Eulogy

My class has been reading a book by the great author Elie Wiesel. Elie is a Holocaust survivor who has written multiple books about his, heartbreaking, experience during the time. In the beginning we learn so much about the life Elie had, and how things rapidly changed in a short time. Towards the middle of the book, details begin to grow; more images of the camps come to mind. Unfortunately Elie loses his father before liberation, and in honor of his father, I have the honor to write a Eulogy .


My father, a man faithful to his country…but blinded when his country turned on their own. When the soldiers first came to our community everyone thought of them as nothing; including my father. When we were required to wear a Yellow star, he told me “The yellow star? So what…it’s not lethal…” Poor him, for that was our first sign of death, which many ignored.
When we came to our first concentration camp, my only thought was “Not to lose him,” and “Not to remain alone.” At that moment I was closest to my father, he was my comfort zone, the one guy I could count on. I know it’s a strange thing to say but how afraid I was of that place was what brought him and me together. We knew the only way to survive was to look out for one another. That’s what we did, he looked after me, and I looked after him.


We had just been given our first meal upon arriving to Auschwitz, and my father had gotten up to be excused. He was struck; and there I stood amazed at what I had just seen. I didn’t help him, and I assure you I am much ashamed, for we both knew if I were to have helped my own father I would’ve been next. And from then on, we had grown farther and father away from each other.
Every time either he or I was struck, we would be upset at one another. Asking ourselves, “Why was he in the way? Why didn’t he avoid them as I?” We started to drift farther away from one another, when I first realized how far we had driven each other apart, was the day he died. He was calling my name, asking me to help, but I was so afraid of S.S soldiers. My emotions had me thinking, “Why couldn’t he defend himself? Why did he need me?” His last words were my name, I didn’t respond for that’s how far apart in relationship we had been. I didn’t shed not one tear then, but now I shed millions everyday for not saving him; my father, a man faithful to his country…but blinded we his country turned on him.