Night by Elie WieselNight by Elie Wiesel

A Memoir

Ms. SquicciariniEnglish 10

A Memoir

Ms. SquicciariniEnglish 10

(Excerpted from William Shakespeare’s, A Merchant of Venice

Hath not a Jew eyes? Hath not a Jew hands,

organs, dimensions, senses, affections, passions;

fed with the same food, hurt with the same weapons, subject to the same diseases,

heal'd by the same means, warm'd and cool'd by the same winter and

summer as a Christian is? If you prick us, do we not bleed? If you tickle us, do we not laugh? If you poison us, do we not die?

And if you wrong us, shall we not revenge?

(Excerpted from William Shakespeare’s, A Merchant of Venice

Hath not a Jew eyes? Hath not a Jew hands,

organs, dimensions, senses, affections, passions;

fed with the same food, hurt with the same weapons, subject to the same diseases,

heal'd by the same means, warm'd and cool'd by the same winter and

summer as a Christian is? If you prick us, do we not bleed? If you tickle us, do we not laugh? If you poison us, do we not die?

And if you wrong us, shall we not revenge? - Shylock, Act III, Scene 1- Shylock, Act III, Scene 1

Non-Fiction…Non-Fiction…

An autobiography is a sketch of the author’s entire life, often from birth up until the time of the writing.

A memoir focuses on one aspect of the writer’s life. Memoirs usually cover a relatively short span of time, and their main purpose is to draw the reader’s attention to a specific theme or circumstance.

An autobiography is a sketch of the author’s entire life, often from birth up until the time of the writing.

A memoir focuses on one aspect of the writer’s life. Memoirs usually cover a relatively short span of time, and their main purpose is to draw the reader’s attention to a specific theme or circumstance.

A biography is the story of a life from another person’s perspective.

An essay is a short nonfiction work that addresses a specific subject.

A speech is a talk or an address presented to an audience.

A biography is the story of a life from another person’s perspective.

An essay is a short nonfiction work that addresses a specific subject.

A speech is a talk or an address presented to an audience.

Night by Elie WieselNight by Elie Wiesel

Autobiographical, memoirFocus on observation -

describes an event that the writer witnessed firsthand.

Elie Wiesel - Bearing Witness - invites us to listen, and to remember. “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”

Autobiographical, memoirFocus on observation -

describes an event that the writer witnessed firsthand.

Elie Wiesel - Bearing Witness - invites us to listen, and to remember. “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”

“The soul of the Holocaust”

“The soul of the Holocaust”

NightNight

NightNight

NightNight

The Bible begins with God’s creation of the earth. When God first begins His creation, the Earth is “without form, and void; and darkness [is] upon the face of the deep” (Genesis 1:2).

The Bible begins with God’s creation of the earth. When God first begins His creation, the Earth is “without form, and void; and darkness [is] upon the face of the deep” (Genesis 1:2).God’s first act is to create light.God’s first act is to create light.

For Elie Wiesel, darkness and night symbolize a world without God.

Night is always when the suffering is worst, and the presence of darkness reflects Eliezer’s belief that his has become a world without the presence of God.

For Elie Wiesel, darkness and night symbolize a world without God.

Night is always when the suffering is worst, and the presence of darkness reflects Eliezer’s belief that his has become a world without the presence of God.

Elie Wiesel is the author of Night, his famous memoir of his terrifying and tragic experiences during the Holocaust. He was 15 years old when he and his family were deported to Auschwitz, the notorious Nazi death camp and symbol of genocide and terror. His mother and younger sister died there, while his two older sisters survived. Wiesel and his father were later transported to Buchenwald, where his father died shortly before the camp was liberated in April 1945.

Elie Wiesel is the author of Night, his famous memoir of his terrifying and tragic experiences during the Holocaust. He was 15 years old when he and his family were deported to Auschwitz, the notorious Nazi death camp and symbol of genocide and terror. His mother and younger sister died there, while his two older sisters survived. Wiesel and his father were later transported to Buchenwald, where his father died shortly before the camp was liberated in April 1945.

