Reflection of "night" Written by Elie Wiesel

“Man raises himself toward God by the questions he asks him, that is the true dialogue. Man Questions God and God answers. But we don’t understand His answers. We can’t understand them. Because they come from the depths of the soul, and they stay there until death. You will find the true answers, Eliezer, only within yourself!” (Wiesel 2-3)

In the beginning, before the Jews of Sighet were evacuated Elie was very devout. During the day, he studied the Talmud and at night he ran to weep over the destruction of the temple. One day, Elie came home and asked his father to find him a Master to teach him the cabbala even though he was much too young to learn it, soon he found Moshe the poor man and he taught Elie the cabbala. (Wiesel 1-3) One day the foreign Jews of Sighet were expelled and Moshe the beadle had to leave. Months passed and on his way to the synagogue, Elie caught sight of Moshe. Moshe began to tell stories of what he had seen to prepare the Jews of Sighet for what was only to come but no one would believe him. Still, Elie was devoted with his studies. (Wiesel 3-5)

In the spring of 1944, the fascist party came to power; German soldiers entered their country and finally appeared on their streets. The Jews of Sighet began to question Moshe where their cruelty was but their days of freedom were already numbered. The Jewish leaders were arrested, the Jews couldn’t leave there homes for 3 days, they couldn’t have anything of value in their homes, they were forced to where a yellow star, and finally came the ghetto. Still the Jews rejoiced they had their own Jewish republic. (Wiesel 6-8) Finally, the day of deportation came and they were all forced to march until they came to the train that was to take them to Auschwitz. Even through the stench of burning flesh the Jews still had their faith. Three weeks into their stay at Auschwitz, Elie began to doubt not in God’s existence but in his absolute justice. One man in the barracks said “God is testing us. He wants to find out whether we can dominate ore base instincts and kill the Satan within us. We have no right to despair. And if he punishes us relentlessly, it’s a sign he loves us all the more.”(Wiesel 41-42) At the hanging of a pipel some began to ask where was God and Elie answered within himself, “Where is He? Here He is-He is hanging here on this gallows” (Wiesel 60-62) Finally Elie began to lose his faith and by the end of the Jewish year, Elie had totally lost his faith. (Wiesel 63)

Though out the book Elie’s image of God had changed. In the beginning, he prayed and wept with God's existence. (Wiesel 2) Three weeks into their stay at Auschwitz, One man claims, “God is testing us. He wants to find out whether we can dominate ore base instincts and kill the Satan within us. We have no right to despair. And if he punishes us relentlessly, it’s a sign he loves us all the more” while some believe him Elie begins to doubt God’s absolute justice. (Wiesel 42) Elie began to lose his faith quickly after the death of the pipel when Elie answered the question of where is God. “Where is He? Here He is-He is hanging here on this gallows.” (Wiesel 62) On the night of Rosh Hashanah Elie lost faith. On that day, he ceased to plead. He was the accuser and God the accused. He was totally alone without God and man, and without love or mercy.