I remember: as a child, on the other side of oceans and mountains, the Jew in me would anticipate Rosh HaShanah with fear and trembling. He still does.
On that Day of Awe, I believed then, nations and individuals, Jewish and non-Jewish, are being judged by their common creator.
This is still my belief.
In spite of all that happened? Because of all that happened?
---to be Jewish today is to recognize that every person is created in the image of God and that our purpose in living is to be a reminder of God…
A Jew must be sensitive to the pain of all human beings. A Jew cannot remain indifferent to human suffering, whether in other countries or in our own cities and towns. The mission of the Jewish people has never been to make the world more Jewish, but to make it more human.
Suggested Discussion Questions:
1. What is Wiesel’s definition of justice?
2. What is the mission of the Jewish people?
3. Why does Wiesel mention being made in the image of God? What role does that play?
Time Period: Contemporary (The Yom Kippur War until the present-day)