The internationally acclaimed Night has been published in more than 30 languages. Wiesel has received more than 100 honorary degrees from institutions of higher learning. He received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1986. He has also been awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the U.S. Congressional Gold Medal and the Medal of Liberty Award. President Jimmy Carter appointed him as chairman of the President’s Commission on the Holocaust. He also became the founding chairman of the United States Holocaust Memorial Council.

The internationally acclaimed Night has been published in more than 30 languages. Wiesel has received more than 100 honorary degrees from institutions of higher learning. He received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1986. He has also been awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the U.S. Congressional Gold Medal and the Medal of Liberty Award. President Jimmy Carter appointed him as chairman of the President’s Commission on the Holocaust. He also became the founding chairman of the United States Holocaust Memorial Council.

Shortly after receiving the Nobel Prize, he and his wife, Marion, established The Elie Wiesel Foundation for Humanity, an organization dedicated to combating indifference, intolerance, and injustice though international dialogues and youth-focused programs that promote acceptance, understanding, and equality.

Shortly after receiving the Nobel Prize, he and his wife, Marion, established The Elie Wiesel Foundation for Humanity, an organization dedicated to combating indifference, intolerance, and injustice though international dialogues and youth-focused programs that promote acceptance, understanding, and equality.

Background 1…Background 1…Prewar European

population: 9.5 millionMost Jews lived in eastern

Europe, primarily in the Soviet Union and Poland.

The Nazi party came to power in Germany in 1933.

The Germans moved to extend their power in central Europe, annexing Austria and taking over Czechoslovakia.

Prewar European population: 9.5 million

Most Jews lived in eastern Europe, primarily in the Soviet Union and Poland.

The Nazi party came to power in Germany in 1933.

The Germans moved to extend their power in central Europe, annexing Austria and taking over Czechoslovakia.

Background 2…Background 2… Germany invaded Poland in

1939, beginning World War II.Over the next three years,

German forces conquered most of Europe.

The Germans established ghettos in occupied eastern territories, isolating and persecuting the Jewish population.

Germany invaded Poland in 1939, beginning World War II.

Over the next three years, German forces conquered most of Europe.

The Germans established ghettos in occupied eastern territories, isolating and persecuting the Jewish population.

Background 3…Background 3… Nazi anti-Jewish policy

expanded with the invasion of the Soviet Union in 1941.

Mobile killing units murdered Jews, Roma (also called Gypsies), Soviet political commissars and others.

The Germans and their collaborators deported Jews to extermination camps in occupied Poland.

Nazi anti-Jewish policy expanded with the invasion of the Soviet Union in 1941.

Mobile killing units murdered Jews, Roma (also called Gypsies), Soviet political commissars and others.

The Germans and their collaborators deported Jews to extermination camps in occupied Poland.

Background 4…Background 4…At the largest extermination

camp, Auschwitz-Birkenau, transports arrived almost daily from across Europe.

By war’s end, almost six million Jews and millions of others had perished in the Holocaust.

Postwar European Jewish Population, ca. 1950: 3.5 million

At the largest extermination camp, Auschwitz-Birkenau, transports arrived almost daily from across Europe.

By war’s end, almost six million Jews and millions of others had perished in the Holocaust.

Postwar European Jewish Population, ca. 1950: 3.5 million

Background terminology…Background terminology…HolocaustGenocideGhettoPrejudiceDiscriminationKapoLosGestapo

HolocaustGenocideGhettoPrejudiceDiscriminationKapoLosGestapo

Heinrich Himmler - The head of the SS.

Adolph Eichmann – Devised the plan for the final solution.

Rudolph Hess – The commander of Auschwitz.

Dr. Mengele - “The Angel of Death,” a doctor who performed brutal, unnecessary experiments and operations upon prisoners.

Heinrich Himmler - The head of the SS.

Adolph Eichmann – Devised the plan for the final solution.

