The Tree of Life Reading Journals - Chapter Summaries
The Tree of Life Reading Journals - Chapter Summaries
Rosenfarb Book One
Chapter 1
In this chapter, we are introduced to some of the main characters. We get some insight into their lives and lifestyles, and we also begin to explore the different nuances between these individuals with regards to their beliefs and ways of thinking. Through the lens of a lavish new years eve party, we are also introduced to Samuel’s two daughters and who they are attracted to. We get a window into the minds of Samuel Zuckerman and his wife. The latter being more selective with who she’d like to host, while the former has maintained a more relaxed attitude toward the kinds of people he can mingle with.
Chapter 2
Here the reader is introduced to the more impoverished parts/aspects of the town. He is introduced to the family of a carpenter. Through the lens of this family, we are introduced to some of the predominant ideologies and movements that were popular at the time. There is also a scene where Samuel Z. spends some time in the cellar, giving us an intimate view of what things looked like when these very different classes of people intersected.
Chapter 3
Adam Rosenberg. A self-made man with interesting personality features. Interested and disinterested with people at the same time. Balancing his role of rich person, boss, wife, and dog owner. Searching for peace in a world where it cannot be found. Trying to enjoy and savor whatever he can without having to pay too much of a price for it (primarily mentally and emotionally.) Battling the thoughts stemming from his ego against the practical reality of things (like wanting to fire essential workers.)
Chapter 4
In this chapter, Dr. Levine writes to his girlfriend Mira about his day to day activities, thoughts, and feelings. He expresses his concern about the political climate at the time but feels like he does not have a proper avenue through which he can contribute to positive change. He writes about his love of life, including the lives of animals, over anything else - which is also why he has been adhering to a vegetarian diet. But most of all Dr. Levine expresses his longing and yearning to reunite with Mira who is now finishing her studies in France. Dr. Levine misses her very much and regrets that his ability to express his love, at the moment, is limited to pen and paper.
Chapter 5
Mr. Rumkowski is presented from a few points of view. He is a rather superficial character. Often concerned with how he is viewed by others and constantly seeking approval from others. Mr. Rumkowski makes it a point of being in the center of things despite his lack of popularity. Additionally, he is very preoccupied with comparing himself to others and resenting whatever advantages they may have over him. He fills much of his egotistic void with the idea that he is the benevolent father and savior of the Helenovec orphanage children. There is, however, a very disturbing aspect of this man that cannot go unnoticed - his perverted mind and thoughts. The way he pictures the girls in his mind. And sadly the way he manipulated Sabinka into a position where he most likely would’ve taken (not just some but - ) full advantage of her if not for being called out by other pedestrians.
Chapter 6
Rachel is navigating her way through her final year at the gymnasium. She has her own opinions and does not hesitate to express them. When she is met with contempt from her literature teacher for including the works of a Jewish author who wrote in Yiddish, she makes it clear that she would not accept the idea that the, once mighty Jewish nation is dead. When she is confronted by the directress regarding her affiliation with a political party, instead of apologizing, she protests. Students should have the freedom to express themselves and their convictions as they wish Rachel claimed.
Chapter 7
Simcha Bunim; born into a loving orthodox family, excels in his Judaic studies and leaves his warm home and hometown to a yeshiva in the city of Lublin. In the beginning, he finds it very difficult to adjust to the cold indifferent atmosphere of his new environment. However, as time progresses, he finds himself in a very deep relationship with Sender, another student in the yeshiva. This comforting friendship eventually ends with the death of Sender, due to some unknown illness. Simcha begins to question his beliefs and shifts his focus away from becoming a rabbi. Bunim finds work in a textile factory where he meets his wife Miriam. With Miriam, he has his daughter Blimele who immediately becomes the absolute joy of his life. With all of the progress in his life including the development of his writing poetry, which he developed with his new friend Friede, something very dark seems to be looming over his town and life but he just cannot quite put a finger on what this darkness might be.
