Elie's Loss Of Faith: A Journey Through The Holocaust

In his memoir, Night, Elie Wiesel recounts his experiences as a Jewish boy during the Holocaust, including his time in Nazi concentration camps. Wiesel's exposure to the horrors of the Holocaust, such as the burning of babies at Auschwitz and the hanging of a young boy, leads him to question the existence and justice of God, ultimately causing him to lose his faith.

Wiesel's loss of faith is evident in his writing: Never shall I forget those moments which murdered my god and my soul and turned my dreams to dust... (pg. 32). He continues, I did not deny God's existence, but I doubted his absolute justice... (pg. 42).

Witnessing the horrors of the Holocaust, such as the burning of babies at Auschwitz

The horrors of the Holocaust witnessed by Elie Wiesel at Auschwitz, including the burning of babies, caused him to lose his faith in God, humanity, and his family. Wiesel recounts his experiences in his memoir, "Night", where he describes the traumatic events that led to his loss of faith.

One of the most disturbing and impactful experiences for Wiesel was witnessing the burning of babies at Auschwitz. Upon his arrival at the camp, Wiesel was confronted with the sight of a furnace pit filled with burning babies. This realisation of the true nature of the camp as a place of death marked the beginning of his loss of faith. The image of innocent children being thrown into fiery pits, as described by Benjamin Lesser, a survivor who was imprisoned at Auschwitz as a teenager, is a haunting one that continues to haunt those who witnessed it.

Wiesel also witnessed other atrocities at Auschwitz, such as the separation of families, the dehumanisation of prisoners, and the harsh living conditions that led to the death of many children. He struggled to reconcile the existence of a just and loving God with the extreme cruelty and inhumanity he witnessed. In his memoir, he questions God, asking, "Why, but why would I bless him? Every fiber in me rebelled, he caused thousands of children to burn his Mass graves?" (Wiesel 68). Wiesel's anger and disbelief are evident in his words, as he cannot comprehend how a merciful God could allow such atrocities to occur.

The loss of faith extended beyond God, as Wiesel also lost faith in humanity and his family. He felt that humanity had failed to live up to its potential for compassion and goodness, and instead, had sunk to the depths of depravity. Additionally, he lost faith in his family as a source of support and protection. The separation from his mother and sister, and the realisation that his father did not have the strength to survive on his own, left him feeling alone and responsible only for himself.

The experiences of Wiesel at Auschwitz, particularly the burning of babies, had a profound and lasting impact on his faith. The horrors he witnessed caused him to question the existence of a just God, the inherent goodness of humanity, and the reliability of family. His loss of faith was a result of the extreme trauma and inhumanity he endured during the Holocaust.

The hanging of a young boy

Elie Wiesel's memoir, "Night", details his loss of faith in humanity and in God as he experiences the cruelty and horrors of the Holocaust. Wiesel's faith diminishes throughout the memoir as a result of his experiences in the network of Auschwitz concentration camps, including Birkenau, Auschwitz, and Buna-Monowitz.

One of the most memorable passages in "Night" describes the hanging of a young boy, referred to as the "sad-eyed angel" or "pipel". The boy is condemned to death after being found involved in a planned revolt. His youth and angelic looks contribute to a sense of innocence, and his slow death by strangulation is witnessed by several onlookers, who cry out, "Where is God?".

For Wiesel, the hanging of the boy marks the death of innocence and further fuels his anger towards God. He rebels against the idea of a just and merciful God, feeling that God is complicit in the atrocities committed against his people. Wiesel's loss of faith is also reflected in his refusal to fast on Yom Kippur and his decision to turn the act of eating his ration of soup into a symbol of rebellion against God.

The hanging of the young boy is a pivotal moment in Wiesel's journey of losing his religious faith. It is an example of the inhumane acts that cause Wiesel to question God's existence and justice, ultimately leading him to rebel and turn away from his religious beliefs.