Rudolph Hess – The commander of Auschwitz.

Dr. Mengele - “The Angel of Death,” a doctor who performed brutal, unnecessary experiments and operations upon prisoners.

Aryan Race… Aryan Race…

The pure Germanic race, used by the Nazis to suggest a superior, non-Jewish Caucasian typified by height, blonde hair, blue eyes.

The pure Germanic race, used by the Nazis to suggest a superior, non-Jewish Caucasian typified by height, blonde hair, blue eyes.

Third Reich…Third Reich…

The Third Republic of Germany which began with Hitler’s rule in 1933 and ended with his defeat in 1945.

The Third Republic of Germany which began with Hitler’s rule in 1933 and ended with his defeat in 1945.

SS SS

“Schutz-Staffel” (literally defense echelon), established in 1929 as Hitler’s blackshirted bodyguards. They became the elite guards of the Nazis trained in brutality and put in charge of concentration camps.

“Schutz-Staffel” (literally defense echelon), established in 1929 as Hitler’s blackshirted bodyguards. They became the elite guards of the Nazis trained in brutality and put in charge of concentration camps.

TheresienstadtTheresienstadt

The “model” concentration camp used to deceive the visiting International Red Cross. Many artists were imprisoned here and later killed.

The “model” concentration camp used to deceive the visiting International Red Cross. Many artists were imprisoned here and later killed.

The Final SolutionThe Final SolutionThe plan devised in 1941 to speed

up the system of killing the Jews and “undesirables.” The previous method of shooting and burying the dead was too “costly and inefficient.” This final method used an efficient system of gas chambers and crematories to kill the Jews. Six of these death camps were built and often were kept working round the clock, killing thousands per day.

The plan devised in 1941 to speed up the system of killing the Jews and “undesirables.” The previous method of shooting and burying the dead was too “costly and inefficient.” This final method used an efficient system of gas chambers and crematories to kill the Jews. Six of these death camps were built and often were kept working round the clock, killing thousands per day.

SelectionSelection

Term used when the SS forced prisoners to line up for inspection and decided which prisoners would live and which would be killed.

Term used when the SS forced prisoners to line up for inspection and decided which prisoners would live and which would be killed.

Judaic / Biblical termsJudaic / Biblical termsCabbalaHasidismKaddishMaimonidesMessiahZoharPassoverPentecost

CabbalaHasidismKaddishMaimonidesMessiahZoharPassoverPentecost

Rosh HashanaLazarusSynagogueTalmudTempleYellow starYom KippurZionism

Rosh HashanaLazarusSynagogueTalmudTempleYellow starYom KippurZionism

Cabbala - Jewish mysticism, including numerology.Cabbala - Jewish mysticism, including numerology.

Hasidism - Movement of Orthodox Judaism with strong mystical and emotional elements.

Kaddish - A prayer in Aramaic praising God. The mourner’s Kaddish is said for the dead.

Maimonides (1135-1204) - Jewish rabbi, physician philosopher

Hasidism - Movement of Orthodox Judaism with strong mystical and emotional elements.

Kaddish - A prayer in Aramaic praising God. The mourner’s Kaddish is said for the dead.

Maimonides (1135-1204) - Jewish rabbi, physician philosopher

Messiah - Greek translation of Hewbrew Mashiach; the anointed one.

Messiah - Greek translation of Hewbrew Mashiach; the anointed one.

Zohar - From the Hebrew meaning light or splendor; one of the major works of the Cabbala.

Passover - Greek word for the celebration of the exodus of Jewish people from Slavery in Egypt.

Zohar - From the Hebrew meaning light or splendor; one of the major works of the Cabbala.

Passover - Greek word for the celebration of the exodus of Jewish people from Slavery in Egypt.

Pentecost - The celebration of the giving of the Torah.Pentecost - The celebration of the giving of the Torah.

Rosh Hashana – Jewish New Year

Lazarus - A man described in the Books of John and Luke as having been raised from the dead by Jesus.

