In times of struggle, faith and hope is always there. By: Luke Hasson and John Massaro

 After all the things the Jews had gone through, they still thought Hitler would keep his promise. “Two hours later the loud speaker sent out an order from the head of the camp: all the Jews must come to the assembly place. This was the End! Hitler was going to keep his promise.”

“You’ll find your husband and your son again… in a few days…”  The Nazi solder gave false hope to a mother even though her family is dead.

“The man in charge of our wagon called German officers who were walking about on the platform, and asked him if Madame Schachter could be taken to the hospital car. “You must be patient,” the German replied. “She’ll be taken there soon”.  The Germans were lying to the people because Madame Schachter was really going to get killed if she were to go to the hospital cart.

“An iron door with the inscription over it: work is liberty. Auschwitz. First impression: this was better than Birkenau.”  The Jews wanted to make the best of the situation that they were in. They looked to each camp with optimism, hoping that it would be better than the last.

“I listened to him without interrupting. He was right, I thought in the most secret reign of my heart, but I dared not admit it. It’s too late to see here old father, I said to my self. You ought to be having two rations of bread, two rations of soup. Only a fraction of a second, but I felt guilty. I ran to find a little soup for my father.”  No matter how much faith Elie’s father lost, Elie was not going to let him quit. He would carry enough faith to get the two of them through the camp, or at least attempt too.

“Leave me, he said to me. I can’t go on, have mercy on me. I’ll wait here until we get into the baths. You can come and find me.’ I could have wept with rage. Having lived through so much, suffered some much, could I leave my father to die now? Now, when we could have a good hot bath and lie down?”  Yet again, Elie has taken charge of his father. He is now the father figure in there relationship. Wiesel is trying to keep his father safe from harm.

“Some talked to God, of mysterious ways, of the sins of the Jewish people and of their future deliverance, but I ceased to pray. How I sympathize with job! I did not deny God’s existence, but I doubted His absolute justice.”  Even though the Jews were being prosecuted for their religion, they did not let it ruin them. They kept praying.

“It isn’t certain yet. There’s still a chance of escape. They’re going to do another selection today... a decisive selection.”  Although Elie’s father didn’t pass the first selection, there was still hope for him. He wanted to believe that he could make it through it.

“Don’t talk like that, Father. I don’t want you to say that. Keep the spoon and knife. You need them as much as I do. We shall see each other again this evening, after work.”  Elie did not want to hear his father say he was not going to make it. He believe he was going to be alright, and make it through the camp.

“What are You, my God,’ I thought angrily, “compared to this afflicted crowd, proclaiming to You their faith, their anger, their revolt? What does Your greatness mean, Lord of the universe, in the face of all this weakness, this decomposition, and this decay? Why do You still trouble their sick minds, their crippled bodies?”  Elie hasn’t lost faith in God, he just questions the things he does. How could he be almighty, if there are people suffering all around the world.

Modern Day  Michael Jordan was a 6 time NBA champion, 5 time NBA MVP, and his argued by some as the greatest basketball player of all time.  Didn’t make his high school team. 

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