Elie Wiesel Sparknotes

Elie Wiesel writes about his experience and the hardships in the Holocaust. During these years of war the Jewish prisoners had to experience horrific starvation, the daily labour work in concentration camps, and the question of his faith in God. Yom Kippur is celebrated by Jews to demonstrate their faith in God and many show their faith by fasting on the tenth of Tishrei. There were countless Jews who had already perished from malnourishment and endured constant mistreatment. While staying in these camps he says “We received more blows than food. The work was crushing.” In the Appelplatz where the selection was made by doctors, they divided the weak and sick from the others who still had strength to work. It was hard for many of them to continue this work load because of the lack of food

The other Jews in the camp would debate if they will be fasting on Yom Kippur. Elie said to himself, “ To fast could mean a more certain, more rapid death. In this place we were always fasting. It was Yom Kippur year-round.” He did not want to participate in their Holy Day and their devotion to God. Elie began to wonder why God would allow such horrible things to happen to the Jewish race. He says, “How could I say to him: Blessed be Thou Almighty, Master of the Universe who chose us among all nations to be tortured day and night, to watch our fathers, our mother, our brothers end up in furnaces?” Elie had become angry and felt he should rebel against their God. He wanted to use the ‘Day of Atonement’ as an “ act into a symbol of rebellion, of protest against him.” On the day of Yom Kippur, his father had forbidden him from fasting and he didn’t want to displease