The Devil's Arithmetic-all chapters
Why was Chaya now living with her Aunt Gitl and Uncle Shmuel?
Her parents died from a disease, which Chaya had barely survived.
What is a shadchan?
The shadchan is a match maker.
What did Hannah's mother mean when she said that Passover wasn't about eating, it was "about remembering?"
The whole point of Jewish holidays is to remember their history.
How did the everyone react to Hannah's warning about the Nazi's?
They didn't believe her, and told her to let them have hope in that moment.
Why did the girls like Hannah/Chaya so much?
They enjoyed listening to her stories.
How did everyone react when Chaya told them she is Hannah from America?
They laughed at her and didn't believe her. They asked her about Old Rochelle, since she was from New Rochelle.
Why was family so important to Grandma Will and Grandma Belle?
They lost all of their family in the Holocaust.
What message did Hannah tell her friends they must carry from this place if they survive?
They must always remember.
What did Hannah find the strangest of all the things in the "dream"?
They were speaking Yiddish and she understood it.
What did the soldiers tell the Jewish people when they loaded them into the boxcars?
They were told that they were being re-located for the duration of the war.
Why was Rachel excited about meeting Chaya?
Chaya was from "Lublin," and she had never talked to anyone from Lublin before.
What was the "Choosing"?
Commandant Breuer chose who would be "processed".
Of all the villagers who came to camp with Chaya, which ones survived?
Gitl and Yitzchack
How did Shmuel explain Hannah's confusion with the time and place?
He said that she is used to the Christian calendar, instead of the Jewish one.
How did the Rabbi interpret the sign over the gate leading to the camp?
He said that the Jews would be set free, since they don't mind working.
How did the Rabbi try to calm the fears of the people in the boxcar after they heard of the atrocities committed against the Jews?
He said that they are in God's hands.
How did Shmuel reassure Fayge?
He told her that they would get married under a canopy.
Why did Commandant Breuer refer to the people in the camps as pets?
He treated them better than he thought they deserved.
Why did Aaron complain the entire way to the Bronx?
He was sick.
How did Grandpa Will react when he saw the images of the Nazi soldier marching across the screen?
He yelled at the T.V.
Why were the girls surprised when Hannah told them she went to school?
In the shtetl, only boys went to school.
What was significant about Hannah's new name, "Chaya"?
It was her Hebrew name, meaning "life".
Why did Aunt Eva and Uncle Will change their names when they came to America?
It was too painful to remember the camps.
How did Hannah entertain Aaron in the car?
She told him stories.
What did Hannah want to do, rather than attend the Seder dinner?
She wanted to celebrate Easter with her best friend, Rosemary.
Why was deformity did Hannah notice about the woman in the blue dress?
She was missing fingers on one of her hands. They were cut off because she lost control of her zugangi.
Why did Hannah open the door to the apartment? Who was supposed to come inside?
She was opening the door to let in Prophet Elijah.
Who was the woman who forced Hannah to hand over the blue ribbons?
She was the blokova, in charge of a group of newcomers.
Why didn't Hannah want to go to the Seder?
She was tired of remembering.
What is a badchan?
The badchan is a "Jewish jester".
What frightened Shmuel?
Shmuel was afraid of getting married.
How did Hannah feel about opening the door?
She felt like it was a childish game.
Why did Hannah regret not telling Rachel she would be her best friend?
Rachel died on the boxcar because she couldn't breathe.
What had Hannah done when she was younger that had upset Grandpa Will?
She drew numbers on her arm, like Grandpa Will's tattoo.
How did Hannah feel about the way Grandpa Will told the story of the Exodus of the Jews form Egypt?
She felt it was boring, like the buzz of locusts.
Why did Rivka have a lower number?
She had survived in the camp for a long time.
How does Hannah feel when she is allowed to have some watered wine?
She is excited to feel like one of the adults.
Why do you think Hannah gave an "involuntary shudder" when she saw she army trucks and old fashioned cars in Viosk?
She knew something was wrong but couldn't remember what.
Why was Aunt Eva Hannah's favorite aunt?
She liked her better than Aaron, and she had something magical about her.
What does Gitl make Hannah promise at the beginning of their time at the camp?
She makes her promise that they will never cry again.
How did Hannah's memory give her the courage to walk into Lilith's Cave?
She remembered her life in New Rochelle, and wanted Rivka to be able to live her life now.
How did Hannah at first explain her "daydream?"
She said that it must have been from the wine.
How did Hannah respond when Rachel declared she would be her best friend?
She says that Rosemary is her best friend, but that Rachel can be her friend here, in this place.
Why was Hannah relieved when cold water came out of the showers?
She thought it would be gas.
What did Rivka mean by "being able to organize things"?
To arrange things by stealing or bribing.
Why did Gitl become upset when Hannah tried to brush the fly off Tzipporah's cheek?
Tzipporah had died in her sleep from shock and starvation.
Who was the "swift shadow" that Hannah remembered racing into the dark trees the night before?
Yitzchak had escaped!
What was the relationship between Yitzchak and Gitl?
Yitzchak likes Gitl, but she is not interested in him at all.
