Summary:
Reviews the Holocaust story Night by Elie Weisel. Describes Elie's struggle with faith while in the concentration camp.
It was this quote which when uttered eased the "wind of revolt" as the young Jewish men finally began contemplating a rebellion against the German Nazi's as they entered the concentration camp of Birkenau. Although these words had an impact for most of them men it didn't impact on Eliezer as he had already begin to lose faith in a God he had cherished so much. There is an apparent transformation in Elie as he changes from a devout Jewish boy into a man who questions the divine lore's "absolute justice." Elie explains this alteration throughout his memoir however it takes a deeper understanding to fully comprehend the complete shift in his faith.
The reader is introduced to a dedicated and committed boy whose sole aim in life is to study the Talmud and learn the teachings of the Cabbala. Elie spent many hours praying in his local temple, even "weeping" because of the destruction of the temple in Israel. This naïve yet strong faith in God is ever emanate as Elie continues to nag his disinterested father to find him a mentor to help achieve his goal. After failing to do so Elie persuades a temple helper, Moshe the Beadle to assist him in his venture into the complex text of the Cabbala. This proves Elie's desire to further his comprehension of his religion. However this is not completely by choice more in fact by habit. When asked by Moshe "why did he pray"" no real answer was given by the young boy, his only reply was "why did we breathe"" this establishes a thought of blind faith which could be very easy for Elie to challenge when he matures.
Elie's faith is dealt a blow as he witnesses the fiery death pit of which laid countless babies used for target practise by the Nazi's. The vile image portrayed acts as the first moment in which Elie's faith is questioned as he queries Gods existence for allowing such evil act to occur. He even contemplates suicide before being ordered turn away from the ditch. The event which will be forever remembered by Elie begins to form the cracks in his dwindling faith.
The public hanging of the "pipel" further destroys Elie's faith. The slow and painful death of the young boy is a comparison to the death of Elie's beliefs. For him it is not only the pipel who dies but also God. He considers that God "is hanging here on the gallows." Elie now believes that he has relinquished all of his loyalties towards God and ceases any form of ritual or pray which honours his lord. This is evident as the holy days of "Rosh Hashanah" and "Yom Kippur" occur. It is during the New Year celebrations where Elie pronouns that God has become the "accused" and he the "accuser." However within this rebellion it is also when he feels most "alone" and "empty." This shows that although Elie is attempting to renounce his beliefs he is also feeling a great void in his being. A second movement of revolt against God take places when Elie continues to disregard any form of ritual as he does not fast throughout The Day Of Atonement. Although this is also the wishes of his father he takes it upon himself to ensure he "swallows" his rations for the day to maintain his rebellious ways.
However parts of Elie's faith does return even though unknowingly. Elie prays twice to a God he no longer believes in. The first time is when his father fails "selection." Elie turns to God in the hope that he will finally answer one of the Jews pleas and help to give Chlomo the strength to pass a second selection. Although he does Elie's faith is not fully returned. The Second occasion is after the retelling of "Rabbi Eliahou's son." Elie again prays to an "unjust" Lord to give him the power to never do what the Rabbi's son did and abandoned his father. Though this did rekindle Elie's beliefs for a moment, the moment passed and Elie's faith continued its demise.
Eliezer never really lost his faith it only transferred from being with God to mankind. He began believing that "man was stronger then God." The transformation was due to the constant subjections of brutality which forced an innocent young boy to quickly become a man before the time was right. This compelled Elie to question a faith he had not fully understood yet lived for it. Therefore as there were no true grounds for Elie to be able to use his beliefs in accessing and comprehending the situation, Judaism was swiftly tossed aside as it could not answer the questions Elie was asking of it. The major question being how could a god inflict so much pain on to its worshipers? This was the ultimate reason for what happened to Elie's faith. He now only believed in man kind.
This is the complete article, containing 820 words
(approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page).
