FINAL SEMSTER 1 Flashcards
(114 cards)
Describe Moshe, the Beadle.
Moshe, the beadle, was a homeless man in the town Sighet. He stayed out of the way of people so they were fond of him compared to other homeless people. He rendered himself insignificant and invisible. He also chanted religious stories. He is Hasidic(religion).
Why did Eliezer pray, and why did he cry when he prayed?
He says he doesn’t know why he prays. He cried because “something inside me felt the need to cry”. Praying is just a part of his way of life.
Upon his return, what story did Moshe tell?
When Moshe returned he told him about how he was taken on the train and that they were forced to dig holes and then they were lined up to shoot and infants were tossed as practice targets, they were left for dead. This was done by the Gestapo.
Why didn’t the people believe him?
People didn’t believe him because they thought he wanted pity or he was imagining or even that he went mad.
Cite examples of how the Jewish citizens of Sighet began to lose their rights.
“Jews were prohibited from leaving their residences for three days, under penalty of death.”(PG.10)“ a jew was henceforth forbidden to own gold, jewelry, or any valuables”(PG.10-11) “Every jew must wear the yellow star”(PG.11) and more…(PG.11).
What is a ghetto?
During the Holocaust, the creation of ghettos was a key step in the Nazi process of brutally separating, persecuting, and ultimately destroying Europe’s Jews. Jews were forced to move into the ghettos, where living conditions were miserable. Ghettos were often enclosed districts that isolated Jews from the non-Jewish population and from other Jewish communities.
Why did the citizens resist the truth, even when it was in front of them?
They first thought it wasn’t bad they lived as jews together and there was no need to provoke the germans. (PG.12)
Describe the conditions on the train (at the end of chapter 1).
The train carts were cramped (PG.22)
Explain, “our eyes were open, but too late.” Where was the train at this point?
They realized what was going on and it was too late to do anything about it. They didn’t know where or what to do.(PG.23)
What was foreshadowed by Madame Schacter’s nightmare?
It foreshadowed the flames from the chimney from the gas chambers for jews.(PG.28)
What did some of the passengers do to quiet Madame Schacter?
They bound and gagged her and they shrunk her to the head that could of been lethal (PG.26)
Where did the train finally stop?
They finally arrived at Auschwitz in Birkenau(PG.27-28)
When questioned by the S.S. Officer, why did Elie lie about his age and occupation?
He lied so he wouldn’t be killed “like cattle in the slaughterhouse”(PG.31). They didn’t want to be cremated, “You will be burned!”(PG.31). They also lied because they were told to by an inmate to say they were eighteen and forty,”Fool. Listen to what I say”(PG.30).
What was the first horrifying sight that Elie, at first, disbelieved?
The first horrifying thing Elie saw was “Babies! Yes, I did see this, with my own eyes… children thrown into the flames”(PG.32). Elie did not want to believe it, he told his father “I could not believe that human beings were being burned in our times; the world would never tolerate such crimes”(PG.33).
Explain what Elie meant when he said, “Never shall I forget these flames which consumed my
faith forever.”
When he says “Never shall I forget those flames that consumed my faith forever”(PG.34) he refers to how this incident and what he saw has changed his faith. Elie was thinking “Why should I sanctify His name? The Almighty, the eternal and terrible Master of the Universe, chose to be silent. What was their to thank Him for?”(PG.33)
What was Elie’s first impression of Auschwitz after leaving Birkenau?
Elie’s first impression of Auschwitz was “better than Birkenau”(PG.41).
What was the “compulsory formality” at the entrance to all camps?
The compulsory formality was that they had to shower every time they entered the camps. “A barrel of foul smelling liquid stood by the door. Disinfection. Everybody soaked in it. Then came the hot shower.”(PG.36).
What sort of identification was used on the prisoners?
The prisoners were identified by a letter and number that was tattooed on their left arm. “tattooed numbers on our left arms. I became A-7713. From then on, I had no other name”(PG.42).
Why was the prisoner in charge of Elie’s block removed from this position?
The prisoner(Blockälteste) in charge of Elie’s block was removed because “he was judged too humane”(PG.44).
What were the prisoner’s rations at each meal?
The prisoners’ rations in the evening were “bread and margarine”(PG.44).
What was Bela Katz forced to do once he was chosen for his strength?
Bela Katz was forced to place bodies in the furnaces. “He had been forced to place his own father’s body into the furnace”(PG.35).
What were the objectives of the medical examinations?
The objective of the medical examination is for them to check their health and that they didn’t remove their gold crown. “He was not looking for decay but for gold teeth.Those who had gold in their mouths were listed by their number.”(PG.48-49)
Why were the Jewish musicians not allowed to play music by Beethoven?
“Jews were not allowed to play German music”(PG.49). They couldn’t play Beethoven because he was a German composer.
Describe one of Idek’s bouts of madness.
Elie describes one of Idek’s bouts of madness saying,“One day when Idek was venting his fury, I happened to cross his path. He threw himself on me like a wild beast, beating me in the chest, on my head, throwing me on the ground and picking me up again, crushing me with even more violent blows, until I was covered in blood”(PG.53).