Chapter 8
Ester is an orphan who grows up with her uncle and cousins while she attends school. She is very beautiful, with red fiery hair and bright green eyes. When business gets difficult for Uncle Henech and his family, they opt to send Ester to the Helenovec orphanage. This transfer is not taken easily by Ester. She feels abandoned and less important. Consequently, during most of the time that Ester spends in the orphanage, she is rebellious and not cooperative. By the age of seventeen, Ester had developed a growing interest in reading and books. With the guidance of Mr. Shafran, one of the Helenovec teachers who helped her open her mind to the realities of the outside world, Ester finds a job and chooses to leave the orphanage and become fully independent. Eventually, Ester meets Hersh. Their relationship is mostly nonverbal. When Ester becomes pregnant they choose to name their child Emannuel. Sadly the child does not survive the four-week early delivery and Ester’s world is truly darkened. But a small light appears in the form of Esters library friend Rachel - intervenes on Ester’s behalf; saving her from taking her own life, and perhaps also indicating that at the end of it all - imanu-el - God is with us.
Chapter 9
As the Germans near Lodz, David who is in his early teens is faced with a predicament; should he head toward Warsaw in hopes for a better chance of survival, or remain in Lodz with his family? His dad and older brother have already left. His mother decides that it would be best for David to leave town as well. He bids his family farewell and runs off into the large crowd of people leaving the city. He thinks of his girlfriend Rachel and wishes that he would’ve kissed her before he left. The trip becomes more and more treacherous. At the beginning of the trip, David has a very nasty encounter with a non-Jew to whom he offered a helping hand. This would be the first of many antisemitic experiences in the days to come. During this trip, David is exposed for the first time to the sight of dead bodies, the sounds of fighter planes and machine guns. He quickly shifts into survival mode. Eventually, the Germans arrive on the highway pushing David and the other survivors back toward Lodz. David is singled out multiple times by Germans because he is Jewish. His age saves him, and when his age fails, he manages to escape. By the time David is back home, his feet are badly wounded, he is overwhelmingly exhausted, and he is in many ways emotionally depleted. He is happy to be back with the remainder of his family and Rachel, but the fate of his brother and father still linger, together with the fate of the general European population at large. The Germans have arrived, and only God knows how they will act, and for how long they will stay.
Chapter 10
In this chapter, the reader is introduced to Miss Diamond and her inner conflict. The chapter begins with her return to the gymnasium which had been abandoned for some time. A meeting takes place where Mr. Rumkowski, the newly appointed “Presess” is introduced to the school faculty and shares a few words. Something about Mr. Rumkowski awakens a spark of Jewish identity within Miss Diamond and throws her into a very conflicted state. Suddenly she feels connected to the very thing she took pride in disassociating with, her Jewishness. Meanwhile, we learn of her relationship with Wanda, a Polish longtime friend who now, in a sense, represents someone else - a non-jew. Following the teacher’s meeting, Miss diamond is very excited about the prospect of being able to teach again. Her students were her life. However, given the new circumstances, miss diamond finds herself doing many things she had never done before. On one occasion she dismissed her class early. On another, she found herself at the doorstep of her student’s house late in the evening. She feels differently about her passed student Rachel and how she treated her. When the synagogues in the town are set on fire, this becomes a turning point. She realized how connected she felt to these religious structures and couldn't quite figure what to do about this newfound connection to Judaism that the Germans indirectly brought about in her. This becomes even more complicated as she clashes with Wanda over some of the events in the town.
Chapter 11
The chapter begins with (Dr. Levine - ) describing the many ways the Germans have changed the city of Lodz as a result of their recent occupation. Firstly, they changed “Lodz” to “Litzmannstadt” - naming the city after a German general associated with Łódź from WW1. The Nazis renamed most of the streets to more German-sounding names and decorated lots of the city with flags bearing swastikas. People were out of work, forced to load their belongings onto trucks - never to see their life’s work and accumulated belongings again. The new primary occupation of most who were still in the city was trying to obtain some food. People would pile up at food lines hours in advance in order to try and receive some amount of nourishment for themselves and their families. Chapter eleven recounts Rachel’s attempt at getting food in such a manner. She arrives at the food line in the early hours of the morning. Being a Jew in the food line means a significantly lesser chance of actually walking away with food. In this case, it was a former gentile “friend” who exposed Rachel and had her kicked out of line with an accompanied beating. The times were getting worse for Polish Jewry. Adam Rosenberg was forced out of his home and arrested - an experience that left him traumatized and hiding in the Zuckerman home from the Germans. While Matilda did well for herself and her family by flattering German officers she would host in her home, many Jews continued to suffer from forced labor, random incarceration, and the denial to perform basic everyday activities. This chapter also examines how Mordechai Chaim Rumkowski ascends to power and becomes the leader of the Jewish representatives in Lodz. While he managed to find favor in the eyes of the chief of police Her Von Strasser, he realizes and encounters the limitations of his position in the face of the cruel and demoralizing German occupiers.
