Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, found Eliezer and other Jews in the Buna concentration camp. The prisoners were generally troubled because of their experience throughout that particular year. The evening soup was served, but the prisoners chose not to touch it until after prayer. They held a small ceremony on the Appelplatz attended by the camp’s prisoners.
Eliezer gathered together with other Jews to observe the events of the special day. However, he wondered...
Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, found Eliezer and other Jews in the Buna concentration camp. The prisoners were generally troubled because of their experience throughout that particular year. The evening soup was served, but the prisoners chose not to touch it until after prayer. They held a small ceremony on the Appelplatz attended by the camp’s prisoners.
Eliezer gathered together with other Jews to observe the events of the special day. However, he wondered how God had allowed the people to go through such terrible experiences. Eliezer expressed his defiance, dissatisfaction and anger towards God. He confronted God with the crematoria, the gas chambers and the general camp experience. He felt an odd sense of strength on that particular day, as God stood accused while he was the accuser.
Why, but why would I bless Him? Every fiber in me rebelled. Because He caused thousands of children to burn in His mass graves?
On the contrary, I felt very strong. I was the accuser, God the accused.
Eliezer’s father was sad, and although he didn’t say much, his body language was resigned and his face expressionless.
I looked up at my father's face, trying to glimpse a smile or something like it on his stricken face. But there was nothing. Not the shadow of an expression. Defeat.
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