Holocaust Literature Paper
The Day Cannot Always Be Dark
In her book titled “The Tree of Life”, Chava Rosenfarb, a Holocaust survivor, makes it a point to elaborate in great detail about the state of nature and the particulars of the season that any given chapter is taking place in. During each event in the book, the reader encounters observations and interpretations regarding things like the smell of the city, the look of the sky, and the feel of the ground. He is made to feel like nature is communicating directly to him. It has an important message that must be heard. The “bare trees in the parks and on the sidewalks, their branches lifted towards the sky, look like brides waiting to slip their arms into the sleeves of their flowery dresses” (Rosenfarb, Bk 2, Ch. 1, p. 3)
More often than not, these signs and messages from nature were translated into bits of hope and inspiration, elating news that gave the hurting characters in the book a reason to fight and push forward - to persevere even amidst all of the havoc and upset in their lives. “Blessed rains poured down from the skies, reviving the exhausted soil. They also did some good to the people… It seemed as if the rain… were a message from the world: ‘Keep it up brothers. It will not be long before we come to save you’ ” (Rosenfarb, Bk 3, Ch. 8, p. 101). The rays of the sun, the blossoming trees, and the pure whiteness of the snow bore witness that, albeit the dire circumstances in the ghetto, there was still light and color to be found in the world. Light that held in it the potential to eventually overpower the terrible darkness and despair that the Jews in the Lodz Ghetto were facing.
As the war unfolded, it appeared that the Germans were doing everything in their power to make the lives of those in the ghetto truly unbearable. Adequate food was hard to come by, while beatings and killing were abundantly present. The demands and restrictions of the Germans seemed to become less reasonable and increasingly insidious with every passing day. The non-stop lineups and transports, endless hiding, and having to avoid death gradually sapped the life and hope out of every surviving soul in the ghetto.
There were, however, things that no one, even the highest-ranking General could touch or corrupt. It was such small but vital things that strengthened even the most withered of men. The spring days when the breeze was ever so welcoming and pleasant. The days when the children played in the rain. Those could not be touched by anyone. As David put it, “the barbed wires seem pitifully weak as if the sun were about to melt them… How good it is that the Germans have no power over the sun, and consequently not over me...” (Rosenfarb, Bk 3, Ch. 5, p. 73). The rest and peace that accompanied the evenings, the beautiful moon and stars, untouchable elements that nature endowed indiscriminately upon the entire universe, even the most evil could not interfere with these. After a long day of hiding, Rachel observed, “the day was over at last, sliding down from the sky along with the setting sun. What a blessing it was that the Germans needed to sleep at night, just like all humans” (Rosenfarb, Bk 3, Ch. 10, p. 146)
In her book “The Tree of Life,” Chava Rosenfarb, a holocaust survivor, is attempting to depict an image of what it was like to live in a Jewish Ghetto during WW2. She is describing to the reader how one may have survived through the war and why most sadly perished. When all was gone and the only thing that remained for a person was his body and spirit, one might wonder what kept him or her going? Rosenfarb shows her readers that the mere spirit and strength of nature itself, the universe doing its thing, indirectly had its way of keeping people optimistic and energized. This powerful yet simple aspect of the human experience was noteworthy and significant. The laws of nature and the beauty that came with it became something that every individual was able to draw courage and conviction from.
When one pays attention to the seemingly insignificant details of their day to day experiences, they begin to live a much fuller and richer life. By making “The Tree of Life” a central theme and the name of her book, Rosenfarb wanted to convey to her readers a valuable lesson. She wanted them to know that no matter what situation they may find themselves in, they can always look around and find something that will uplift and help them persevere. Rosenfarb meant to impart that no matter how dark and rainy one’s life might get, soon enough the clouds will disperse and the sun will shine again. When the pain and hurt inevitably lift, “you fall madly in love with life again” and reemerge to find that “all the knots are untied and you possess a certain clarity in your mind that you never had before” (Rosenfarb, Bk 3, Ch. 6, p. 86).
Works Cited
Rosenfarb C. The Tree of Life; A Trilogy of Life in the Lodz Ghetto; Book 2: From the Depths I Call You, 1940-1942. The University of Wisconsin Press, 1972
Rosenfarb C. The Tree of Life; A Trilogy of Life in the Lodz Ghetto; Book 3: The Cattle Cars Are Waiting, 1942-1944. The University of Wisconsin Press, 1972