Kabbalah
Jewish mystical traditions that explore God and the universe; One day I asked my father to find me a master who could guide me in my studies of Kabbalah.
Synagogue
building where Jewish congregation meets for worship and instruction; A synagogue in Pittsburgh was attacked by a shooter and considered a hate crime in 2018.
Talmud
Authoritative body and primary source of Jewish law, history, and customs; By day I studied Talmud and by night I would run to the synagogue to weep over the destruction of the Temple.
Billeted
An official order saying members of the military force be provided with food and lodging in the city in which they are working; The officers were billeted in private houses, even in the homes of Jews.
Fascist
Government that puts race above the individual and will have no person opposing its ways, headed by a dictator; Budapest radio announced that the Fascist party had seized power.
Deportation
Removal from a country; In 1944, Wiesel and his family, like many other Jews, were deported to the Auschwitz concentration camp operated by Nazi Germany.
Pestilential
Possible devastating diseases causing serious harm or danger; The stench and heat in the cattle cars was pestilential, as too many prisoners were crammed in the small area.
Pious
Showing devotion to divine worship; Her husband was a pious man who spent most of his days and nights in the house of study.
Monocle
An eyeglass for one eye; The sight of the monocle emphasizes the fear and terror of the prisoners in the camp.
Lorry
A large truck designed to carry troops, goods, or heavy loads; The lorries carried the soldiers from the camp to the workplaces of the Jews.
Harangue
A long and lengthy emotionally charged speech; We stared at his fleshy lips; he harangued us from the center of the barracks.
Colic
Severe abdominal pain caused by spasm or obstruction; My father suddenly had a colic attack and couldn’t stay quiet or still.
Gallows
Frame used to hang criminals; Three gallows were set up, and finally at the signal, the chairs were tipped over.
Refuge
Provides a shelter from danger; She visited the family in the ghetto and offered them safe refuge in her city.
Annihilate
To completely destroy or defeat; He wanted to annihilate an entire people.
Prophecies
Predictions of what is to come in the future; Mrs. Schachter and Moshe the Beadle gave us all prophecies, but we did not listen.
Emaciated
Abnormal thinness caused by starvation or sickness; A poor, emaciated man asked him a question with his voice trembling.
Bereaved
Suffering the death of a loved one; He bereaved his only brother, even though he was fifteen years younger than him.
Resistance
”Underground” group or movement to stop the war; We were aware of Resistance movements, but hadn’t witnessed anything near us.
Premonition
A feeling that something is going to happen, especially bad; I’ve got a premonition of evil, said my mother.
