How the holocaust can change faith

Seemingly endless pain, back-breaking labor, terror, and uncertainty. These words barely scratch the surface of what the victims of the Holocaust faced. The Holocaust was a terrible, cruel, and horrific event that killed millions of people. This great tragedy left a scar on the Jews and various other people that will surely be remembered for decades to come. The Jewish people's faith were tested during this incident, including Elie Wiesel's. In his memoir NIGHT, it recalls of the author's personal experience and how his understanding of God changes throughout his stay in the camps.
As the story unfolds, the protagonist is extremely devoted and faithful. This is hinted when the author notes that "I was almost thirteen and deeply observant. By day I studied Talmud and by night I would run to the synagogue to weep over the destruction of the Temple"(Wiesel 3). During this time, the writer's belief is already fierce. It is very rare for a person as young as he was to be interested in that subject. Another similar quote from the book is "I continued to devote myself to my studies, Talmud during the day and Kabbalah at night"(8). This shows readers that Wiesel did not stray from his faith. He remained determined and motivated to learn and familiarize his religion. The author also recalls that "I looked at my house in which I had spent years seeking my God, fasting to hasten the coming of the Messiah, imagining what life would be like later"(9). Faith was a big part of his life and he spent years learning the holy book. It suggests that the author grew up in a religious home. These examples from the story highlights what the author's belief was before the Holocaust took place, proving that he was deeply religious and faithful.
Thereafter, when the Jews were transported into concentration camps, Wiesel begins to question God. When he saw the children being burned in the crematorium, he declares that "For the first time, I felt anger rising within me. Why should I sanctify his name? The Almighty, the eternal and Terrible Master if the Universe, chose to be silent"(Wiesel 33). The author's tone in this quote is clearly rebellious and remorseful. This reveals how the foundation of the protagonist's faith slowly started to crumble. Wiesel also remarks that "As for me, I ceased to pray. I concurred with Job. I was not denying His existence, but I doubted his absolute justice"(45). By refusing to pray, the protagonist is rebelling against God. He believes that God is a real entity but ultimately thinks that he is unjust. Furthermore, Wiesel pointedly exclaims "Look at these men whom You have betrayed, allowing the to be tortured, slaughtered, gassed, and burned, what do they do? They pray before You! They praise Your name!"(66). Obviously full of rage, the author questions God's pity and loyalty. He is perplexed as to why God choose to stay silent when His faithful followers are being cruelly murdered. All of these quotations illustrate how Wiesel's feelings toward God transitioned from admiration to anger.
Eventually, after a long period of time in the camps, Wiesel's understanding of God modifies drastically. During the hanging of a child, a man questions where is God and Wiesel responds with "Where is God? This is where—hanging here from the gallows"(Wiesel 65). In some ways, this implies that to the protagonist, God is dead. This is due to God's silence through the role situation. In another part of the book, the author describes himself as "I was nothing but ashes now, but I felt myself stronger than this Almighty to whom my life had been bounded to for so long"(68). As a result of his grief, the writer challenges God's power. He claims to be nothing but ashes to represent his physical image, yet he is also strong because he has the courage to stand up to God. Near the conclusion of the book, Wiesel admits "And in spite of myself, a prayer formed inside me, a prayer to this God whom I no longer believed"(91). As furious as he is at God, he can or help but turn to him because deep down, he still has hope in God. Even though he allegedly no longer believes in the Almighty, he is aware that God is still all-powerful. These excerpts signify how the author responds to his trials in the concentration camps.
To summarize,the book NIGHT gives readers an in-depth view of how unimaginably horrifying and traumatizing the Holocaust is. Elie Wiesel's experience of the Holocaust altered his perceptions of God. It also caused him to question and doubt God's existence and power. It was an epic obstacle that provoked him to cross boundaries, both spiritually and mentally. Despite all of these circumstances, Wiesel did not lose his faith in God after all.