YOM KIPPUR. The Day of Atonement. Should we fast? The question was hotly debated. To fast could mean a more certain, more rapid death. In this place, we were always fasting. It was Yom Kippur year-round. But there were those who said we should fast, precisely because it was dangerous to do so. We needed to show God that even here, locked in hell, we were capable of singing His praises. I
In the book "Night" by Elie Wiesel, the observance of Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, raises significant moral and spiritual dilemmas among the captives. The act of fasting during this time prompts heated discussions, particularly concerning the risks it poses to their already fragile lives. In a dire setting where hunger is a constant companion, the question of fasting takes on an intensified meaning as it symbolizes both faith and peril.
Some individuals argue in favor of fasting, believing that enduring this suffering can reaffirm their devotion to God in the face of despair. This shared sentiment highlights a struggle against their circumstances, as they seek to maintain a connection to their religious beliefs even amid unimaginable suffering. Thus, the observance of Yom Kippur becomes not just a ritual, but a profound expression of resilience and the human spirit's desire to find hope and meaning when all seems lost.
