Night By Elie Wiesel

An idyllic childhood 1929: Wiesel was born in Sighet Transylvania (which is part of Romania) 1939: Romania is invaded by the Nazis 1941: Wiesel’s nightmare begins. He is 12 years old

Orthodox Judaism Followers belong to a synagogue or “shul” Guiding religious text: TORAH Wiesel was Orthodox -strict following of Jewish law & practices

Orthodox Children All practicing Orthodox Jews cover their heads as a sign of respect towards God

Other Orthodox Practices Non Jews are referred to as “Gentiles” Spiritually guided by a rabbi Primary holy language is Hebrew or Yiddish

Sacred Traditions Shabbat- Jewish Sabbath or Sunday Kosher: meat and dairy must be prepared, cooked and served separately

Major Jewish Holidays Passover: commemorates Jewish people leaving Egypt a. seder- ritual dinner during this holiday Yom Kippur: Day where Jews are expected to ask for forgiveness from their sins Chanukkah-Festival of Lights

The publication of Night After the war--Wiesel took a 10 year vow of silence before he began writing the book. When he finally finished—he had difficulty finding a publisher b/c of the graphic content Now it is a historical classic

An overview of Night Elie Wiesel is 15 years old at the time. Set in two camps—Auschwitz & Buchenwald

Other Night vocabulary ghetto: a small area of a city to which the Jewish people were restricted and from which they were forbidden to leave. kapo: overseer in charge of a work detail, or some other branch of a concentration camp. Often, kapos were selected from the prisoners—usually the criminals.

Wiesel’s life since the War Lived in Paris for 10 years (worked as a journalist) Eventually moved to the U.S.--lives in NYC 1986—given the Nobel Peace Prize Travels around the world to help with peace efforts