Night By Elie Wiesel d
Elie Wiesel Born September 30, 1928 Orthodox Jewish family “shtetl” Sighet, Transylvania Orthodox Jewish family “shtetl”
Wiesel, cont. Extremely religious Father: Shlomo Sister: Tzipora Unusual for a boy his age Father: Shlomo Endures the camps with Elie Sister: Tzipora Young, killed in Auschwitz Mother: Sarah Killed with Tzipora in Auschwitz Sighet: isolated & unaware of the extent of the atrocities Over 15,000 Jewish familes prior to 1944, less than 50 after.
Hitler & Anti-Semitism Jews blamed for economic depression in Germany Superiority of “aryan” race Anti-Semetic laws “Nuremburg” laws Designed to dehumanize Jews & subject them to violence & prejudice “Germans! Defend yourselves! Don’t buy in Jewish shops!”
Auschwitz Deadliest of all death camps 1,300,000 murdered Jews
Concentration Camps Varying ‘purposes’ Death/Extermination Labor Auschwitz Labor Buna, Buchenwald
“Un di Velt Hot Geshvign” Yiddish: “And the World Remained Silent” Original title of 800 page memoir Condensed & translated into French, La Nuit Published as Night in 1960 10 year vow of silence “The opposite of love is not hate, but indifference.” Continues to teach & write Active speaker/lecturer