Night: Eli’s Faith in God

The book, Night, was written by Elie Wiesel to portray his experiences at a concentration camp. The book describes the gruesome events of the Holocaust. One of the main conflicts in Night is Elie’s struggle with his faith. Elie’s beliefs change throughout Night from passionately believing in God to denying him but leaves the concentration camps with an unbreakable faith.

Eliezer’s faith in God is absolute at the beginning of Night. His love for God is unconditional, a result of his studies of Jewish mysticism. When Eliezer is asked why he prays to God, he replies, “Why did I pray? [...] Why did I live? Why did I breathe?” (p. 2) His life consisted of “[studying] the Talmud, and at night [praying at] the synagogue.” (p.1) Not only does he want to live a life of reverence for his God, he wants to expand his knowledge in the lore of the cabbala. His father does not want him to study cabbala, but Elie, going against his father’s word, “found a master for [himself], Moshe the Beadle.” (p. 2) Moshe the Beadle taught Elie “the revelations and mysteries of the cabbala.” (p. 3) Eliezer’s devotion to his God is steadfast.

Elie