In the memoir, Night, by Elie Wiesel, Elie spoke of his unforgettable past in World War II. In 1944, the town of Sighet was invaded and Elie and his family were forced out of their home. He then went to several camps within Auschwitz's fighting side by side with his father, closer with him then he ever imagined. Throughout his horrific life in the war, Elie’s identity as a Jew, a boy of innocence and ultimately his life purpose is all challenged.
Elie lost his identity as an innocent child when his role as a young boy was taken away through the atrocities of his camp. Growing up as an observant Jew Elie’s one hope was to study Kabbalah. Although, after he asked, his father he informed him that “You are too young for that. Maimonides tells …show more content…
In the beginning, Elie states that he prayed for the same reason he breathed and that he has full faith in God stating that “Man comes closer to God through the questions he asks Him, he liked to say. Therein lies true dialogue. Man asks and God replies. But we don’t understand His replies. We cannot understand them. Because they dwell in the depths of our souls and remain there until we die. The real answers, Eliezer, you will find only within yourself.”(page 5) Although he stated he never understood God prior to the holocaust, he never questioned His existence.His Jewish identity consisted of his faith of God. However, during the war, while there were many people trying to strengthen their faith, there were more people rebelling against God. For example, after arriving in Auschwitz and being sent to the left with his father they thought they were being sent to death, therefore began to recite Kaddish. Then Elie angrily asks “Why should I sanctify His name. The Almighty, the eternal and terrible Master of the Universe, chose to be silent. What was there to thank him for?” (page 33) This was the first instance that Elie’s Jewish identity was challenged when he began to lose hope and question the existence of God. Ultimately, he was torn between his Jewish beliefs and unfaithful beliefs in that, who would believe God would approve of such
Elie lost his identity as an innocent child when his role as a young boy was taken away through the atrocities of his camp. Growing up as an observant Jew Elie’s one hope was to study Kabbalah. Although, after he asked, his father he informed him that “You are too young for that. Maimonides tells …show more content…
In the beginning, Elie states that he prayed for the same reason he breathed and that he has full faith in God stating that “Man comes closer to God through the questions he asks Him, he liked to say. Therein lies true dialogue. Man asks and God replies. But we don’t understand His replies. We cannot understand them. Because they dwell in the depths of our souls and remain there until we die. The real answers, Eliezer, you will find only within yourself.”(page 5) Although he stated he never understood God prior to the holocaust, he never questioned His existence.His Jewish identity consisted of his faith of God. However, during the war, while there were many people trying to strengthen their faith, there were more people rebelling against God. For example, after arriving in Auschwitz and being sent to the left with his father they thought they were being sent to death, therefore began to recite Kaddish. Then Elie angrily asks “Why should I sanctify His name. The Almighty, the eternal and terrible Master of the Universe, chose to be silent. What was there to thank him for?” (page 33) This was the first instance that Elie’s Jewish identity was challenged when he began to lose hope and question the existence of God. Ultimately, he was torn between his Jewish beliefs and unfaithful beliefs in that, who would believe God would approve of such