Chapter 2 Questions

1. What is Zionism?
Zionism is an organization of Jews whose goal is to create a nation for Jews.

Zionism is the national revival movement of the Jewish people. It holds that the Jews have the right to self-determination in their own national home, and the right to develop their national culture.

2. What is an anti-semite?
A word expressing antagonism to the political and social equality of Jews.

3. Why were foreign Jews deported first?
The foreign Jews were deported first to make the other Jews feel safe and keep them from fleeing. It helped avoid panic and kept the Jews where they were because they didn’t feel threatened.

4. What were the duties of the Gestapo?
The duties of the Gestapo included killing the Jews quickly and without argument. They played a large part in the murder of the foreign Jews, as Moishe witnessed.

5. What is Rosh Hashanah?
It’s the Jewish New Year. All the Jews celebrated Rosh Hashanah while they were in the ghetto by baking goods, praying and having religious services.

6. Why did Eliezer pray, and why did he cry when he prayed?
Eliezer prayed because he was so close to God. He was one of those people that was so spiritual and in touch with God that it just felt natural to him to pray. He felt many powerful emotions that he just had to weep when he prayed to release everything he felt when he prayed.

7. What does Hasadic mean?
A sect founded by Baal Shem-Tov in Poland in the 18th century. Hassisism is characterized by it’s emphasis on mysticism, prayer, ritual strictness, religious zeal and joy.

8. What is the central tenet of Maimonides philosophy?
In the first chapter Elie’s father is discussing to him that he is too young to study the Kabalah. He says to Elie, ”Maimonides tells us that one must be thirty before venturing into the world of mysticism.”

-Natasha A., Seyd P.,
Don P., Wade T.,
Shelby R.