Synagogue - A Jewish house of worship and study.

Rosh Hashana – Jewish New Year

Lazarus - A man described in the Books of John and Luke as having been raised from the dead by Jesus.

Synagogue - A Jewish house of worship and study.

Talmud - The most important compilation of Jewish oral tradition.

Talmud - The most important compilation of Jewish oral tradition.Temple - Holiest place in

Judaism, located in Jerusalem. Biblically ordained sacrifices were performed here. Built and destroyed twice.

Yellow Star - Nazis forced Jews to wear a cloth badge with the word Jew written in the center of a yellow six pointed star.

Temple - Holiest place in Judaism, located in Jerusalem. Biblically ordained sacrifices were performed here. Built and destroyed twice.

Yellow Star - Nazis forced Jews to wear a cloth badge with the word Jew written in the center of a yellow six pointed star.

Yom Kippur - day of Atonement.

Holiest day of Jewish year.When the Jews fast and pray for forgiveness of their sins.

Yom Kippur - day of Atonement.

Holiest day of Jewish year.When the Jews fast and pray for forgiveness of their sins.

Yom Kippur - day of Atonement.

Zionism - Political movement advocating the establishment of a Jewish state.

Yom Kippur - day of Atonement.

Zionism - Political movement advocating the establishment of a Jewish state.

GestapoGestapo• The secret police organized

in 1933 to uncover and undermine political opposition.

• German acronym for the German Secret State Police

• Part of the SS• Notorious for terrorism

against enemies of the state.

• The secret police organized in 1933 to uncover and undermine political opposition.

• German acronym for the German Secret State Police

• Part of the SS• Notorious for terrorism

against enemies of the state.

RaceEthnicity

Anti-SemitismEuphemism

FascismDeath camp

Concentration camp

RaceEthnicity

Anti-SemitismEuphemism

FascismDeath camp

Concentration camp

Holocaust…Holocaust…

Holocaust means “complete destruction by fire.”

The term is now associated with the murder of more than six million Jewish people during World War II.

Holocaust means “complete destruction by fire.”

The term is now associated with the murder of more than six million Jewish people during World War II.

Elie Wiesel was born in 1928 in the town of Sighet, now part of Romania. During World War II, he, with his family and other Jews from the area, were deported to the German concentration and extermination camps, where his parents and little sister perished. Wiesel and his two older sisters survived. Liberated from Buchenwald in 1945 by advancing Allied troops, he was taken to Paris where he studied at the Sorbonne and worked as a journalist.

Elie Wiesel was born in 1928 in the town of Sighet, now part of Romania. During World War II, he, with his family and other Jews from the area, were deported to the German concentration and extermination camps, where his parents and little sister perished. Wiesel and his two older sisters survived. Liberated from Buchenwald in 1945 by advancing Allied troops, he was taken to Paris where he studied at the Sorbonne and worked as a journalist.

In 1958, he published his first book, La Nuit, a memoir of his experiences in the concentration camps. He has since authored nearly thirty books some of which use these events as their basic material. In his many lectures, Wiesel has concerned himself with the situation of the Jews and other groups who have suffered persecution and death because of their religion, race or national origin. He has been outspoken on the plight of Soviet Jewry, on Ethiopian Jewry and on behalf of the State of Israel today.

In 1958, he published his first book, La Nuit, a memoir of his experiences in the concentration camps. He has since authored nearly thirty books some of which use these events as their basic material. In his many lectures, Wiesel has concerned himself with the situation of the Jews and other groups who have suffered persecution and death because of their religion, race or national origin. He has been outspoken on the plight of Soviet Jewry, on Ethiopian Jewry and on behalf of the State of Israel today.

Background…Background…

Wiesel’s books and lectures compel us to not only confront the issues and consequences of the Holocaust, but to keep it in our memory to ensure that history is never repeated. He lives his life, he explains, in the pursuit of meaning.

