Final answer:
Hodel's mention of beatings would likely be to highlight a negative outcome, often demonstrating the severity of historic anti-Semitism and abuse faced by the Jewish community during periods of societal hardship.
Step-by-step explanation:
Hodel's mention of someone being beaten every night is not literally in the provided text but if this scenario were part of a given text, it would likely be to highlight a negative outcome. This sort of comment in narrative often serves to underscore the severity of abuse or persecution that might be occurring. In the context of the Jewish experience, such as during Passover or periods of plague or famine historically, Jews have often been scapegoated and victimized, facing violence and cruel treatment. The comment about someone being beaten could reflect these historical experiences of anti-Semitism and societal strife.