Monday, April 11, 2011
Night - Fasting For Yom Kippur
On pages 63-66, Elie and the other Jewish prisoners observe the holy days of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. They question whether or not they should fast as they normally would for Yom Kippur. "We fasted here the whole year round. The whole year was Yom Kippur. But others said that we should fast...we should show God that even here, in this enclosed hell, we were capable of singing His praises." Explain your thoughts on this conflict. Be careful to stick with the basic question of whether fasting under these circumstances is appropriate, and not whether God is deserving of respect.
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26 comments:
I think that they shouldn't fast. They are practically starved to death, and worked to the bone all day, everyday. Why should they fast if it will only kill them faster? Why shouldn't they just try and survive a little longer and be liberated all the earlier? This way they could still see the love, the hope, the good, the joy in living.
Macia, how does this reflect on Elie's (or anyone's) faith? Can they or even should they still show some observance of their faith? Does it even matter under the circumstances?
I think that they should fast.It is part of their religion, and even though they are going through horrible times with little food already, i think they should respect God and fast. Some people might feel like God let them down because of whats happening and how millions of people are dieing, so they shouldn't fast. I think God's job is to guide you in life and to creat thing's. God can't control decisions, so what's happening in Europe is not all his fault. I think some Jew's think it is and will not fast. All in all, i think they should fast and follow their religion.
I think they shouldn't fast. They already get practically no food as it is, they need all they can to stay alive. I think this is one of those times for exceptions. I'm sure that God would understand that they're trying their hardest to remain faithful, but the food is too important.
I think that they should fast. Honestly, if you are like really strong about your religion shouldn't you be following every rule and/or teaching? Some people could think of it in a different way, but you don't have to follow other people. If they fast it will show respect and how much they believe in God even though they are living in bad conditions.
I don't think they should fast. If they wanted to survive longer, they would eat. Survival is a priority over religion/faith. Just because you didn't fast doesn't mean yo uare'nt faithful to your religion, it just means you want to live. If I was there, I wouldn't even think twice about eating.
They shouldn't fast for two reasons. They are already starved for food and fasting could potentially kill them. The second reason is that god wasn't doing them any good during that whole ordeal so they have no reason to show him respect.
I don't think that Elie should fast! I think that if God let so many people go through the holocaust and be murdered, then he doesn't deserve praise. Also, if they did fast for a whole day, then couldn't it kill him? I personally think that this is a case by case decision. Some can do it. Great. Others can't do it. Also great.
I think that they should not fast. I believe this for two reasons one because if they don't eat they could die. My second reason is look at what God has done to there people should you really show faith to a God that put everybody through all of this pain? I think this is a very hard choice to make but in the end it comes down to living or dying and I believe that, that is a decision for each individual to make themselves.
I don't think that they should fast. I know that it is a big part of their religion but with the little food they are already getting along with all of the physical labor they are doing, they need all of the strength they can get. They are very weak already and not eating would not help the situation. I think that, under the circumstances, they should not fast and should be forgiven for it.
At first i thought they should fast because they're already starved enough and missing a little bit of food wont make that much of a differance. But, then i realized if your sick that should take priority. Also, if i were them i would definitely feel like i didnt need to show any respect to God.
I think Elie shouldn't fast, he is questioning the existence of god throughout the book! He shouldn't risk his life to be faithful to a god who he doesn't believe in! If you do still believe in God, I still think you shouldn't fast. Life is important, and in the concentration camp food=life. If you fast, your pratically asking for death to come!
I think Ellie should not fast because they have basically no food and are almost dying if he fasts he's most likely going to die. It is a very religious belief to fast on Yom Kippur but God would understand the fact that he cannot do it, it's too risky. If one day he leaves the camp and go back to his normal life he can fast again
Nick and Eric, be careful in how you frame this discussion. We're not debating whether God deserves honoring or praise under these circumstances, but rather the merits and practicalities of following the ideas of their faith. They are two different discussions and we want to be careful to stick to the question at hand. Is it practical or possible to follow the practices of their faith, including fasting? Is keeping and showing outward signs of faith important, or should survival be the number one priority? Can faith and/or religion, and the practices of that faith/religion aid in survival?
Personally i think that they shouldn't fast. The reason i think they should not fast is because they are not getting enough food already. Yes, even though they should stay religious and fast like they would usually fast, you have to stop and think. While they are in the concentration camps, all they get is some soup and bread a few times a day. If they do fast, they will end up starving to death, they are so close to starving already so i don't think they should risk it.
i think they should not fast because they need to depend on their health to survive. Because if they are not working hard they could get shot.
I think they should fast because even though most people might feel that God has let them down and abandon them they should respect the most holy day in the year for their religion. Also some believe those who suffer will be rewarded later. Also they were very strong believers in their religion and no matter what they go through they should always feel the same.
They shouldn't fast. Fasting could kill them, which isn't the point of the holiday. They can pray to God, and do whatever else they can to celebrate and show respect for the Holiday. But they shouldn't fast. They need the food for strength, for survival. If they don't eat they'll be weak and it won't do any good for them.
I think they should fast. Yes, they may die of starvation, but they would be respecting their religion and showing that even though they're in a horrible place and being treated absolutely TERRIBLY that they still are faithful and haven't lost hope in God.
I think they should fast because if they really have faith in their religion they would believe that if they needed strength for fasting, god would give it to them.And if its part of theire religion they should do it because they already been through fasting in a bad way and if they do it for just i little bit more that wont kill them and if it does kill them at least their doing it for god and for their believes.
I think that Ellie should fast because not eating is unhealthy, and when they are forced to work so hard, he needs all of the energy that he can get. The food is being put right in front of him so he definitely should eat.
I think that Ellie should fast because not eating is unhealthy, and when they are forced to work so hard, he needs all of the energy that he can get. The food is being put right in front of him so he definitely should eat.
I do not think that they should fast for Yom Kippur. They are already starving as it is and fasting isn'nt going to help them in their battle to survive. Also Elie is really mad at his God and fasting is only going to worship the God more. For their own survival and sake they should not fast.
I dont think Ellie should fast because they have a limited food supply as it is. Also, there health is very important in there survival, because if they get sick, then they cant work, and will later be sent to the crematories. They are also doing a lot of physical labor, so they need the strength to do the heavy lifting.
I think they shouldn't fast becasue Ellie could being doing more harm to himself. Although it's is part of his religion, fasting could possible make him die because he already gets little food and now he wouldn't be getting any.
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