Night Questions

What was the ghetto? At first, why were the Jews unconcerned about being placed in the ghettos? Soon afterwards, what happened to make them changed their minds?

The ghetto was a small group of houses where all Jews were ordered to go and were not able to be in contact with people outside of the ghetto. At first they thought they were safe after setting up their own government and living among their people and avoiding all the hate from others. They thought that they would stay there in the "safety" of the ghetto until the war was over but they lost their sense of security when Elie's father returned from the council meeting with the news that ghettos were going to be wiped out.

What were the conditions in the cattle car?

There were 80 people per car, few loaves of bread, little water and if anyone were to try to escape they would be shot.

Why did the Jews leave all their valuables behind?

They left all their valuables behind because they could only take the necessities with them and their material possessions had lost value to them.

Why did Elis and his older sisters refuse to go to Maria's village with her?

They refuses to go to Maria's village because they didn't want to be separated from their family.

Why did the prisoner tell Elie to say that he was eighteen, rather than fifteen?

he knew that if he told them he was 18, he had a better chance of survival because they were more likely to kill children since children can't work.

Why do you suppose Elie did nothing when the Gypsy in charge gave his father a clout that knocked him to the ground?

he was been afraid that the same thing would happen to him or that his father would get something worse if he interfered.

"Behind me, an old man fell to the ground. Near him was an SS man, putting his revolver back in its holster." What had actually happened in this scene?

the man had been shot by the SS

What was the job of the men of the Sonder-Kommando? How were they chosen?

they worked the crematories and they were chosen for their strength

What was Dr. Mengele's role at Auschwitz?

At first he was the person who made the selections but he also the. doctor who did terrible human experiments on the prisoners

Why did the wind of revolt die down when the young men with the knives tried to incite the others to revolution?

Because their parents begged them not to do anything foolish and not to lose faith.

Why did Elie's father refuse to sell everything and move to Palestine?

Elie's father refused to sell everything he had and move to Palestine because he said he was too old to start a new life and have to start from scratch in a new place.

What was Elie's plan of if he were forced into the ditch with the burning bodies?

He planned to run into the electric wire rather than burn to death.

What was in the lorry that was brought to the ditch? How did Elie react to what he saw?

He saw dead babies to be burned and he was horrified and knew he wouldn't be able to sleep that night.

As they arrived at Auschwitz, why do you think Elie was apprehensive when the women went one way and the men went the other way? Were his fears realistic?

He was worried about what would happen to his mother and sisters ad he didn't want to be separated from them. His fears about them were realistic because his mother and younger sister died and that was the last time he saw them.

Who was Moishe the beadle? Why was he an important figure in Wiesel's life?

Moishe the beadle was a poor man who worked at the synagogue and was accepted by the townspeople unlike most needy people. He was important in Elie's life because he became Elis's master with whom he studied the Zohar and discussed its teachings.

What significant event happened to Moishe the Beadle?

Moishe the beadle was deported to Galacia because he was a foreign Jew. They were forced to dig mass graves and the Gestapo used babies for target practice. Moishe witnessed many gruesome things but was able to escape because he was wounded in the leg and they thought he was dead.

Why did people refuse to believe Moishe the beadle's Gestapo story?

People refused to believe Moishe's Gestapo story because they thought he wanted pity or he was insane and they didn't want to open themselves up to the possibilities of whether or not it was true and whether or not it could happen to them. They also thought that if it was true they would have heard about it from other people.

Discuss the importance of religion in Wiesel's life?

Religion was very important in Elie's life and he believed deeply in his God. He wanted to be closer to God ad he wanted to study cabbala.

What was the significance of the Hungarian police officer who knocked on the window?

The Hungarian police was friends with Elie's father and he had said that he would warn Elie's family if there was danger. He tried to but they weren't able to answer the door. That could have been their only chance to escape avoid everything that happened.