Question

When the Germans arrive in Sighet, the Jews are still hopeful that the Red Army will come before anything bad happens. The Jews had many reasons to believe that the end of the war was near and that they might escape unharmed. In 300 or more words, make an argument about why they should or shouldn't have fled based on what you read. Explore Eliezer’s father’s rationale for staying and the ways in which the Jews maintained hope until they were loaded onto the trains. Use evidence from the text to build your argument and draw conclusions.

Answer 1

Answer: In Night by Elie Wiesel, the Jews of Sighet were faced with a difficult decision when the Germans arrived - whether to stay or to flee. On one hand, there were reasons why they should have fled, as the situation was rapidly deteriorating and their safety was at risk. On the other hand, there were also reasons why they might have chosen to stay, as they held onto hope for the end of the war and felt that they were still safe in their homes.

One of the main reasons why the Jews of Sighet might have stayed is because of their hope for the end of the war. They believed that the Red Army was close to coming and that they would be able to escape harm before anything bad happened. This hope was reinforced by rumors and news from other Jews who had already been taken to camps but had later been released. They held onto this hope until the very end, even as they were being loaded onto trains to be taken to the concentration camps.

However, this hope may have been misguided. The end of the war was still far away, and the Jews were in immediate danger. By staying in Sighet, they were putting themselves at risk of being arrested and taken to the concentration camps. Additionally, their lack of knowledge about the true nature of the camps may have contributed to their hesitation to flee. They may have believed that they would be safe in the camps, and so they did not see the urgency in leaving.

In the case of Eliezer's father, his rationale for staying was based on his belief in the law and the order of society. He felt that the Germans would not harm them because they were citizens of Sighet and that the law would protect them. This belief was shattered when they were rounded up and taken to the camps, where the laws of society no longer applied.

In conclusion, the Jews of Sighet should have fled when the Germans arrived. Their hope for the end of the war was misguided, and their lack of knowledge about the true nature of the concentration camps put them in grave danger. While it is understandable that they held onto hope and felt safe in their homes, the reality of the situation was much more dire. By staying, they put themselves at risk and ultimately suffered the consequences.

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