The concentration camps of the holocaust had devastating emotional effects on its prisoners. Elie's view on Judaism changed drastically due to his time spent in the concentration camps. Elie starts out as a devout and practicing Jew, but as the book continues Elie is put into the horrible environment of the concentration camps. At certain times one can see how Elie is torn between belief and disbelief. At other times it seems that Elie has given up hope in God and is completely faithless. The concentration camps changed Elie's view in religion forever.

Before entering the concentration camps, Elie is the pride of the Jewish community. He prays often and is eager to learn more about the Jewish way. His eagerness to learn is shown when he asks his father to "find him a master to guide him in his studies of the cabbala." (1) Not only is Elie...