Everybody around us was weeping. Someone began to recite Kaddish, the prayer for the dead. I don't know whether, during the history of the Jewish people, men have ever before recited Kaddish for themselves.
In the book "Night" by Elie Wiesel, the atmosphere is filled with sorrow as those present are overcome with grief. The scene depicts a communal mourning where people openly weep, reflecting the depth of their loss and despair.
As the moment intensifies, someone starts reciting Kaddish, the Jewish prayer traditionally reserved for the deceased. Wiesel's observation raises a poignant and painful question about the unprecedented tragedy faced by the Jewish people, as he reflects on the uniqueness of reciting this prayer for oneself, highlighting the profound sense of hopelessness and despair in that dire moment.
