As I finished reading the book, and even though I have read it many times before and know how it ends, I shuddered at Elie's ending lines. It was as if Elie recognized the two people he was; he separated the part of him that died - the "him" from the "me". And at the same time, he recognized that the "him" would always be there - "the look in his eyes as he gazed at me has never left me" - so that the two became one.

What I would like for us to think about is how could not only Hitler and the Nazis do this to the Jews, but how could the world have allowed this to happen. Consider WHY Russia was involved in the war. Consider WHY the U.S. finally got involved in the war. Consider WHY other countries finally came to the aid of these people.

Then apply that not only to current day atrocities that are occurring in our world, but also to local/personal issues we see on a daily basis. Can we continue to turn a blind eye to the oppression and suffering of humanity? What can we do as individuals to bring awareness to the world about issues that plague humanity? Must we care about every single holocaust, every child who is being trafficked, every animal that is mistreated, and every other issue that afflicts humanity?

In other words, what do you believe your role is when it comes to humanity? We will be reading Elie's speech when he was awarded the Nobel Prize that will further help inform this conversation.