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The experiences of Judah Ben-Hur in Roman occupied Jerusalem constructing an allegory that describes the greater experience of the Jewish people at the hands of the Romans and other non-Jewish factions throughout history. In witnessing Jesus' compassion on his persecutors even while being crucified, Ben-Hur learns that although, like Jesus, he was greatly wronged without just cause, it is possible to forgive, and in forgiveness achieve unity. In his youth, Ben-Hur was a man grounded in faith and a firm believer in peace. In spite of the Roman occupation, he bears them no overt ill-will. As such, when his childhood friend Messala returns to Jerusalem newly allied with the invaders, Ben-Hur has no qualms in reuniting with his companion. When he is pressured by Messala to turn on his countrymen and report those who have spoken against the Romans, his trust is betrayed. In refusing to do this, whether out of loyalty to his people, disgust with the idea of limiting a person's freedom to express his or her political opinions, or a tacit agreement with the dissenters, he makes himself the target of Roman brutality, and is sentenced to slavery. It is in this lowly place that he first personally experiences the compassion of Jesus and is able to impress Arrius, a Roman, with determination and discipline which are implicit to the Jewish faith. Having experienced Jesus' empathy, however, he is able to go a step further than his traditions, and not only use his own freedom to release the bonds of his fellow slaves, but save the life of his captor by showing him the flaws in his understanding of the outcome of his mission and that he was not a failure, but a success. When Arrius, pleased with the adulation he is able to experience thanks ... ... middle of paper ... ... and sister, Ben-Hur is able to realize that his own hatred is not justified, and, in spite that the Romans still occupy Jerusalem, a greater good will come from forgiveness than from insidious hate. When viewed through the lens of history, the events in this epic film can be seen as mirroring the oppression, pressure to assimilate, governmental betrayal, and ultimate struggle to find closure experienced by many Jewish people during and after the reign of the Nazis in Germany, which ended in 1945, and the investigations of the House of Un-American Activities in the United States, the last of which was held in 1951. This movie, and its call for forgiveness in a move toward unity with enemy factions was possibly a plea for those who had experienced so much pain at the hands of those they had once called friends to forgo seething passions and move forward in peace.
Six million Jews died during World War II by the Nazi army under Hitler who wanted to exterminate all Jews. In Night, Elie Wiesel, the author, recalls his horrifying journey through Auschwitz in the concentration camp. This memoir is based off of Elie’s first-hand experience in the camp as a fifteen year old boy from Sighet survives and lives to tell his story. The theme of this memoir is man's inhumanity to man. The cruel events that occurred to Elie and others during the Holocaust turned families and others against each other as they struggled to survive Hitler's and the Nazi Army’s inhumane treatment.
...ude the controversial issues about Jesus. Andreas seemed to have been on the border line with following Jesus and believing he was some guy that was telling lies around the cities. It’s not until Jesus is up for execution when he becomes a follower of Christ. Once Andreas returns, he learns that Barabbas and two zealots were arrested. Barabbas is Andreas’ friend, so he decides to propose ways of rebellion to the Romans. Pilate decides to have a meeting with Andreas about his proposal leads. Pilate manipulates Andreas’s proposal by giving the people of Jerusalem the decision which criminal to keep from execution: Barabbas or Jesus. In the end the people chose Barabbas which meant Jesus, including two other criminals, was sent to be crucified. The story concludes with Andreas recognizing Jesus’ power after so many of the people in his life have been changed by Jesus.
“Understand Simon Wiesenthal Center’s Mission.” The Holocaust Research Project Home. N.p., n.d. Web. 04 Feb. 2014
Roosevelt’s death is followed by Reuven’s fever, and David Malter’s and Reb Saunders’s illnesses (Potok 189). They are both ill on the day in May when the war in Europe was over. Furthermore, the reports of the German concentration camps shock the Jewish community. Reuven is devastated by the stories of destruction, and David Malter and Reb Saunders weep for the loss of millions of European Jews. Hence, the revelation of the Holocaust in Europe is followed by David Malter’s heart attack. Although the historical tragedies do not directly cause the characters’ illnesses, its consequences imply that World War II is not merely a setting for the novel, but an essential influence on its characters’ lives. In addition, although both David and Reb are pained by the mass slaughter of the Jewish people, their political responses are profoundly different. Hence, the revelation of the Holocaust and end of World War II emphasizes their conflicts based on opposing beliefs on Judaism. Reb Saunders accepts the Holocaust as God’s will and, thinks that Jews should wait for the Messiah to come to lead them to the Promised Land according to a conservative interpretation of Jewish tradition. On the other hand, David Malter argues that Jews cannot wait for God any longer, and they must found a Jewish state in
"Jewish Resistance". United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, n.d. Web. 19 May 2014.
