In Elie Wiesel's "Night," he emphasizes that the Holocaust was not merely an extermination of Jews as individuals, but also an assault on their religion, culture, and traditions. The Nazi regime aimed to annihilate every aspect of Jewish life, erasing not only people but the rich heritage of Jewish existence itself. This underscores the profound impact of the genocide, which targeted both flesh and memory.

The quote highlights the broader implications of the atrocities faced by the Jewish community during World War II. Wiesel conveys a deep sense of loss, as the war aimed to obliterate not just lives, but also the historical and cultural identity of the Jewish people. This illustrates the war's destructive reach, which sought to erase Jewish memory from history entirely.