- 1
Why do you think the inmates are compelled to gather for prayer on the eve of Rosh Hashana? What effect does this gathering have on Elie?
This scene conveys the power of ritual and tradition in the Jewish faith. The prisoners gather to observe the holiday, even in the absence of any evidence of God's presence. The high holiday ritual brings Elie's struggle with his faith into focus. In the context of the camp, the idea of the "new year" takes on a cruel irony that compounds Elie's inner turmoil.
- 2
What does the anecdote about Akiba Drumer suggest about Elie's own faith in God?
Elie attributes Akiba Drumer's death to his loss of faith in God....
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