Wiesel’s books and lectures compel us to not only confront the issues and consequences of the Holocaust, but to keep it in our memory to ensure that history is never repeated. He lives his life, he explains, in the pursuit of meaning.

"Those who cannot

remember the past are

condemned to repeat it."

"Those who cannot

remember the past are

condemned to repeat it."

Make a list of words this image brings to mind…

Make a list of words this image brings to mind…

Oprah visits Auschwitz with Wiesel, Night is

inducted into Oprah’s notorious “book club”

Oprah visits Auschwitz with Wiesel, Night is

inducted into Oprah’s notorious “book club”

Setting: Setting:

Geographical region: Sighet, Transylvania

Time period: 1940sBegins in Sighet during the early

years of WWII. Sighet remained relatively unaffected by the war. The Jews in Sighet believed that they would be safe from the persecution that Jews in Germany and Poland suffered

Geographical region: Sighet, Transylvania

Time period: 1940sBegins in Sighet during the early

years of WWII. Sighet remained relatively unaffected by the war. The Jews in Sighet believed that they would be safe from the persecution that Jews in Germany and Poland suffered

The beginning…The beginning…

They were sent to Auschwitz and other concentration camps

In 1944, however, Elie and all the other Jews in town were rounded up in cattle cars and deported to concentration camps in Poland

Elie was 14-years-old After surviving the Nazi

concentration camps, Wiesel vowed never to write about his horrific experiences

They were sent to Auschwitz and other concentration camps

In 1944, however, Elie and all the other Jews in town were rounded up in cattle cars and deported to concentration camps in Poland

Elie was 14-years-old After surviving the Nazi

concentration camps, Wiesel vowed never to write about his horrific experiences

A vow to send a message…

A vow to send a message…

He eventually changed his mind and wrote Night in 1955

His notoriety and works have recently re-emerged due to his advocacy for peace and attention he received from Oprah and her own notoriety associated with her book club

He eventually changed his mind and wrote Night in 1955

His notoriety and works have recently re-emerged due to his advocacy for peace and attention he received from Oprah and her own notoriety associated with her book club

Genocide-crimes against humanityGenocide-crimes

against humanity

What does the term genocide mean? What does it make you think of? What questions (I wonder why) can you come up with relating to this term?

Historical background: World War II, Holocaust

What does the term genocide mean? What does it make you think of? What questions (I wonder why) can you come up with relating to this term?

Historical background: World War II, Holocaust

Geno-cideGeno-cide

Geno-from the Greek word genos, which means birth, race, of a similar kind

Cide-from the French word cida, which means to cut, kill

Genocide-”the deliberate killing of a large group of people, esp. those of a particular ethnic group or nation” (Webster’s dictionary-online)

Geno-from the Greek word genos, which means birth, race, of a similar kind

Cide-from the French word cida, which means to cut, kill

Genocide-”the deliberate killing of a large group of people, esp. those of a particular ethnic group or nation” (Webster’s dictionary-online)

Adolf Hitler…Adolf Hitler…

“The Fuhrer,” dictator of Germany (Chancellor – 1933, President – 1934), a demagogue and tyrant who obtains power by appealing to the emotions and prejudices of the masses.

“The Fuhrer,” dictator of Germany (Chancellor – 1933, President – 1934), a demagogue and tyrant who obtains power by appealing to the emotions and prejudices of the masses.

Hitler and the German NazisHitler and the German Nazis

Aryan: (in Nazi ideology)-a person of Caucasian race not of Jewish decent. Aryan: (in Nazi ideology)-a person of

Caucasian race not of Jewish decent.

Children of the Holocaust-a loss of

innocence

Children of the Holocaust-a loss of

innocence

“The Holocaust is a central event in many

people’s lives, but it has also become a metaphor

for our century. There cannot be an end to

speaking and writing about it.”

-Aharon Appelfeld

“The Holocaust is a central event in many

people’s lives, but it has also become a metaphor

for our century. There cannot be an end to

speaking and writing about it.”

