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110 SPIRIT AND THE MIND
camps during World War II, tells this story which occurred at Auschwitz. Although the theme comes from Professor Wiesel, and the incident and outcome actually happened, I’d like to emphasize and make clear that I am telling the story in my own words with imagined dialogue. I am sure that my rendition does not exactly reflect what happened and would not be the way Professor Wiesel would tell the story.
It was at a time when Jews were subjected to the most grotesque atrocities and underwent the terrible suffering so widely documented now. Herded like cattle, starved, beaten, tortured, left bare against harsh winter elements, and slaughtered—they tried to endure and survive. Who can explain the meaning of such an ordeal to the one who is suffering?
There seemed no end to the inhuman treatment, the bizarre and sadistic experiments and mutilations. Here was an unthinkable attempt to exterminate a whole race of people, and for what possible reason? In all, about six million people were slaughtered in this enormous eruption of evil and destruction. Elie Wiesel was one of many well-educated and sensitive Jews left helpless in these hell-hole camps, screaming out to God: “Where are you? Where are you? Put an end to this torture!”
Among the captives were some of the most brilliant minds in Europe. Distinguished scientists, scholars, artists and professionals in all fields experienced this carnage together. Together they cried out at the atrocities. But pray as they might, God didn’t seem to be listening. They screamed out in agony . . . into what seemed more and more likely to be nothing but an empty black void.
“Oh Lord, God in heaven,” they cried out, “how can You do this to us? We are broken and dying in a grotesque chamber of horrors. We are humiliated, hunted down and slaughtered with no rhyme or reason. Each day brings anew a hopeless struggle without relief, filled with pain and agony and the terrifying degradation of seeing ourselves turn into subhuman animals: dominated by the need to survive, filled with feelings of hatred, revenge and jealousy; even wishing that our own kin would fall so we might steal a piece of stale bread or shred of clothing from them.
“Is this the cruel plan you conceived for him who is made in Your image? For what reason, oh Lord, are we herded and bludgeoned like


































































































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