Question

In this section, Eliezer tells of three fathers and three sons: Rabbi Eliahu and his son, the father whose son killed him for a piece of bread, and finally his own father and himself. What words does Eliezer use to describe his response to each of the first two stories? What do the three stories have in common? How do they differ?

Answer 1

Eliezer describes his response to each of the first two stories as a "miracle". The three stories have in common the theme of filial piety and how it is challenged in times of adversity. In each story, someone's loyalty to their father is tested in some way.

The first story, about Rabbi Eliahu and his son, reinforces the idea that one should never give up hope and that familial bonds are unbreakable, even in the face of tragedy. The second story, however, challenges this idea by showing how desperation can lead someone to commit a terrible crime against their own flesh and blood.

Eliezer's story about himself and his father is different from the other two in that it shows the bond between father and son as a source of strength and survival rather than a test of loyalty. Eliezer's deep love for his father helps him to endure the horrors of the Holocaust and remain connected to his Jewish faith and cultural identity.