I recently watched Jojo Rabbit, which led me to want to read more about this tragic time in history. I looked into The Diary of a Young Girl, as I hadn’t read it, but no copies were available from Libby at the time. I then decided to read Night by Elie Wiesel.
It’s so sad to think how quickly things went from normal life to such a tragic, loss-filled existence. In the beginning of the book, the warnings given to the Jews of Sighet by Moishe the Beadle were largely ignored. It’s so sad that all he wanted to do was save people, but he was largely discarded by society as a foolish man. It was interesting that there was another episode of someone trying to warn the group, as seen by the woman in the cattle car who keeps yelling, “Fire” and asking if anyone smells it. It’s tragic that by the time everyone is in the cattle cars on the way to the concentration camp, there is little to no hope of escape.
Another tragic aspect of the book is how Elie’s family was given a few ways out prior to being sent to the concentration camps, but missed the call by a few minutes or did not make plans to leave. For example, in the beginning of the book, Elie talks to his father about moving away, but his father says he is too old to start over in another country. Also, when they were in the ghettos, there was someone who came to warn them, but they were out of the house, so didn’t get the warning and missed their chance to leave.
Throughout the book, Elie struggles with his desire to look out for himself and the need to care for his ailing father. My heart went out to Elie in the end when he was unable to help his father who was dying and being beaten. How defeated he must have felt at this point, but I also believe that’s the point. Throughout the book, people are dehumanized and stripped of any sort of autonomy.
It is truly a testament to Elie’s willpower, that he was able to make it out of the concentration camp. He had to undergo the most extreme conditions that were literally meant to kill as many people as possible. My heart went out to him when he had to walk on his foot that still hadn’t healed from surgery.
This book was such a reminder for me to continue to think of the ways I can help others and not to be silent when there is injustice towards varying groups of the population. We’re stronger together and we can’t let past historical mistakes be forgotten so that they are not repeated.
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