1. Main Character’s & Key Terms At the end of tonight’s homework you will know more about the main characters and some key Judaic terminology that you might have previously been unfamiliar with.

2. Character’s (Elie’s Family) Eliezer (Elie): the lead male narrator of the novel, 15 when he enters the camps. Chlomo: Elie’s father, a respected member of their village and by his son even if he is a little absent from his family’s life. Hilda: Hilda is Eliezer’s oldest sister. Béa: Béa is Eliezer’s middle sister. Tzipora: Tzipora is Eliezer’s youngest sister.

3. Character’s (At Beginning of the Book) Moshe the Beadle: Elie’s mentor/teacher of Jewish mysticism (the word Beadle means someone that works in the church/synagogue to keep order and has smaller little duties) Madame Schächter: the older woman that goes crazy on the train to Auschwitz and predicts seeing fire. Dr. Josef Mengele: a cruel doctor who presides over the selection of arrivals at Auschwitz/Birkenau.

4. Judaic Vocab Synagogue: the place of Jewish worship Exile of Providence: a reference to the exile of Jews to Babylon and the beginning of the Babylonian Captivity Rabbi: a teacher of Jewish law and practice Cabbala: (Also spelled Kabbala) Reference to the mystical-obscure/not clear- traditions of the Jewish faith. Often considered a part of the occult- or secret teachings that only a few can master. Torah: the entire body of Jewish religious literature, law, and teaching- mostly contained in the Old Testament and the Talmud. Talmud: The oral Torah which contains Jewish law

5. Judaic Vocab Zohar: the written work of the Cabbalistic teaching Zionism: The political movement that supports the creation and support of a Jewish state in Israel and the return of the Jews to Israel. “Zion” is the name of the location of the first Temple. Passover: It is a Jewish holiday that celebrates the liberation of the Jews from slavery in Egypt. Pentecost: A Jewish holiday that celebrates the God’s revelation to Moses on Mount Sinai when God gave Moses the Torah or (the first five books of the Old Testament). Kaddish: A prayer for the dead.

6. What Would You Carry? Activity… The Nazis permit Elie and his family to take only their most precious possessions or what they can carry to the ghetto. When the Nazis evacuate the Jewish families from the ghettos and force them to board the cattle cars for “work camps,” they again tell them to take only what they can carry. Directions: If you were in a similar situation and were told only to bring those items you could carry to the ghetto, what would you bring? Make a list of the items you would bring with you, but remember they must be items you can carry with you. You have little space in the ghetto and very little privacy. Number 1-6 (you could add more, but keep in mind the suitcase I showed you in class, what would really fit in there?)

7. You are finished! Don’t forget to answer the questions in the digital section! I am asking you some different questions this time too!