Chapter 12
Simcha Bunim finds himself burning books - it is a painful experience for him. This is something that makes him at odds with his wife. When he feels that she does not understand the significance of why the burning isn’t pleasant for him, he runs away from home. He decides to search for work. When Bunim enters the building of the Jewish council, he is met by many Jews who were hiding away from a recent raid of the Germans in the area. He sees his friend, the writer, Mr. Mazur. Mazur is sharing with a group of people how Germans entered his home and acted horribly towards him and his wife. The Nazis mercilessly beat him over the head for not responding the way they expected him to when they asked him whose house it was. They also poured water on his wife when she wanted to give it to her bruised husband. Mazur and his wife were forced to carry more furniture than they could handle and were punished for this as well. More raids rules and were being implemented in the ghetto. The Jews were now obligated to wear yellow stars. Bunim and his wife get into an argument about whether to lie or be truthful to their young daughter about the reason that they will be wearing these stars. Itche Mayer struggles to remain active. There is a scene where a “leech” tells a German Officer about the abundance that Itche Mayer has [as a result of his son Shalom working for Uncle Henech in the bakery.] The scene ends with the german leaving and Israel - the oldest son having mercy on him and feeding the poor man. Life continues to worsen for the Jews of Lodz. Shalom and his fiance Flora head for the Russian border but Flora disappears. Ester regains strength and hope for the future but this spirit gets challenged when tragedy hits Baulty on her supposed first day of work for Uncle Chaim.
Chapter 13
In the final chapter of Book One, the readers get to observe New Year’s Eve in Lodz. We explore how the different characters experience or celebrate this evening. Dr. Levine writes a letter to Mira about his situation and relationship with Guttman the painter - who now refuses to paint, and Mr. Shafran who had become very silent and indifferent to the new life forced upon him. Miss Diamond and her friend Wanda manage to enjoy some of their favorite sad poetry combined with some cake and sweetened applesauce. Matilda no longer has her piano but Yadwiga manages to conduct a somewhat fun poker game. Samuel is pained by thoughts of his late friend Mr. Mazur, and fears that the rumors about a ghetto may materialize. Mordechai Chaim Rumkowski is hurt by the fact that he is alone. He comes to the conclusion that he must have a special Moses-like destiny to bring salvation to the Jews of Lodz, and after much deliberation, Rumkowski decides to pour out the bottle of champagne that he received from a Gestapo officer with the directive to make a toast to the Fuhrer. Ester takes time to go through Hersh’s hidden papers and is notified of a promotion she received in the communist community. Shalom sadly heads back home without Flora. Rachel yearns for peace and to be closer to David, and has a nightmare that casts a dark shadow on the days to come. David struggles to get quality sleep, while he yearns for the return of normalcy in his life and to be closer to his dad and Rachel. Finally, Bunim reads to Miriam his recent composition. It is a letter addressed to Jesus. In essence, it is a protest and profound questioning of everything that Jesus is known for. Why did Jesus foolishly attempt to share god's word with others who clearly aren't apt to internalize his message? It seems that for all of Jesus's efforts, hatred, and sin persevered. How then could Jesus justify his efforts? Where is Jesus now amidst all of the terror and hate? Why?!
