Night
By Elie Wiesel
After the prisoners go through the
selection process, they forget abut it until
a few days later, when the head of the
barracks reads off the numbers of those
selected. Although the prisoners forget,
Dr. Mengele, the one who makes the
selections, does not forget.
During the train ride, the Jews try desperately to
silence the maddening screams of Madame
Schachter. They even go so far as to hit her. Just
as the Jews are able to block Madame Schachter
out of their minds, they see flames and smell
the odor of burning flesh at Birkenau. There,
they are reminded of Madame Shachter’s
visions.
Elie cannot forget the smile his father shows
him, even in the midst of his suffering. “I shall
always remember that smile. From where in
the world did it come?” These seemingly death
defying gestures are always particularly
memorable.
On the Jewish New Year, Elie feels a strong rebellion
against God. He becomes the accuser and God the
accused. But in his rebellion against is faith in God,
he also feels alone and empty.
As Elie recuperates in the infirmary after
foot surgery, a faceless neighbor tells
him that he has more faith in Hitler than
in anyone else because he's the only
one who’s kept his promises to the
Jewish people. This is a direct attack on
those who have clung to their faith in
God. The ultimate insult is that even
Hitler is an object worthier of faith than
God.
Even the most devout, religious Jews begin to lose
faith. Akiba Drumer does not make the selection
when “cracks” begin to form in his faith. A rabbi
from Poland, who always recites the Talmund
from memory, concludes that God is no longer
with them. For some, losing their faith in God is
akin to losing their will to live.