"Night", by: Elie Wiesel

for my eoc..

CHAPTER 1:

When and where did Elie Wiesel grow up?

1928 - 1943; Sighet, Transylvania.

Who was Moshe the Beadle?

Poor man who lived in the synagogue.

What did the other people in the community think of Moshe?

He was well-liked.

Why did Elie spend a lot of time with him?

He was willing to teach Elie the mysticism of Judasim.

What was Elie’s father like?

“…Cultured, but rather unsentimental man.”

What was Elie’s father’s position within the Jewish community?

“Held in great esteem” (1); people went to him for advice.

What happened to Moshe that caused a great change in him?

Deported and witnessed a great slaughter in the forest.

How did Moshe change?

No longer happy; wants to tell his story.

How did the rest of the community react when Moshe told them what he had experienced?

They thought he had gone crazy!

Why were the Jews of Sighet heartened by the news on the radio in 1942 - 1943.

The allies were winning even as Germany invaded Hungary?

Why did the Jews of Sighet think they were being deported?

The front was moving closer; moved for their own safety.

Why do you suppose their destination was kept secret from them?

Prevent rebellion; keep them calm.

How did they prepare for deportation?

Baked, packed, buried valuables.

Who offered Elie’s family safe refuge?

Martha.

On what day of the week was Elie’s family expelled?

Saturday.

What was Ironic about the day they were expelled?

Jewish Sabbath - day of rest.

What were the 24 hours of the synagogue like?

Horrible, unsanitary, packed.

CHAPTER 2:

Who was Madame Scachter?

A Jewish woman who experienced hallucinations of fire and flames on the train to Auschwitz. Kept yelling, “Fire!”

Why was she so upset?

She had been separated from her family.

How did the others treat her?

Bound, gagged, kicked her.

What was the first thing the prisoners saw upon arriving at Birkenau?

The fires of crematories.

CHAPTER 3:

Who were the SS men?

Hitler’s private army.

How did Elie and his father get separated from his mother, Sarah, and Tzipora?

Dr. Mengele’s selection. They were murdered in the gas chambers.

What was Elie’s last view of them?

His mother patting Tzipora’s fair hair.

Why did some of the younger men want to escape?

The prisoners told them of the crematories.

Why didn’t they go ahead?

The older men told them to refer to their religious teachings - to stay calm.

Why did Elie’s father lie to Dr. Mengele?

He gave an older age to avoid the furnace.

Why did his father wish Elie has gone with mother? Why is this ironic?

So he would not be burned alive, which is ironic because his mother and Tzipora went to the crematories.

What is the Kaddish?

Jewish prayer for the dead.

Why didn’t Elie join his father in reciting this?

He rebelled against a god that would allow babies to be murdered before his eyes.

Why did the Gypsy strike Elie’s father?

His father asked to go to the lavatory.

How did Elie react?

He stayed silent. He felt anger and confusion over the injustice.

To what camp where the prisoners marched?

Buna - the work camp in Auschwitz.

Who was in charge of the block?

Young Polish man.

What was his advice? Why was he replaced?

To treat each other well; he was too kind.

Who was Stein?

A relation of Wiesel’s family.

Why did Elie lie to him?

To keep his hope alive.

Why did Stein stop coming?

He found out his family died; presumably.

Akaba Drumer believed God was testing the Jews. What did Elie think of this theory?

He did not believe that merciful God could allow so much suffering why the world kept silent to the horrors he witnessed.