The book Night by Elie Wiesel is a story about a young boy surviving the Holocaust. Elie shares memories of his early years in Sighet, Transylvania, where his father had an important role in the Jewish community. His faith was incredibly important to him and influenced every part of his life. He explains that during the day he studied the Talmud and at night he found comfort in the synagogue, grieving for the destruction of the Temple. His devotion was so intense that he would often cry while praying, even though he didn’t fully understand why. When asked about his strong commitment to prayer, he simply replied,
‘”I don’t know why.” He then asked himself, Why do I pray? A strange question. Why did I live? Why did I breathe?’
This showcases his frequently disregarded dedication to his convictions in contemporary society. At the young age of twelve, his spiritual sensitivities profoundly impacted his lifestyle. As he aged, a horrific human deed not only destroyed his family, lifestyle, and community but also shattered his comprehension of God. It is this destruction that he focuses on and explains in a way that only someone who has undergone such a tragedy can communicate.
The text revolves around the book “Night,” which tells the story of a young boy’s experience during the Holocaust. It focuses on his strength, the relationships he formed, and the degrading treatment suffered by him and others. This significant event shattered his previously unshakeable belief in God. The author of this memoir explores this monumental change in his faith, questioning why a twelve-year-old boy lost his trust in God.
Elie Wiesel’s book is a memoir that recounts his life and an unforgettable experience, rather than making a specific argument. The horrors of World War II can be understood by anyone, whether they personally lived through it or heard survivors’ stories. It is unimaginable for our present society to witness such an event, and we hope that future generations will never have to. Through books like this one, individuals such as Elie Wiesel share their experiences with us, enabling readers to indirectly experience the horror through words and reflect on how someone who deeply loved their God could ultimately abandon their faith.
Elie’s life started off quite simple, centered around his faith in God. However, everything changed for him in the spring of 1944. He suddenly found himself prohibited from publicly practicing his religion, as all synagogues were forcibly closed down. Nevertheless, families continued to gather in private residences to worship. As the situation worsened, the Jews were eventually displaced from their homes. Despite facing scarcity of food during this trying time, they still upheld their religious customs, including fasting. Elie and his family held strong religious beliefs. Yet, it was the subsequent events that led him to express anger towards God.
This animosity initially targeted specific individuals, beginning with the Hungarian police. Elie’s hatred for them began in that moment and remains the only bond between them today. They were the initial oppressors, the first tormentors he encountered. Upon arrival at Birkenau, the reception center for Auschwitz, he was separated from his family, with only his father remaining. This pivotal separation marked the permanent loss of his family and further fueled his resentment towards God. Surrounded by suffering and confusion, the sight of chimneys emitting black flames and the scent of burning flesh intensified his despair. The older individuals pleaded with their children to maintain faith even amidst imminent danger, as advised by their religious scholars. However, how could a God who claimed the Jews as his chosen people subject them to such cruelty? Elie would soon join the fellow Jews who already questioned their faith due to these circumstances.
Elie experienced his initial rebellion against God at Birkenau, not even a full day after arriving. While waiting for their fate, someone began reciting the Kaddish, the prayer for the deceased. ” ‘Yitgadal veyitkadach shme raba…May His name be blessed and magnified…’ my father whispered. It was then that I felt revulsion for the first time. Why should I bless His name? The Eternal, ruler of the Universe, Almighty and formidable, remained silent. What reason did I have to show gratitude?” However, a few steps later when faced with death, Elie himself began reciting the same prayer as his father. He recited it out of habit rather than genuine conviction – it was a prayer he had learned since childhood. That initial night in the camp became a turning point in Elie’s life.
“The night I arrived at the camp remains etched in my memory. It was a transformative experience that brought perpetual darkness and anguish to my life. The haunting image of children’s faces turned into wisps of smoke under a serene, blue sky continues to linger with me.”
Forever will I remember the flames that forever destroyed my faith.
Forever etched in my memory is the nighttime stillness, which stripped away any longing for eternal life. Permanently ingrained are the instances that obliterated my faith, crushed my spirit, and annihilated my aspirations. These recollections shall remain indelible within me, irrespective of being sentenced to an existence as enduring as God’s.
The subsequent experiences that follow from this point onward serve to deepen the feeling of loss of belief.
Night by Elie Wiesel explores religion through personal experience, distinguishing itself from other philosophical and religious texts. Unlike many who write about their journey to comprehend and have faith in God, Elie’s narrative takes a different route. He transitions from having deep love for and profound understanding of God to feeling betrayed by the deity he once worshipped. While in the hospital, he witnesses his neighbor losing hope, fully rejecting God, and turning to Hitler instead. “I trust Hitler more than anyone else. He is the only person who has fulfilled all his promises, every single one, to the Jewish people,” his neighbor firmly states. Furthermore, Elie encounters a rabbi who has also lost belief in God.
The statement “It’s the end. God is no longer with us.” is expressed within a paragraph tag.
And, appearing remorseful for his previous words that were brief and distant, he quietly added:
“I acknowledge that it is inappropriate for me to voice such statements. As a mere human, I am incapable of fully understanding God’s unfathomable ways. Yet, I cannot suppress my thoughts. I do not possess wisdom, divine selection, or holiness; rather, I am an ordinary mortal who can only observe their actions. Where lies the compassion of the divine? Where is God? How can anyone, including myself, have faith in a benevolent God?”
Surrounding Elie were individuals who were once united in their faith and commitment to God, but now endure immense suffering as a consequence. This observation adds to the examination of religion, as it highlights the endurance of the Jewish religion despite the anguish experienced by its followers. It suggests that there must have been an underlying factor or influence that enabled this religion to survive the Holocaust’s ruthless ordeal.
This book delves into the exploration of belief in God amidst tremendous hardships, specifically examining how faith in a merciful God can be maintained despite enduring unthinkable horrors. Elie Wiesel’s temporary loss of faith following a traumatic event is contrasted with others who remained steadfast in their belief despite their own suffering. The Jewish community holds the conviction that God is a deity who empathizes with and comprehends human suffering, an idea severely tested during the Holocaust. Throughout history, Jews have demonstrated resilience in enduring hardship for the sake of their Lord, with the Holocaust serving as another testament to this endurance. However, this raises the question regarding why God’s chosen people had to endure such immense suffering. Their suffering arises from their devotion to their faith; willingly sacrificing one’s life or being killed due to one’s beliefs showcases a profound conviction in God. This incident prompts two significant questions: are these individuals foolish for sacrificing themselves for a seemingly unmerciful God, or does something distinctive about this Jewish God compel millions to refuse renouncing their faith even at the expense of their lives?
I personally contemplate the second question: In difficult times, individuals often turn to God. In our American society, we are generally prosperous and often lack faith. However, the impoverished population worldwide possesses a deep faith that is beyond my comprehension. The Jews who faced the Holocaust were among those individuals. While I would have denied being Jewish, these oppressed people remained steadfast and even entered the crematories while praying to their Jewish God.
Night by Elie Wiesel depicted intense emotion and suffering. The protagonist, a young boy, experienced daily atrocities that caused the loss of his loved ones, innocence, and faith in a higher power. Throughout this dark period, he found no solace or salvation. However, as time passed and he healed, he managed to restore his belief. Nonetheless, for the 12-year-old boy who endured the horrors of Nazi concentration camps, God seemed absent due to his unwavering faith that ultimately compelled him to endure such a harrowing ordeal.
