Explain what a ghetto is in the context of this book. What were the conditions like there?

The ghettos are the areas, in which, the Jews are confined. For most it means limited movement, as the people generally stayed within their homes. They were not, however, allowed to leave or do business outside of its boundaries without permits.

TWO GHETTOS were created in Sighet. A large one in the center of town occupied four streets, and another smaller one extended over several alleyways on the outskirts of town. The street we lived on, Serpent Street, was in the first ghetto. We therefore could remain in our house. But, as it occupied a corner, the win- dows facing the street outside the ghetto had to be sealed. We gave some of our rooms to relatives who had been driven out of their homes.
Little by little life returned to "normal." The barbed wire that encircled us like a wall did not fill us with real fear. In fact, we felt this was not a bad thing; we were entirely among ourselves.