Those who deny the Holocaust are not only unworthy of any respect, but Boston University professor Elie Wiesel said at a forum Monday that he chooses to disregard them completely.

‘ ‘These people are mentally and morally deranged,’ Wiesel said. ‘They are not a part of my world.” ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘

Holocaust survivor and noted author Wiesel answered questions concerning his experiences with the Holocaust, his thoughts on Israel and his aspirations for the Jewish community and education to a group of over 100 attendees gathered for Wiesel’s 33rd Open Forum at the Hillel House.’ ‘

Wiesel emphasized that teachers must be paid higher salaries and should instill a passion for learning within students.’

‘My greatest accomplishment is my classroom,’ he said. ‘I would pay the students to come.” ‘

Wiesel said fifth grade students may be too young to hear the Holocaust’s message.

‘I don’t think we should impose it on children so young,’ Wiesel said. ‘It’s counterproductive and young children must be ready, eager, willing to learn.”

When talking about how the Holocaust is portrayed on screen, Wiesel explained that even all the films depicting the Holocaust never teach him anything new.’

‘I only favor documentaries, not films,’ Wiesel said. ‘I read all the books on the subject of the Holocaust and I have never learned something I didn’t know about. That never happens.”

Even the creation of Israel is not reimbursement enough for the horrors and deaths of the Holocaust, and the only thing that might be is the coming of the Messiah, Wiesel said.

‘ ‘I resent the argument that we needed a Holocaust for Israel,’ Wiesel said. ‘It seems like it is a reward for suffering. No. Even Israel isn’t enough compensation.’

Wiesel suggested there be a day of fasting in commemoration of those who lost their lives in the Holocaust, Wiesel said.’ ‘

‘In the past, whenever a community suffered, they proclaimed a fast day,’ he said.’

On a lighter note, Wiesel also discussed his interests growing up.’ ‘

‘As a child, I was only interested in Jewish subjects,’ he said. ‘Today I read Plato and Shakespeare and enjoy it.’

Audience members said they attended the forum for different reasons but overall enjoyed Wiesel’s insight.’

‘Having read the book in high school, I wasn’t about to pass up the opportunity to meet Elie Wiesel,’ College of Arts and Sciences sophomore Parul Agarwal said about the book ‘Night.” ‘

School of Education junior Dana Ellis said she was also inspired by Wiesel’s book ‘Night’ because she feels a connection to his story and chose to attend the event because Wiesel is ‘enlightening.” ‘

‘My grandfather is also a Holocaust survivor so I connected to it on a very deep level,’ she said. ‘His work has inspired me to further read about the Holocaust.’

College of Communication freshman Christopher Walker said he had never heard Wiesel speak before the forum.’

‘I thought he was very witty and the forum was very interesting,’ he said ‘I had always read his books and I was still mesmerized.” ‘ ‘ ‘