Many different responses have occurred to readers after their perusal of this novel. Those that doubt the stories of the holocaust’s reality see Night as lies and propaganda designed to further the myth of the holocaust. Yet, for those people believing in the reality, the feelings proffered by the book are quite different. Many feel outrage at the extent of human maliciousness towards other humans. Others experience pity for the loss of family, friends, and self that is felt by the Holocaust victims.
"While fighting for victory the German soldier will observe the rules for chivalrous warfare. Cruelties and senseless destruction are below his standard" , or so the commandment printed in every German Soldiers paybook would have us believe. Yet during the Second World War thousands of Jews were victims of war crimes committed by Nazi's, whose actions subverted the code of conduct they claimed to uphold and contravened legislation outlined in the Geneva Convention. It is this legislature that has paved the way for the Jewish community and political leaders to attempt to redress the Nazi's violation, by prosecuting individuals allegedly responsible. Convicting Nazi criminals is an implicit declaration by post-World War II society that the Nazi regime's extermination of over five million Jews won't go unnoticed.
Heroism is a rare quality found within the human race but most people can identify a hero or a hero type personality when they first meet someone. This is the quality that Aminata Diallo had upon everyone that she had met. Most of the time she would receive a good reaction from it but the times that she had received horrible reactions from white men who were afraid of her power, were the times that it truly showed her grand possession of heroism. Along with all the other slaves, she suffered from the mistakes of the white folk and was not shown any respect in return. However, Aminata was special from the rest and still managed to respect or act as though she respected everyone she met even if they had treated her badly. This lesson she learned from her father and in the midst of all evil, she intended to follow her father’s guidelines: “You must learn respect,” Papa said. “But I do not respect her,” I said. Papa paused for moment, and patted my leg. “Then you must learn to hide your
In the face of increasing anti-Semitism during the interwar periods Jewish identity often came into conflict with societal pressures to assimilate. Irving Howe’s, A Memoir of the Thirties, written in 1961, depicts his experiences as a Jew in New York City. In his memoir Howe describes the living and social conditions during this decade that pushed many New York Jews to become involved in some type of socialist movement. Although the memoir is primarily about political activities, his description of the social conditions and the Jewish community provides ...
...h. He didn’t get caught, everything went well and he finds that his life goes on. “We define ourselves by the choices we have made.” Even when Judah realized that he’s not doing the right thing, having someone else murder a Dolores; he doesn’t do anything to stop it. At the end, he just realizes that he can live with that.
He was even disappointed when all the gang did was cause trouble at a Sunday school meeting. Later on in the novel, Huck is also faced with a moral dilemma when he comes across Jim, Miss Watson’s runaway slave. As they travel down the river, Huck mentions, “I began to get it through my head that he was most free—and who was to blame for it? Why, me. I couldn’t get that out of my conscience, no how, no way.
Quentin Tarantino’s 2009 film Inglourious Bastards entails a Jewish revenge fantasy that is told through a counterfactual history of events in World War II. However, this story follows a completely different plot than what we are currently familiar with. Within these circumstances, audiences now question the very ideas and arguments that are often associated with World War II. We believe that Inglourious Basterds is a Jewish revenge fantasy that forces us to rethink our previous understandings by disrupting the viewers sense of content and nature in the history of World War II. Within this thesis, this paper will cover the Jewish lens vs. American lens, counter-plots with-in the film, ignored social undercurrents, and the idea that nobody wins in war. These ideas all correlate with how we view World War II history and how Inglourious Basterds muddles our previous thoughts on how these events occurred.
A film bursting with visual and emotional stimuli, the in-depth character transformation of Oscar Schindler in Schindler’s List is a beautiful focal point of the film. Riddled with internal conflict and ethical despair, Schindler challenges his Nazi Party laws when he is faced with continuing his ambitious business ideas or throwing it all away for the lives of those he once saw as solely cheap labor. Confronted with leading a double life and hiding his motivations from those allegiant to Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party, Schindler undergoes numerous ethical dilemmas that ultimately shape his identity and challenge his humanity. As a descendent of a Jewish-American, Yiddish speaking World War II soldier who helped liberate concentration camps in Poland, this film allowed for an enhanced personal
Overall, the significance of the Exile left upon the Jews were astounding with the changes through their identity, life and religion. The experiences made from the Babylonian invasion to the destruction of the Temple and Jerusalem taught the Jews the importance of the covenant made with God. During the exile, the Jews never lost hope in YHWH with the continuous faith and practices through their everyday life. The reestablishment of the Temple and Jerusalem were steps that were taken to renew the commitment of the covenant made with YHWH. The experience of the exile has transformed the laws, practices and faith in which remains and influences the religion from that point on.
31 So when his fellow servants saw what had been done, they were very grieved, and came and told their master all that had been done. 32 Then his master, after he had called him, said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me. 33 Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?’ 34 And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to