Rosenfarb Book Two
Chapter 1
We enter Book two with the Jews as they are entering the Lodz ghetto on a sunny day in February 1940. Like many others in the crowd heading to the ghetto, Rachel and her dad are trying to find the meaning behind this unfolding unfortunate situation. For the first time, Rachel hears her father being exclusive and proud of his Jewish identity. There were a lot of mixed emotions as the Jews marched into the ghetto. Ester, being independent, was able to help others as she marched on. As she walks, she meets Friede the sickly writer and they form a connection with each other. Wanda & miss Diamond painfully parting ways. Rosenberg and Zuckerman quarrel over some money issues as their wives bicker about the significance of the old Hager couple’s relationship. Samuel gets a powerful feeling of connection to his ancestors as he walks amongst his fellow Jews into the unknown. Rumkowski is busy basking in his own glory as he rides through the crowd albeit knocking over an elderly Jew (David’s friend) who was pushing a cart full of sacred books.
Chapter 2
Our brethren gradually settle into the ghetto, each transitioning in their own way. Shayne Pessel decides to improve conditions for her family, disregarding her husband's reproaches and protests. Ester approaches her uncle's apartment expecting to reunite with her cousins but instead is greeted awkwardly by Rachel who previously refused to help her with Hersh’s illegal documents. Reisel the cook of the Zuckerman household decides to finally show her disdain towards her employers and demands better terms. Junia helps everyone in the household cope with the positive atmosphere she carries. Mr. Rumkowski takes advantage of his new position as Presses. Guided by his constant worry about the image he is projecting and his sinister inner desires, he makes sure to punish those whom he dislikes, and pay attention to those that he might want to take advantage of in the future.
Chapter 3
Starvation begins to engulf the ghetto together with the return of wintery cold blizzards. The cook Reisel is caught stealing and is fired, resulting in Matilda having to step up and muster all of her energy in order to keep the house in order. Samuel finally secures a position through the Presses and celebrates with his family. As spring arrives and the cherry tree in the yard begins to blossom, all of the inhabitants of the surrounding houses enjoy spending time around the tree while observing the people on the Zuckerman porch. The characters on the porch help the people in the yard reminisce and aspire. Each individual on the porch represented another set of values and ideals, and thus was able to transport the onlookers into another dimension and time.
Chapter 4
Ester declines a promotion from the communist organization. She spends much time attending to and concerned about Fiede. Through Mr. Shafran, she secures a job in the soup kitchen. She begins to comprehend the significance of the job. Friede dies while Dr. Levine tries to save him. Sheindel feels guilty for this death. Bunim is brought to the deceased and finds it hard to connect to his dead friend. Bunim is still amongst the living, who still feel and suffer.
Chapter 5
David’s notebook
Rosenfarb Book Three
Chapter 5
David strategically defeats Mr. Rosenberg in three chess games and wins a nice sum of money. He also has a new female companion Inka with whom he likes to spend time these days. This helps distract from other pains like hunger, worry, and the absence of dad. On one occasion when mom isn’t well, David discovers what really happened to his dad when he was taken to jail. Even after confirming with the witness of dad's death, David’s had a hard time processing it. He spoke with the candy maker - his old survivor friend from the church - who was a great believer. Even after much thought and discussion, David’s philosophical troubles remain unresolved. Faith in God sounds like a joke to him, and faith in humanity less believable still with life in the ghetto being what it was.
Chapter 6
Rachel’s new workplace had an intellectually satiating atmosphere. This is where she met many artists and poets. She also had other occupations outside of her primary workplace including the tutoring of individuals with unique personalities. One such student was known as “The Holy Shoemaker,” someone pretty well situated with lots of connections inside and outside the ghetto. As he was becoming more cultured he had Rachel teach him how to act with elegance and class, verbally and non-verbally within a higher level of society. Rachel was indeed lucky to have this connection, as he was the one who saved her dad Moshe from having to join a forced “transport” out of the ghetto. The friendship between Samuel Zuckerman and Moshe becomes ever stronger with time and especially as they share their sorrows and joys with one another. Together, they watched the carpentry resort burn. Sadly, the library entrusted to Rachel was suddenly removed from her domain. Her dad tries to console her with a fur coat that they cleverly decide to use as Rachel’s pillow in an attempt of saving themselves from possible retribution for harboring such forbidden items in their possession.