Separation from his mother and sisters, and the possibility of losing his father

In the memoir Night, Elie Wiesel writes about his experiences in Nazi concentration camps during World War II. He describes the horrors he witnessed and endured, including the separation from his mother and sisters, and the possibility of losing his father. This traumatic experience leads to his loss of faith in God, his family, and humanity.

As Wiesel enters Buchenwald, he is separated from his mother and sisters and fears losing his father. This moment marks the beginning of Wiesel's loss of faith. He questions God's existence and justice, feeling abandoned and unable to understand why God would allow such suffering. Wiesel's anger and confusion are evident in his thoughts: "Why should I bless His name? The Eternal, Lord of the Universe, the All-Powerful and Terrible, was silent. What had I to thank Him for?".

The separation from his mother and sisters and the potential loss of his father have a profound impact on Wiesel's faith. He is confronted with the reality of his vulnerable and fragile family ties. The loss of his mother and sisters is immediate and irreversible, while the threat of losing his father looms over him throughout his time in the camps. This experience shakes Wiesel's belief in God's goodness and justice, leading him to doubt and question his religious faith.

Wiesel's loss of faith is not a sudden event but a gradual process that unfolds as he endures the horrors of the concentration camps. The separation from his mother and sisters and the possibility of losing his father are pivotal moments in this journey. He struggles to reconcile his faith with the unimaginable cruelty he witnesses and experiences. Wiesel's faith is further challenged as he faces the constant threat of losing his father, who is growing weaker in the harsh conditions of the camps.

The separation from his mother and sisters and the potential loss of his father are not isolated incidents but part of the broader context of Wiesel's traumatic experiences in the concentration camps. The dehumanization, starvation, physical abuse, and constant fear of death contribute to his loss of faith. Wiesel's belief in a just and merciful God is shattered as he endures these atrocities. He finds it difficult to reconcile his religious upbringing with the unimaginable suffering he endures, ultimately leading to his loss of faith.

The death of innocence

Wiesel's loss of innocence is evident in his loss of faith in God, family, and humanity. He struggles physically and mentally to survive and no longer believes in God. Wiesel worked hard to save himself and repeatedly asks God for help, but feels that his pleas are being ignored. He is confused as to why God would let such terrible things happen and begins to doubt God's existence and justice.

Wiesel's loss of innocence is also seen in his loss of faith in his family. He is separated from his mother, sister, and eventually his father at the concentration camp. He knows he will never see his mother and sister again and feels guilty for not being able to help his father. Wiesel realises that his father does not have the strength to survive on his own, and that in order to live, he must watch out for himself.

In "Night", Wiesel's journey from innocence to disillusionment is a powerful testament to the devastating effects of war and repression on the human spirit.

The cruelty of the Nazi guards

Wiesel's belief in God began to falter when he arrived at the concentration camp of Birkenau-Auschwitz. Here, he bore witness to the constant burning of people in the furnaces. He saw German soldiers throw babies and small children into the flames. Wiesel struggled to reconcile these acts of cruelty with the idea of a just and all-knowing God.

The longer Wiesel spent in the concentration camps, the more he experienced and witnessed the cruel treatment of his fellow prisoners. People were treated worse than livestock. He could no longer understand how a just God could permit such places of horror to exist. The fact that many Jews continued to pray and find comfort in their faith, despite the horrors they faced, only added to Wiesel's confusion.

The cruelty he witnessed led Wiesel to doubt God's existence and justice. He felt that God had abandoned the Jews in their time of greatest need. Wiesel writes, "I did not deny God's existence, but I doubted his absolute justice". He could not comprehend how people could still pray to a God who allowed their families to be gassed and incinerated.

The hanging of a young boy at Buna was the final straw for Wiesel's faith. As the boy died slowly, a man in the crowd asked, "Where is God now?". Wiesel's internal response was that God was that boy, hanging from the gallows. From that moment on, he ceased to believe that God could exist.

Frequently asked questions