They thrived, then cried, and died. They were dehumanized, and so was society. Between 1941 and 1945, the Nazis attempted to annihilate all European Jews. This systematic and planned attempt to murder European Jewry is known as the Holocaust. There were actions taken at the time to show that people were anti-Semitic; hostility toward or discrimination against Jews as a religious, ethnic, or racial group. Anti-semitism affected people psychologically, new laws were created, more regulations, and guidelines, while the goal of Nazi propaganda that targeted Jews was to dehumanize Jews and normalize hate. Empathy and engagement with mankind is what makes us human, and society shows that by embracing indifference, we would betray our humanity.
Nicholas
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He is a respected member of the Jewish community in Sighet, Transylvania, and is deeply religious. Shlomo is a kind and caring father who is deeply devoted to his family and community. He is a hardworking businessman who provides for his family and is respected by his peers. As the book progresses, Shlomo and Elie are sent to concentration camps, where they face unimaginable horrors. Despite the hardships and suffering he endures, Shlomo remains a source of strength and hope for Elie. He tragically died in Buchenwald concentration camp, and his death marks a turning point in Elie’s life. Shlomo was Elie’s sanity, he made sure he kept him going. This was Elie’s only thing to live for anymore, as he wanted to give up on humanity and hope. Elie shared briefly, “My father had a present for me: a half ration of bread, bartered for something he had found at the depot, a piece of rubber that could be used to repair a shoe” (Wiesel 73). This quote from Night by Elie Wiesel highlights the extreme conditions that Elie and his father faced in the concentration camp. Despite the harsh reality of their situation, Shlomo’s small act of kindness in sharing his food with Elie demonstrates the love and care that he had for his son. Elie’s appreciation for the food also shows how basic needs like food became a luxury in the concentration camp. Although Gerda Weissmann is a great example of proving empathy and engagement with mankind is what