Chapter 7
The dryness of the earth because of the heat of July was visible and mirrored in the faces of the people in the ghetto. The starvation and meager rations were worse than ever before. Miss Diamond was one of a small number of teachers that were still alive in the ghetto. Attending to the children of the orphanage kept her occupied and alive. Mrs. Hager opted as well to help with the orphanage duties. Professor Hager gave extensive classes on what the world looked like outside of the ghetto gates and wires. The children, many of whom never lived any life outside of the ghetto, were always mesmerized by the talks and tales of Professor Hager. Mrs. Diamond also liked to attend his classes which would transport her to less painful places than the one she occupied in the ghetto. She found herself thinking a lot about her previous students. Mrs. Diamond has become very contemplative and introspective and was seeking anything that would bring more meaning into her life. When she visited Bella Zuckerman in the hopes of reconnecting with her, she was met with a very cold indifferent Bella who was not of any help in the optimistic spirituality area of life. Albeit Bella’s new cold attitude towards Miss Diamond, the latter decided to give her student Bella the volume of Slovacki’s poems as a present in the hopes of reviving the seemingly dried out soul of her once - very motivated student.
Chapter 8
There is a new atmosphere of hope in the ghetto. Many are fantasizing about the imminent end of the war. Sheyne Pessele’s relationship with her son Shalom strengthens as they philosophize about what ways of life the world ought to embrace - namely, country life versus city life. Sheyne Pessele becomes an advisor and figure for many of the ghetto inhabitants. Through her job at the clothing resort, she gradually begins to grasp the kind of fate that the persons that the clothes belonged to. In an attempt to protect her children, she chooses not to reveal the discovered bad news to her children. Sheyene P. began to have dreams and visions of her conversing with her husband. Despite her efforts, Shalom and many in the ghetto began to hear all sorts of horrible accounts. One such account arrived as a letter from a Rabbi about the mass extermination of Jews and gypsies near the town of Chelmno. These bits of news were hard to accept and generally disregarded by Shalom. He began to flourish in the carpentry resort as a result of the new manager named Gurny, who took a liking towards him. The chapter ends on a very positive note, with the get together of the entire living family of Sheyne Pessele and Itche Mayer. Shalom had brought home a lot of extra soup, and with that, the celebration began.
Chapter 9
The Presses is coming to terms with the new reality. He cannot work with the Germans. They are the enemy and must be outsmarted. He will not be the savior of the Jews but their martyr. The sick are removed and transported from the hospital. Clara witnessed how the sick were forced out onto the trucks. The families helpless, attempting to say goodbye, the patients struggling to escape. Then came the request for the children. Clara begged her husband; “There are things which a human being must never take upon himself!” But the Presses felt that he must sacrifice the children in order to save the rest of the ghetto inhabitants. “I must talk to the mothers... I’m taking it upon myself.” This was too much. Many tried to hide their young. The Sabbath was blackened by the absence of the children who were violently sought out and ripped away from their families by the Jewish officers. The old and unwell were removed too. The Presses was informed that since he hasn't successfully provided the right amount of people, the German’s will finish things their way.
Chapter 10
The Sperre - house arrests begin. Bunim loses his wife and newborn son early in the process. Everyone in the ghetto is scrambling to try and hide their children and the sickly. No one wants to be transported or disconnected from their loved ones. Shalom jumps off the transport wagon many times. Ester does the same and manages to get to her protector - Mr. Winter. (Raisel, the once Zuckerman cook gets shot in the yard by one of the “actions”) Ester is beautiful as always, and Winter gets inspired to paint her with the setting sun shining through the window. Ester wants to shave her hair, her beauty is very attractive and not always in the best of ways. Rachel’s family is continuously tormented by the possibility of being captured. David is somehow still managing to write and although he and his family have secured a great hiding place in essentially a fake wall, they get captured temporarily due to a surprise early morning inspection. This time, David’s younger brother Avraham is the savior. He calls the heroic shots, and his plans work. Soon enough they are reunited with their mother in their apartment and David can’t help but philosophize with her about the meaning of these tormenting days. David and Rachel are intimate; they feel that “the has come.”