One topic for discussion is the fatherson relationship between Elhanan and Malkiel; they become closer upon Malkiel's understanding of Elhanan's actions (or more precisely, his one tragic inaction) during the Holocaust. As the novel progresses, Malkiel acquires a better understanding of Elhanan's pain and his need to maintain his gradually depleting memory.
Jewish mysticism is another subject for debate. It plays a major role in people's lives during the Holocaust, and it helps the reader understand the values of the Jewish people. The gravedigger's story of the Great Reunion—an event in the graveyard that has profoundly affected his life—shows the belief system that has helped Jews maintain their fortitude and their faith; yet faith, as Wiesel has mentioned in several of his books, is problematic in light of the horrors of the Holocaust.
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