Section 5

Despite their imprisonment, the Jews of Buna come together to celebrate Rosh Hashanah. On this Jewish holiday, Eliezer cannot find a reason to bless God in the midst of so much suffering. Eliezer mocks the idea that the Jews are God’s chosen people, and says that they have only been chosen to be killed. He comes to believe that people are stronger and more forgiving than God. Eliezer finds his father, and they are overjoyed to see each other. However, Eliezer sees his father is very upset. Eliezer decides to eat on Yom Kippur, the day on which Jews traditionally fast in order to make up for their sins.


Soon after the Jewish New Year, another selection is made. Eliezer gets separated from his father to work in the building unit. He worries that his father will not pass the selection. After several days it turns out that Eliezer’s father is said to be too weak to work and will be executed. Hegives Eliezer his knife and spoon, which is all that he has left. Eliezer is forced to leave, and will never see his father again. When he returns from work, he finds out a second selection occurred between the weak, and his father survived. Akiba Drumer does not survive the selection and is going to be killed. Others are also beginning to lose their faith.

The prisoners begin to suffer due to the cold weather. Eliezer huits his foot and gets an operation. While he is recovering, the rumor of the the approaching Russian army gives him hope. But the Germans decide to evacuate the camp before the Russians can arrive. Eliezer and his father choose to be evacuated with the others. After the war, Eliezer learns that they made the wrong decision. If they would have stayed they would have been freed by the Russians a few days later.