Night Theme Matching

"A terrible thought crossed my mind: What if he had wanted to be rid of his father? He had felt his father growing weaker and, believing that the end was near, had thought by this separation to free himself of a burden that could diminish his own chance for survival."

• Dignity in the Face of Inhuman Cruelty

• Self-preservation vs. Family Commitment

• Struggle to Maintain Faith

• Emotional Death

"Wait a little, Zalman. Soon, we will come to a halt. We cannot run like this to the end of the world... Make an effort, Zalman... Try."

• Dignity in the Face of Inhuman Cruelty

• Self-preservation vs. Family Commitment

• Struggle to Maintain Faith

• Emotional Death

"He collapsed. But his fist was still clutching a small crust. He wanted to raise it to his mouth. But the other threw himself on him. The old man mumbled something, groaned, and died. Nobody cared."

• Dignity in the Face of Inhuman Cruelty

• Self-preservation vs. Family Commitment

• Struggle to Maintain Faith

• Emotional Death

"Suddenly, the evidence overwhelmed me: there was no longer any reason to live, any reason to fight."

• Dignity in the Face of Inhuman Cruelty

• Self-preservation vs. Family Commitment

• Struggle to Maintain Faith

• Emotional Death

" He awoke with a start. He sat up, bewildered, stunned, like an orphan. He looked all around him, taking it all in as if he had suddenly decided to make an inventory of his universe, to determine where he was and how and why he was there. Then he smiled"

• Dignity in the Face of Inhuman Cruelty

• Self-preservation vs. Family Commitment

• Struggle to Maintain Faith

• Emotional Death

"Where is merciful God, where is He?... someone behind me was asking."

• Dignity in the Face of Inhuman Cruelty

• Self-preservation vs. Family Commitment

• Struggle to Maintain Faith

• Emotional Death

"I went up to him, took his hand and kissed it. I felt a tear on my hand. Whose was it? Mine? His? I said nothing. Nor did he. Never before had we understood each other so clearly."

• Dignity in the Face of Inhuman Cruelty

• Self-preservation vs. Family Commitment

• Struggle to Maintain Faith

• Emotional Death

"But I felt myself to be stronger than this Almighty to whom my life had been bound for so long. In the midst of these men assembled for prayer, I felt like an observer, a stranger."

• Dignity in the Face of Inhuman Cruelty

• Self-preservation vs. Family Commitment

• Struggle to Maintain Faith

• Emotional Death

"I watched other hangings. I never saw a single victim weep. Their withered bodies had long forgotten the bitter taste of tears."

• Dignity in the Face of Inhuman Cruelty

• Self-preservation vs. Family Commitment

• Struggle to Maintain Faith

• Emotional Death

"I had watched it all happening without moving. I kept silent. In fact, I thought of stealing away in order not to suffer the blows. What's more if I felt anger at that moment, it was not directed at the kapo but at my father. "

• Dignity in the Face of Inhuman Cruelty

• Self-preservation vs. Family Commitment

• Struggle to Maintain Faith

• Emotional Death