-Aharon Appelfeld

What “normal” ideas and concepts come to mind

when you think of children?

What “normal” ideas and concepts come to mind

when you think of children?

“A child can ask questions that a wise man cannot

answer.” Author Unknown

“A child can ask questions that a wise man cannot

answer.” Author Unknown

Emaciated-”abnormally weak or thin due to illness or lack of food” (Webster’s

dictionary-online)

Emaciated-”abnormally weak or thin due to illness or lack of food” (Webster’s

dictionary-online)

Starved boys at Ebensee concentration camp. This was one of

largest camps with around 60,000 prisoners. They were used as live

guinea pigs for "scientific" medical experiments. Some 2,000 died a week

[BBC]

Starved boys at Ebensee concentration camp. This was one of

largest camps with around 60,000 prisoners. They were used as live

guinea pigs for "scientific" medical experiments. Some 2,000 died a week

[BBC]

Nazi doctors conducted dozens of medical and other experiments on concentration-camp inmates, who often died as a direct result of the

studies

Nazi doctors conducted dozens of medical and other experiments on concentration-camp inmates, who often died as a direct result of the

studies

Concentration camps: Deportation,

Auschwitz and Birkenau

Concentration camps: Deportation,

Auschwitz and Birkenau

Prisoners board the deportation train, unaware

of the tragic fate they’ll soon meet ahead

Prisoners board the deportation train, unaware

of the tragic fate they’ll soon meet ahead

CrematoriumCrematorium

Moving Forward: What can we learn from such atrocities

throughout our history?“It must be the prayer of our

generation that with this help we can recapture

enough of that reality so that it will never be repeated.”Excerpt from the preface written by Robert McAfee

Brown

Moving Forward: What can we learn from such atrocities

throughout our history?“It must be the prayer of our

generation that with this help we can recapture

enough of that reality so that it will never be repeated.”Excerpt from the preface written by Robert McAfee

Brown

Wiesel is awarded Nobel Peace Prize in

1986

Wiesel is awarded Nobel Peace Prize in

1986“Thou shall not

stand idly by.”What does this quotation

mean? How does it relate to the events that took place that are associated with the Holocaust?

“Thou shall not stand idly by.”

What does this quotation mean? How does it relate to the events that took place that are associated with the Holocaust?

Define the following….Define the

following….Humanity-

Inhumanity-

What is the significant difference between the two?

Humanity-

Inhumanity-

What is the significant difference between the two?

Essential Questions:Essential Questions:

How should we remember such tragedies in our history or crimes against humanity? Why should we?

How does human conflict at all levels impact society and the people in it?

What social responsibility do we have to prevent future crimes against humanity?

How does Elie Wiesel convey the inhumanity and humanity associated with the Holocaust through his memoir?

How should we remember such tragedies in our history or crimes against humanity? Why should we?

How does human conflict at all levels impact society and the people in it?

What social responsibility do we have to prevent future crimes against humanity?

How does Elie Wiesel convey the inhumanity and humanity associated with the Holocaust through his memoir?

Community….Community….

How does social responsibility come into play in reference to this tragic dark spot in history?

How does this tie into the theme of community? What communities were affected as a direct result of WWII and the Holocaust?

How does social responsibility come into play in reference to this tragic dark spot in history?

How does this tie into the theme of community? What communities were affected as a direct result of WWII and the Holocaust?

“Our lives begin to end the day that we are silent about the

things that matter.”-Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

“Our lives begin to end the day that we are silent about the

things that matter.”-Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Consider how King’s words relate to this excerpt of Wiesel’s acceptance speech for the Nobel Peace Prize:

“And that is why I swore never to be silent whenever and wherever human beings endure suffering and humiliation. We must take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented. Sometimes we must interfere.”

Consider how King’s words relate to this excerpt of Wiesel’s acceptance speech for the Nobel Peace Prize:

“And that is why I swore never to be silent whenever and wherever human beings endure suffering and humiliation. We must take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented. Sometimes we must interfere.”