Sighet with his father, Shlomo; mother, Sarah; and three sisters: Béatrice, Hilda and Tzipora. Sighet was a small town where religion predominated. His family was Jewish and religion was a very big part of Wiesel's life. One source relates: “Elie began religious studies in classical Hebrew almost as soon as he could speak. The young boy’s life was centered entirely on his religious studies” (“Biography” 1). Wiesel's family all had very strong religious beliefs, and religion continued to play an important role throughout Wiesel's life. Family was also very important to Wiesel. His parents had given him very impo...